Chest Freezer

Big or Small Freezer Chest Both Are Great for Everyday Use to Freezer Cooking

Chest Freezers are one of the most convenient options available for those who have large frozen storage needs. They get their name from their resemblance to an actual chest with a lift top door and a large box like interior.

This type of freezer is perfect for those who like to purchase large portions of meat (e.g., a side of beef from the local butcher), or for those who do freezer cooking -- where you spend one day a week or month making large portions of food and then storing them in individual portions to be used at a later date.

These freezers can be quite economical, because they allow you to purchase foods in bulk which can save you hundreds, if not thousands, each year.

These units range in size from a small chest freezer at 5 cu. ft. to one with much larger capacity of 25-30 cubic square feet of storage space.

Tip: Chest type freezers tend to be less efficient when they're not filled. So, be sure to purchase the size that you know you will be able to keep fairly full.

Our TOP 3 Chest Freezers to Consider

1. SMALLEST -- CHEAPEST

2.  HIGHEST QUALITY

The Whirlpool Chest Freezers are some of the best quality we could find.  Especially in the price range we were looking at (under $500).  Whirlpool also makes a number of sizes so if one is too big or another is too small, likely you'll find the right size for you.

3. BEST OVERALL VALUE

The Insignia 7.0 Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer is a great value at just $229.99.  It's efficient, runs a consistent temperature and is extremely durable.  This is one of our favorites.  Insignia also makes a number of larger Chest Freezers in case 7.0 cu. ft. isn't enough for you.

Important Chest Freezer Features

In the past, this type freezer was used more for commercial freezer storage, but now a this type if freezer is a common choice for home freezers. This is mostly due their ease of storing large quantities of food.

Especially in this era of Covid-19 causing all of us to look at cooking at home more often and finding ways to make the most of what we buy. 

Also known as a freezer chest, these freezers are usually stored in basements or garages, so appearance and styling is usually non-existent. But here are a few internal features you want to look for when considering this type of freezer:

• Removable, Sliding Baskets
  Lack of organization can be a key drawback with this type of freezer, so you want to be sure you have enough chest freezer baskets so you'll be able to find what you're looking for -- easily.
  
  You can often just purchase some plastic baskets from a Bed Bath and Beyond store or Container Store as these will work just as well.
  
  
• Freezer Alarm
  Considering you will probably store your freezer in a garage or basement, a freezer alarm will alert you when you've left the door open OR when there has been a dramatic shift in the internal temperature. Considering the amount of food that could be lost in either situation, we consider this is an absolute must.
  
  
• Frost Free Freezer
  Ice build up is easy in this type of freezer because many of the food items have to be stacked one on top of the other. And frankly, defrosting a chest type freezer is no way to spend a Sunday afternoon let alone finding a way to not loose all of your food at the same time.
  
  Many models are now available in a frost free version, which is worth finding one that has this feature. Or, cancel your plans for Sunday...

Of course there are other features to consider but these three are necessities.

Chest Freezer vs. Upright Freezers

When comparing to an upright freezer, here are some drawbacks that you should keep in mind when comparing to a chest type freezer:

Difficult to Organize

Unlike an Upright Freezer, these units don’t typically come with lights in the interior, making it difficult to find what you're looking for.

Often you will need to dig through the contents in your freezer to find what you are looking for. Due to the lack of storage baskets, you're often forced to stack your food items on top of each other making accessibility an issue.

• SOLUTION:
  Make a diagram of your freezer on a small white board. Break it up into 6 different sections and write down what food you have in each section. This way you can easily find and remember what food you have and where it’s located. You may also want to look into buying additional storage baskets.

  
  

  • TIP: Keep a pair of gloves handy for when you are going into your freezer. This way you won’t end up with frost bite on your hands.

Takes Up a Great Deal of Space

An Upright Freezer takes up about as much space as a typical refrigerator. But imagine lying your refrigerator on its side and putting it in your garage. That's the size of a standard chest type freezer. The good news here is that there have been a number of recent model additions to this marketplace and now there are a number of sizes to choose from.

Freezer Brands to Consider

There are really only a handful of chest brands we can recommend outright.

• Frigidaire Chest Freezer: Frigidaire makes excellent freezer and refrigerator products across the board, and their chest models are no exception.

• GE Chest Freezer: The GE Chest is a relatively inexpensive option that will give you years of trouble free service.

• Whirlpool Chest Freezer: Considering Whirlpool is the manufacturer behind brands like Kenmore, Amana and Maytag, they really know what they're doing when it comes to refrigeration and freezer products.

• Haier Chest Freezer: This German brand may not be as well known here in the United States, but they are definitely a brand worth considering.

• Summit: Reasonably priced, attractive and loaded with features, the Summit brand has consistently managed to stay competitive with the larger players in this market.

• Kenmore: The Kenmore brand is synonymous with high quality home appliances and their chest type freezer is no exception. Great models at really great prices.