Some links on this page are monetized by affiliate programs - see disclosure for details.
With couponing becoming more popular than ever, there are thousands of great deals at grocery stores all around the country. With items ringing up for well below retail prices or even for free, it’s no wonder so many people stock up when a store has a great sale. Another way that many people save money is by purchasing meat while it’s cheap and freezing it.
Because most meat can be frozen for several months, buying it when the price per pound is slashed and freezing it for later use is something that many thrifty households do. If your built-in freezer on your fridge just doesn’t have the capacity you need, it’s time to consider purchasing a chest freezer.
Compare: Top Rated Chest Freezers of 2020
| Picture | Name | Brand | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW | Frigidaire | $$$$ | 4.9 |
 | Danby DCF038A1WDB1 | Danby | $$ | 4.6 |
 | midea WHS-129C1 | midea | $ | 4.3 |
 | Frigidaire Chest Freezer | Frigidaire | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | Igloo FRF472 White | Igloo | $$ | 4.7 |
 | Igloo FRF454-B-BLACK | Igloo | $$ | 4.5 |
 | Whynter CUF-110B | Whynter | $$ | 4.4 |
 | midea WHS-185C1 | midea | $$ | 4.3 |
 | midea WHS-258C1 | midea | $$ | 4.2 |
 | Haier America Chest Freezer | Haier | $$ | 4.1 |
| Picture | Name | Brand | Price | Rating |
Top Picks: Our Chest Freezer Reviews
Contents
midea WHS-129C1 – Best Cheap Option
For those with limited space at home or who just want to store a few extra items, this 3.5 cubic feet freezer is just the right size, as well as the right price, costing just under $200. This freezer has a manual defrost design, so it’s quiet and very efficient. It has a front mounted adjustable thermostat, so you can easily adjust the temperature as needed.
This freezer has a hinge design that keeps it balanced, so you don’t have to worry about it tipping over. If a spill occurs, the interior is very easy to clean, as well as scrape when ice builds up over time. It is backed with a 1-year warranty on most parts, as well as a 2-year compressor warranty so you can feel confident in your purchase.
Pros:
- It is affordable
- Adjustable controls
- It cleans easily
- It comes with a warranty
- Compact design that fits almost anywhere
- Comes with an adjustable basket
Cons:
- It’s small, so if you need a lot of space, you’ll need to purchase a larger model
Danby DCF038A1WDB1 – Great Value Buy
This freezer is a mid-priced model that comes in a compact but roomy size of 3.8 cubic feet. If that’s just not enough space for you, not to worry – smaller and larger freezers are available at different prices.
The interior and lid of this are covered in energy-efficient foam that helps keep your electric bill affordable while still providing you with the space you need for storage. It comes equipped with one wire basket, and it has great features like an easy to access temperature control knob, an easy-clean liner, and a 1-year parts and labor warranty for your protection.
Pros:
- Compact size fits in smaller spaces, including apartments
- It’s energy-efficient
- It’s affordable
- Easy to clean
- It operates very quietly
Cons:
- The smaller size may not be ideal for those with lots of items that need to be stored
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW – Best Chest Freezer Overall
While it certainly isn’t on the cheap end, it’s for good reason. This Frigidaire chest freezer is as of high quality as any chest freezer you’re going to find. Providing you with a remarkable 21.5 cu. feet of storage space, it accommodate just about any amount of food you can throw at it. It’s especially great for those who hunt and freeze their own food. If you’re looking for a true wonder of a chest freezer, this is the one for you. No surprise, it’s our pick for best chest freezer overall.
Pros:
- Huge 21.5 foot storage space
- Thick, ArcticLock walls
- Comes equipped with adjustable baskets
Cons:
- Takes up a lot of space
What is a Chest Freezer?
A chest freezer is a standalone freezer that is separate from a refrigerator. Chest freezers typically have one large compartment that is kept at the same temperature below freezing. A chest freezer may have multiple baskets, as well as a larger storage area, to keep all of your frozen foods neat and organized so you can find everything quickly.
These types of freezers have a lift-up top that allows you to access your food. They are available in multiple sizes, and most people put them in garages, larger laundry areas, or other rooms where they are out of sight but provide the frozen storage space a household needs.
Some people have even begun purchasing from their local butcher to get great deals on meat that can be frozen, or may even purchase an entire cow that has been cut and packaged at a price that’s far lower than those found at the grocery store. However, the problem that arises from being a smart shopper is where to put everything. While you can buy cabinets and shelves for your dry goods and health and beauty items, you can’t exactly do that with frozen food.
What are the different types?
If you’ve decided to choose a chest freezer over an upright model because of the extra space it provides, you’ve already taken the first step towards getting your new freezer into your home. When shopping for a chest freezer, the main differences are things like size or the available features (like an alarm that sounds if the freezer gets too warm), but there are also two types that you have to choose from. Both types have pros and cons, so you should know more about each type before you make your purchase.
Manual defrost chest freezers
These freezers tend to be more energy-efficient, and they operate much more quietly than self-defrosting freezers. The drawback, though, is that you must manually defrost it as needed, which involves quite a bit of work. Also, if you allow the ice to build up, it could lead to lowered efficiency and a warmer interior that could spoil your frozen food.
Self-defrosting chest freezers
These freezers defrost themselves, so you never have to worry about scraping the interior. However, in general, these use more energy and because they defrost on occasion, they tend to be louder than freezers that you manually defrost.
