Chest Freezers

A chest freezer is basically a large storage bin used to keep food items frozen. Chest freezers get their name because they have the same appearance as a chest you would use for storing clothes or blankets, unlike upright freezers. Most refrigerators today offer freezer additions above the refrigerator compartments, but chest freezers remain a very popular method of storing freezable goods.

Chest freezer history

In the late 1920s, the forerunner of General Foods, the Postum Company, began the processing of fresh vegetable through freezing. Early chest freezers ran into the issue of frost buildup from the humidity absorbed as the freezer was opened. Chest freezers required frequent thawing until the inception of frost-free freezers.

Chest freezers today

Although designs have changed and evolved over the years, there are still many popular chest freezer brands on the market today. One of the biggest complaints about chest freezers over the years has been about the lack of compartments or other organizing methods for the food storage. In chest freezer, one basically piles food on top of other food, making it extremely difficult to access foods on the bottom of the pile while bending over the edge. Many chest freezers today come equipped with removable and adjustable shelves and compartments for more organized and accessible storage.

Popular chest freezers

With so many brands available, it's difficult to know where to begin. Here's a list of some of the popular chest freezer brands on the market today and descriptions of the different features that each one offers.

Amana AFC1005BW - this chest freezer offers adjustable basket storage, energy efficient insulation and lid, temperature control, and a defrost drain. It has a 10-foot storage capacity that can hold up to 315 pounds of food.

Frigidaire AFFC1466DW - this chest freezer model features upper and lower storage baskets, interior lights, a power-on light, temperature control, and a frost-free defroster.

GE FCM15DPWH - the G.E. models offers manual defrost, 14 cubic feet of storage space, an upfront defrost water drain, adjustable temperature control, interior light, a lock, two sliding bulk storage baskets, and a limited food loss warranty.

Whirlpool EH050FXMQ - this is a bit smaller of a chest freezer with about 5 cubic feet of storage space. It's great for someone with not a lot of freezer storage needs. It features manual defrost, temperature control, a defrost drain, and a large storage basket.

More information on freezers