Freezers

Choosing a Freezer

Freezers are useful and long-lasting home appliances. Here are some things to know when choosing which type of freezer to buy.

Freezer capacity: Your food storage needs can determine the best freezer for your home. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need 1.5 cubic feet of space per person. Using this formula, a family of four would need at least a 6 cubic foot freezer. You may find the best freezer for your home will have an even larger capacity if you want to freeze food for emergency situations, or if you buy a side of beef or other large amounts of meat at one time. Also, gardeners may want extra freezer space for storing the fruits and vegetables they grow. 

Energy efficiency: A freezer that’s rated energy efficient uses about 10 percent less energy for the same amount of storage. Choosing an energy efficient freezer can save you money and reduce your impact on the environment.

Flammable vs. non-flammable refrigerants: Traditionally, refrigerants made from hydrofluorocarbons, or HFC’s, have been used to keep freezers, refrigerators and air conditioners cool. The EPA has been requiring that manufacturers phase out these traditional refrigerants due to their impact on the ozone layer. Almost a third of newly manufactured freezers and refrigerators now use more environmentally friendly, yet flammable, refrigerants.

Best Freezer Door Options

Upright: Upright freezers resemble the built-in refrigerator freezers with which you're probably already familiar. With outward swinging doors, upright freezers can be placed under bars or countertops. These types of freezers require free space in front of them to open properly. Accessing food in upright freezers is fairly simple many have built-in shelves and storage that allow you to organize and access food via different levels without too much difficulty, even if they’re at the back of the freezer.

Chest: Thanks to their liftable tops, chest freezers don't require as much floor space to open as upright models, though they do require some space above them to open. Many chest freezers are portable, some are rechargeable, and others run on solar power. The layout of the storage baskets in these types of freezers allow for maximum storage space so you can really pack in frozen food items. Overall, they are excellent for long-term freezing and can hold many tightly-packed food items because they don't have built-in shelves.

Drawers: Ultramodern in design and appearance, drawer freezers have multiple storage baskets that slide smoothly out for easy access and organization. Like upright freezers, drawer freezers can be installed under a countertop or left as freestanding units. In accordance with their sleek modern appearance, many drawer freezers have multiple temperature settings and features that enhance their versatility and make them easy to use.

Advantages of having a lock on your freezer

 When you stock your freezer at home, you primarily want to save some money. When commercial freezers are stocked up, the entrepreneur hopes to derive a profit from the food kept in the freezer.  

• A locked freezer will keep food fresh longer because the temperatures in the freezer stays constant. 
• Children might be tempted to play with freezer doors that are located at the bottom of the refrigerator and a child can get trapped in the freezer. 
•  Avoid costly repairs by putting a lock on your freezer door. It's much cheaper to purchase and install a suitable lock for your freezer door than to repair a damaged door.
• To reduce energy bills, keep your freezer door closed and locked, when necessary. 
• When moving your appliance, you'll need to keep your freezer door locked.