Chest freezer or upright?

[Dilbertian]

I'm thinking of buying a freestanding freezer to keep in the garage.

I'm told that chest freezers are cheaper and more efficient, but I have a couple of concerns:

I have a dodgy back - not sure about rummaging at depth and lifting things in and out when I'm having a flare-up.

I'm the Queen of Mess. Even when I have shelves or drawers I lose stuff at the back of the freezer - how would I cope with everything in one big bucket?

Should I even consider a chest freezer?

You have to be very organised to keep a chest freezer organised. If you are short, you won't be able to reach the bottom and they do give you backache. If you do choose a chest freezer, pack your stuff in supermarket "bags for life" so you have separate bags for meat, veg, fish etc.
Chest freezers are cheaper to buy and run but I prefer an upright. The only downside of an upright is it is easier to leave the door open in error.

Don't 'bags for life' degrade in the freezer? Thin plastic bags do.

I bought an upright as I am very short and would struggle reaching the bottom of a chest freezer. Also the footprint takes up less space in my small garage and the drawers are batter to organise food into categories.

This is mine...
www.johnlewis.com/beko-ffp1671w-tall-freezer-a-energy-rating-60cm-wide-white/p2783335

Go for an upright or you’re setting yourself up to fail really.

My mum used to have a chest freezer and I always found it was a complete nightmare to keep track off/find anything in. I'd be wary if you have a bad back, whatever you want is always inevitably at the very bottom so you're often bent double fumbling around inside. We've got an upright freezer in our garage and its a dream in comparison, so much easier to navigate. Freezers are so incredibly energy efficient these days, I'd imagine the energy saving is fairly minimal; the upright freezer we have has an A+ energy rating.

You may already be aware, but make sure the freezer you buy is suitable for garages, not all of them are. Beko freezers are good for this.

We had a chest freezer for our main freezer for ages and I hated it. I then twigged on the the upright one in the garage would be much better suited indoors!!

You do have to be organised and make sure you don't stuff it too full (which is my temptation when i spy a bargain).

I use the Tesco bags that are about a pound - you know the ones with the woven handles? I have a couple each for meat, veg and bread.

I've started to keep an inventory of what's in the freezer so I don't end up with six packets of frozen peas....

I am tall and still find it a bit awkward to get to the bottom of it. But mine is quite big.

I don't want to jinx mine but I have had an upright larder Beko freezer for about 12-13 years. It is specifically made for a garage situation.

www.beko.co.uk/appliances/refrigerators/freezers/outdoor-garage-freezers

The key to organising it is either have specific sections for things, or better still keep a list of everything that is in there. We are Costco shoppers so use it primarily for mince/chicken/fish that we have bought, portioned and frozen. Re mince put it in a freezer bag and roll it flat with a rolling pin, it stacks better and it defrosts much quicker too.

I would usually suggest a chest freezer just because there is less limit on small spaces and you can organise a bigger space. Lots of videos on YouTube to give you ideas on organising a chest freezer. In your case I would worry about your back.

Go for an upright. Easier to manage and takes up less space

Put a table next to it in the garage. Useful when sorting out your frozen goods.

Most freezers aren't suitable for garage use as they are not guaranteed to work at very low temperatures. All Beko ones are suitable, apparently.