So, it’s that time
of year again….the garden needs to be harvested, you’re planning your fall
hunting trip, you need to stock up at the grocery store….and you need a new
freezer!
There are a few
things to consider when purchasing your new freezer:
- What types of foods are we putting in this freezer?
- How long will the food be in the freezer?
- Where are you going to put this freezer?
- Should I get an upright, or a chest freezer?
- Frost-free, or manual-defrost?
- What size should we get?
If you are looking
for a freezer to use for your regular day-to-day grocery needs, then a
frost-free upright unit might be good for you.
These units do not build-up with ice and are best served for the foods
that your family will go thru on a regular basis. If you are looking for more
long-term storage, then a manual-defrost chest type freezer would be best. These units keep your food deep-frozen, while
the unit may build up with ice, your food will not get freezer burned. When you open a chest freezer, the cold air
stays down in the freezer. When you open
an upright freezer, the cold air tends to escape. Chest freezers can hold a lot of food;
however, some may find that keeping an upright freezer organized is easier.
If you are going
to put your freezer in the garage, make sure that where you put it doesn’t
reach below -5 or above 110. Put it
along a joining wall with your home.
A freezer will hold approx 35 lbs of food per cubic feet, so
a 15 cubic feet chest freezer should store approximately 525 lbs of food.
Chest freezers come in a variety of sizes from 5 cubic feet
all the way up to 25 cubic feet, and range anywhere from $145-$799
Upright Freezers are usually in the 14-21 cubic feet size
and range between $399 & $899.
