OT - Who makes the best Chest Freezer??

MNEggerandStuff

So know that the vacuum sealer debate is settles(per another thread), what does everyone recommend for a chest freezer to store all the vacuum sealed goodness in?

is 7 Cubic feet enough?  which brand?

Figure a single guy who entertains often and cooks on the egg a lot.

ColtsFan

Staying tuned. In the market as well 

Jstroke

Not sure brand matters, as far as 7 sq ft, depends on family members and how much you like to keep on hand or buy meat when it’s cheap etc. if you just bought a vacuum seeler and there is more than 1 person, at least 10-12+. Freezer space is like horsepower. Seems like you can always use more

pgprescott

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

ColtsFan

pgprescott said:

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

Upright? Man, know the challenge the freezer can be on my side-by-side  Sheet slides out and won't stay in place  

At least with a chest I can pile stuff in and know that it will stay 

DoubleEgger

ColtsFan said:

pgprescott said:

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

Upright? Man, know the challenge the freezer can be on my side-by-side  Sheet slides out and won't stay in place  

At least with a chest I can pile stuff in and know that it will stay 

The chest retains cold better than an upright. 

littlerascal56

Chest will be your best value, regardless of brand.  Keep it full, and will run cheap and last for 20+ years with no problems.  I am 62, and only on my 2nd chest freezer. 

bgebrent

@NPHuskerFL

pgprescott

ColtsFan said:

pgprescott said:

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

Upright? Man, know the challenge the freezer can be on my side-by-side  Sheet slides out and won't stay in place  

At least with a chest I can pile stuff in and know that it will stay 

My point exactly stuff piled on top of stuff ugh! No thanks. I gave my chest freezer away. I’ll pay the extra $5 a year in operating cost gladly. Don’t see very many chest refrigerators because the design is inconvenient. Just my $.02. 

MNEggerandStuff

pgprescott said:

ColtsFan said:

pgprescott said:

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

Upright? Man, know the challenge the freezer can be on my side-by-side  Sheet slides out and won't stay in place  

At least with a chest I can pile stuff in and know that it will stay 

My point exactly stuff piled on top of stuff ugh! No thanks. I gave my chest freezer away. I’ll pay the extra $5 a year in operating cost gladly. Don’t see very many chest refrigerators because the design is inconvenient. Just my $.02. 

We had an upright when I was a kid, dad actually still has it.  But man, what a PIA when we have to defrost that thing......and we were still unstacking one shelf to find what was in the back, no wait, it's actually in the back of a different shelf.

Bad memories as a kid, doesn't necessary mean the other is better, but the grass does sure seem greener, at least better smelling  

BUT I am open to being proven wrong, hence the thread asking for others opinions\experience.  and thank you

pgprescott

MNEggerandStuff said:

pgprescott said:

ColtsFan said:

pgprescott said:

In my experience the best chest freezer is an upright freezer. Just way more functional. I would easily pay double or more for an upright  over a chest type. Seriously trying to help even though it may not seem like it. Good
luck either way. 

Upright? Man, know the challenge the freezer can be on my side-by-side  Sheet slides out and won't stay in place  

At least with a chest I can pile stuff in and know that it will stay 

My point exactly stuff piled on top of stuff ugh! No thanks. I gave my chest freezer away. I’ll pay the extra $5 a year in operating cost gladly. Don’t see very many chest refrigerators because the design is inconvenient. Just my $.02. 

We had an upright when I was a kid, dad actually still has it.  But man, what a PIA when we have to defrost that thing......and we were still unstacking one shelf to find what was in the back, no wait, it's actually in the back of a different shelf.

Bad memories as a kid, doesn't necessary mean the other is better, but the grass does sure seem greener, at least better smelling  

BUT I am open to being proven wrong, hence the thread asking for others opinions\experience.  and thank you

My upright is frost free. Again prolly is a pig ( few bucks more a year) but totally maintenance free. For me it’s an absolute no brainer.  Again, just imagine your refrigerator contents piled up like the chest freezer. That’s what you are tolerating with a chest freezer. If you have an entire freezer full of hamburger then I would be ok with a chest freezer. My freezer has dozens of unique items. 

