A freezer is a common household appliance. It is an essential food storage technique in developed countries. Lower temperatures in a confined volume lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage.
Buying a fridge, freezer or fridge freezer is a big decision. Before you buy, thoroughly measure the height, depth and width of the space allocated in your kitchen. Leave at least 2 cm of space to the top and sides for good ventilation and ensure ambient temperatures remain consistent.
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Types
When it comes to types of freezers, there's no clear winner. So choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and budget.
| | Chest freezers Chest freezers are wide open except for their removable hanging baskets, so they offer more useable space than uprights. Chest freezers also tend to be slightly more energy efficient and are less likely to cause freezer burn. But retrieving items buried near the bottom of the chest can be inconvenient. |
| | Upright freezers Uprights take up less floor space than chests. As with a refrigerator, shelves and bins inside and on the door make organizing and finding contents easy. But that convenience reduces useable space by as much as 20 percent. Also, uprights cost more to buy and run. |
Features
Freezers are a pretty basic appliance but there are some freezer features that make them more convenient to use. Some may add to the price. Here are the freezer features to consider.
| Alarm Door lock Interior light Power-on light Quick-freeze feature | |
Soft-freeze section
This is handy if you don't want ice cream to freeze rock hard. One upright model we tested has a soft-freeze section.
Tips:
These are the most important freezer considerations:
- Freezer capacity required: Do you buy for 2, or a large family? Are you near shopping areas, or do you have to buy in bulk? Do you have other freezer space available, or will this be your only freezer?
- Storing Location: Where will you put the freezer? Allow sufficient clearances when measuring for a freezer and take measurements with you.
written by Nicolas Yang
