How to Select the Best Chest Freezer for Your Home

The freezers attached to fridges are often tiny. For individuals or families that prepare meals weeks in advance, hunt or fish, or just have a lot of mouths to feed, it may become necessary to purchase a separate freezer. However, with so many options on the market at varying price points, you may be at a loss on how to pick the best one.

A deep freezer is a standalone freezer that keeps food frozen at around 0℉ and is a popular option for families and individuals who need additional freezer storage. There are two main deep freezers: chest freezers and upright freezers.

An upright freezer looks like a fridge and takes up less floor space. However, upright freezers tend to be more expensive and have less room than their chest freezer counterparts. Chest freezers are wider, taking up more floor space but providing more storage space. In addition, they are typically more energy-friendly and cheaper than upright freezers.

Purchasing a freezer chest may seem like a straightforward process, but picking the right one for your home can be tricky. Here are five things to take into consideration:

The cost to quality ratio is typically important for anyone purchasing a new appliance. In addition to the cost of the chest freezer, you should also consider longer-term energy costs. Deep freezers need to run 24/7, which can run up your energy bill.

Energy Star rates appliances that meet government energy-efficient standards. Energy Star-qualified models tend to be popular among those looking to save on their electricity bills and be more eco-friendly. You may have to pay more upfront for an energy-efficient freezer chest, but it will save you money down the road.

How much storage space do you need? Will the chest freezer be used for daily or long-term storage or both? How big is your family? Answering these questions will help you find the deep freezer that suits your needs.

Families using a chest freezer to store frozen meals and snacks need to ensure everyone can easily access the food. Chest freezers are often hard to organize since they are deep. Strictly organizing a chest freezer may not be necessary if you want to use it for long-term storage. However, an organization system is important if you go into the freezer chest daily.

Are you going to put your new chest freezer in the house or outside somewhere like a garage? If the chest freezer is outside, you’ll need to get one that can keep up against changing temperatures.

Many chest freezers claim to work in temperatures up to 100℉. If you live in an area where the temperature rises above that, you’ll need to find a chest freezer that can work in hotter temperatures. Otherwise, the heat may damage it. If it’s going inside, noise is more of a concern than temperature. You don’t want a noisy freezer running all the time, so make sure you find one that runs quietly.

Losing power is stressful but bound to happen every once in a while. When shopping for your chest freezer, consider how it might perform if you lose power. How long will it stay cool? Will it protect your food? Always check what manufacturers say about the appliance’s ability to perform in a blackout and check product reviews.

If you’re investing in a deep freezer, you want to ensure that you get an appliance from a reputable brand. According to Consumer Reports, some of the best deep freezer brands are Amana, Frigidaire, GW, Haier, Igloo, Kenmore, Maytag, and Whirlpool. Of course, the quality of individual products from these brands may vary, and you should always check the specs and reviews of each product.

Freezer damage, such as issues with cooling, is fairly common. Unfortunately, manufacturer warranties typically last only a year or two and may only cover defects in material or workmanship. And paying for repairs out of pocket can be a headache. After spending hundreds of dollars for a chest freezer, customers want to ensure their investment is protected with an extended warranty.

An Upsie extended freezer warranty will protect against mechanical failures, power failures, heating/cooling issues, and drain failures. Customers can purchase an Upsie freezer warranty to protect their chest freezer for up to five years without a deductible. In addition, Upsie customers can submit claims at any time, any day of the year. After Upsie approves the claim, a certified technician will fix the appliance right in the customer’s home.

Customers can purchase an Upsie appliance warranty for freezers and other appliances bought in the last 11 months.