Energy efficiency is an important consideration when choosing a freezer because like your fridge, your freezer is always on. Unlike your fridge though, the entire freezer is at an extremely cold temperature, which requires a lot more energy than your fridge, where the majority of its chilled mass is a relatively balmy three degrees.
This makes choosing an efficient freezer really important, and your hip pocket will thank you. Just as with fridges, larger freezers will use more energy overall than smaller ones, the energy star ratings help you compare relative energy efficiency. And while star ratings between fridges and freezers are not comparable because of the higher energy needs of a freezer, you should still lean towards the one with more stars when choosing between similar sized models because it will cost you less to run.
How much less? Here's the difference in running costs for similar capacity — litre freezers with different energy star ratings:. There's really very little difference between the two form factors when it comes to energy efficiency, so decide whether a chest freezer or upright freezer is better for your needs first, then look for an energy-efficient freezer of your preferred type. Look for a freezer that suits your storage needs and will fit into your allocated space. It has adjustable temperature controls and five-wire shelves that allow better storage flexibility.
It also has excellent performance and is very affordable. Product Overview The inch GE chest freezer with 22 cu. Besides the generous space the unit offers, it has sliding storage baskets and a second level rail for added storage flexibility.
It is also designed to perform from 0F to F, making it suitable for various other environmental conditions. Product Overview The inch GE freezer with 11 cu. Besides the capacity, which works well for small households, the unit is equipped with three lift-out sliding baskets for storage flexibility. The defrost water drain also makes manual defrosting a lot easier. GE counterpart has adjustable temperature controls, and a power ON light which tells you when the freezer is in operation.
The unit also comes with a lock and key for added security. Product Overview Sub-Zero refrigerator leads the market in terms of quality and longevity, and the ID30F is always a popular undercounter freezer choice. The inch integrated double drawer freezer is an automatic defrost model that also comes with an optional automatic icemaker. But those are only two of the features that earned the unit the number one position in our list. Besides its excellent performance, the unit's design flexibility is very exceptional.
The smart control panel also adds that extra touch of elegance and class to your kitchen. There are essential features to look for before buying a freezer. The capacity of a freezer ranges from 5 cu. But the appropriate size for your kitchen depends on your storage needs and where the kitchen will be placed. For a small family, a freezer with 12 to 15 cu.
You might want to avoid having much free space in your freezer as this will create room for warm air. Depending on the type of freezer you buy, you are likely to get sufficient storage space for your food items. Upright freezers generally come with in-door storage and shelving options, which makes storage very convenient. But chest freezers have baskets that increase storage flexibility and make them ideal for bulky items.
Large freezers can get quite heavy when filled with frozen items, making them difficult to move around. So getting one that is fitted with rolling wheels might be a better choice. Freezers with customizable panels will also add to the overall elegance of your kitchen. You certainly do not want to buy a freezer that cannot serve you for long without costing you a lot in repairs. You also need a freezer that can keep your items frozen for at least 24hrs during a power outage.
Freezers with lower kWh usage and higher star ratings will cost less to run and save you money in energy bills. Generally, a smaller freezer will consume less energy than a larger one, but if the freezer has much free space, it will also require more energy. Freezers with frost-free functions are a convenient choice for those who want to avoid freezer-burn and frost on their food.
Manually defrosting a large chest freezer can become tedious even though they do perform better for long term food storage. A freezer with a temperature control panel that is easy to access is always preferable. But, at the same time, it should be out of the reach of children as you don't want to risk a sudden temperature adjustment by tiny hands.
Besides the operating temperature range, fridges are very different from freezers in a lot of ways. Refrigerators are designed for frequent access, so the door, temperature and humidity sensors, air flow, and interior lights are designed to accommodate this type of usage.
Freezer doors and door seals are designed to maintain a specific temperature with less frequent in and out access with longer term food storage in mind. Fridges have auto defrost sytems and chest freezers are manual frost appliance.
This is an important distinction, therefore, we will talk more about this in the next section. As an example, refrigerators typically do not work well in a garage if you live in a geography that has seasonal temperature swings unless your garage is well insulated. When the temperatures drop below 32 degrees in a garage the fridge compressor will stop operating thinking that it is cold enough. This in turn makes your food melt in the freezer. Freezers on the other hand, are designed to operate between 0 to degrees.
Their compressors will know to kick in more often say if the ambient temperature is high and, vice versa. Freezers with auto defrost utilize temperature fluctuations so that the defrost feature kicks on automatically. With auto-defrost and these types of temperature fluctuations, these freezers store food for a shorter amount of time than freezers that require manual defrost.
There are two types of stand-alone freezers to choose from: upright and chest. When choosing between the two, consider what and how much you need to keep frozen, as well as the space you have available in your home to accommodate the freezer. We recommend that you plan for at least three inches of space behind and on each side of the freezer to allow air to circulate around it. Freezers have compressors that get warm as they work to keep the inside cold, so they need to air space to prevent overheating.
Upright freezers look a lot like conventional single-door refrigerators with shelves, drawers, and extra storage space on the door. They come with an automatic defrost function that heats the internal coils in regular intervals to avoid frost build-up. This makes them better for short-term storage — even if you open the door multiple times a day, the automatic defrost function will prevent ice from building up. Chest freezers are low-profile box-shaped freezers with a hinged lid that opens from the top.
They have a wide open space with removable baskets and dividers, offering more usable space than an upright freezer. During power outages, chest freezers will keep colder for longer. They need to be manually defrosted to clean out built-up frost. Opening the lid often will cause ice to build up more quickly. When assessing your space, add a few inches to the depth of the chest freezer to account for the space the lid needs to open all the way. Both freezers come in a range of prices, dimensions, energy efficiency levels, and with features like manual or automatic defrost, a built-in ice maker, drain plugs, temperature controls, and a flash-freeze function.
Here are our favorites:. Our favorite pick, the Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW, provides about 13 cubic-feet of storage space with four adjustable wire shelves, a deep basket on the bottom, and five full-width door racks. Our evaluators liked that the base of the door racks are rounded and closed, keeping smaller items from sliding out as you open and close the door. The door can be installed with the handle to the left or the right.
It features an audible open door alert system which is important because when the door is left ajar, moisture is harvested from the air flowing in and ice accumulates inside. The automatic defrost function also prevents ice build-up which would otherwise need to be manually defrosted and cleaned out. A separate alarm is triggered when the internal temperature of the freezer rises, helping you quickly troubleshoot so that your food stays safely frozen. It has a bright interior LED light and an exterior light to indicate a power outage.
The manufacturer claims that the freezer keeps frozen for two days during a power outage.
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