Types of Freezers

Chest freezers vs. upright freezers

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reports on the most energy-efficient appliances, including freezers. As you might expect, they say smaller units use less energy, and chest freezers are better than uprights -- that's because very little cold air escapes when you open the top-mounted door. Still, the energy savings between the most and least efficient freezers isn't staggering. Because of that, reviews suggest you should base your choice on the configuration you want, the capacity and the price.

Chest freezers are best if you often buy foods in bulk and store them for long periods; they're also good for large or bulky items. While chest freezers take up more floor space than uprights, experts say they're ten to 25 percent more efficient, because they're better insulated and air doesn't spill out when the door is opened (the weight of the door also helps seal the unit). On the down side, because chest freezers lack shelves, they can be difficult to organize. Manual-defrost chest freezers can be considerably cheaper than their frost-free counterparts, but defrosting them can be a nuisance.

Upright freezers are your best choice if you buy smaller quantities of food more often. Organizing their contents is easy, but bulky items may be harder to fit. They take less floor space than chest freezers, but the door placement makes them less energy efficient. Upright freezers come in two types: manual-defrost and self-defrost. Manual-defrost freezers are slightly cheaper to buy and run, but self-defrost freezers give you freedom from defrosting, as well as interior shelves and shelves on the door. Experts nearly unanimously recommend going with a self-defrosting freezer. We did read a few concerns in forums that self-defrost freezers can dry out food, but experts say that well-wrapped food shouldn't dry out in either type of freezer.

Although many people like to keep a freezer in the garage, manufacturers say this isn't a good idea if your garage gets very hot or cold. In hot weather, compressors have to work overtime to keep food frozen, reducing the overall life of the compressor and making it more prone to breakage. We contacted Frigidaire, and a representative told us that the ideal temperature for keeping a chest or upright freezer in the garage is between 55° and 85° Fahrenheit. So if you live in a mild climate, keeping the freezer in the garage isn't a problem. For others, however, the basement is a better option.

Whirlpool has designed a line of garage-friendly appliances able to withstand very high or low outdoor temperatures. The Gladiator Garageworks brand is designed specifically for a garage. Gladiator's 21-cubic-foot Freezerator Convertible Refrigerator/Freezer GAFZ21XXRK (*Est. $1,100) has 15 cubic feet of freezer space, with six cubic feet of space on top that can be used as either a refrigerator or freezer. It has built-in heaters for cold outdoor temperatures and a cooling system for hot weather. Even so, it is recommended that you don't use the Gladiator in temperatures below 0°F or above 110°F. User reports on this model have not been particularly favorable, however.