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.

Upright freezers

Among larger self-defrosting uprights, the 20-cubic-foot Maytag MQU2057BEW (*est. $680) is a good choice, reviews tell us. This freezer is ENERGY STAR qualified for lower utility bills and can handle up to 588 pounds of food. The Maytag has six fixed door bins, four shelves, a large sliding basket on the bottom, adjustable temperature control, a fast-freeze setting to cool contents quickly and an interior light. The exterior is made of a textured steel cabinet that resists fingerprints and dents, and also has a keyed lock for safety. Consumers praise this freezer's roominess and say it is both extremely quiet and cools down quickly.

Another option is the Whirlpool EV201NZR (*est. $750), a 20.1-cubic-foot freezer that is ENERGY STAR qualified. This upright freezer is self-defrosting with six door shelves, a bottom storage basket and four removable wire shelves. Other useful features include a temperature alarm, adjustable temperature controls, an interior light and a power-on light. The "fast freeze" setting quickly reduces the temperature of the freezer and the model is ice-maker ready (though not included). For convenience, the freezer has casters and two font-leveling legs. While there are few consumer reviews, those posting to Sears.com give it good overall ratings and praise its many features.

A similar model is the Whirlpool EV209NBTQ (*est. $750) which has a 19.6-cubic-foot capacity. Like the EV201NZR, this upright freezer is ENERGY STAR qualified and frost-free. Differences are mostly minor. There are door storage bins and a slide-out tub. But there is no adjustable temperature control, no storage basket and there are three shelves instead of four. However, this model also has two doors (resembling a top-freezer refrigerator), a feature rarely found on upright freezers. If you tend to store foods both long-term and short-term, 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 each time you need to get to the ice cream. A door-ajar alarm makes certain that both doors remain closed.

If you don't need something as large as the above models, the Kenmore 26743 (*est. $630) has a 16.7-cubic-foot capacity with an interior light, four fixed shelves and five shelves on the door. In addition, you can lock the door with an included key. Reviews at Sears.com are mixed, but there are only four comments. Three of the four report problems requiring repair.

A still smaller option is the 13.7-cubic-foot self-defrosting General Electric FUF14DTRWH (*est. $450). This model scores highly with a few owners at HomeDepot.com, who say it is just the right size for most families ° not too small, but not too large. It offers three cabinet shelves, five freezer door shelves (two juice shelves) and an interior light. Similar GE freezers have extra features like a lock and door alarm. This particular GE freezer is not an ENERGY STAR model.

Manual-defrosting upright freezers are less convenient, but they are easier to defrost than a chest freezer. With 15.9 cubic feet of interior space, the Maytag MQU1654BEW (*est. $430) can handle up to 456 pounds of food, has four fixed door bins, a lower storage gate, full-width epoxy-coated shelves and an interior light. It also has two adjustable front legs for leveling, a defrost drain and a locking door. Consumer reviews praise its deep and wide shelves, tight seal, interior light and quiet operation. This is one of the few uprights that has such low energy use that it is ENERGY STAR qualified.

Similar to the Maytag MQU1654BEW is the Whirlpool EV161FZRQ (*est. $480) , which is also an upright, manual-defrost freezer that is ENERGY STAR qualified. This 16.0-cubic-foot freezer has five shelves on the door, three fixed interior shelves, a bottom storage basket, power-on light and two front-leveling legs. There is also a fast-freeze setting not found on most freezers. A drain is included for easier defrosting.

The Kenmore 26722 (*est. $530) is another alternative if you want an upright manual-defrost freezer. At 17.1 cubic feet, this Kenmore freezer is a little larger than the Maytag above, and also slightly more expensive. It is the successor to the Kenmore 24722, which was highly rated in our previous freezer report. This model has three fixed interior shelves and five racks on the door. Other features include a slide-out basket, a security lock and a power-on light. User feedback on this freezer is limited thus far, but mainly positive.

If you want a very compact upright freezer for an office, dorm or small apartment, the Sunpentown UF-160W Upright Compact Freezer (*est. $225) is worth considering. This 1.6-cubic-foot manual-defrost mini-freezer has a reversible door, one wire shelf, an adjustable thermostat, front leveling legs, an ice cube tray and a keyed lock. Reports we've seen say this little unit is surprisingly quiet and works well. If you want a stainless steel finish, consider the Sunpentown UF-160S (*est. $235) which costs only $10 more.

