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Buying A Chest Freezer

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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Foodreference.com, 0 degrees Fahrenheit (F) is the proper temperature for long-term storage of frozen foods. At that temperature, bacteria, yeast and other microbes can no longer reproduce, so frozen food is safe from spoilage. The temperature in an upright freezer or chest freezer should never be higher than 5 degrees F, according to food safety experts.

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Chest Freezer or Upright Freezer?

Both styles of freezers are generally sold in 5 - 25 cu. ft. sizes, but there are capacity differences in the same size chest and upright models of freezers. It's easier to find the mid-range freezer sizes in stores and not all freezers are available in self-defrost models.

Having a freezer (or two) in your home can add another dimension worth considering. Instead of having a refrigerator/freezer in your kitchen, you could choose an all-refrigerator model which would greatly increase cold food storage, and keep your frozen foods in one or two freezers. It should be noted however, that freezers will increase your energy costs while providing this food storage convenience.

Chest Freezers

The most economical type of freezer is the chest model. Basically every inch of a chest freezer is usable storage. Although there are certain chest models that have automatic defrost or are frost-free, most chest freezers are manual defrost, a task which requires several hours or a whole day to accomplish. Because of the built-in side wall insulation, chest freezers hold their cold temperatures very well and therefore use the least energy to run. In fact, during a power outage or a household move to another locale, as long as the freezer lid is not open, an unplugged chest freezer can keep the contents frozen for 2 or even 3 days, depending on the frozen food quantity. Manual chest freezers tend to have longer lifecycles than upright models.

Upright Freezers

Upright freezers are more expensive than chest models yet provide less usable storage capacity; a difference of about 10 - 15% less. Prices are influenced by capacity and storage systems, as well as convenience features like auto or manual defrost. It can be hard to detect whether an upright has self defrost or not, you'll need to confirm that with the dealer. This feature can cost you a $100 or more plus it will use more energy, but the convenience is well worth this extra cost. An auto defrost feature in an upright works similar to a refrigerator auto-defrost by cycling off/on to keep the freezer free of ice build-up.

Which Is Better?

If you can afford the extra cost and you love to keep everything organized in its place - an upright may be best for you. If you're just looking for economical frozen food storage, a chest is cheap to buy and operate. The type of freezer that best suits you also depends on your particular lifestyle and needs. Some people prefer to have an upright for everyday frozen foods while they store seasonal game/meat or special baking in a chest freezer. For the best energy efficiency, choose a freezer that is Energy Star Qualified.

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Chest Freezers - What To Look For

Freezers run most efficiently when filled tightly, so resist the temptation to purchase the biggest unit you can afford. Thanks to newer insulation materials, smaller units offer more capacity than freezers only a few years old.

If you're purchasing a manual-defrost freezer, a drain will make defrosting much easier.

* Experts prefer adjustable temperature control. Nearly all full-size freezers have a temperature-control knob.

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* A lock is an important safety feature for homes with children. Most freezers come with a lock and a couple of keys.

* Finding food in a jam-packed freezer isn't easy, so look for an interior light.

* A power "on" light is useful for making sure the freezer's power hasn't gone out.

In the event of a power outage, experts say that food will remain frozen for at least 48 hours as long as the door is kept closed. So if you do have a power failure, resist the temptation to open the door to check on the food. There is some concern that freezers, especially self-defrosting models, can dry out food. But experts state that if food is tightly wrapped (to keep moisture in) this should not be a problem.

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