Best Manual Defrost Upright Freezers of 2025

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Manual defrost upright freezers are a great choice for those who want to store a large quantity of frozen food. These freezers come with a manual defrost feature, which means that the user has to manually defrost the freezer periodically. This type of freezer is more energy-efficient than a frost-free freezer and is also less expensive. The upright design allows for easy access to the contents of the freezer, and the shelves can be adjusted to accommodate larger items. With a range of sizes and styles available, there is a manual defrost upright freezer to suit any household's needs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Manual Defrost Upright Freezers
Hamilton Beach HBFRF1115
The Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer (HBFRF1115) is a spacious and convenient freezer that is perfect for your garage, basement, or dorm. With its large 11 cu. ft. capacity, you can store all your favorite foods and beverages without worrying about running out of space. The interior thermostat allows you to easily monitor and adjust the temperature to keep your items perfectly frozen. The 7 clear metal drawers provide organization and easy access to your food items. Additionally, the right hinge front door and adjustable legs ensure that the freezer is balanced and sturdy. The spotless stainless steel door finish prevents smudging, keeping your freezer looking clean and polished. With the Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer, you can enjoy the convenience of ample storage space and precise temperature control for all your freezing needs.
Kenmore Convertible Upright Freezer
The Kenmore Convertible Freezer is a versatile storage solution with a 14 cu. ft. capacity, perfect for all your food items. You can easily switch between freezing and refrigeration using the digital control panel, making it convenient to manage your food storage needs. The quick freeze feature ensures that your food cools rapidly, preserving freshness. With its garage-ready design, this freezer operates efficiently in various environments, such as garages or basements, while the total no-frost feature means you won’t have to worry about manual defrosting, keeping your food frost-free and safe.
Midea MRU03M2ABB Upright Freezer
The Midea MRU03M2ABB Upright Freezer is a 3.0 cubic feet freezer with a mechanical control with adjustable thermostat, reversible door, two fixed shelves, and a removable wire drawer. It is low noise and energy efficient, and features a safety lock for children. Customers have praised its size, quietness, and reliable care of food, though some have wished for a light inside and more capacity.
Summit Appliance AccuCold FS30L7 19
The Summit Appliance AccuCold FS30L7 19, also known as the Summit FS30L7 Compact Freezer, is a commercially approved compact freezer that is perfect for countertop use. This freezer is designed for general purpose use in medical and scientific facilities, making it a reliable option for storing medical supplies or laboratory samples. The factory installed lock provides added security, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the contents. With its adjustable thermostat, you can easily control the temperature to suit your needs. The reversible door offers flexible placement, allowing you to position the freezer according to your space requirements. The Summit FS30L7 Compact Freezer is a reliable and convenient solution for your freezing needs.
212 Main 3.2 cu. ft. Freezer
The 212 Main Upright Freezer offers a spacious 3.2 cubic feet of storage, perfect for keeping your frozen foods organized. With its environmentally friendly R600a refrigerant, you can feel good about your choice while enjoying efficient cooling. The manual defrost feature ensures that you can easily maintain the freezer’s performance without complicated systems. Plus, the two quick freeze shelves allow you to freeze items rapidly, making it ideal for batch cooking or preserving seasonal produce. The easy-to-use mechanical thermostat gives you control over the temperature, ensuring your food stays fresh and frozen just the way you like it.
Koolatron 7 Cu Ft Upright Freezer
The Koolatron Upright Freezer is designed for convenience and efficiency. Its garage-ready feature ensures that your freezer operates smoothly even in extreme temperatures, ranging from 0°F to 110°F. With low-frost technology, it minimizes frost buildup, making manual defrosting less frequent and keeping your frozen items easily accessible. The spacious 7.0 cu ft capacity provides ample storage, helping you save money by reducing food waste. Additionally, the four adjustable glass shelves and a special compartment for pizzas allow you to organize your food items effectively, ensuring you can find what you need quickly.
Accucold UFM19WLHD Upright Freezer
The Accucold Upright Freezer is designed for laboratory and clinical environments where maintaining a consistent -20ºC temperature is essential. With its manual defrost feature, you can trust that your samples will remain stable without the temperature fluctuations common in frost-free models. The built-in dial thermostat prevents accidental changes, giving you peace of mind. An external thermometer allows you to monitor the temperature easily, while the cantilevered shelving offers flexible storage options to accommodate various materials. This freezer is perfect for busy labs needing reliable and efficient storage solutions.
Anypro 7 Cu.Ft Upright Freezer
The Anypro Upright Freezer offers a spacious 7 cubic feet of storage, perfect for keeping your meats, ice cream, and frozen treats neatly organized. With its powerful freezing technology, you can trust that your food stays fresh and free from flavor mixing, thanks to its six separate drawers. The easy mechanical controls make it simple to set your desired temperature, ensuring anyone can operate it without hassle. Plus, the energy-efficient manual defrost feature helps you save on energy costs while minimizing maintenance. This combination of convenience and functionality makes it an excellent choice for homes and small businesses alike.