MNEggerandStuff

Frost Free??  I thought frost free was the anti long time storage feature? 

Is this a misconception of mine?

littlerascal56

I too was taught you don’t want “frost free” in a freezer, as it would defrost itself every 24 hours, and tend to freezer burn the frozen food.

HeavyG

MNEggerandStuff said:

Frost Free??  I thought frost free was the anti long time storage feature? 

Is this a misconception of mine?

Frost free is fine for the sort of use in a home kitchen where most folks are cycling thru the food fairly quickly. For long term freezer storage where many things will be in there for a much longer period then a frost free does not provide the best quality preservation because of that routine thawing/defrost cycle.

However, I've pulled frozen meat from my kitchen frost free fridge/freezer that was down there (bottom freezer) over a year and I couldn't really detect any deterioration in quality.

Easy way to deal with a chest freezer is to use milk crates or the like to contain various items. Makes it real easy to find and get to stuff.

NPHuskerFL

bgebrent said:

@NPHuskerFL

My residential deep freeze -10F is a Frigidaire and we've been happy with it.  Commercial reach-ins both coolers and freezers I like True, Traulsen and some Beverage-Air models and I guess even Perlick.

Smoker317

I have stored elk and mule deer for up to two years without issue in our upright frost free freezer.  I have noticed freezer burn on certain non-meat items like lasagna after six months.  Sometimes we do a double batch of lasagna and I vacuum seal individual portions for when I am playing bachelor and need a quick yummy meal after work.  I checked the date and we have had this Frigidaire upright frost-free for eight years. 

As far as stuff sliding out, our model has hanging baskets for items that don't really stack well.  This pic is not normally what our freezer looks like, but we just went in on half a beef with our neighbors.  So it is pretty full now, but obviously will be less crowded as time passes. 

If you decide on an upright, I suggest making sure that it has a circulating fan.  I do keep the bottom and top vents from being blocked even though it may not look like it in the pic.  The fan keeps items on the top shelf as cold as on the bottom. 

We usually keep ours out negative 5 degrees.  I think I read once deer meat should be kept at that temp for 30 days before turning into jerky to kill something or another.  I really have no idea.  LOL

cookingdude555

Not whirlpool:

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/whirpool-refrigerator-explodes-inside-florida-family-s-home/1681557714

GregW

cookingdude555 said:

Not whirlpool:

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/whirpool-refrigerator-explodes-inside-florida-family-s-home/1681557714

I don't know what refrigerant type is used in residential freezers/refrigerators now, but I recently bought a new commercial refrigerator for my business and it uses a hydrocarbon based refrigerant that is of course flammable.

The new hydrocarbon refrigerant is CFC free and good for the environment, but really bad when it leaks and explodes.

littlerascal56

Note-no matter what brand you pick, there is a good chance that Whirlpool built it.  Many major brands (including Kitchen Aid) are built by Whirlpool corporation.

1voyager

We have an upright, frost-free Frigidaire. It has a mix of slide-out and fixed shelves that work great. No problem with freezer burn. It's set at -20F.

I'd buy the same model again.

CtTOPGUN

 For items that are not vac sealed, a non defrosting freezer is way better. Self defrosting units tend to dry out it's contents over time. Imagine going to cook left over king crab and finding them filled with a dusty residue...

 Chest freezers are so simple. A t-stat and a compressor(with relay and overloads protector). Sometimes a lamp. Don't worry too much about brand. Pic any major manufacturer. They will last as long as the refrigerant does not leak and the compressor runs. Usually 20 years or so.

 All residential refrigeration units use a hydro flouro-carbon since the ninetys. EPA banned chloro-flourocarbons for this use.

Ozzie_Isaac

I am in the market too, I am getting 1/2 a cow (~350 lbs) .... not sure what size to get.

1voyager

Just a comment to those concerned about freezer burn:

I double wrap leftovers or freshly sliced meat in Kirkland stretch-tite plastic wrap then put them in Ziploc freezer bags. Rotate inventory 6 - 12 months in the frost-free freezer and have never had a freezer burn issue. Not once.

