It is essential to use a refrigerator to preserve the freshness of foods in living spaces or workplaces. But sometimes the freezer parts of the refrigerator are not enough. In such cases, deep freezer models are the first solution that comes to mind. Deep freezers, which allow foods to be stored without losing their vitamins and minerals, are offered in different options in terms of size and features. In this article, you can find everything you need to consider before buying a deep freezer.
Deep freezers are the best option for long-term storage and consumption of food on demand. Therefore, deep freezers; It is among the most needed white goods in summer houses, workplaces or homes. Meat, fruits, vegetables and all the foods you can think of keep their freshness for a long time in the deep freezer. The meat that needs to be stored or the fish that you will use in your business will remain as fresh as the first day without spoiling in the deep freezer. So, what should be considered when choosing a deep freezer? Let’s see together.
1. Size
When purchasing an extra freezer next to the refrigerator, it is necessary to determine the size and capacity requirement. Before we start looking at options, it’s important to think about how much capacity is needed.
It is also necessary to plan where the freezer will be placed. It is easier to fit Upright freezers into the kitchen. However, if a horizontal (chest type) deep freezer is needed, it is necessary to find or create a large area to be placed.
Before buying a freezer, it’s important to make sure you have enough room in your home to fit the appliance. For proper air circulation, there should be a space of 3 to 8 cm on all sides of the freezers. Horizontal freezers take up more space due to their horizontal orientation. For this reason, people living in houses with less floor space can benefit from upright freezer options.
It’s also important to compare the dimensions of the freezer with the measurements of your home’s doors, as the appliance will need to be able to pass through doors for installation.
2. Usage Amount
There are many factors that come into play in determining the amount of usage of a deep freezer’s capacity. Factors such as how often you shop, how many people use the freezer, and eating habits are just a few. If meat is bought in bulk, large space is needed to keep large quantities of meat frozen. Families who love frozen vegetables, fruits and convenience foods need to be sure of the capacity of the freezer.
In regular use of the freezer, it may be important to take a look at the typical habits of the house. If the purpose of purchasing a freestanding freezer is to make extra room for items that do not fit and overflow in the refrigerator compartment, it is wise to choose the size and type that will meet the highest need.
3. Organization Options
The biggest benefit of upright freezers compared to horizontal (chest type) freezers is that they keep food well organized and easily accessible. Thanks to its compartments, accessing any needed item is much easier compared to chest freezers.
Chest freezers often come with hanging baskets to avoid access problems. However, because too much food will be stacked, it is necessary to remove the baskets before reaching the desired items. It also requires more twisting to reach items on the bottom.
4. Manual or Self-Defrosting Feature
When ice builds up on the sides of the freezer, the efficiency of the freezer decreases if the ice is not defrosted. Manual models require defrosting, especially if cleaning is to be done. This process; that means removing everything temporarily, waiting for the ice to melt, and then cleaning the freezer before putting it back in. Before doing this, it may be necessary to reduce food and consume it if possible.
Self-defrosting freezers, on the other hand, save the user from hassle. Self-defrosting models are generally more expensive than manual models. Although it is noisier, it offers its users more convenience and improved energy efficiency.
5. Temperature and Climate Classification
The freezer temperature should be kept at -18°C. Although all freezers are designed to reach this temperature, the ability to do so can be affected by climatic conditions.
If the freezer is to be kept in the kitchen or in another room in the house, there is no need to worry. However, if the freezer will be kept in the garage, outside or in any place where the temperature fluctuates depending on the weather, it is necessary to check the optimum temperature range of the freezer to be purchased. Some models are designed to work just fine in a garage or similar space. Others work less efficiently or have trouble staying cool enough.
6. Noise Level
Every freezer makes some noise. However, some are designed to be much quieter than others. If the freezer is to be kept in a place where time is spent, it may be necessary to consider the sound levels of the models examined. To get an idea of whether the freezer is abnormally noisy or quiet, one can take a look at the user reviews of the different models being considered.
7. Power Outage
One wonders how long the freezer will keep the products cold during a power cut. Horizontal (chest type) freezers can keep products cold longer than Upright freezers in the event of a power outage.
8. Cost
It seems important to determine the budget first when choosing a deep freezer. Upright freezer models are generally more expensive than horizontal (chest type) freezers.
Useful features like automatic defrosting can often cost more, too. However, the convenience of not having to deal with manual defrosting can be worth the difference.
9. Energy Usage
In order for freezers to do their job (at least with food in them), they need to keep working all the time. This means that almost 24/7 energy is used. Therefore, choosing an energy efficient freezer can make a difference in the overall energy cost.
Benefits of Using Deep Freezer
A freezer keeps larger amounts of food frozen longer and offers more space and capacity than a typical refrigerator freezer. If you are wondering if a freezer is suitable for your home, you should consider these points:
- The freezer benefits a large family that eats many meals during the month.
- Living in a rural area away from markets and fresh food may mean a greater need to keep food frozen for longer.
- Buying in bulk may require freezing large quantities of food at once.
- Purchasing food during seasonal sales can result in an increased need for frozen food storage.
- Freezing and storing vegetables and fruits in season helps to consume good crops in all seasons.
