A Brief Guide To How To Choose A Freezer

A freezer is a must-have these days, without necessarily bringing the argument of global warming into discussion. Of the so many models and designs, here is how to choose a freezer so it matches your needs, budget and space. All details come via Consumerreports.com

Check how noisy a freezer can be if you plan to keep it in a living area. Most manufacturers say that their freezers can operate in a room where the temperature can reach up 110 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan to house the freezer in an unheated area, such as a garage, adhere to the manufacturer’s specified operating range.

Also look at the size: freezers, whether chest or upright, come in four basic sizes: compact small (6 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet). Your choice should depend on available space and family needs.

If you live in an area with frequent power outages, make sure you buy a freezer that molds to this reality. Most manufacturers say that their freezers can keep food adequately frozen for 24 hours with the power off, as long as the freezer remains unopened. But our tests simulating a prolonged power failure revealed significant differences. Some uprights allowed a relatively large increase in temperature after only nine hours.

Most of the freezers maintain a consistent temperature. Manual-defrost uprights were the exception. Without fans to circulate cold air, temperatures of on-door shelves were between 9 and 19 degrees higher than in the rest of the freezer. Most self-defrosting uprights excelled in temperature performance. Their shelves and bins make it easier to organize and find food, but they reduce usable space. Manual-defrost freezers are generally more energy efficient and quieter than self-defrosting models. But defrosting can take hours.

Most of the tested chests and self-defrosting uprights delivered impressive temperature performance, maintaining 0 degrees F quite evenly throughout their interior. But all of the manual-defrost upright models had trouble keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the interior.

Don’t expect your new freezer to be quite as energy efficient as its yellow EnergyGuide label implies. On average, a freezer uses about 17 percent more energy, it has been proven in tests.

Also, pay attention to useful features. The features owners appreciate the most are an interior light, a power-on indicator, a locking door, and an alarm that goes off if the freezer becomes too warm inside.