I hope this helps with your decision.

nolaegghead

GregW said:

cookingdude555 said:

Not whirlpool:

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/whirpool-refrigerator-explodes-inside-florida-family-s-home/1681557714

I don't know what refrigerant type is used in residential freezers/refrigerators now, but I recently bought a new commercial refrigerator for my business and it uses a hydrocarbon based refrigerant that is of course flammable.

The new hydrocarbon refrigerant is CFC free and good for the environment, but really bad when it leaks and explodes.

Most refrigerators and freezers used to be R12, which was replaced with R134a because of the chlorine in 12, which is still often used today.  (except in Europe) R410a is sometimes used.  The 134a and 410a are hydrofluorocarbons and not flammable.   Sometimes you will find R600a, which is isobutane (no halogens) which is flammable.   However, there is typically only around 6 oz of refrigerant in most units and explosions are exceedingly rare.

Ozzie_Isaac

nolaegghead said:

GregW said:

cookingdude555 said:

Not whirlpool:

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/whirpool-refrigerator-explodes-inside-florida-family-s-home/1681557714

I don't know what refrigerant type is used in residential freezers/refrigerators now, but I recently bought a new commercial refrigerator for my business and it uses a hydrocarbon based refrigerant that is of course flammable.

The new hydrocarbon refrigerant is CFC free and good for the environment, but really bad when it leaks and explodes.

Most refrigerators and freezers used to be R12, which was replaced with R134a because of the chlorine in 12, which is still often used today.  (except in Europe) R410a is sometimes used.  The 134a and 410a are hydrofluorocarbons and not flammable.   Sometimes you will find R600a, which is isobutane (no halogens) which is flammable.   However, there is typically only around 6 oz of refrigerant in most units and explosions are exceedingly rare.

I was just going to say that, but you beat me to it.

cookingdude555

Its 600. This was posted in an HVAC forum I’m in. I’m not an HVAC person, but installed a mini split and had to get learned. The industry is moving towards this refrigerant due to its safety to the environment. Its safety towards humans and their exploding cars, houses, and appliances is in question. 

Legume

Ozzie_Isaac said:

nolaegghead said:

GregW said:

cookingdude555 said:

Not whirlpool:

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/whirpool-refrigerator-explodes-inside-florida-family-s-home/1681557714

I don't know what refrigerant type is used in residential freezers/refrigerators now, but I recently bought a new commercial refrigerator for my business and it uses a hydrocarbon based refrigerant that is of course flammable.

The new hydrocarbon refrigerant is CFC free and good for the environment, but really bad when it leaks and explodes.

Most refrigerators and freezers used to be R12, which was replaced with R134a because of the chlorine in 12, which is still often used today.  (except in Europe) R410a is sometimes used.  The 134a and 410a are hydrofluorocarbons and not flammable.   Sometimes you will find R600a, which is isobutane (no halogens) which is flammable.   However, there is typically only around 6 oz of refrigerant in most units and explosions are exceedingly rare.

I was just going to say that, but you beat me to it.

Probably more due to Florida than anything else.  An awful lot of strange stories come from there.

datsuyama

I too like my upright.  The problem I found with a chest freezer is two-fold.  One, stuff gets buried in the freezer, who knows what is on the bottom of the heap?  And two, the chest freezer itself gets buried under stuff.  Anytime there is a flat horizontal surface, it tends to invite the stacking of crap on top of it.  
My upright has plastic bins I bought and I slide them out when I need something.  I put all fish in one, all game meat in another, etc.

SSQUAL612

You should ask @GrillSgt he’s a Freezer GURU. 

CanadianAnvil

I have twin fridgedairs , we like them  both are 15'. Also have a 10' chest in the garage that I use as a chamber-freezer-fridge that I control with an a421

Webass

We have a Coldspot chest freezer we purchased when we got married in 1968. Coldspot was Sears' appliance brand before Kenmore.  We've never had a problem (I hope I didn't just put a hex on it) except the bulb in the top has been burned out for about 25 years.  I just haven't had a chance to go get a new one.  About every other year in the summer, I'll unload it, drag it out in the driveway, turn it on it's side and, after a few minutes to loosen the 3" frost buildup, I'll hose it out.  I pickup about 10% more capacity when I do this.

All in all, we've been fairly pleased with the service we've had from it.