Looking for a freezer? Check out this chart featuring some of the best-selling freezers from Amazon, which we have compiled to help you choose which is the right freezer for you. And below, please read our buying guide where we discuss useful tips for buying a freezer.
All about Freezers
If you’re in the market for a freezer, you’re probably looking for a model that is more robust than the icebox on a typical refrigerator. The type of freezer you’re looking for is known as an upright freezer, chest freezer or stand-alone freezer. These iceboxes work in the same way a fridge does, cooling down the air inside. Unlike a fridge, however, better insulation and higher cooling ensure a temperature averaging below freezing. Virtually every fridge today has a small freezer, but stand-alone units can range from the size of a fridge to entire commercial freezer rooms.
If you’re looking for freezer reviews, you’re probably interested to learn about the different kinds of freezer available on the market. You’ll also want to know about the various features you can get in a freezer. With hundreds, if not thousands of model to choose from, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the variety and selection available. Learn about freezers before you buy, and you can research the exact model you want. You won’t have to pay for features you don’t need, and you might find a feature you didn’t know existed and you can’t live without.
Freezer Reviews: Types of Freezers
As with any other appliance, the primary information you need before you buy is how much you plan to use this freezer. For home use, you might not want anything more than a small upright freezer. For avid hunters who bring home game for food, a larger ice chest might be ideal. If you run a small business, you might want commercial freezers, while larger businesses might opt for walk-in installations.
Upright freezers are small models, usually around half the size of a standard fridge, though the exact capacity varies. They stand upright and operate much like a fridge, only with a cooler interior. The mini fridge freezers can be classified as an upright freezer. (Check out our upright freezer reviews here, and our mini freezer reviews here).
Chest freezers are like upright freezers laid on their back with lids on top. They aren’t as tall, and have more horizontal space, but they have a large footprint. They are ideal for storing large amounts of meat at a time, among other uses. (Check out our chest freezer reviews here).
Commercial freezers come in sizes from on-wheels display racks to large cooler rooms. If you’re looking for a freezer for a business, consider these, but a typical home user will never need one.
Freezer Reviews: Basic and Advanced Features
Every freezer, at the most basic level, will keep anything inside it cold. The temperature can be set on any freezer, usually between 0 and 30 degrees F. Beyond that, special features vary from model to model. Be sure to check out this rundown of basic and optional features. For easier shopping, make a list of features you consider essential, and eliminate any freezer that lacks those features. Cheap freezers generally have all the basic features. The more expensive ones have more advanced features.
Freezer Reviews: Basic Features
Capacity. The amount of food a freezer can hold depends on the capacity. You probably want something larger than a fridge icebox, but you don’t want to invest in an expensive ice chest when you’ll never use more than half of the space.
Style. As a home user, you will likely choose between an upright and a chest freezer. Think about where you will put it, and make sure you have enough room to put it there.
Precise temperature control. Basic freezers will have a dial from 1 to 10, ranging from warmer to colder, with no indication of what temperature each number represents. More advanced freezers will allow you to set the exact temperature.
Indicator or interior lights. Many basic freezers have no indicator to tell you they’re on. In the event of an issue with the freezer, you might never notice until you open it up. Advanced freezers will have lights that indicate operation, as well as interior lights to illuminate the items you store.
A lock. Ice chests typically have a lock to prevent tampering. If your freezer will be stored inside, there is no reason to have a lock, but if you have an outdoor ice chest, you might want to make sure it is tamper proof.
Adjustable interior items. Chest freezers often have hanging baskets you can use for smaller items. Upright freezers, instead, usually have adjustable shelves.
Freezer Reviews: Advanced Features
These features are occasionally found on cheaper freezer models, but not always. You might end up paying a premium for some of them.
EnergyStar energy ratings. Different ratings mean different levels of energy efficiency. This might be important considering you will have the machine on all day every day, drawing electricity.
Ice makers. Upright freezers generally are more likely to have an icemaker than a chest freezer.
Features that make it easier to maintain the freezer. A textured exterior is easier to handle, as it is easier to clean and doesn’t show dents or scratches. Meanwhile an interior with no seams is easier to clean if something spoils during a power outage
Subdivided zones within the freezer. Some freezers have certain sections cordoned off for extra-fast freezing, for when you need something to chill down as quickly as possible.
Defrost utility. Some freezers will have no way to empty when they defrost. Others will have a drain or hose nozzle at the bottom of the machine.
Heavy duty hinges. Especially relevant for chest freezers, you want hinges that will withstand constant use.
Freezer Reviews: Pros and Cons of Uprights and Chest Freezers
Chest freezers are larger than uprights. They have more horizontal surface area, making it easier to store large and oddly shaped cuts of meat or other items. They are lower to the ground, meaning they won’t obscure a window or risk tipping over. They hold their cool more easily than uprights, and are more energy efficient. They are generally lower priced than upright freezers.
On the other hand, chest freezers require a large amount of floor space and clearance for the lid. They can also be a hassle to dig into looking for a specific item, especially if there is little or no light available.
Uprights are easier to locate items within, have a smaller footprint and are typically more stylish. They are also easier to move and install than chest freezers. These ease of access features lead to higher costs than chest freezers, and uprights consume more energy.
In the end, the choice of the best freezer for you depends on your available space, capacity needs and usage requirements. Once you know how you plan to use your freezer, and you know which features you want, it will be easy to choose the perfect freezer for you.
