I was given a Hotpoint 8709 under counter freezer twelve months ago to the day and it's served me so well that I thought I would tell you about it. Now, this is an older model so I don't know whether you'll buy it online although I have since seen them advertised on Ebay and other such places.

My freezer is different to the model pictured above in that the drawers are all the same size and they have squeezed four smaller ones in. This is actually better for my purposes, although please be aware that the height available in each drawer is only around seven inches so you won't be storing your Christmas turkey in here!

The drawers are laid out with the two middle ones being normal pull out drawers and the top and bottom drawers are pull down fascias and the drawers don't actually pull out of the freezer. Again, ideal for me but remember to think about whether this design will actually suit your needs before purchasing this freezer.

The reason I was after a second freezer was because that year I had a glut of several vegetables which I grow in my garden. I have a normal upright fridge freezer but wanted something I could dedicate to my vegetables and also the odd meal that I have cooked and frozen.

This freezer is perfect. The drawers pull out smoothly on their runners, the drawer faces have a space for me to write what each one contains and cleaning it is an absolute dream. I have only had to clean the freezer twice since it was given to me and I have been pleased both times that it doesn't freeze up as I was expecting, especially as it is such an old model. I simply have to unplug the freezer and leave it standing for an hour with the door open, then a squirt of Fairy Power Spray and a damp cloth will leave it as sparkling clean as any ten year old freezer can be!

There is a Fast Freeze function which is operated by way of a simple switch inside the freezer. I have found this ideal for when I am making sorbet as it does manage to freeze the pulped fruit much quicker than in my primary freezer. I actually keep my freezer on the Fast Freeze operation as it keeps all my frozen goods rock hard but doesn't cause any freezer burn, an experiment recently where I took electric readings on all my electrical items proved that keeping it on Fast Freeze has a negligible effect on the amount of electricity I used.

Now, as I said this was second hand when I received it although I have known the lady since before she bought it new. I can honestly say that Hotpoint have proved once again that their products will stand the test of time. This freezer is around twelve or thirteen years old and the only issue I can see with it is that the rubber seal has started to perish slightly in the top corner, presumably caused by the constant opening of the freezer and the 'pull' this creates on the seal. This, however, doesn't cause any problems whatsoever with the function of the freezer so I shan't bother getting a replacement seal just yet.

This under counter freezer is a little taller than others on the market, standing at just over 34 inches which I believe is slightly higher than some standard modern worktops. Indeed my daughter's worktops are only 33 1/2 inches tall, luckily I have higher work surfaces in my kitchen so the freezer slotted in nicely but I would certainly suggest you measure carefully before purchasing one, especially if you have a space where you specifically want your freezer to stand. Other measurements you might need to be aware of are the fact that it is 21 1/2 inches deep (from front to back) and 19 1/2 inches wide.

I think it's fantastic, and has saved my sanity after thinking last year that I was going to waste so many fresh vegetables. Even for such an older freezer it does it's job very well indeed and I have had no cause for complaint. Granted, it looks like an 'old fashioned' freezer but then it IS an 'old fashioned' freezer but I'm of the mind that as long as it does the job then that's fine.

I cannot complain about this freezer at all. If you like the sound of it then you could probably pick one up for around £10 - £20 on Ebay, I have even seen the exact same model on Gumtree recently for a fiver! So if you need an under counter freezer but haven't got the money for a super-duper brand new model then this is one well worth considering.