As the country’s economy falters and everyone’s financial situation becomes more difficult, many are trying to think of effective ways to save money. An increasingly popular way to save money is to buy a freezer. Many households have made their grocery dollar go further by buying groceries and meats in bulk or on sale to use later.
Growing up in upstate New York, I can remember every family I knew always had a separate freezer. Often the families were both farmers and hunters. They saved money by running their own butcher shop, and the only way they could store anything perishable for any length of time was in the family freezer. The farmers I knew were always a very frugal bunch. Nothing was ever wasted. They bought food in bulk when prices were low or grew it themselves and lived off their freezer and canning efforts in lean months.
Most people today can’t slaughter their own meat and poultry, but they can still save money by buying a freezer. Here are some tips on how to shop and make your freezer purchase translate to savings all year long.
What size freezer is right for you? How many people are in your household? Two? Oven? Plus? The more people in your home, the more dramatic savings you should see with a freezer. Consider that if there are only two people in your home, a larger freezer larger than 10 or 12 cubic feet may be too big for you to use efficiently.
Most frozen foods are good for about 6 weeks in a freezer. Meat and poultry, if frozen correctly, can last for months. Just remember that the longer you store frozen food, the more likely the quality and flavor will degrade due to freezer burn and dehydration. The last thing you want is to waste time and money buying food and then have it look like jerky and taste like old sneakers.
Try to figure out how much groceries your household would use in two months that could be frozen and stored. Many of the most popular freezer sizes these days have between 10 and 19.5 cubic feet of storage space, although I’ve found personal freezer models with storage sizes that are as little as 2.1 cubic feet. There may even be sizes smaller than that, but I don’t recommend any of the really small freezers under 10 cubic feet unless you don’t have room for something bigger. As long as you have a regular refrigerator equipped with a freezer, you may not want to worry about the added expense and energy use of something so small. If you still think you’ll need and use more freezer storage than that, opt for the smallest size freezer around 12 to 15 cubic feet. That way, if for some reason you need to get rid of the appliance, since that size range is so popular, you’ll have people lining up to buy it second hand.
Consider energy use when calculating savings. Generally speaking, the bigger a freezer is, the higher the energy consumption. Most freezers are also most efficient when they are about 2/3 full. No matter the size of your home, when you use up frozen food or start to find that you’re not using all of your available freezer storage, look for something else to fill the unused space. I once heard a recommendation (I wish I could claim it as my idea, but I can’t) to fill the space with tightly capped gallon-sized plastic jugs, such as detergent or bleach bottles filled halfway with water. Just keep the jars close by as you pull things out of your freezer. It’s a great idea, and my hat’s off to whoever came up with it originally.
Chest or Upright Freezer? Ah, a question that almost everyone asks when looking at freezers. Here are some things to think about. Chest freezers have a larger footprint (take up more floor space) than uprights, sometimes twice as much space. If you live in an apartment, this will undoubtedly be an important consideration in your final decision.
Another thing, although it is true that you can stack things on top of a chest freezer, it really is not convenient. You’ll reconsider that idea after a few times unloading this week’s clothes and those extra paint cans and your recyclables off the top of your chest freezer because you needed to get that frozen pizza out for dinner.
On the plus side, a chest freezer generally costs less up front, is typically more energy efficient, and typically provides more actual freezer space for your dollar than uprights. But they can be hard to find when fully loaded. A super frustrating, mumble-inducing quest through a jam-packed chest freezer is no fun. I’ve done it more than once, even after I thought I had marked it all down clearly. More than once I have had my feet in the air as my numb fingers stirred through frozen peas and roast beef. It is a cold and brutal experience. In frozen space no one can hear you scream. Except for my wife standing behind me, hands on hips, laughing with delight.
And uprights still have some major advantages over chest freezers. As stated above, they are easier to fill and subsequently find items that have been stored. Normally, you don’t need to rummage too hard when trying to find that pork roast you bought in November. Additionally, many uprights are available with automatic defrost. Most chest freezers are manual defrost, and while you usually only need to do it once a year, defrosting one can be a tedious, multi-hour task.
New or used? Sometimes you can save a lot if you find a used freezer. But consider this: How energy efficient is that old freezer? According to the government’s Energy Star website, Energy Star qualified freezers use 10% less energy than required by federal standards. How much electricity will you spend on that giant freezer made 20 years ago that is about the size of that monolith of 2001: A Space Odyssey? You won’t know until you use it for a few months.
I’ve found that sometimes older freezers can be a good buy, but always remember that the life expectancy of one of these things is about 20 years. My suggestion is if you’d like, go ahead and check to see if it’s used, but keep in mind that it can be nearly impossible to find, especially in these tough economic times where everyone is trying to save money any way they can. People generally don’t sell something that is saving them money right now.
Once you’ve gone through and perhaps exhausted the old freezer route, take a look at the newer freezers. When shopping for something new, here are six things to remember:
1. Be sure to carefully measure the space where you want to place the freezer.
2. Make sure your electrical outlet is close by so there’s less chance of your freezer inadvertently unplugging. My parents had a stud that the dog accidentally unplugged (at least so the dog said) when he took a nap next to it and a few days later they ended up with about two hundred dollars worth of spoiled food.
3. Decide your preference for chest or upright, and choose the right size for your home for maximum energy conservation. Try to find a freezer that is Energy Star rated for maximum energy efficiency for the size you need. Even if you choose a freezer that isn’t Energy Star qualified, check the yellow energy usage label to see what your estimated energy bill will be for a year so there are no surprises. If you decide to get a chest freezer, throw an old blanket over it to help further insulate it. Easy to remove and replace, and can make a difference of a few dollars down the road in energy costs.
4. Remember that freezers come with manual defrost and automatic defrost. Manual defrosting is labor intensive and, to maintain energy efficiency, needs to be addressed periodically.
5. Keep a list of what you put there to make it easier to follow. When packaging food for frozen storage, try to make sure you get as much air out as possible. Items will last longer without freezer burn if you can get the air out of the packaging, so that can mean extra effort to repackage meat and poultry. Just don’t forget to use a permanent ink pen to mark which item it is and the date you placed it there.
6. Finally, one of the cheapest ways to buy a new freezer is online. If you decide to order a freezer online, keep in mind that unless the dealer offers free shipping, you may need to factor shipping costs into the price. Most of the free shipping from the dealer is usually curbside at your address. Freezers can weigh over two hundred pounds. Choose your shipping option carefully, and do it before placing the order. You cannot change your mind about shipping after ordering. I always strongly suggest that if you don’t have a strong pair of backs at home, go for White Glove Service. The carrier brings it to your home and places it where you need it. It costs more, but if you don’t get White Glove Service, don’t bother calling me. I have back problems, really.
Follow these tips and you’ll save money, not just during these tough economic times, but for years to come.
