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Our list includes picks from popular household names like GE, Kenmore, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool. Wire Mesh Wall Shelving
Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is a passionate and voraciously hungry home cook and eater. She's been writing about food in all its forms since 2014 and is a big believer that anyone can and should love to cook.
Frozen foods are essential for quick weeknight meals. If digging through your current freezer to prep dinner feels more like playing a game of Tetris, it might be time to upgrade to a large chest freezer. Unlike upright freezers like the kind you likely have attached to your refrigerator, a chest freezer opens from the top, offers more usable food storage space, and is more energy efficient. A chest freezer also maintains its temperature better even when open, as cold air sinks to the bottom of the unit.
Vincent Finazzo, owner of Riverwards Produce, a specialty grocer in Philadelphia, advocates for chest freezers as a tool for eating seasonally without giving up variety. Factors to consider in shopping for a chest freezer include size, storage, and upkeep, says Finazzo, whose expertise guided our research. Along with Finazzo’s tips, we conducted a national survey of more than 600 chest freezer owners, helping us gather insights into the best brands, features, and sizes. Below, find our list of the best chest freezers to upgrade your current frozen food storage setup.
This GE chest freezer is generously sized and comes with two plastic lift-out baskets for organization.
Some survey participants said they wished the unit had a self-defrosting feature and a better lock on the door.
Of our over 600 survey participants polled, nearly a quarter used a GE chest freezer. Many respondents have been using the same freezer for more than 20 years and continue to be happy with the units' operation. This 7 cubic foot model is our pick for a generously sized freezer that holds plenty of food but isn’t so large that food gets lost. Finazzo also encourages choosing a freezer that is sized for what you’ll use since too much space in a freezer can encourage the build-up of frost.
This freezer includes two plastic lift-out baskets to help with the organization of your frozen fruits, veggies, or freezer-friendly food storage containers, plus an exterior power light that makes it easy to confirm the unit is operating correctly.
Capacity: 7 cubic feet | Dimensions: 33.5 x 32 x 21.7 inches
At 14.8 cubic feet, this freezer is very spacious and great for storing bulk food.
Some owners of this freezer wished there were more baskets included.
Our survey respondents noted that Kenmore freezers come equipped with the best systems for organizing food, a factor that is important for a spacious 14.8 cubic-foot unit like this one. Kenmore’s chest freezer comes with removable sliding wire baskets that allow you to store larger foods like a frozen turkey or layers of food without losing access to any of them. Survey participants found these units to be consistently straightforward, without any bells and whistles that require maintenance, and noted that they’re also very long-lasting.
A built-in defrost drain and on/off switch make it easy to clean and defrost this freezer when needed, and a cord caddy keeps any wires from getting in the way.
Capacity: 14.8 cubic feet | Dimensions: 33.5 x 60.5 x 14.75 inches
This unit has an LED light, which makes it easy to sort through the freezer’s contents. Plus, it has caster wheels for added mobility.
Our survey participants wanted more baskets for better organization of these large units.
One in five chest freezer users we polled has a Frigidaire freezer, which is a testament to this brand's durability and utility. Many users noted how well their freezers have fared during power outages, mentioning excellent insulation that also helps keep power costs low even when their freezers are in warm garages. This particular Frigidaire chest freezer has four removable caster wheels, which makes it easy to move from one area to another.
This Frigidaire unit also has a built-in LED light that is helpful in finding what you’re looking for in its spacious interior and features a safety lock to prevent children from getting into the freezer.
Capacity: 14.8 cubic feet | Dimensions: 32.5 x 55.75 x 29.5 inches
This small unit makes efficient use of its limited size.
Some users wanted more storage baskets to help better organize the freezer.
This five cubic-foot Magic Chef chest freezer is proof that you don’t need a ton of space to fit a chest freezer in your home. With a small footprint similar to an electric cooler, this unit fits easily into a large closet or small basement, with plenty of space for backup bulk foods and frozen produce. Survey participants found this unit very space-efficient but expressed a preference for more baskets to help organize the interior space.
Adding to its versatility, this Magic Chef freezer also includes a manual defrost option with a built-in drain, as well as adjustable temperature settings.
Capacity: 5 cubic feet | Dimensions: 32.9 x 27.3 x 21.8 inches
We love this freezer for its spacious and well-organized interior.
Some survey participants wished this freezer was upright rather than reach-in.
The largest unit we recommend, Whirlpool’s 16 cubic-foot freezer is ideal for big families, hunters, or home cooks who need access to lots of freezer space. This pick would also be ideal for gardeners looking to store extra produce from their outdoor vegetable garden or indoor herb garden. Survey participants who were focused on bulk shopping and keeping off-season produce fresh loved Whirlpool’s spacious interior. This large freezer has both shelves and baskets built into its design, which helps keep everything organized and evenly distributes cold air.
This chest freezer also has a few other convenient features like a counterbalanced lid that can stand open on its own, a built-in drain for easy defrosting, a safety lock, and an LED light to help find what you’re looking for.
Capacity: 16 cubic feet | Dimensions: 36 x 55.25 x 28.68 inches
The temperature knob on this unit allows you to control the freezer’s exact temperature within a twenty-degree range.
This unit does not have a lock, which might pose a safety concern for families with young children.
