Buyer's Guide: Best Upright Freezers for Your Home
Size
When choosing an upright freezer, size is one of the most vital factors to consider about. As a general rule, 1.5 cubic feet of space meets needs for per family member. An upright freezer with five or less cubic feet is considered compact. It works well in a limited space. Some compact models can be portable for outdoor activities. They could be powered by electric outlets or battery. A small upright freezer with six to nine cubic feet is considerable for a family of four to six members. Most families tend to choose a medium sized upright freezer with 10 to 18 cubic feet. That offers plenty of space for various foods. If you have a bulky stock of frozen food to store, a larger sized upright freezer might be better.
Interior shelves and drawers
Upright freezers have a lot of benefits. One is that the interior shelves and drawers are greatly user-friendly. That enables you to store a mass of food in an organized way. You can find fixed shelves and adjustable shelves under this category. The adjustable shelves are designed to move or remove the shelves for your needs. It is amazing if you have a whole turkey or other large items to store.
Freeze control
Many upright freezers are featured quick-freeze. They can freeze a large amount of food in short time. There are other models with soft freeze. They keep the food frozen but not that rock hard. The quick frozen food might take longer time to defrost. If you do not want the ice cream or cheese to be frozen hard, the soft freeze can be an ideal option.
Defrost
Upright freezers can be either self-defrosting or manual defrosting. The self-defrosting model is equipped with an automatic fan to melt the ice or frost. The melt water drips into a tray behind the bottom trim plate and evaporates. The fan can also circulate the air and keep a consistent temperature inside. This model tends to be more expensive but it saves a lot of time and human efforts. The other manual defrosting upright freezer uses an exterior fan. You have to turn off the power, take out all the food and them melting the ice with a fan. This could lead to higher temperature around the door.
Power indicator light
Power indicator light is a visual sign to show the freezer status. It is designed to ensure your food is maintained properly. With a glance you might find the freezer off which might be caused by breaker problem or power outage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the disadvantage of upright freezer?
One of the main disadvantages of an upright freezer is that it takes up more space compared to a chest freezer. Additionally, organizing items in an upright freezer can be more challenging due to the fewer compartments and shelves available.
2. What is the life expectancy of a freezer?
The average life expectancy of a freezer, whether it's a refrigerator-freezer or chest freezer, is around 16 years. However, freezers can last anywhere from 12 to 20 years. Among kitchen appliances, freezers tend to be one of the longest-lasting options, although the actual lifespan can vary.
3. Which is better, frost or no-frost freezer?
Both frost and no-frost freezers reduce energy bills by preventing frost buildup, but a frost-free model is generally considered better. Although the initial price of a frost-free freezer may be higher, the lower running costs over time usually make up for it.
4. What happens if you put a non-garage ready freezer in the garage?
If you place a non-garage ready freezer in an uninsulated or excessively cold garage, the freezing temperatures may trick the freezer into thinking it has reached the desired level of refrigeration. As a result, the freezer may fail to turn on and could incur damage, potentially causing food spoilage.
5. Can I put a freezer in an unheated garage?
While it is possible to put a freezer in an unheated garage, it is important to consider temperature fluctuations. Extreme temperatures can be detrimental to the freezer's performance. It is generally recommended to avoid exposing the freezer to temperatures above 110°F or below 0°F, as these conditions may damage the freezer and affect its functionality.
Editor's Notes
During our upright freezer research, we found 24 upright freezer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 74,309 customer reviews through our big data system to write the upright freezers list. We found that most customers choose upright freezers with an average price of $452.14.
The upright freezers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of upright freezers, including Frigidaire, Midea, Upstreman, Whynter, Commercial Cool. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Mark Greer has been an excellent residential carpenter for eight years in Los Angeles and has complete knowledge of woodworking, power tools, and home DIY. He never misses a chance of the lookout for new features and innovations in popular and novel home appliances as an insightful writer.