Understanding the differences between types of freezers is important if you’re on the hunt for the best upright freezer or chest freezer on the market today. For example, do you know the pros and cons of chest vs upright freezers? What’s the best chest freezer brand? Should you go with a standalone freezer? With so many freezer manufacturers in the marketplace today, it can be hard to decide on the size, style and brand of freezer that will serve you best.
That’s why we’re breaking down what to look for when shopping for a new freezer in . We’ll review the different types of freezers you can choose from and go over what you need to consider. We’ll also share some of the most reputable manufacturers and offer other useful information – like when to defrost your freezer and how to best-store your foods inside it.
So keep reading if you’re in the market for a new freezer in .
In this article, we’ll cover:
Upright freezers feature a refrigerator-style design, making it easy to see and reach the foods inside. You don’t have to bend over, reach in or move items away to access what you’re after, as opposed to when you have a chest freezer.
Upright vs Chest Freezer
The best upright freezers will automatically defrost when needed, meaning hands-free, no muss, no fuss maintenance for you. The drawback to upright freezers is they typically cost more than chest freezers. They’re also more expensive to operate in terms of power usage.
Also called deep freezers, the best chest freezers offer several benefits. First and foremost, they typically consume less energy to operate than some upright units. Chest freezers are also well-suited for storing large items, like whole turkeys or large animal cuts.
Chest Freezer vs Upright Freezer
With larger storage capacities, quieter operation and lower energy use, many people prefer deep chest freezers over upright freezers. However, chest freezers can be somewhat inconvenient for everyday use.
Because they’re bulky, they’re often stored in basements, garages or utility rooms, which means taking a walk every time you need something from your freezer. Depending on your needs, small, portable chest freezers can be an option that’s excellent for RVs and other camping needs.
Available in bin, pan and bucket styles, under-counter ice makers are perfect for entertaining. Sleek, modern designs and attractive sell points like clear ice technology make these units ideal for anyone who wants extra ice on demand. While convenient and accessible, under counter ice makers can be quite expensive, and some brands are loud.
Under counter ice makers are excellent for homes, offices, locker rooms, home theaters and lobbies. There are even options specifically designed for outdoor use to keep your summer BBQs cool no matter what the temp is outside.
Refrigerator and freezer sizes are typically measured in cubic feet. To figure out if the capacity of a freezer will be sufficient for your needs, you need to measure the height, depth and width of the unit. Then, you multiply those three numbers together to determine the cubic footage of your freezer.
For example, if your freezer measures 36 inches (3 feet) across the front, 24 inches (2 feet) from front to back, and 24 inches (2 feet) in height, then its capacity would be as follows:
3 x 2 x 2 = 12 cubic feet
You could also do it in inches:
36 x 24 x 24 = 20,736 cubic inches
12 x 12 x 12 = 1,728
Goto Ice Forest to know more.
Divide 20,736 by to get 12 cubic feet
Measure the space that your new appliance will fit into to ensure there’s plenty of room around it to fully open the doors. Consider if the freezer will have coils inside that could warm other appliances in the area.
Both chest and upright freezer sizes come in the following ranges:
As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended that you have a minimum of 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space for each member of your household. Each cubic foot of space in a freezer holds approximately 35 pounds of food. So, for a family of four, you’d want to look for a freezer with a minimum of 6 cubic feet capacity in the freezer.
There are various other optional features that you’ll want to think about before purchasing a new freezer. For example, a new freezer may or may not feature:
Depending on when you last shopped for a new freezer, you might be surprised at all the features available today. Get to know them first, then consider how important each one is to you, because most of them will increase the cost of the unit.
Our refrigerator ratings are organized by width, allowing you to easily see the highest-rated models in the size that fits your space. You’ll find models ranging from a whopping 48 inches wide down to 24 inches for full-sized fridges and even narrower measurements for mini fridges. We also note the height and depth of each tested model.
To help you find the best refrigerators outside the standard dimensions, we have guides to the best counter-depth refrigerators, 24- to 28-inch-wide refrigerators, 30-inch-wide refrigerators, and 33-inch-wide refrigerators.
As for the ideal storage capacity, most refrigerator manufacturers recommend 19 to 22 cubic feet for a family of four. But if you do a big weekly shopping trip or buy in bulk, you may need more, up to 30 to 33 cubic feet. Note: Our tests have found that the amount of usable storage is often less than what’s claimed by manufacturers. Check our refrigerator ratings for the actual capacity of each model. And for the best large fridges from our ratings, see this guide to the best refrigerators for big families.
CR doesn’t just test refrigerators in our labs. We also survey our members about their experiences with refrigerators to gauge a brand’s performance over time. In our most recent surveys, CR members told us about more than 66,500 new refrigerators they purchased between and . The refrigerator brands in the survey include Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, KitchenAid, LG, Maytag, Samsung, and Whirlpool.
The results revealed that 33 percent of all refrigerators require repairs by the end of their fifth year of ownership, making them one of the least reliable appliances we analyze in our member surveys. The two most commonly reported problem areas for refrigerators are icemakers and dispensers. Top-freezers are more reliable than other types of refrigerators, including the coveted French-door style, but our members generally like top-freezers and side-by-sides less than other fridge types. (Our survey results don’t include mini fridges.)
To learn more about the survey results and sift through details across brands, check out our guide to the most and least reliable refrigerator brands.
We test dozens of refrigerators every year to add to CR’s refrigerator ratings, which currently have over 270 models. But there are still hundreds more on the market in a variety of styles, sizes, and finishes. To help you make a good purchase even if we haven’t tested the particular model you’re considering, CR created its first-ever brand scores for French-door, side-by-side, top-freezer, and built-in refrigerators.
The scores take into account our lab test results, reliability survey data, and the scope of a brand’s product line across different price and performance tiers. If you come across a particular fridge that isn’t in our ratings, those scores are a good indicator of how it will perform both when new and over time.
To see our complete brand scores, head over to our guide to the best refrigerator brands.
It’s important to check your preferred retailer’s delivery and installation services before purchasing a new fridge. And if you’re replacing an old fridge, you might want to consider using the retailer’s haul-away service to remove and recycle the appliance.
Some retailers include these services with the appliance purchase for no additional charge, while others charge separate fees for them. For example, Costco generally offers all three services for free, while Best Buy charges $30 for delivery and installation on fridges costing $399 or more, and an additional $60 for haul-away. Service fees can sometimes vary or be waived as part of a retailer’s sales promotion or if the refrigerator’s price is above a certain threshold.
You can find delivery, installation, and haul-away information for a handful of major appliance retailers here: Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards.
After you purchase your new fridge and as you approach delivery day, plot a clear path through your home for the delivery team to bring the appliance inside. Take measurements to ensure it will fit through doorways, hallways, and stairwells. Finally, if you’re replacing an old fridge, plan to have it cleaned out and disconnected before the delivery team arrives.
Want more information on Island Freezer? Feel free to contact us.