Buying a freezer seems like a very simple job. Probably because you think you require it to keep the food cold enough. However, it is only when you start looking for a freezer that you realize it requires some pre-research; otherwise, it can get complicated. This is because a range of options is available for freezers.
It comes in different sizes and shapes, and there are different types of freezers with various features. Thus, it becomes very important to look at these factors. Although refrigerators already come with freezers, sometimes they are not enough. This is especially true for big households who need more space in their freezers to store various items and that too in bulk.
It is also useful for gardeners who want to ensure that their products last longer. Extra freezer space is also needed in restaurants and cafes where they store numerous food items. A standalone freezer provides this extra space.
1. What is a Freezer, and How does it Work?
A freezer is a special refrigeration unit where the internal temperature of the chamber is maintained below the freezing point of water, i.,e, 0-degree Celsius. It varies in size and capacity, but the working principle is the same.
But before we understand how a freezer works, let’s have a brief look into its components.
- Cooling space: This is the internal chamber where cooling occurs. The air circulated in this part has a temperature below the freezing point. To ensure that no heat energy exchange can occur, its walls are thermally insulated with foam or any other material.
- Refrigerant: The refrigerant is a special fluid circulating throughout the freezer and lowers the temperature. In earlier days, water was used as the refrigerant, but now, eco-friendly liquids or gases are used so that no CFCs and HCFCs are released into the atmosphere.
- Condenser coil: From the name itself, you can understand that this part of the freezer is responsible for condensing the refrigerant and bringing down the temperature set by the regulator.
- Evaporator coil: In this coil, the cooled-down refrigerant is exposed to the atmosphere as a result of absorbing heat. Thus, the moisture around the outside air is cooled down and form droplets on the coil.
- Electric fans: The main purpose of the fans inside the freezer is to distribute the cold air throughout. If the fan stops working, the air won’t be distributed, and there will be localized cold spots.
- Expansion valve: This valve is placed within the refrigeration unit to control the expansion of the refrigerant. Once the fluid expands, the valve is opened to let it flow.
- Compressor vessel: It is a sealed unit where the refrigerant is compressed. Following the gas laws, when any fluid is compressed, its temperature is automatically lowered while the pressure increases.
Now that you are aware of the different parts of a freezer let’s learn more about its working. First, the refrigerant enters the condenser vessel, where pressure reduces the volume. On applying high pressure, the refrigerant changes its state from gaseous to liquid. Once done, it enters into the condenser coil, where the temperature is reduced below the freezing point. The electric fan then sprays the mist of cooled air into the freezer, reducing the temperature further.
After that, the cooled liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator coil, absorbing heat and expanding in volume. This expansion and condensation process is controlled by the expansion valve so that the entire functioning of the freezer circuit is kept within control.
2. Different kinds of Standalone Freezers
Let us now look at all these freezers in detail.
2.1 Upright Freezer
These are quite famous freezers as they are quite convenient. It can easily fit them through a door. These freezers don’t take up extra space. They are equipped with compartment dividers. This helps keep the food items organized in a quite suitable manner. These freezers use a bit more energy but are very easy to use.
Pros
- Doesn’t occupy too much space.
- Easy to keep the food in an organized way.
- Easily movable.
- User-friendly
Cons
- Little expensive
2.2 Chest and Deep Freezer
Chest freezers are also known as deep freezers. This freezer is the number 1 choice of buyers who look for cost-efficient products and are energy-conscious. They even have the largest capacity facility.
Pros
- Affordable
- Large capacity
- Less energy
- Keeps food frozen for a longer duration even without power
Cons
- requires manual defrosting
2.3 Portable Freezers
Portable freezers are a little smaller when compared to other options. However, the attractive part is that they are affordable and come with various features that are not available in other big freezers. So, if you are looking for a small freezer, this is the perfect option for you. In addition, these are very convenient for the users because it doesn’t require constant ice-filling.
It is designed in a way that you can transfer your frozen food from one place to another. This means they are handy. They can stay at a constant temperature and thus can be taken along with you anywhere you want. This means it is a must-try option for travel lovers who want to carry their frozen food along with them.
Pros
- Affordable.
