Maytag's MQC2257BEW chest freezer is a wonderful choice that's on the large side. It offers some interior storage flexibility as well as a temperature consistency system in a very energy-efficient unit.

We've come to associate the Maytag name with great refrigeration products, and we believe the company's freezer products are of comparable quality. The MQC2257BEW has the same basic white-textured stainless steel exterior as the great majority of chest freezers, and the interior lining is smooth and resistant to rust. Additionally, the interior is brightly lit.

The MQC2257BEW has a capacity of 21.7 cubic feet, which is large, but not as large as the gargantuan 24.5-cubic-foot models that are available. It can still hold an enormous amount of frozen food, however. The MQC2257BEW is a manual defrost chest freezer, so you'll want to place this appliance in either a basement or garage, or somewhere the water run-off will not be a problem. The upside of a manual defrost freezer is that it keeps food frozen moistly, so items will be less likely to suffer from "freezer burn" and will stay fresher for a longer period of time.

We also love the energy-efficiency of the MQC2257BEW. It uses just 460 kWh of electricity each year, which is an excellent rating for an appliance of this size and type. You can expect to pay approximately $38 per year to operate the MQC2257BEW, which amounts to about $3.17 added to your energy bill each month.

The interior freezer compartment of the MQC2257BEW is big and open, and can accommodate several large frozen turkeys, for example. Maytag has included two sturdy plastic bins that can either be stacked within the main compartment or sit at the top of the freezer. Other features include a keyed lock. The adjustable temperature controls are conveniently located on the freezer's exterior, but this freezer lacks an automatic temperature alarm, which would have been a nice addition to this model.

Maytag's MQC2257BEW is an energy-efficient chest freezer with some flexible storage options that offers ample space for storing frozen foods.


Pros: Energy-efficient, clean design, large capacity
Cons: Lacks temperature alarm

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor