Chest freezers tend to be slightly more affordable than upright freezers and may be less expensive to run. They also are more likely to keep your frozen foods frozen during a power outage because they hold a more consistent temperature. Overall, a chest freezer is a more economical option.
According to Consumer Reports, chest freezers have around 20 percent more usable space than upright freezers. When it comes to upright freezer vs chest freezer energy usage, chest freezers use up less energy than upright freezers, providing some relief to both the planet and your wallet.
Energy-efficiency Chest freezers are more energy-efficient than upright freezers. Generally, they cost a little more than $4 a month to run when divided. Upright freezers cost around $14 a month to run. Both options come in energy-efficient models, which can further your cost savings.
Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models because they typically have more insulation and cold air does not sink out of them when they are opened. Some utilities offer rebates or other incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.
Type of Freezer
On average, an upright freezer might use about 20% more energy than a chest freezer under similar conditions. Chest freezers, conversely, open from the top and are typically more energy-efficient due to better insulation and less cold air escaping when opened.
For storing large cuts of meat and bulk groceries over the long term, a chest freezer could be the better choice, as it tends to be more efficient and heat up less when the door is opened — cold air sinks to the bottom and stays there.
When it comes to storing a half cow, you'll need something in the ballpark of 8 to 10 cubic feet. A chest freezer or a spacious upright freezer will do the trick. Here's the scoop on what to look for: With chest freezers, aim for something around 10 cubic feet.
How often should I defrost my freezer? You should aim to defrost your freezer at least once a year or more frequently if your freezer is prone to ice build-up. You should also defrost your freezer if the ice build-up is more than ¼-inch thick.
Upright and chest freezers must be properly grounded. The power cord is equipped with a three-prong (grounding) plug which plugs into a standard three-prong wall outlet. This minimizes the possibility of electric shock hazard from this appliance.
Freezers typically last anywhere from 12 to 20 years. Along with gas and electric ranges, freezers tend to be the longest-lasting kitchen appliances. But that's not a guarantee! Many factors influence how long freezers last, including maintenance and environmental factors.
It might sound strange to think but a freezer shouldn't run all the time because if it does it will actually build-up to much ice. This can make your freezer to cold and will make opening it and then closing it a problem, it will also be sure to put more stress on the motor.
Keep the freezer in the upright position. If transporting it in an upright position is not possible, lay it down on the compressor side of the unit. Be careful to secure the door to prevent it from opening.
The Cons. Less Flexible Storage Space. Since upright freezers have up to 15 percent less storage space than chest models, storing larger items can be difficult. It may be hard to stash things like large cuts of beef or venison, whole turkeys and other odd-shaped items.
Place the freezer where the surrounding external temperatures will not exceed 110 degrees F. or fall below 0 degrees F. Position the freezer in a dry, well ventilated room. Do not install it in a closet.
“Hot gas defrost” is an efficient way to melt ice in the unit's evaporator coils. This method allows for a shorter defrost time, about 3-5 minutes, and uses less energy than a standard electric automatic defrost.
Drain Plug on Manual Defrost Freezers
Defrost water will flow out of the drain plug. For other models, the defrost drain plug is completely removed and the defrost water flows directly from the defrost drain.
Defrosting the freezer and cleaning it regularly helps keep ice at bay. Once the freezer is defrosted, clean it using a warm water and baking soda solution to remove food particles or liquids and limit ice formation. Also inspect the condition of your door seals, and replace them when they wear down.
The more cold food is in your freezer, the colder it will stay if the power goes out. If you don't open the freezer door at all, a full freezer will maintain its temperature for up to 48 hours before it starts to warm up—a half-full freezer will only last half as long.
As we said earlier, buying half a cow costs more at first than buying a little bit of meat at the store. But, if you add up how much you would spend at the store to get the same amount of meat, buying half a cow is cheaper. You save money over time.
Chest (Box) freezer:
These will fit more meat, but will be less organized since you have to stack from bottom to top. Chest freezers can also take up a little more space, but typically stay cooler.
You'll receive approximately 200 pounds of beef when you oder a half share. Your medium freezer will require 8-10 cubic feet of freezer space.
Even with the same capacity in cubic feet, chest freezers have more usable space than upright freezers. Energy efficiency is higher in chest freezers because they have an airtight seal.
Now this freezer here has glass shelving, which is OK, but we've found that if you can find a freezer with wire shelves, those shelves tend to be a little bit more sturdy and can hold a little bit more weight without bowing in the center because of the weight of the collections.