Freezers are one of those reliable appliances that run your home, yet remain in the background without ever drawing much attention. The only time you realize how essential a freezing unit is is when you need one and don’t have it at the ready.
However, this often overlooked role freezers play has become especially apparent during the pandemic as we stock up frozen foods to get us through these unending socially isolated days.
The good news is a good freezer is not that hard to find. Many freezer options bring many of the basic features you need—like a cooling compressor, power indicators, interior lighting, temperature controls, storage racks, and safety locks to keep your food appropriately stored for extended periods.
Nevertheless, like with most appliance categories, when it comes to performance and efficiency, when it comes to chest freezers, a few quality products stand ahead of the rest.
Best Overall: GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer(10.6 cu. ft.)
- Three sliding, lift-out storage baskets
- Recessed handles
- One-year warranty coverage
Best Budget Option: Haier Chest Freezer
- Super aggressive pricing
- Ample storage capacity
- Removable basket
Best Ultra Large: Frigidaire Chest Freezer
- Ample storage, with larger models available
- Optional caster wheels
- Precise temperature controls
Best Small: GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer(5 cu. ft.)
- Slim profile and small footprint
- Elegant white design
- Sliding storage basket
Best Portable Option: Dometic CFX 95DZW
- Sturdy heavy-duty design
- Dynamic power input
- Automatic controls with Wi-Fi app
Best Overall: GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer (10.6 cu. ft.)
General Electric is one of the leading providers of tech equipment in several U.S. industries, including power generation, aviation, renewable resources, and healthcare. They are known for producing reliable machines that work.
Hence, it is no surprise that here too, GE lists an appliance that delivers. The GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer is a reliable option that you can always bank on to get the job done.
While this chest freezer does not pack any exciting bells and whistles, it nails all the basics, offering you a dependable option that you can trust at a competitive price point that is hard to pass on.
Features you will find here including standard traits like interior lighting for enhanced ease of use, a power-on indicator light that lets you know when the appliance is active, and a safety lock to keep children safely out of the Freezer.
Design-wise too, the Garage Ready freezer does not try to wow you. You get a plain white cabinet, with the only noticeable attributes on the outside being the safety lock, a GE logo, and a temperature regulation dial that lets you set the appliance’s internal temperature with precision.
Furthermore, this Freezer is not a frost-free system, so you will have to use the included manual defrost system at least once a year, which may be a bummer for some.
While a manual defrosting system does present a little hassle, you also gain a few advantages, such as a lower risk of freezer burn and increased efficiency. Plus, the use of a manual system is a minor issue to bear when considering the typical consequent discount in pricing.
However, once you open the lid, you immediately begin to understand while the GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer is so popular.
While this Freezer includes limited carry capacity of only 10.6 cu. ft., with chest freezes, you get significantly more usable space per cubic feet than you would with most upright options. Plus, the GE Garage Ready Freezer does an excellent job of maximizing this available space.
Inside the Freezer, you get three lift-out bulk storage baskets (with defrost water draining) that also slide to help further your space management goals. These sliding units are a big plus to have, as you rarely find them on freezers at this price point and even in many that cost significantly more.
Furthermore, with the Garage Ready Freezer, you also get one extra perk that you will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else—leveling legs that help the freezer balance on uneven flooring.
Nevertheless, the reliability of this Freezer is a significant selling point, and its performance in the market is a testament to that fact. On Home Depot’s online store, the GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer is the best selling option in the category, with over a thousand outstandingly positive reviews, many of which praise its reliability and cooling efficiency.
Key Features
- Three sliding, lift-out storage baskets
- Easy to reach temperature dial in front
- Child-proof lock
- Recessed handles
- Interior lighting
- ENERGY STAR certification
- One-year warranty coverage
Best Budget Option: Haier Chest Freezer (7.1 cu. ft.)
Freezers are a saturated market segment where the name of the game is providing reliable gimmick-free performers at a budget-friendly price. Hence, finding a decently-priced chest freezer for your home is no hard task.
However, for people on an even tighter budget, the typical $500-ish you have to shell out for one of the top market options may be out of the question. Here, one of the most reliable picks you can get is the Haier 7.1 cu. ft. Chest Freezer, offering an attractive mix of dependable performance and ample storage at a fraction of the price of many comparable models.
With its 7.1 cu. ft. storage space, despite its minimal footprint, this Haier Freezer offers enough storage space for over 200 pounds of food. Plus, you also get a removable basket for smaller items or easy access.
Here, you also get other standard features like a defrosting drain system that allows easy access during manual defrosting.
On the outside, the Haier Freezer sports a minimal flat-back design, complete with recessed handles that helps to maximize the available storage space in the interior. You also get an easy to use thermostat for precise temperature regulation, a power-on indicator that lets you know when the Freezer is active, and a security lock component.
So far, the Haier Chest Freezer sounds like your basic run of the mill chest freezer. However, one critical factor that sets this option apart from the rest is its pricing. With its retail price at under 200 bucks, this Freezer represents one of the most eye-catching deals in the space.
