Best Small Upright Frost Free Freezer Of 2024: Completed List
Peter Fonda Apr 29, 2024 4:08 AM
Stand-alone freezers might be a great investment if you want to keep your family's food costs under control or just want to spend less time in the grocery store. They allow homeowners to take advantage of grocery store sales while also providing long-term storage space for perishable commodities. People who garden, fish, or hunt may also benefit greatly from having access to these massive freezers.
The best models of upright freezers include shelves that may be easily labeled, and they take up far less room on the floor than chest freezers. Modern upright freezers come in a variety of sizes and styles to seamlessly integrate with your existing home furnishings. This buying guide features useful criteria that may be used to quickly eliminate less desirable upright freezers, and it also contains a selection of some of the best models now available.
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Capacity
There are several different sizes of upright freezers on the market, including those that are small (up to 5 cubic feet), medium (between 9 and 18 cubic feet), and big (above 18 cubic feet) (more than 18 cubic feet). They don't take up a lot of space, especially considering their increased height and narrowness when more storage is needed. Some of the more compact types are ideally suited for placement above or below standard kitchen counters.
After roughly 6 weeks in the freezer, most foods start to lose quality and have freezer burn. Butcher's cuts that are packaged separately can be kept for a year or more. Consider how much frozen food your family goes through in that period. Multiplying the number of persons in the home by 2.5 cubic feet is a decent starting point for determining the appropriate home freezer size. Individual food shopping patterns has to be taken into account as a result of the wide range of consumption styles.
Those who shop in bulk would do well to remember that 35 pounds of food may be stored in a volume equal to 1 cubic foot. You'll need roughly 8 cubic feet of freezer space for a side of beef. It's fine to invest in a freezer that's slightly larger than what will be needed on a regular basis. However, remember that unused refrigeration space is a waste of electricity.
Dimensions
The freezer's external dimensions are sometimes crucial. Unless you want to keep the freezer in a garage, measure the doorway to ensure that the freezer will fit inside. Before buying a freezer, it's a good idea to measure both the space it will occupy and the clearance needed for the door to swing open completely.
A standard 6-cubic-foot standup freezer is about 57 inches tall, 22 inches wide, and 23 inches deep. Space requirements for a 14-cubic-foot medium model are 64 inches in height, 30 inches in width, and 32 inches in depth. Space requirements for a 20-cubic-foot freezer are typically 72 inches of headroom, plus 33 inches of width and 29 inches of depth on the floor.
Temperature Control
For consistent functioning, the unit's temperature has been set at the factory, but there is also a manual temperature controller inside the appliance itself. While colder temperatures may be preferable for long-term storage, warmer temperatures are ideal for maintaining scoopability of ice cream. There are freezers that have separate temperature zones, which greatly expands the options for what can be stored in them.
Recent types of upright deep freezers typically give a temperature range of 10 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit, with some offering much colder settings. To maintain food safety, the FDA advises keeping frozen goods at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If you want to keep your food fresh for a long time, the fridge should be set between ten and twenty degrees below freezing. When shopping for a vertical freezer with the intention of storing items for a long time, a lower temperature typically works better.
Garage-ready design
An upright freezer that is "garage ready" can be used in the great outdoors, where temperatures can vary widely. The unit can keep working properly even if the outside temperature is extremely high or low. If you don't want to sacrifice precious kitchen real estate in favor of additional frozen food storage, or if you simply prefer to have more flexibility in where you place your appliance, a garage-ready model is your best bet.
Quick freeze setting
Using the quick freeze setting on your upright freezer can enable the interior to get cold quickly when you first switch it on or when you add new items after a trip to the shop. When turned on, it will disregard the current temperature setting and blow the coldest air possible across the room. The tastes of your meats, fruits, and veggies will be sealed in for up to 50 hours. People who prefer not to use their hands while driving or who are looking for a convertible vehicle will like this.
Reversible door
A reversible door allows an upright freezer to be opened from either the left or the right side. If you need to fit your freezer into a cramped area, such as a crowded garage, this is a helpful feature to have. This door style is distinguished by its concealed hardware and hermetic sealing. Seals wear out over time, but they are easily replaceable.