Most chest freezers don’t allow users to specify an exact temperature. If that’s an important feature, a temperature-controlled unit like this Insignia freezer is what you’ll want. With controls that allow you to specify from 10 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll be able to keep your food at the exact temperature you want it. If you’re storing specialty cuts from an online steak delivery service or temperature-sensitive picks from a seafood delivery service, for example, this chest freezer would be ideal to keep those items at peak freshness.
Insignia also has a built-in light and exterior power light for peace of mind, plus a defrost drain for peace of mind.
Capacity: 7 cubic feet | Dimensions: 33.5 x 32.25 x 21.75 inches
Survey participants like that this model is affordably priced and efficient.
This unit lacks an interior light and a safety lock.
Hotpoint’s 6.9 cubic foot freezer is a good option for an entry-point freezer that isn’t too expensive and doesn’t include many bells and whistles. This unit is affordably priced and includes basic features like a power light and defrost drain. Survey participants liked that these freezers are reliable and long-lasting, and noted that they don’t need much maintenance and don’t need regular defrosting. Participants also reported that these units are easy to organize and keep track of the contents.
Though the unit requires manual defrosting, users found that frost doesn’t build up very quickly, and liked the built-in drain when it did come time to defrost.
Capacity: 6.9 cubic feet | Dimensions: 21.89 x 33.27 x 32.28 inches
A chest freezer gives you flexibility in food storage, whether you want to put away seasonal produce for use later in the year, reduce trips to the grocery store, or batch-cook lasagna for a family. If you have the space, even a small chest freezer can give you significantly increased food storage options, and there are options at every price point.
Because they are designed to be opened from the top, chest freezers have a larger footprint than a typical refrigerator. When selecting what size you need, think about what you'll be using your freezer for and where you plan to put it. Keep in mind that inside capacity will likely be larger than your regular freezer, so you may need less space than you think.
If you're a hunter and plan to freeze large quantities, you might need a slightly larger freezer. If you're more interested in freezing components of meals or whole ingredients, less space may be just fine for your purposes.
Because they are well-insulated, chest freezers are generally very energy efficient. But if you’re particularly focused on keeping your costs down or staying highly energy efficient, consider opting for an Energy Star-certified unit. The location where you keep your freezer will also make a difference since units stored in warm rooms or garages will need to work harder to stay cold.
Over time, frost build-up can occur within your freezer. Defrosting once or twice a year is a good idea to keep food at its freshest, and it can also save you money on energy bills. While some chest freezers come with this self-defrosting function, others have to be manually defrosted. Be sure to check this function on the freezer you're interested in and purchase accordingly if this feature is important to you.
The importance of extra features like removable shelves, safety locks, LED lights, and wire baskets will depend on how you plan to use your freezer. A safety lock will be important for families with small children, but less so if there aren’t kids running around where you plan to keep your freezer. A light is helpful if you plan to keep your freezer in a dark basement or garage, and removable shelves are great if you know you’ll have a hard time keeping track of the freezer's contents. Think about how you plan to use your freezer to discern what features are important to you, and then pick the best freezer brand to suit your needs.
"To achieve a well-organized and decluttered freezer, skip the boxes and place frozen items directly into freezer bins," says Trent Jacobi, Executive Director of Product Management for Refrigeration at GE Appliances. “For sauces and liquids, allow the food to freeze flat in a plastic bag to then place in a storage bin that prevents them from slipping. Label it right away with the contents and expiration date using masking tape and marker. To avoid freezer burn and frost, fill at least one-half of your freezer."
"Turn the temperature control off and unplug the freezer. Remove all food from the freezer. Food may be temporarily stored in large, corrugated boxes, insulated bags, or coolers. Use towels and newspapers for insulation as needed. Some chest freezers have a convenient drain at the front with a hose adaptor. Check the owner's manual for specific model information," says Jacobi.
This depends on your model. For GE's upright and chest freezers, "The exact amps that an individual freezer draws are listed on the rating plate and should be used if placing the freezer on a generator or other auxiliary power source," says Jacobi. "Freezers typically draw extra current during start-up, approximately twice the running amp draw. The freezer should be on a dedicated circuit. This is recommended for best performance and to prevent the overloading of house wiring circuits."
For some freezers, your food will remain frozen for up to 48 hours when kept in the freezer. This maximum time would require that you do not open the lid and that the surrounding environment isn’t incredibly hot. 24 hours is likely to be the maximum before thawing begins if you are in a warm climate. Check your particular model’s user manual to see what they say about how to manage a power outage.
“The term deep freezer can apply to both upright and chest freezers," says Jacobi. “The difference between a deep freezer versus a regular refrigerator freezer is primarily around size and space. Deep freezers are standalone appliances ranging from five cubic feet to 22 cubic feet of freezer space. They have larger capacity allowing for more bulk storage and improved organization," says Jacobi.
"For those who are space-constrained, an upright freezer is a great addition. They take up less floor space than a chest freezer, and their upright design and adjustable shelves make it easy to open the freezer door and find items. In comparison, chest freezers can work better for large items with flexible, deep storage and removable storage containers to keep frozen goods organized. Both are great options, so it’s a matter of which freezer best fits your space and what you plan to store.”
Shelf With Chicken Wire To inform these recommendations, we performed a large-scale survey of chest freezer users across the country, receiving more than 600 responses. We asked participants to evaluate their chest freezers based on features, design, performance, effectiveness, and value, collecting data that helped us understand how people utilize their chest freezers. Through this data, trends emerged, showing what freezers last the longest and what features are most helpful to long-time users.