Freezer energy savings tips

A separate chest freezer or upright freezer is a great convenience, providing a place to preserve a variety of foods from meat to fresh fruit to baked goods. You can reduce energy consumption and save money by not making the freezer work harder than it has to. Here’s how:

• Place the freezer in the coolest part of the room, away from heat sources.

• Don’t place the freezer in an area where temperatures reach 110° or higher.

• Allow heated foods to cool before placing them in the freezer and don’t place large amounts of unfrozen food into the freezer at once.

• Don’t line the shelves or cabinet with wax paper or aluminum foil, which interferes with airflow.

• Make sure the lid or door seals tightly and that the gaskets are kept clean.

• Wrap your food properly and label with the date.

• When getting food from the freezer, close the door as quickly as possible.

If you keep a large amount of food in your freezer, consider getting a chalkboard or dry-erase board and placing it near your freezer.  It’s a great way of keeping track of what you have and reduces the amount of time spent rummaging through the freezer.