- ice is not required to keep the food cold
- Great to take for fishing, camping, or road trips
Cons
- Capacity is a little less
3. Important Factors to Consider while Buying a Freezer
The freezer guide will thus help you in figuring out the best freezer as per your needs and the essential features that you must look for in the freezers before buying them.
3.1 Reputed Brands
A strong brand reputation is very important when buying something as important and expensive as a freezer. It would help if you looked out for the best freezers brands. Verified users reviews and feedback could check its authenticity. Thus, a brand with a name in the market is quite important.
3.2 Size
Size is the most important factor when you buy an additional freezer as you already have a freezer attached to the refrigerator. However, if you are buying another freezer, it means you need a big-size freezer to fulfil your requirements. This makes it mandatory to consider the size and capacity of the freezer you plan to purchase.
Also Read – Fridge Freezer Capacity Guide.
Before you begin browsing your options, you must know your freezer needs.
It is also important to consider how much space will the freezer take. It would be best to decide where you will keep it beforehand. This will ensure that you know the exact size of the freezer you want.
An upright freezer, for example, is easier to fit in a kitchen. However, if you plan to buy a chest freezer, you need to have a big space in your home to keep your freezer.
3.3 Cost
Deciding your budget is the first thing before buying something big and expensive. Next, compare the price of similar products from different brands. You must also check if the selected freezer is worth the price or not. Finally, look for installation charges, maintenance, and additional long-term costs.
Check out why some freezers cost more than others. You also need to pay attention to the shipping cost. Look for brands that provide free shipping along with additional discounts and attractive deals and offers.
If you plan on energy-efficient models, the cost will automatically go up more than other options. First, however, you need to find whether the costs will pay off after running it overtime or not. If you choose an upright freezer, you must pay a premium for convenience.
3.4 Energy Usage
Freezers are required to be constantly running as long as they have food in them to do their work effectively. This means the freezer will be using the energy 24/7. This makes selecting an energy-efficient freezer quite important. It can make a remarkable difference in the overall energy costs.
Thus, you must identify a freezer that functions and performs well in its energy usage capability. In addition, it helps you deal with the extra charges your freezer can get you into.
3.5 Amount of Use
Many factors determine the amount of use a freezer is most likely to get. For example, the number of people who will be using the freezer the users’ eating habits, to name a few. In addition, hunters need more space to keep the large quantities of their frozen meat. Therefore, it would help to observe the typical habits of your family members who will use the freezer because these factors influence how your freezer is used regularly.
It would be best to consider how many food items you will store in your freezer. This will help you buy the freezer that suits your preferences. This means it will ensure that you are on the right track and choosing the best product for yourself. Suppose you will be using the freezer for a wide variety of uses. In that case, you must take a big freezer that is quite accommodative.
3.6 Temperature
As per the FDA, you should keep the freezer temperature at 0° F (-18° C). All the freezers are designed in a way that they reach this temperature. However, the climate in which the freezers are kept can affect its ability. If the freezer is kept in your kitchen or inside a room, there is no need to worry about this factor.
However, if you are going to keep the freezer in your garage, or any outside area, it is a cause of worry. This is because the temperature keeps fluctuating with the weather. Thus, you must check on the optimum temperature range of the freezer you plan to purchase. This is important as some models are designed in a way that operates just fine in the outside area, but some work less effectively and efficiently.
3.7 Organization
Everyone wants to keep their food items in an organized way. Thus, it is important to look for the freezer that provides the facility to keep your food well-organized. It should be kept in a way that becomes easily accessible. There should be compartment dividers as it makes the freezer user-friendly and at the same time quite comforting and convenient. This means you can take out whatever food items you want from the freezer very easily.
There are even freezers with hanging baskets. These are very useful as you can store a variety of food items. Thus, before you decide on which freezer you want, you must know how you want to keep your food inside the freezer and whether your selected product is as per your preferences or not.
3.8 Noise Level
Every freezer makes some noise. However, there is always an option to look for the quieter ones. This depends upon the location you are going to place your freezer. It becomes especially important if you keep your freezer at a place where you spend a lot of time. This is because the noise may trouble you.
Thus, it would help to consider the freezers as per their noise levels. You can check out different models and take the help of the user reviews as it will be beneficial to you in choosing the perfect freezer for your home. After all, it should be comforting rather than adding to your trouble.
