Chest Freezers

Chest freezers, like upright freezers, are a great way for families to save time and money. Freezer chest capacities typically range from 4 to around 25 Cu. Ft.

There are several issues to consider before going on a freezer hunt. These typically include size, brand, cost and energy consumption.

Size

Freezers are generally available in 4 sizes namely; compact, small, medium and large. Which size you settle for will depend on the size of your family, how frequently you shop for perishables and how often you cook.

If you leave alone, chances are that you will require a small chest freezer such as a 5 0 Cu. Ft. one.

If, however, you have a large family, you would be well-advised to consider investing in at least a 21 cubic foot freezer chest.

Shopping for perishables such as meats less frequently would obviously imply that you require a larger freezer.

In addition, if you value home-cooked food but only cook occasionally, you will tend to "eat out of the freezer." This means that you will require a larger freezer than you would if you cooked more often.

In addition, if you store bulky foods such as animal carcasses, you probably need a large freezer to both cater for this while leaving sufficient space for your usual freezing needs.

Which freezer chest size you settle for will also be determined by the available floor space. Owing to its horizontal design, a freezer chest occupies a lot of floor area and may not fit in many standard kitchens...

It is therefore highly recommended that you measure the precise dimensions (length, breadth and height) of the place you intend to position your unit before going freezer shopping.

Remember to double-check that the entrance to the proposed storage area should be wide enough for the freezer to pass through. In addition, the storage area should have sufficient headroom both so that the unit can open comfortably and safely.

Leading Chest Freezer Brands

The popular residential freezer chest brands in the US are:

• Frigidaire freezer chests

• GE freezer chests

• Whirlpool freezer chests

• Haier freezer chests

• Kenmore freezer chests

Most of these freezer brands have been around for decades so they have established a pretty solid track record. And, virtually all these freezer chest brands come with a one-year warranty to cover defective parts and workmanship.

Energy Consumption

Both because chest have thick wall insulations and they open upwards (resulting in better retention of cold air), they are more energy efficient than upright freezers. Investing in this type of freezer will therefore not dent your electric bill.

If you are alarmed by the phenomenal scale of climate change and are keen to reduce your carbon footprint, you should consider investing in an energy star freezer chest. Energy Star rated freezers also reward you with lower electric bills.

Price

Cubic foot for cubic foot, chests are significantly cheaper than their upright counterparts. Freezer chests are even cheaper when you factor in the fact that they provide more storage space owing to the absence of baskets, drawers and shelves.

That said, some leading brands are known to manufacture cheap chest freezers in the sense that their freezers come with a fascinating raft of features that make these chests value for money.

Freezer Chest Features

• Key eject lock. Because a key eject lock plays the dual role of securing your food from pilferers and childproofing this potentially dangerous appliance, many consumers place a premium on this feature.

• Alarm. Some chest freezers have inbuilt temperature alarm which will alert you if the freezer temperature rises above a safe level.

• Power indicator light. This light confirms the power status of the freezer at a glance. This feature reduces the incidence of food spoilage as a result of loss of power to the freezer unit.

• Interior light. Chest freezer models with interior light automatically illuminate the interior of the freezer when the door is opened, enabling you to locate and retrieve food in unlit or poorly lit conditions.

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