Whether you are simply a person who enjoys making all their food several weeks in advance or simply experiences great pleasure in stocking up, a chest freezer is the best appliance in your arsenal. Hopefully, our top five list has shed some light on what to look for in a freezer, introduced you to some reputable brands, and will point you in the right direction for your own further research.
In the history of the human kind, there's scarcely been an appliance that's as brilliant and tough-looking as
a freezer chest! These plucky contraptions are capable of rendering a bunch of veggies and meat into a frozen solid mass, so that you can preserve food for later and save money by buying in bulk. Alternatively, if you've got a husky pup, you can make an improvised abode out of your new chest freezer to make your dog feel right at home.
Even though they're quite simple, especially on the exterior, most chest freezers often have a couple of additional features that go beyond just freezing. For example, removable storage baskets, thermostats and recessed handles are commodities that can make your job of freezing and thawing goods much easier. In this buying guide, we'll review the most important characteristics of these handy household appliances so that you can pick the best one for your needs—the first time!
Let’s take a minute to appreciate the brilliant cubical design of these contraptions. Once you get a hold of one, you almost feel like buying a couple more so you can stack them up like Legos or something. Typically, freezer chests have a door on top, like a proper chest, so you can simply throw whatever it is that deserves to be frozen solid into it.
The freezer chest door design, as well as their general construction, don't really have that much variation to them, so if you'd like to get a deep-freezing appliance of a different shape, you might be better off looking at fridge/freezer combos. If you do happen to like the cubical design, though, rejoice—for there are many interesting models to choose from!
Within these cube-shaped appliances, you’ll typically find removable baskets that are designed to make storage easier and more organized. If you have a lot of different foods to freeze and organize—breads, vegetables, meats, fruits, frozen drinks, ice cream and so on—a removable basket can be really useful for separating your foods into certain categories. On the other hand, if you have a LOT of things to freeze, the basket might get in your way and be better out of the freezer than inside it.
Arguably the most important part of a freezer chest, however, would be its
thermostat because this’ll determine how deep or light of a freeze you can get. Most models currently on the market, and all five of the ones we've included on our list, feature easy-to-adjust thermostats. Whatever model you've decided to buy, you can rest assured that it can cover the freezing necessities of a wide variety of different foods.
The last aspect to consider when shopping around for a freezer chest is the defrost drain valve. More often than not, you'll see these little holes at the bottom of the freezer. They’re typically meant for draining out water, but don’t be afraid to drain out soda, or whatever carbonated beverage, that exploded in the freezer after someone left it in there too long. In general, these defrosting 'mechanisms' are usually just a plug-and-unplug thing, so most models have manual defrosting systems.
To wrap up this section, we'd like to showcase some other products that are also capable of managing temperature! Busy bees that we are, we did our research on
beverage refrigerators,
beer growlers and
gas ovens, so if you happen to be in need of any of these contraptions, be sure to check out our reviews to learn more!
Price
When it comes to price, freezer chests aren’t that expensive when compared to other home appliances. For about $200 to $400, you can find many different chests with varying capacities, energy ratings and with or without defrost drains. Since there are a number of high-quality brands producing them, freezer chests come in a wide range of prices, so both people on a budget and those capable of paying a bit more can find really great models that’ll serve them for years to come!
When looking for a freezer, there are a couple of things to pay attention to. Since they're so similar to each other in design and construction, you won’t find much variation from the ‘cube’ look. But energy efficiency, along with their weight capacity, would be their most important aspects. As you’re shopping around, we recommend looking at energy ratings and how much stuff you’ll be able to throw into the freezer without it becoming overcrowded. If you’re on a really tight budget, you can find cheap freezer chests, but we recommend really scrutinizing their ratings to ensure you’re purchasing a product that’ll last you for many, many years.
Features
Even though your typical
freezer chest is a simple contraption, it can still be useful to do a little bit of homework before you venture out to buy one. To help you out, we've already done the tedious research bit! In this section, we've listed the most important properties to look for when buying a freezer chest. Read on!
- Size of the Chest
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Type of Defrost
- Easy Cleaning
- Type of Handle
- Removable Storage Baskets
- Insulation
- Lid Design
- Type of Refrigerant
- Energy Efficiency
- Warranty
Models with a high energy efficiency rating will use less electricity in the long run, enabling you to spend less money on your electricity bill. Although this isn't a major factor, it's still worth looking out for, especially if you're frugal.
Construction and Design
If we were to pick one thing that the manufacturers of freezer chests managed to retain throughout their years of production, it would be the freezer’s shape. From the least expensive versions made on a shoestring budget to some of the most exquisite examples of modern design, pretty much every single one of these contraptions is a cube!
Typically, there'll be some kind of door on top of it, a small board with the thermostat control and lights to let you know that the freezer is indeed running. As for their organizational aspect, the insides of a freezer chest often contain a wire basket for segregating different types of food, lest you place your raw meat on top of your vegan family member’s vegetables. This simple construction can be a great asset because it can help you save space in your kitchen or pantry (or wherever you choose to keep it). All in all, a simple and tough appliance that does its job. What's not to love?
Performance and Ease of Use
When you’ve finished purchasing one of these exquisite modern appliances, you’ll find that operation is a breeze! Just plug it in, set the thermostat to whatever temperature you need for your soon-to-be-preserved food and wait a little while for it to get cold. Once you've successfully completed this sacred duty, you're pretty much good to go! Just make sure to drain the excess ice and water every now and then so that your food doesn’t get frostbitten, and so your freezer continues to freezer properly over time.
We also recommend getting a model with a warranty because electrical appliances can sometimes be finicky. All in all, there are very few reasons not to purchase a brand new freezer chest!
If you absolutely, positively need something frozen solid, but consider the standard fridge not entirely apt to deliver those results, how about you try out a boxy alternative of sheer coolness that we call freezer chests! Not only can these contraptions turn everything chucked into them into frozen food hunks, but they look like giant ice cubes as well! Did you find one you really liked? We hope so! But if not, check out our top 5 recommend brands for a greater selection of ice-cube-shaped appliances!