Manual vs Automatic Defrosting
Think about how often you'll need to defrost the freezer before deciding between a manual and an automatic type. If you want to deep freeze goods for long periods of time and just defrost them when you need them, manual defrosting may be the best option. If you regularly remove items from your freezer and don't want frost to form on them, an upright freezer with automatic defrosting (also known as frost-free) may be the best option for you.
Garage-Friendliness
Even though freezers themselves regulate the inside temperature, you need also consider the ambient temperature of your garage if you intend to put your upright freezer there.
If that's the case, you need to look for freezers designed for use in a garage. These coolers are equipped with special characteristics that allow them to endure extreme temperatures, so you may store food in them year-round. You definitely don't want the unit's interior temperature to be affected by the weather outside.
Additional Features
Shelves
One of the most compelling arguments in favor of an upright freezer over a chest freezer is the convenience of arranging the stored food in shelves. A freezer with more shelves, especially ones that can be moved around, may be preferable for storage purposes. The greater flexibility afforded by more shelving makes it possible to remove shelves to make more room for bulky objects.
Interior lights
The inclusion of inside lighting, which is incredibly useful for locating individual ingredients, is not guaranteed. The greatest upright freezers not only come with internal lights, but also have plenty of light to make it easy to see everything within.
Touch screen
The room's temperature is shown on a touchscreen, and its settings can be adjusted without ever opening the door. The effectiveness and ease of use of the system are both enhanced by this addition.
Ice maker
Despite their apparent necessity, ice makers are uncommon in upright refrigerators. However, some people believe this, and they're not entirely wrong.
Door safety lock
Having the choice to lock the freezer door is an important security feature. If your freezer needs to be kept in a secure area outside your home, this is a great choice. In order to prevent their children from getting hurt, many families choose to lock their freezers.
Leveling legs/wheels
Even the contents of the freezer's bottom can have a role. Legs can be adjusted by screwing them in or out to level furniture on an uneven surface. The freezer needs to lean back slightly for the door to shut without any help from you. When it comes time to clean under the freezer, wheels are a lifesaver. When making your purchase decisions, keep these things in mind.
How do upright freezers differ from chest freezers?
The purpose of both upright freezers and chest freezers is the same: to maintain a frozen state in food. Though their spatial requirements vary. To compensate for their increased vertical space requirements, upright freezers take up less horizontal room. However, while chest freezers take up more horizontal space, they require less vertical space. How much space you have in your kitchen, pantry, or garage could determine whether you go with an upright or chest freezer.
The state of your company could be a factor as well. It is less of a hassle to find what you need in an upright freezer because of the increased vertical storage options. It might be cumbersome to sort through a chest freezer, according to some owners.
How do you clean inside an upright freezer?
Your upright freezer needs frequent cleaning. They are thankfully simple to disinfect. Wiping down the outside and shelves once a week is sufficient, but a more thorough cleaning may be required once every few months. In this case, you'll need to defrost the freezer and move the contents to another cold storage unit. Remove all dust and grime from the racks and drawers by washing them with soap and water. Put the food back in the freezer once it has been switched back on and dried with a clean dish towel.
How often should an upright freezer run?
It is recommended that the compressor on an upright freezer be on for roughly 30 minutes out of every hour.
What is the quickest way to defrost an upright freezer?
Freezers in frost-free upright models are never frozen solid. Regular emptying and defrosting of manual defrost freezers is required. Let the ice melt naturally, please. In order to speed things up, you should position a fan next to the freezer.
What is better, a chest or an upright freezer?
If you're limited on storage space, opt for a freezer that stands on its own, such an upright model. You'll save room in your house because of its compact design. There are a lot more storage possibilities in upright freezers, such as shelves and door bins. Chest freezers, on the other hand, are more efficient and produce less noise. To save money or if you plan to install the unit at home, this is crucial information.
You probably already know that factors like space availability, financial constraints, and personal preference will determine whether you choose with an upright or chest freezer. If you need or prefer quick access to your frozen foods, an upright freezer may be the better investment for you. This style of freezer also requires less floor space, making it a great option for apartments or other small dwellings.
However, chest freezers have many advantages over their upright counterparts, including lower initial and ongoing costs, greater energy efficiency, improved food preservation during power outages, larger storage capacities, and increased longevity.