Plus, its meager price does not detract from its performance. A bulk of the online reviews for this product raved about its robust, quiet, and relatively frost-free performance.
Nevertheless, we did find a few reviews that complained about early failures, which we can only chalk up to quality check issues. However, since you get a 1-year warranty from the company for each purchase that covers both labor and parts, prospective buyers have nothing to worry about.
Furthermore, it is also worthy of note that you do not get interior lighting with this unit, which is no surprise at this price point.
Key Features
- Super aggressive pricing
- Ample 7.1 Cubic feet storage capacity
- Easy-access defrost drain
- Removable basket
- Minimal flat back design with recessed handles
- Power-on indicator
- Temperature regulation dial in front
- One year warranty coverage
Best Ultra Large: Frigidaire Chest Freezer (14.8 cu. ft.)
Today, large grocery hauls are pretty much standard practice for many Americans. And if you are anything like us, after every run to the store, you end up feeling like you need an extra freezer.
This Frigidaire Chest Freezer is one option to end all such worries.
Here, you get a massive 14.8-cubic-foot chest that packs all the storage space you will ever need. Plus, Frigidaire manages to achieve this feat, while maintaining a price point that is only 20 bucks shy of the 10.6 cu. ft. GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer.
With freezers, unlike refrigerators, with larger models, you should expect a significantly higher energy consumption rate. Hence, it is no surprise that the 14.8-cubic-foot Frigidaire Chest Freezer has an estimated annual draw of around 296 kWh.
If a 14.8-cubic-footer is still not enough for your needs, Frigidaire offers this same chest freezer in more massive 19.8 and 24.8 cubic feet versions, albeit at significantly higher price points.
With this chest freezer, you get all the basics—external temperature controls, a power-on indicator, child-proof locks, and interior lighting. Plus, this Freezer also includes two heavy-duty sliding plastic baskets that give you some organizational power in the otherwise bare chest.
However, aside from the regular traditional features, Frigidaire throws in one quirk that is sure to impress—caster wheels.
While these caster wheels are optional, for a freezer this large, we can see how they can come in handy whenever you have to move or relocate the unit. Nevertheless, when you have the caster wheels on, they do detract a bit from the otherwise clean look of this Freezer. So, it is nice that they are both optional and removable.
On the outside of the Freezer, the white, seamless design, complete with a recessed handle, gives the unit an elegant, modern look.
Performance-wise, the Frigidaire Chest Freezer delivers too and has users leaving raving reviews on its product page. However, we did find a common complaint from buyers who received the unit without the matching screws needed to attach the caster wheels.
Nevertheless, the Frigidaire Chest Freezer offers one of the best deals for people who want a giant chest freezer, and with its impressive price-to-performance, it is not a hard unit to recommend.
Key Features
- Ample 12.8 cu. ft. storage, with larger models available
- Optional caster wheels
- Precise temperature controls
- Double sliding plastic baskets
- Safety lock with automatic key pop-out
- LED lighting
- Power-on indicator
Best Small: GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer (5 cu. ft.)
Sometimes, all you need is a compact unit that sits in the corner and handles the extra groceries whenever you have them.
For people who live in small living spaces, folks with severe space concerns, or for that bachelor pad or dorm room, a small, compact freezer is the way to go, and there is no option on the market better than the 5 cu. ft. GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer.
Since it only measures a meager 22.5 by 28.75 by 30 inches, this Freezer is small enough to work in most tight spaces without leaving too much of a footprint. However, consequently, you won’t expect to store that much in here, which is fine, as that isn’t this Freezer’s target audience.
With its 5.0 cu. ft. storage capacity, with this Garage Ready Freezer, you get enough space to accommodate a minor grocery store trip or several food platters, but nothing more.
However, despite its small size, the GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer does not compromise performance or accessibility.
First, the Freezer’s slim design means that most of the bulk translates into available space on the inside, allowing you to maximize its storage potential. Next, even in this small space, you get one sliding storage basket that further enhances your space management capabilities. You can also take out the basket for even more room for bulk storage.
GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer does not skimp on any of the other handy features you get on more standard offerings, like defrost water drainage, a power-on light indicator, and adjustable temperature controls.
With this array of features, its decent $260 price tag, and its elegant good look, the GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer is our recommended compact chest freezer option by a mile.
Key Features
- Slim profile and small footprint
- Elegant white design with recessed handles
- Sliding storage basket
- Adjustable temperature controls
- Easy access drain
- One-year warranty coverage
Best Portable Option: Dometic CFX 95DZW (90 qts.)
There are only a handful of potential situations where you need a portable chest freezer, but when you do need one, often, nothing else can substitute for it. For those rare occasions, the Dometic CFX 95DZW is everything you need and more.
Whether you are on a protracted camping trip or need a steady supply of your own cooking for a cross country drive, few cooling options will serve you better than Dometic’s portable unit.
Here, you get all the refrigeration you’ll ever need on the go.
