How to Buy a Freezer
Freezers range from 5 cubic feet to 25, and come in various configurations. Here are some thoughts to consider as you shop.
A chest freezer opens from the top. It usually costs less to buy than an upright freezer of the same capacity. It can store more food per cubic foot of freezer space compared to upright freezers, because there are no shelves. Moveable baskets make it more convenient to locate food, but you must bend and reach to locate items in the lower half. The capacity of a chest freezer ranges from 10 to 25 cubic feet for standard sizes. Compact chest freezers are usually 5-7 cubic feet, and take less floor space than the full sizes.
An upright freezer opens from the front and looks similar to a refrigerator. It requires less floor space than a chest freezer. The shelves on this type of freezer provide a good view of the contents and make it easy to find and remove items. The capacity of this type of freezer ranges from 10 to 20 cubic feet.
Look at the space you have available for your freezer. Measure width, depth, and height (for the height of the upright freezer, and the opened height of the chest freezer). It should sit away from sunlight and heat-producing appliances (furnaces, water heaters, ranges).
How much capacity do you need? As a rule of thumb, multiple the number of people in your household by 1.5 cubic feet. Each cubic foot approximates 35 pounds of food. Adjust up or down according to your lifestyle...
Your lifestyle... Do you hunt and fish, and so need larger freezer space? Do you have a large garden, which produces enough to freeze? Do you pre-prepare food and freeze it? Do you buy in bulk and freeze? Do you buy large amounts of whole grains and freeze for safekeeping?
A full freezer is more efficient than an empty one. Try to keep your freezer at least two-thirds full, and freeze blocks of ice if you are running low on frozen food. A chest freezer is more efficient than an upright one.
Consider a self-defrosting freezer, as freezers generally need to be defrosted about once a year. The more the door is opened, the more that ice builds up, so a freezer that is frequently used may need defrosting more than once a year. Chest freezers, though, are only available with manual defrost.
Check the energy guide labels when you shop to find the most energy efficient freezer for you and your family. Compare the lowest annual operating cost among freezers of similar size and defrost systems.
