Freezer Buying Guide
Why buy a freezer?
Freezers are a great way to store a supply of excess food that you cannot fit in your refrigerator, and with their robust design, storing bulky items like meat and frozen veggies is easy. They are convenient for large families where bulk buying is commonplace, with the extra freezer space more food will be readily available.
Freezers aren't nearly as complex as refrigerators, they only come in two types that have simple functions that anyone can use which makes choosing one for your home a whole lot easier. The most important factors you should consider are the capacity of the unit, the type and where it will be placed.
Freezer capacities range from 150 litres on the smaller end to over 300 litres on the large end, so consider a size that will suit your household and that will fit in your allocated space before you start shopping. And make sure you can fit it through the front door when it arrives.
For a small family, a freezer with 150 litres of storage space is going to be ideal, where you can generally store a week's worth of food. It is best to avoid empty space in your freezer as this will leave more room for warm air and the freezer will use more energy to maintain cool temperatures.
|
Household Size |
Freezer Capacity |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
1 - 2 people |
150 -290 litres |
$300 - $500 |
|
3 - 4 people |
100 - 420 litres |
$300 - $600 |
|
5 + people |
300+ litres |
$600 - $1,000 |
Types of Freezers
Upright freezers
Upright freezers provide the best access to frozen items with horizontally opening doors and drawers which allow for better internal organization. Like your refrigerator, these freezers have in-door storage with adjustable shelves and they have a smaller footprint which makes them ideal for placing in your kitchen.
Many upright freezers come matching an upright refrigerator (pigeon pair) which makes them great for kitchen placement as they are stylish and blend well. Upright freezers are generally 60-70 cm wide, 60-65 cm deep and 130-190 cm high, with the taller models make sure that they are easily accessed.
|
Benefits of upright freezers |
Ideal for |
|---|---|
|
- Good for organisation |
- Kitchen placement |
|
- Easier to access frozen foods |
- Matching styles |
|
- Frost-free models available |
|
|
- Taller rather than wider, better for tighter spaces |
Chest freezers
Chest freezers comprise of one compartment without drawers or shelves, they have an upward opening lid and provide room to store large bulky items like meat and ice cream. Some units come with baskets on top of the compartment, these are useful for keeping everyday items above in an easy to access location.
Finding a chest freezer that can operate at low temperatures is always a bonus since you can store it in your garage without having to worry about the space it takes up. Picking a model with a counterbalanced lid is also a good idea, it will stay open while you look around inside.
|
Benefits of a chest freezer |
Ideal for |
|---|---|
|
- Place in your garage |
- Households that consume frozen products |
|
- Lower costs |
- Large families |
|
- Store bulky items |
- People who bulk buy |
|
- Upward opening lid retains cool air |
|
|
- Greater internal capacity |
Important features
Look for freezers with lower kWh usage and higher star ratings as these will cost less to run and save you over the course of the appliance's lifetime. Generally, a smaller freezer will consume less energy than a larger one, but if the freezer has lots of empty space, it will also use more energy.
A freezer with easy to access temperature controls is preferable, but make sure it is out of reach of children as you don't want to risk a sudden temperature adjustment that will spoil for stored items.
Freezers with frost-free functions are a convenient choice for those who want to avoid any upkeep; manually defrosting a large chest freezer can become tedious. Frost-free designs also help in environments that are exposed to temperature fluctuations like in the garage or outside.
Large freezers can get quite heavy when filled with frozen items, so finding one that is fitted with rollers might be a good choice as it will take the difficulty out of moving the unit around.
Interior lights are handy as they help to illuminate the contents of the freezer for easier searching. If you are placing the freezer in your garage or outside, an internal light will be useful for those late-night rummages.
Upright freezers generally come with in-door storage and shelving which helps when organising the contents of your freezer. Chest freezers may have an internal basket at the top of the unit, which can be handy for storing frequently accessed items.
Drainage holes in the bottom of a freezer make defrosting and cleaning the unit easier as ice and water are directed to the drain and outside of the unit.
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