NewAir 13.8 cu. ft. Freezer
The NewAir Freezer is designed to operate efficiently in extreme temperatures, making it ideal for garages or workshops. With a spacious 13.8 cu ft. capacity, it offers versatile storage solutions while taking up less space than traditional chest freezers. The user-friendly digital control panel allows you to easily adjust temperatures from -11 to 46°F, ensuring your food is stored at the perfect temperature. Additionally, the auto-defrost feature eliminates the need for manual defrosting, saving you time and effort while keeping the freezer running smoothly.
Koolatron 5.3 Cu Ft Upright Freezer
The Koolatron Mini Freezer is perfect for those needing extra frozen storage without taking up too much space. With a generous 5.3 cubic foot capacity, you can easily store a variety of frozen foods, reducing waste and saving money. Its slim design, at just 21.7 inches wide, allows it to fit in tight areas like kitchens or basements. Organizing your food is simple, thanks to the four fixed wire shelves that keep items neatly in place. Plus, the reliable compressor cooling ensures your food stays at the ideal temperature, making it a convenient choice for any household.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a manual defrost freezer good?
Yes, manual defrost freezers have advantages. They are cheaper in terms of pricing and energy consumption compared to automatic defrost models. They can maintain consistent temperatures for large quantities of products stored in the freezer, making them a good option for certain needs.
2. What is the fastest way to defrost an upright freezer?
The fastest way to defrost an upright freezer is to unplug it and let the ice melt on its own. You can expedite the process by placing a fan near the freezer to help with defrosting. Opening the freezer door and using pans of hot water can also speed up the loosening of frost.
3. How do you defrost a frost free upright freezer?
To defrost a frost-free upright freezer, turn the temperature control to OFF and unplug the freezer. Remove all food and place it in insulated containers. If your freezer has a drain plug, remove it. Use pans of hot water to speed up the melting of frost while keeping the door open.
4. Are self defrosting freezers any good?
Self-defrosting freezers have their advantages and disadvantages. They use more energy compared to manual defrost freezers due to the on/off cycling defrosting routine. The fluctuating temperatures may affect the quality of food stored inside. However, they eliminate the need for manual defrosting, which can be convenient for some users.
5. What is the disadvantage of manual defrosting?
Manual defrosting has a few disadvantages, including higher energy consumption, longer defrosting time, fast frosting, and the need for more frequent defrosting. However, these factors may vary depending on the specific model and usage patterns.
6. What are the disadvantages of a frost-free freezer?
The main disadvantage of a frost-free freezer is that the heating elements used for defrosting can slightly warm the food near the cooling coils. This constant change in temperature can result in lower food quality. However, the convenience of not needing to manually defrost the freezer is a significant advantage.
7. What should you not do when defrosting a freezer?
When defrosting a freezer, it is important not to close the door. Leaving the door open allows warm air to circulate inside, aiding the defrosting process. Closing the door can hinder the defrosting and prolong the time required to melt the ice.
8. How often do you need to defrost an upright freezer?
The frequency of defrosting an upright freezer depends on the buildup of frost. Generally, it is recommended to defrost the freezer once frost reaches a thickness of 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm). Most upright freezers need to be defrosted every six months, but this can vary depending on usage and the specific freezer model.
9. Can you defrost a freezer without turning it off?
Yes, you can defrost a freezer without turning it off. First, remove all items from the freezer and pack them tightly into the refrigerator. Cover the floor with towels to absorb excess water during the defrosting process. This method allows for defrosting while keeping the freezer running.
During our manual defrost upright freezer research, we found 24 manual defrost upright freezer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 34,736 customer reviews through our big data system to write the manual defrost upright freezers list. We found that most customers choose manual defrost upright freezers with an average price of $800.53.
The manual defrost upright freezers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of manual defrost upright freezers, including Hamilton Beach, Koolatron, Midea, Summit Appliance, 212 Main. 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.
Manual Defrost Upright Freezers Comparison Table
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Brand | Hamilton Beach | Koolatron | Midea | Summit Appliance | 212 Main | Koolatron | ACCUCOLD | Anypro | NewAir | Koolatron |
Model Name | HBFRF1115 | - | MRU03M2ABB | Commercially Approved Compact Freezer | Manual Defrost Upright Freezer | KTUF196 AZ | 18 cu.ft. Upright Manual Defrost Freezer | FLG-180U-BLACK-D Upright Freezer 7 cu ft with Drawers | NFS140SS00 | KTUF160 AZ |
Color | STAINLESS | milky-white | Black | White | - | snowy white | white | Black | Stainless Steel | chalk white |
Door Material Type | Stainless Steel | - | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | - | Glass | White | VCM Upright Deep Freezer | Stainless Steel | Hard Plastic |
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