Chest freezer buying guide

Choose a small model to store extra desserts and frozen vegetables, or a larger chest freezer to accommodate the Christmas turkey, bags of ice and bulky groceries that won't fit in your upright freezer.

Many chest freezers include one or more storage baskets suspended over the main compartment – use them to store smaller items like bags of frozen vegetables for easy location and to prevent spillages.

This ingenious function rapidly lowers freezer temperatures to ensure fresh foods are frozen quicker for longer life, locking in nutrients to maximise freshness when defrosting. It's perfect for food that's warmed up on the way home or when you need to quickly chill a bottle of wine.

A four star freezer rating lets you know that the appliance is suitable for freezing fresh food for up to 12 months.

Lids with a child lock or that can be locked with a key keep your desserts safer and prevent accidents - excellent features for family homes of all sizes.

Counter balanced lids fix in an open position once lifted, leaving your hands free to add or find food items, and keeping you safer from bumping your head.

High temperature warning alarms or lights activate if the temperature in the freezer rises, giving you time to solve the problem and ensure that your food stays safe at the optimum temperature.

You'll need a space that's dry, damp-free, has a stable temperature and level floor. Allow enough room around the unit for good airflow.

Check the operating specifications of your appliance to see the temperature range it can operate within - if the space is too hot or cold, the freezer may malfunction. It's also important to establish whether outdoor storage affects the product's warranty .