Freezer Review

Introduction to Freezers

Among kitchen appliances, freezers receive the least attention from professional reviewers. That said, however, the latest Consumer Reports update rates 15 upright and chest freezers. Consumer Reports' testing is straightforward and competent, but we are disappointed that there is not more discussion about individual models. A buying guide that identifies the pros and cons of the different types of freezers is helpful.

In the past, we've appreciated the recommendations of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The ACEEE continues to publish helpful information about all sorts of appliances, including freezers. The ninth edition of their Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, published in fall 2007, contains helpful information about selecting a freezer. Their website, however, offers only a greatly condensed version of the book. It does, however, link to the ENERGY STAR list of high-efficiency freezers.

Beyond that, consumers provide the best insight on freezers. GardenWeb.com is a discussion website that has several threads about freezers, and is a great place to ask questions and get specific answers. But information is scattered far and wide across the site, so you will have to do some searching.

In terms of sites that provide the most consumer feedback, Sears.com leads the pack, but most of the reviews are of the store's Kenmore brand. Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, Buzzillions.com and Epinions also post user reviews.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Foodreference.com, 0° Fahrenheit (F) is the proper temperature for long-term storage of frozen foods. At that temperature, bacteria, yeast and other microbes can no longer reproduce, so frozen food is safe from spoilage. The temperature in an upright freezer or chest freezer should never be higher than 5°F, according to food safety experts.

We've seen reports, however, saying that some freezers have trouble maintaining a low enough temperature. One that we've seen singled out is the General Electric FUM5SNWW (*Est. $300) . One report said that in tests, the freezer never reached a temperature below 34°F, and at times, tests revealed internal temperatures as high as 48°F. However, those findings have been contradicted by some user reports we've seen, and consumers seem to generally like the freezer.

Reviewers are quick to point out an interesting fact about U.S. freezers -- they're all primarily manufactured by three companies: Frigidaire (owned by Electrolux), W.C. Wood (based in Canada) and Haier (based in China>). Frigidaire makes freezers under the Frigidaire and Gibson names, and along with Haier, makes some freezers for Kenmore and GE. W.C. Wood makes freezers for Amana, Magic Chef, some units for Maytag, Danby and Whirlpool. Haier makes freezers for GE, Kenmore, some units for Maytag and Amana in addition to selling some models under its own name. Thus, it's no surprise that reviewers find no significant differences in efficiency and performance between brands of the same manufacturers (as long as they're new models of similar size and style). This also means that shoppers can pay a premium for high-profile names when the products are nearly identical. For example, Frigidaire freezers sometimes cost more than GE freezers and Maytag freezers may fetch a premium over a W.C. Wood freezer.