Free Standing Freezers: A Practical Option

A number of chain warehouses sell food in bulk, making a free standing freezer a practical option even if you don't hunt or have a large family. For those who enjoy making dinners in advance to freeze and eat later, a separate freezer is ideal for both capacity and organization. Consider all freezer factors to find the right one to suit your home.

Freezer Configurations and Descriptions

There are two types of freezers: upright and chest. An upright freezer (which looks much like a refrigerator) may be ideal for aesthetics, easy organization and daily use, but a chest freezer is great for bulk storage and use outside of the kitchen space. As you consider these two types, consider both your home measurements and your food storage needs. Including room size, freezer capacity, and established purpose in your decision will lead you to the correct choice.

"Space" should encompass both vertical and horizontal measurements. For an area where there is a taller ceiling but less floor space, an upright freezer is ideal, while a chest freezer is required for larger floor space and less ceiling height. (For example, if there are shelves in your storage area, a chest freezer will slide underneath, saving space.)

"Capacity" is not directly related to type; just because a freezer is upright does not mean it is smaller. In general, one cubic foot of freezer space can hold approximately 35 pounds of food. Another good estimate is to allow for 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space per member of the household.

"Function" should include your daily usage. If you plan to access the freezer daily, you will want it to be as close to the kitchen as possible and as organized as possible. An upright freezer is more functional for daily use as it has shelves and baskets. If you plan to store meat or bulk items for intermittent access, a chest freezer that you can tuck away may be the best option.

Freezer Features

Lighting

For a chest freezer stored in less well-lit areas an interior light is especially useful. Consider how your refrigerator would look without a light, or how you would look inside. The indisputable convenience of this feature may be important in your decision.

Lock

A lock ensures that children are kept out and cold is kept in. Sealing the freezer upon shutting is always important, and a lock feature will aid in doing so.

Adjustable Temperature Control

Freezers are often equipped with an interior adjustable temperature control. Newer, more expensive models have an exterior thermometer for easy tracking of temperature without ever pulling the handle.

Manual Defrost

Most chest freezers have a manual defrost. To help the freezer run efficiently, remove all food every six months and allow the ice blocks to melt. Of course, be sure that the melting ice has a place to flow--either through an attached hose to a basement drain or outside.

Frost-Free

Frost-free freezers defrost on their own, preventing ice from ever building up, and ensuring that freezer burn is a thing of the past.

Fast Freeze Section

Many newer, advanced models have a fast freeze section, for use when food is newly prepared or purchased. Fast-freeze preserves food quality and prevents the freezer's overall interior temperature from rising with the heat of the food. Some models have a sensor that will kick the freezer into fast-freeze mode if the temperature does become too high for any reason.

Energy Efficiency

Pay attention to models that will meet your energy efficient standards, and your utility budget. Manual defrost models, for obvious reasons, use about 40% less electricity than frost-free models, and all freezers operate most efficiently when they are stocked about 2/3 full.

Freezer Prices: What to Expect to Spend

Before purchasing a freezer, buyers should consider care and maintenance. In regard to home and user maintenance, the type of defrost affects frequency and cost. Many models have a frost-free feature, which means low maintenance. A chest freezer with manual defrost is obviously more maintenance intensive. Be sure to have the right cleaner for the freezer's exterior and interior, whether it's stainless steel or hard plastic.

For out of home maintenance, a warranty will be required. Standard freezer warranties are about 10 years long, but you can find warranties that will cover other expenses such as food loss if the freezer were to malfunction.

Cold Hard Cash: What You'll Spend

Upright freezers are typically more expensive than chest freezers, but your type depends on several factors in addition to price.

The lowest prices ($100 to $500) are generally reserved for the smallest freezers. Silver King manufactures a small cube front-loading freezer for under $100, ideal for a home bar area, office, or dormitory.

$500 to $1000 will purchase a larger capacity and standard features like frost-free, adjustable thermostat, fast-freeze, and interior lights and locks. For commercial use (or extreme convenience) glass-top freezers like those manufactured by Artic Air can be purchased within this price range.

In the $1000 to $2500 price range, aesthetics and extra features are significant price points. Stainless steel exteriors and interiors and space saving hybrids like Coldtech's front loading, shelved chest freezer will cost more than the standard.

Spending between $2500 to $5000 will guarantee high end or custom commercial or residential freezers. Thermador manufactures a built-in freezer with an internal ice- maker, a super freeze function and custom wood paneling to match kitchen cabinets for just over $3000. These types are ideal for commercial spaces or gourmet kitchens.

Bottom Line

Every household can use extra freezer space. Determining your freezing needs, available space and desired settings ahead of time will go along way towards an educated, satisfying purchase of a freezer that will get the job done for years to come.