What are the Advantages of Owning One?
The advantage of owning a chest freezer is having more space to store your frozen foods. Even larger French door refrigerators do not have that much freezer space if you tend to stock up at sales or just keep a large amount of frozen food on hand at all times. This prevents you from having to throw out perfectly good food just because you don’t have the space.
With a chest freezer, you can also buy larger quantities of frozen food, like packages found at big box retailers, and have plenty of space for everything.
How to Maintain a Chest Freezer
Your freezer doesn’t need a ton of attention, but performing simple, routine maintenance tasks will improve its efficiency and extend its lifespan.
First, give the freezer some breathing room. Storing objects on top of and against the freezer makes it work harder than necessary. Instead, place the freezer in a location which allows for plenty of airflow. You want a few inches of empty space on all sides (except the floor).
However, the inside of the freezer is a different story. You want to keep the freezer as full as possible. If you don’t have enough food to store, use ice instead. Otherwise, the freezer will waste energy trying to chill empty space.
The door gasket seal is the biggest potential source of problems. Make sure the freezer is sealed properly. Watch for any signs of deterioration or airflow. Keep the seal clean with regular cleaning using warm, soapy water. If the gasket has any tears or holes, replace it as soon as possible.
Who are the contenders for Best on the Market?
midea WHS-129C1 Single Door Chest Freezer
This is an ideal freezer if you want extra space for your frozen food, but you don’t have a lot of extra space in your home. This smaller freezer provides plenty of storage space in a more compact size. It is also extremely affordable, easy to clean, has a great design, and comes backed with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Danby DCF038A1WDB1 Chest Freezer
There are many great features in this mid-priced chest freezer, but you don’t have to pay a fortune for them. This freezer is energy-efficient to help with the cost of your power bill, it offers a good amount of storage space for all of your frozen goods, and it comes with a storage basket that makes it easy to keep your freezer organized.
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW 74″ Chest Freezer
For maximum storage space, you’ll certainly want to consider this roomy freezer, which holds up to around 350 pounds of frozen food. It has all of the features you could ever desire in a freezer, including an interior light, and a divider and basket for organization.
Factors to Consider
Freezers aren’t necessarily cheap, although some are much more inexpensive than others. This is why you want to make sure that you are confident in your purchase to avoid being unsatisfied with a freezer that you purchased on a whim. Before you buy, make sure you research each product you’re considering to make sure you’re really getting a good buy. In order to get you started, keep the following four considerations in mind while shopping for this appliance.
Price
As already mentioned, freezers, like many other appliances, don’t necessarily come cheap. However, you can find very affordable models for any budget. It is important to note, however, that in many cases, you get what you pay for. If you go for the cheapest model, you may end up with a freezer that is too small for your needs or just doesn’t perform as well as you’d like. Instead of just looking at the price tag, take price into consideration along with other factors, including warranty info and the next three key features.
Size
If you’re short on space or have a minimal amount of food you’d like to store, a smaller freezer may fit your needs. However, if you plan on storing pound after pound of meat and you have plenty of floor space for a larger freezer, make sure to pick one that meets the needs of your household instead of trying to save money by purchasing a model that’s just too small.
Manual or self-defrosting
There are advantages and disadvantages of manual and self-defrosting models. Determine which one would work best for you, then seek out a freezer that offers these features.
Storage options
Some people may be content with just having a large, open space, but if you have smaller items or just want to keep everything easy to find, look for freezers that have storage baskets and other options for keeping your freezer neat and organized.
Price
midea WHS-129C1
This is an affordable option if you’re looking for a smaller freezer or sticking to a tighter budget, boasting a low price tag.
Danby DCF038A1WDB1
The 3.8 cubic feet model of this freezer sells at a mid-level price. Smaller and larger models are available at different price points.
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW
This freezer is priced on the higher end of the pricing scale when compared to other household chest freezers.
Size
midea WHS-129C1 Single Door
With this freezer, you’ll have 3.5 cubic feet of additional frozen storage space.
Danby DCF038A1WDB1
This model comes in a 3.8 cubic feet size, but other sizes of chest and upright freezers are available, from a 3.2 cubic feet upright to a chest freezer that provides 7.2 cubic feet of frozen storage.
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW 74″ Chest Freezer
You won’t have any problem fitting all of your frozen food into this freezer that has 21.5 cubic feet of frozen storage.
Manual or self-defrosting
midea WHS-129C1 Single Door
This model needs to be manually defrosted by scraping off the ice on occasion.
Danby DCF038A1WDB1
When you purchase this model, you will need to maintain it regularly by scraping the ice off of the interior, as there is no self-defrost option.
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW 74″ Chest Freezer
This freezer possesses a light self-defrosting feature, allowing you to defrost foods without much fuss.
Storage options
midea WHS-129C1 Single Door
This freezer comes with one smaller basket for easy storage of smaller items or items you want to keep close at hand at all times.
Danby DCF038A1WDB1
An adjustable white wire basket gives you a smaller space for bags, small items, or anything else you want to keep organized in your freezer.
Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW 74″ Chest Freezer
It’s easy to keep everything nice and organized with the removable baskets and dividers that split up this large freezer.
Conclusion
Instead of stuffing so much food in your freezer, you can’t even open the door because it will all come tumbling out, add more frozen storage in your home with a high-quality chest freezer. If you have the space to accommodate it, the Frigidaire FFFC22M6QW does the ultimate job.