Chest freezers

If you prefer a chest freezer, the Whirlpool EH151FXR (*est. $450) is a 14.8-cubic-foot freezer that has earned some positive notices. This model is also available at Lowe's as the Whirlpool EHL151FXRQ. This ENERGY STAR qualified freezer is a manual-defrost chest freezer with an interior light and a temperature alarm. Its key-eject lock provides an extra measure of safety, as it means that the freezer can only be opened when the key is pushed in and turned. Four baskets (two upper, two lower) make it easier to organize the contents -- particularly at the bottom of the freezer, where consumers and critics say food can get easily "lost." The Whirlpool EH150FXR (*est. $400) is a similar model but it has two baskets instead of four; it also skips the interior light and has no temperature alarm.

For those with more modest freezing needs, we've also seen some positive recognition for the manually defrosting 7.2-cubic-foot Frigidaire FFC0723D (*est. $250) . It's not as feature-loaded as the Whirlpool above, but the important features experts recommend, like a defrost drain and adjustable temperature control, are present. There's no interior light, but a power-on light assures you that the freezer is working.

At the other end of the size spectrum, if you need a huge amount of freezer space, the General Electric FCM25DSWH (*est. $650) is one of the largest models. This 25.1-cubic-foot manual-defrost freezer has four lift-out and sliding bulk storage baskets. Other features include a security lock for safety, defrost water drain and adjustable temperature control. If you want more features, consider the General Electric FCM25SUWW (*est. $800) . This model has a 24.9-cubic-foot capacity, a temperature alarm, five storage baskets, a drain pan, power-on light and a second-level rail to help with organization and ease of use.

If you want a self-defrosting chest freezer, the 13.8-cubic-foot Kenmore 16572 (*est. $570) doesn't get a lot of feedback at Sears.com, but what's there is uniformly positive. Features include four baskets for easier organization, a power-on light, interior lighting and security lock. Users compliment its reliability and appreciate the fact that it runs fairly quietly. The Kenmore 16562 (*est. $570) is nearly identical.

The Frigidaire AFFC1466D (*est. $550) is another good self-defrosting chest freezer, and it is a bit less expensive The Frigidaire freezer has 13.8 cubic feet of interior space, an interior light, a power-on light, a locking door and four baskets. In one test, this freezer kept a consistent temperature throughout and scored well in energy efficiency, but was a little noisier than others. In general, you'll pay a bit more for a self-defrosting chest freezer, but you won't be faced with the occasional ordeal of defrosting it.

Important Features: Freezers

Freezers run most efficiently when filled tightly, so resist the temptation to purchase the biggest unit you can afford. Thanks to newer insulation materials, smaller units offer more capacity than freezers only a few years old.

If you're purchasing a manual-defrost freezer, a drain will make defrosting much easier.

• Experts prefer adjustable temperature control. Nearly all full-size freezers have a temperature-control knob.

• A lock is an important safety feature for homes with children. Most freezers come with a lock and a couple of keys.

• Finding food in a jam-packed freezer isn't easy, so look for an interior light.

• A power "on" light is useful for making sure the freezer's power hasn't gone out.

In the event of a power outage, experts say that food will remain frozen for at least 48 hours as long as the door is kept closed. So if you do have a power failure, resist the temptation to open the door to check on the food. There is some concern that freezers, especially self-defrosting models, can dry out food. But experts state that if food is tightly wrapped (to keep moisture in) this should not be a problem.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)
2	Kenmore 26742 (discontinued)
1 each	GE FCM7DRWH, GE FUM5SNWW , GE FCM25DTWH/FCM25SUWW , Frigidaire FFU1764F , Frigidaire FFC0723D , GE FUF17DTRWH , GE FUF20DTRWH/FUF20DPRWH , Kenmore Elite 16582, Kenmore 26722, Maytag MQU1654BEW , Maytag MQU2057BEW , Maytag MQU1656BEW , Sunpentown UF-160W , Whirlpool EH151FXR , Sanyo HF-5015

We found little consensus on specific freezer models -- that could partly be because most experts say that freezers generally perform similarly within size and price class. Maytag frost-free and manual-defrost upright freezers score highly with consumers as well. In chest freezers, the Whirlpool EH151FXR has lots of operational and convenience features and is ENERGY STAR qualified; however, it requires occasional defrosting. Frost-free chest freezers used to be a rarity, but models from Frigidaire and Kenmore have received some kudos.

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