The freezer has to be one of the most useful appliances in the home for busy, working parents. Daily trips to the shops are a thing of the past, and bulk buying is possible, meaning that you can save money and time. No home can afford to be without one.

With a freezer, you can make food in bulk and have home cooked food available even on the busiest working days. And when produce is cheap in the food store or the market, you will be able to stock up and freeze for use at a later date, and take advantage of special offers. Time saving and money saving, the perfect appliance for busy, cash strapped families the world over! Here are tips on choosing the right freezer for your family's needs.

Are you getting the best from your freezer? A little planning ahead can mean that you can make greater use of your freezer, and choosing the right type and size for your family´s needs is important.

Chest Freezers

• Cheap to buy
• Most economical to run, as you don´t lose as much cold air every time the freezer is opened
• Can be used as an extra work surface
• Best for storing large quantities of food
• Only need to defrost about twice a year
• Good for storing awkwardly shaped large pieces of food, such as joints of meat
• Can be difficult to find things
• Be sure that you can reach the bottom!
• Can´t slide it away under the worktop, best for use in garages and utility rooms
• Consider one as a second freezer if you need a lot of storage space

• Easier to fit into the kitchen
• Takes up less floor space
• Costs more to buy
• Less economical to run as loses more cold air when opened
• Contents are easier to organise and reach
• Need defrosting more often than chest freezers, generally every 3 months

• Ideal for smaller kitchens
• Can choose a side by side or “one on top” option
• Storage capacity limited
• Appliances can be co-ordinated
• Smaller quantities of food can be frozen

• Large size means that they can´t fit smaller kitchens
• Can be very expensive to buy
• More expensive to run than smaller and chest freezers
• Offer many additional extras, such as drinks dispensers
• Large storage space for both fridge and freezers
• Ideal for families
• Easy to organise and find food