Upright Freezer and Chest Freezer Buying Guide
If you’re a meal-prep guru, a bulk-buyer, or a foodie who loves to keep things well-stocked, refrigerator and freezer space can get scarce pretty quickly. When the overflow becomes too much to handle or if you’re afraid to open the freezer door, it might be time to invest in a stand-alone freezer. Read on to learn more about upright freezers and freezer chests.
Types of Freezers:
Chest Freezers
A chest freezer is a large appliance used to store and freeze perishable goods. Unlike an upright freezer, it is wider than it is tall. The freezer’s lid opens from the top revealing open space inside to stack and store food items.
Upright Freezers
An upright freezer is a large appliance that stores perishable frozen goods with a door that opens from the front, much like a refrigerator. Upright freezers often take up less floor space and include inner storage systems like baskets, drawers, and racks that can be used to organize goods.
Freezer Features:
Key Settings
When you’re shopping for a freezer, look for features that help make the appliance safe to use and protect the quality of the food. Here are a few freezer features to look for:
- Freezer Lock: This prevents small children from opening and closing the freezer. A lock also saves energy since less cold air will escape, and reduces the risk of a freezer door being left open.
- Defrost Settings: This setting defrosts your freezer every so often to prevent freezer burn.
- Soft Freeze Settings: These settings make sure that softer items like ice cream stay at the right consistency while freezing.
- Power Light: A power light indicates the freezer is running and functioning well.
Freezer Size
Stand-alone freezers come in small, medium, or large sizes. Small sizes are about 5 to 10 cubic feet, medium are 12 to 18 cubic feet, and large freezers are anything over 18 cubic feet. To decide which freezer size is right for you, plan for 1 to 2 cubic feet of space for each member of your household. For example, if there are five people in your household, a 5- to 10-cubic foot freezer would be the perfect size.
Freezer Placement
Where you place your freezer can affect energy efficiency and organization. It’s usually best to keep your freezer somewhere dark and cool, such as a garage or basement. For example, if you put your freezer in an outside area that gets a lot of sunlight, it will have to do a lot more work to maintain freezing temperatures. If you want your freezer to be closer at hand, consider finding a convenient spot in your kitchen or laundry room.
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