At its core, the Dometic CFX 95DZW sports two cooling units that can double as either a freezer or a fridge. By “freezer,” this brand is not touting a gimmick, as this Freezer can reach temperatures of up to –7 °F with less energy usage than any other freezer in the category.
Plus, getting power is not a problem either. Thanks to its use of a dynamic compressor, the Dometic CFX 95DZW can draw energy from both AC, DC, and Solar power sources.
Even more tasteful, is the fact that you get all matching cords out of the box. Ever running low on power, you can simply connect the unit to your car battery to get a quick boost.
Nevertheless, you never have to end up with a flat, as the Freezer also uses a dynamic shut off system that you can set to go off at battery full, a particular time, or auto-shutdown once the Freezer senses that your battery source is at critical levels.
Another excellent selling point for this device is its dual compartment design. Since both compartments sport individual cover and controls, you can set up each partition to run as either a fridge or a freezer, and at varying temperature settings.
In addition to the manual controls on the unit, you can also adjust these settings using a Wi-Fi-connected app. When you run out of mobile battery, you can use the Dometic CFX 95DZW’s power output port as a device charger.
Despite its compact size, the Dometic CFX 95DZW does not skimp or storage efficiency either. Here, you also get a removable wire basket for each unit, with extra dividers for enhanced management capabilities.
On the outside, the build on the Dometic CFX 95DZW completes the experience, packing all the features needed to brave the brash outdoors. This Freezer sports a reinforced chassis, complete with buttressed corners, a robust lid lining, stainless steel hinges, and a chrome and black finish to match.
For camping trips, trailers, or trucks that need a handy freezer/fridge combo, the Dometic CFX 95DZW is an easy pick.
Key Features
- Sturdy heavy-duty design
- Supreme aesthetics
- Fully adaptable cooling compartments
- dynamic shut off system
- AC, DC, and Solar input, with cables included in the box
- Device charger
- Automatic controls with Wi-Fi connected app
Why You Should Consider Getting a Chest Freezer
Energy Efficiency: Chest freezers are significantly more energy-efficient than their upright counterparts. On average, to run a chest freezer, you will spend about $4 a month, while an upright of matching capacity can set you back as much as $14 per month.
Furthermore, chest freezers typically feature airtight locking seals that often result in lower energy demands than comparable upright models, usually lacking this feature.
Plus, this setup quirk also means that chest freezers typically tend to keep your food frozen for longer during power cuts.
Less Freeze Burn: Since chest freezers tend to maintain a more consistent temperature, it follows that food stored in these units have a lower risk of developing freezer burn.
Storage Space: The flatbed you get with a chest freezer gives you access to relatively more storage space when compared with an upright of matching volume.
Chest Freezer FAQs
Are chest freezers worth it?
Yes, chest freezers are typically more power-efficient than upright models, and they often cost less to run.
What is the right size chest freezer?
While freezing storage needs can vary from person to person, one effective rule of thumb is to allow 1.5 cubic feet for each member of the family. The unit should always be at least two-thirds full at all times to keep your Freezer at maximum efficiency.
What happens to my food in the Freezer when the power goes out?
When the power goes off, chest freezers, which often feature manual defrost systems, tend to keep food frozen for at least 24 hours. However, performance may vary from brand to brand as all models are not created equally.
Nevertheless, you can help extend your Freezer’s staying power by keeping the door unopened for as long as possible.
The GE Garage Ready Chest Freezer is a dependable freezer you can trust, and when it comes to chest freezers, that is all you ever want. This freezer promises some of the best performance levels and a price point that is hard to refuse.
[/callout]Other Chest Freezers We Reviewed
Hotpoint Manual Defrost Chest Freezer (7.1 Cu. ft.)
The Hotpoint chest freezer is just the right size to handle the spillover from your overcrowded refrigerator unit on those crucial holidays and birthdays. With robust build and performance output, you can rest assured that your groceries will stay properly frozen even over extended storage periods.
Plus, this Freezer is rated to maintain its standard operating temperature for up to 6 hours after a power outage to ensure your food supplies stay fresh.
Amana Chest Freezer (9 cu. ft.)
The Amana Chest Freezer is everything you need for extra freeze storage in your pantry or basement. It’s ample 9.0 cu. ft. brings enough space to fit all your groceries, while its deep freeze technology guarantees temperature levels of up to -8°, ensuring everything stays frozen for as long as you want it.
Here, you also get freezer baskets for better space management, exterior controls for easy access, and a swinging door that gets out of the way to enhance freezer access significantly.
Maytag Chest Freezer (21.7 cu. ft.)
The Maytag Chest Freezer packs enough space to fit two grocery hauls and sports the performance to match.
You know you can count on this Freezer to keep your food frozen at all times because nothing emphasizes the manufacturer’s trust in their product like the ten-year warranty you get on the included compressor unity.
With its massive 21.7 cu. ft. storage capacity and its assortment of features, including sliding storage baskets, temperature control knobs, incandescent lighting, a built-in drain, and Freezer lock, this deluxe offering from Maytag brings you the best of everything the freezer world has on offer.
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