The Basics: Freezers
Most freezer compartments on refrigerators are sufficient for holding an average family's frozen goods. But if your family purchases foods in bulk at a warehouse store, or if you use alot of frozen food on a monthly basis, shop infrequently or routinely cook for a crowd, you might want to consider buying a separate freezer.
Freezers are best for those who want to deep freeze foods for an extended period of time, and those who do not need frequent access to these frozen goods. These freezers are very basic in style. Since freezers are most often set up in a garage or basement, they do not need to be pretty -- just efficient. Freezers are essentially plain white trunks with plastic liners and freezing capabilities. There are not many variations in style between different manufacturer's offerings. Available features and amenities are limited, but include removable, sliding baskets to make storing and retrieving foods easier.
If you are concerned about protecting your investment in frozen foods -- which may be considerable, especially if you fill up a large model -- you might want to purchase a freezer that has a lock. Also, you should consider a food spoilage warranty, where the manufacturer will cover any spoiled food if the appliance breaks down.
How to Shop
If your family uses frozen foods such as ice cream, juice concentrates and pre-packaged frozen meals on a regular basis, and the freezer section of the refrigerator can't hold all your deep freeze delights, then a separate freezer might be a great solution.
When evaluating freezers for purchase, you must consider two major factors: space and purpose. If you are planning to use the freezer to store items for several months at a time, and don't need quick access to all of your frozen foods, then a large chest freezer would be appropriate for you. Upright freezers take up as much square footage as a refrigerator would, and they generally afford easy access to all materials. Upright freezers generally cost more than chest freezers and they are less energy efficient. Some upright freezers offer an automatic defrost feature; all chest freezers require manual defrost.
Clearly, a freezer with an automatic defrost is more convenient. Some manual models have a power defrost cycle to speed the defrosting process. But there is one clear benefit to a manual freezer: avoidance of freezer burn. Automatic defrost freezers take the humidity out of the air, and the moisture out of frozen foods. A manual freezer won't leave your ice cream with that "skin" that it gets with time in an auto defrost model, for example. Helpful freezer options include an alarm that sounds whenever the freezer's internal temperature drops below a safe freezing level, and a food spoilage warranty wherein the manufacturer will cover the cost of any food that is ruined if the freezer breaks down.
From the outside, upright freezers look like very basic, single-door refrigerator models. They're available as small as a 33-1/2 inches tall with about 5 cubic feet of capacity, for about $260, or as large as 70 inches tall with about 20 cubic feet of room for frozen foods. When selecting an upright freezer, consider your family's freezer needs, and also where you want to put the appliance. Since these units can be sized as large as some full-size refrigerators, it's important to be equipped with the area's dimensions and have an idea of the size of unit you'll need.
Both frost-free and manual defrost models are available in upright freezers. Expect to add about $100 to the cost of the freezer if you decide to go with a frost-free model. And if you opt for a manual model, you'll need to place the freezer near a drain to handle water runoff.
Only a few interior options and features are available in the upright freezer category. Features might include adjustable shelves, a wire storage basket or an interior light. Some manufacturers have their own special offerings, however. As with chest freezers, these models come in basic white only, because they are generally located in a garage or basement.
