advice on powering a freezer

[percyfraggle]

hi all, i'm looking for some advice on how to keep my freezer going when the power goes off, unsurprisingly my budget is very very small, in fact its so small you would need a microscope to find it
any advice on what the cheapest and simplest options are would be appreciated, thanks in advance and apology's if this subject has been done to death but I've looked at so many options my head is spinning and need some help to work out whats best.

[jansman]

In an average powercut, in normal times,keep the lid/door shut. It will hold cold for up to 24 hours. Start eating the food from that freezer asap if the power is off longer.

Long term strategy though would be to not rely on a freezer. Try to start storing foods that do not need electricity. Tins,dried,pasta,rice etc. hope that helps.

[Ogre]

If you must have a freezer, try and get a chest freezer (sometimes get a bargin on gumtree). The theory being cold air sinks, so you don't have to power it back up to spec every time you take something out. I'm running 2 chest freezers and 1 normal door type. Wish I hadn't bothered with the door type.

[nickdutch]

It does depend on whether you are thinking short term or long term. Long term, I don't see the point in a freezer. I haven't got one. I use dry goods (upstairs in bags and plastic food safe boxes) and canning. A fridge for short term fresh fruit and veg, apart from that, can it
Who NEEDS ice?

[Ian]

Quickly pop along to your local hire shop and hire a small generator to cover the period involved.

If the power outage is permanent (very unlikely) cook and eat everything, you may be need ing it soon.

[Mr_Sea-Breeze]

There is a solution that uses a bank of 12v batteries, battery charger and an inverter that should see you through most temporary power cuts. You can then start adding solar panels and generator inputs but that all costs money.

You should always make sure your freezer is full as there is less air displacement when you open /close it. When the freezer isn't full of food then fill the thing up with plastic bottles (nearly) full of water. This will reduce the amount of air displaced and will also act as chillers if the power goes off.

It should go without saying that if the power is off you don't add more bottles of water...

Cheers

MSB

[percyfraggle]

i have a small chest freezer, and although it may not seem an essential bit of kit, and yes i can live without it, my theory is that if the brown stuff hits the fan for any real length of time the more ways i have of preserving food the better, canning, bottling, smoking/dry curing etc all good methods but why not freeze as well, in my experience vegetables and fruit etc are seasonal, going hunting is not a guarantee of coming back with food, when food is plentiful i want to be able to preserve as much as i can, in as many ways as i can and as quick as i can ready for the leaner times. i have been looking at small gennys to cover the usual power cuts etc, but it got me thinking that if i am going to spend money i would rather spend it on a more permanent option ie wind or solar, the only problem is these are so expensive, im currently looking in to a way of building a home made system of some sort if its possible, has anybody got any thoughts on it or has anybody done it themselves already?

[preppingsu]

If it is a longer term situation rather than a power cut I personally would be looking at not using a freezer but looking at the old methods of preserving. The more things we can learn now that don't require power then the more we will be able to survive if tshtf big time.
Bottling/canning is my learning goal this summer. Rhubarb will be first. I normally stew and freeze but I don't want any of it going in the freezer this year. I do have 2 and an half freezers but don't have one switched on. Trying to use other methods.