Upright Freezers

Upright freezers are convenient for daily use

While upright freezers tend to be more convenient since they are often self-defrosting and users don't need to bend over as much during use, we did encounter more reliability issues. Additionally, upright freezers are often more expensive than chest models. If you're on a tight budget or you only need a modest amount of freezer space, you might be better off with a chest freezer.

If you don't need a large-capacity freezer but prefer an upright, the 12.1-cubic-foot Frigidaire FFU12F2HW (*Est. $390) receives good ratings from experts and owners alike. This freezer is also sold as the Kenmore 28262 (*Est. $425); the two models are identical except for the brand name printed on the door. Professional tests show this freezer to be quieter than most self-defrosting upright freezers, but some owners say it can be noisy. The Frigidaire/Kenmore freezer has interior lighting but no power-on light. Owners at ABT.com, where it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars overall from more than 15 reviewers, like that the door shuts securely and say it is roomy inside and easy to organize. It isn't Energy Star-rated, however. This freezer is covered by a one-year warranty.

Among larger self-defrosting uprights, the 19.6-cubic-foot Whirlpool EV209NBTQ (*Est. $715) leads the pack in professional tests. It also receives a Best Buy award from ConsumerGuide.com, which heaps praise on its unusual two-door design. This arrangement lets you put longer-storage items in one section and more frequently accessed foods in the other, saving you from opening the entire freezer (and losing cold air) each time you need to get to the ice cream. A door-ajar alarm makes certain that both doors remain closed.

Other features of the Whirlpool EV209NBTQ include a temperature alarm that will sound if the freezer gets too warm or too cold, interior lights, power-on lights and a variety of storage options in the form of adjustable shelves (including those in the door). There are also two removable baskets plus a divided bin that slides out on tracks for easy access. We didn't find any user reviews for the Whirlpool, however. The freezer is Energy Star-rated and is available in white and natural silver (for $50 more) finishes. An optional ice-maker kit costs about $70. The freezer includes a one-year warranty.

The 20.5-cubic-foot Frigidaire GLFH21F8HW (*Est. $660) gets a nod from Bestcovery.com writer Mariette Mifflin, who chooses it as the best upright freezer and the best self-defrosting freezer in a series of four articles. Like the Whirlpool freezer, this model is Energy Star-rated and includes a battery-operated temperature alarm, door-open alarm and interior light. It has a one-year warranty. It only has one door, however, and fewer storage options, but the shelves are glass rather than wire. This freezer also has a keyed lock, which is fairly unusual in an upright freezer (though common among chest freezers). This model is also sold as the Kenmore 28092 (*Est. $730). It receives mostly good reviews from users posting to Sears.com (where it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars overall from more than 50 reviewers), but in tests other uprights perform better.

Manual-defrosting upright freezers are less convenient, but they are easier to defrost than a chest freezer and tend to be less expensive than self-defrosting units. However, experts say that because the manual-defrost units don't have internal fans, they struggle to maintain consistent temperatures throughout, and food stored in the door can become unacceptably warm. In one test, the best manual-defrost upright freezer received lower scores for temperature performance than the worst self-defrosting upright and manual-defrost chest freezers.

One product, the 17.1-cubic-foot Frigidaire FFU17M7HW (*Est. $480) receives slightly better ratings than other manual-defrost upright freezers in tests, but it still does a mediocre job of maintaining a consistent temperature. It has three wire shelves, interior lighting and a keyed lock, but no temperature alarm or power-on light. The door includes a nice variety of storage shelves and bins. It is not Energy Star-rated and has a one-year warranty. The freezer earns high marks from a handful of users at RCWilley.com (4.5 stars overall), where reviewers praise the adjustable shelves and quiet motor.

If you want a very compact upright freezer, the Edgestar CRF150SS (*Est. $195) is worth considering. This 1.5-cubic-foot, manual-defrost freezer has a full-range thermostat that allows it to be converted to a refrigerator with a turn of the dial. It ranges in temperature from 40-degrees (for refrigerated food) to 0-degrees (for frozen food). It also has a reversible door, one wire shelf and a keyed lock. It earns a high average rating (4.6 out of 5 stars) at CompactAppliance.com from more than 80 reviewers who say that it is perfect for small spaces like an apartment or dorm room. Users say this little unit is surprisingly quiet and works well. It has a stainless-steel finish and comes with a one-year warranty.