Whether you have a large family or choose to shop in bulk for a family of two, having an extra freezer can be extremely helpful when you have extra food you need to store safely. Home freezers can be a lifesaver during the holidays when you’re preparing to cook for a crowd and are an asset for the rest of the year, whether you like to meal plan, buy in bulk or just need some extra space for BBQ meats and popsicles for when summer rolls around. If you’re considering purchasing an additional freezer and need a place to start, our helpful guide outlines the different freezer types, sizes, and why you may need one.
Benefits of A Chest Freezer
A chest freezer is a deep freezer that opens like a chest and is either rectangular or cube-shaped. It’s used for stocking frozen food in large quantities.
Pros of A Chest Freezer
- Chest freezers are less expensive than upright freezers.
- Chest freezers have more usable space than upright freezers.
- Food has less risk of getting freezer burn because air doesn't circulate as much as it does in a chest freezer.
- Chest freezers don’t have a self-defrost system, so the temperature in a chest freezer is more likely to stay consistent .
- If you lose electricity, a chest freezer will keep your food frozen longer than if you have an upright freezer.
- Chest freezers usually use less electricity than upright freezers. Be sure to check the Energy Saver tags on the separate freezers to determine which are most energy-efficient.
Chest Freezer Cons
- It’s challenging to find food at the bottom of a chest freezer and it often requires extensive rearranging and searching.
- Food in a chest freezer can be hard to access by children or people who have difficulty reaching down to the bottom.
What A Chest Freezer Best For
A chest freezer is best if you have a smaller space but still need an extra freezer to account for the overflow from your main freezer. Or, if you are storing a large quantity of the same item, such as frozen tomato sauce, you won’t have to search for what you’re looking for extensively. Also, if you’re looking for a more affordable freezer, a chest freezer is often the best option for hunters or fishermen as a chest freezer tends to be the best bet for storing bigger items.
Our Top Chest Freezer Picks
- Midea Chest Freezer - The 10.2 cubic foot model has a D-shaped Quick Freezing system to cool down foods quickly, preventing spoilage. The mechanically adjustable dial controls let you customize your temperature, providing more versatility than your fridge’s freeze. Its balanced hinges let you keep the lid open at an angle and its convenient drainage tube makes this model easy to defrost and clean.
- Frigidaire Chest Freezer - The seven cubic food model has external temperature control, which avoids cold air release. It also has a power-on indicator light, so you can be assured that it’s keeping your food cold. The removable wire basket can hold small frozen items to keep them from falling to the bottom.
Upright freezer benefits
Upright freezers look similar to a stand refrigerator, have stationary shelves and compartments on the doors to store smaller items, and the interior shelves are usually adjustable to fit more oversized items. Some upright freezers are equipped with drawers at the bottom for additional organization.
Upright Freezer Pros
- Upright freezers have shelves, which makes it easier to organize the freezer contents.
- Upright freezers take up less floor space, as they are vertical appliances.
- Upright freezers often come in varying finishes.
- Taking a food inventory is more manageable, as the food is organized vertically.
- An upright freezer can more seamlessly fit into a standard kitchen layout.
Cons of An Upright Freezer
- Upright freezers can be more expensive than chest freezers.
- Upright freezers can run louder than chest freezers.
- The doors shelves can have a higher temperature than the inside of the freezer, resulting in temperature discrepancies.
What An Upright Freezer Is Best For
An upright freezer is best if you need to store various types of foods that you access regularly. An upright freezer is also great if you have children who need to quickly and conveniently access snacks or popsicles.
Our Top Upright Freezer Picks
- Brada Convertible Upright Refrigerator-Freezer - The 13.5 cubic foot upright freezer has a no-frost design, reversible door and multi-air flow, to keep the food staying fresh.
- LG 11.4 Counter-Depth Column Freezer - The 11.4 cubic foot upright freezer has zero-clearance hinges for a flush installation. It’s also equipped with cooling technology, organized storage and is ENERGY STAR™ Certified.
Whether a chest freezer or an upright freezer is right for you, both options provide extra convenience during the holiday season and throughout the rest of the year. You'll also be able to save money and time thanks to the ability to buy in bulk!