3.9 Blackout Performance
It’s important to know how long the freezer will keep the food items cold during a power outage. This isn’t a big concern for most users as it doesn’t occur too often. However, we must always be prepared. Thus, buying the right freezer can make a difference when any unwanted situation arises.
A freezer with an excellent blackout performance can save the users from smelly food and unpleasant cleaning work. Chest freezers are the best for blackout performance. Suppose you live at a place with constant power cuts and your household encounters power failures quite regularly. In that case, you must choose your freezer, keeping this factor in mind.
3.10 Self-Defrost
The self-defrosting feature in a freezer saves the users from big trouble. The efficiency of a freezer decreases if it’s not defrosted on time. Manually defrosting the freezer requires a lot of effort. You have to remove everything for a while and then clean it. You also have to keep waiting until all the ice gets melted.
This is where the self-defrosting feature becomes very important. It saves your time and effort. Although they are comparatively expensive, it is worth it when it comes to the users convenience. They even offer improved energy efficiency.
3.11 Additional Worth Considering Features
Some freezers come with extra and unique features that consumers find attractive and appreciable. Let us now look at these features one by one, as these may make selecting the perfect freezer easier.
- Freezer locks: A freezer with a lock feature is worth considering, especially if you have kids at home. This will ensure that you don’t have to worry about the kids leaving the freezer door open or opening it unnecessarily. This will also ensure safety from the servants you don’t want to give access to your freezer.
- Soft freeze: A soft freeze feature keeps your favourite ice cream in perfect shape and at the right temperature. It’s a section made exclusively for ice cream, and thus, it is loved by users, especially kids.
- Dial thermostat: A dial thermostat enables the users to know how cold their freezer is, and they can easily control the temperature as per their needs and wants.
- Combination of refrigerator and freezer: Sometimes, people can’t decide if they need extra space for a refrigerator or a freezer. There comes the role of this special feature. It allows the users to switch between the freezer and refrigerator by adjusting the temperature as per their mood and requirement. This gives an extra option to the users to keep their food items the way they want.
4. What are the key features of a freezer?
Before learning about the buying guide for the freezer, it would be best to know about certain features you can find in this specific appliance type.
- Frost free– Some of the freezers come with a frost-free mode that will help in melting excess ice deposition inside the chamber. However, since the temperature is always maintained either at the freezing point of water or below it, you will often see frost forming along the walls, down the ceiling, and on the floor. Also, foods kept in the freezer might become solid hard. Therefore, to melt the frost, you can press the defrost button.
- Holiday mode– The Holiday Mode is present in certain freezers for ensuring that power consumption is limited within a certain range. This will help you keep the appliance on and plugged in without worrying about high electricity consumption. Once you press the button, the freezer will operate at its optimal state but not consume enormous energy.
- Filters– As you store foods inside the freezers, you need to ensure that the cold air circulating inside doesn’t contain bacteria or any other impurity and spoil the foods. That’s why the freezers are reinforced with certain filters, out of which the anti-bacterial filter is most important.
- Multiple temperature zones– Suppose you are choosing a chest or upright freezer. In that case, you will get the chance to maintain optimal temperatures in different zones. For example, you can lower the temperature of a drawer where meat is stored. But for veggies or anything else, you can use the drawer having a high temperature.
- Water/ice dispensers– In some of the appliances, you can find water and ice dispensers. You can get ice or chilled water without opening the freezer’s doors using this feature. These dispensers are usually present in upright freezers mainly.
- Display unit– If you are looking for a modern-day freezer, you will often find products having a special display unit. Different readings will be shown on the screen, like the temperature inside the chamber, the mode of the appliance working, and more. Having such a freezer will help you utilize the appliance to its fullest capacity.
- Fast freeze– If you want instant cooling of the chamber, you can use the fast freeze mode. Here, the refrigerant will be compressed more, and it will reduce the overall temperature within a couple of minutes only. As a result, your food won’t be spoiled or ruined.
Conclusion
It is essential to choose the freezer that suits your needs. It would help if you never hurried while buying something expensive and paid attention to all the details. The buyer should first research the best model available and pay attention to all the specifications and guidelines mentioned above. Also, you must understand all the features of the freezer you are planning to buy beforehand. This will help you avoid any inconvenience in using the freezer.
