OK - Next Question, Please!!! Chest-type freezers??!

[Lynn B]

Hello again, everyone!

Since I have found this BB I have been so much more (cooking) inspired! Thank you all!

However - I must tell you - you guys are also costing me A LOT of money! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Not only do I need (OK... want!) a Food Saver, now I need (want?!) a freezer to store all that wonderful food in!

For years, I have lived with a large side-by-side. The freezer side is always FULL. It has been adequate - but I just feel that I really need more freezer space now.

I only have room for a small one, (7 cubic feet or so). Approx size: 36" wide by 24" deep.

However - I have been told that no chest feezers are frost free! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif I don't think I will like THAT!!!

So, those of you w/ small chest-type freezers - please advise. How often do you defrost? How much of a pain it is?? And (this is DH's biggest concern http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) how much has it increased your electric bill?!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Lynn

[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Grace]

Lynn, I have a rather large chest freezer (don't know exactly how big) that I bought used for $50 from my next door neighbor whose father had it (and he died). Mine IS frost-free, so what you heard about that is not true. I also know that Costco had one that was like $150 (I want to say?), and it was smaller than mine is, but would have worked perfectly for us (I don't really need the big one - but the price was right!). Anyhow, keep looking - check out Sam's Club, Costco or whatever you have, and also if you have a Sears or JCPenney outlet that sells dented or bruised appliances, you'll find a cheaper one there for sure. Often the independent appliance stores have better deals, and even Best Buy has some floor models that are cheaper. Keep looking before you buy a full price one. You might also want to even check the personal ads in the paper for people who might be selling one. We've had our used one (and it was a good 10 years old when we got it, if not more) for 3 years, and it works perfectly. It's ugly, but it's in the basement - no one sees it. Good luck, and have FUN! We save tons by having the freezer, and you can really take advantage of Sam's club deals, and make fewer trips to TJ's!

Oh, and as far as the electric bill is concerned, as ours is quite an old model, and I'm sure not nearly as efficient as the new ones would be, we still didn't notice an appreciable difference on our electric bill. I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all.

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Alisa]

I have a 14.8 cu ft chest freezer that I got from Sears. It is frost free or I never would have bought it!
On humid nights I have been know to put my sheets in it before bed....

[Lynn B]

Grace & Alisa,

Thank you for the info!

Well, to be the devil's advocate for the salesperson who told me that no chest type freezers are frost-free... maybe they meant none of the smaller ones??? Because I was definitely only asking about/interested in a small one??? Or, maybe he was just an idiot and didn't know!! (It could really go either way!!!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif So, anyway - anyone out there with a SMALL, frost-free chest-type freezer?!!

Well, living in a small town in a rural area does have some wonderful advantages (it is a great place to raise children!) - but... there's no Sam's Club, no Costco, no TJs!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif You guys do make me feel a little envious when I read about all the great stuff you get at those places!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lynn


[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Lynn B]

Interesting addendum...

Just out of curiosity, I called around to several appliance dealers in my area. I was told unanimously that "NO CHEST-TYPE FREEZERS ARE FROST-FREE. No size, no way!!!! Only the upright type come in frost-free."

I told them that several of my friends (Grace and Alisa!) have chest type frost-frees and they said, "Well, then, we'd like to know what kind they have because we have never heard of it!" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif (One salesperson even said, "Your friends just THINK they have frost-free because their freezers don't need defrosted very often." (!!!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

Lynn

[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 06-25-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 06-25-2001).]

[BosunsWife]

We have a small chest type freezer and when we had to replace ours recently (long story), I bought our replacement at Sears. All the small ones that I looked at were NOT frost free much to my dismay. I'm finding that I really need to defrost a lot here in Hawaii since the freezer is outside in a open air enclosure and with the heat here, it frosts up a lot more than when we had it inside and in a cooler climate.

[Mamasue]

I don't have a chest freezer for one reason. Storing items are not as visual and you have to dig to find anything. When we were looking for a freezer two years ago I was looking at the chest too and the Sears person told me that all chest freezers are not frost free. We bought a small upright freezer which is perfect. This way I can see what I have and where it is. We keep it down in the basement and I keep a spreadsheet upstairs for inventory.

[Lynn B]

Mamasue,
I wouldn't mind a small upright... I just have a very limited space to put it in. Could you please tell me the dimensions of yours? (width, depth, height?) Thank you!!!

BosunsWife,
How much of a pain is it to defrost??! How often do you have to do it, how long does it take and HOW do you do it?! Thank you!

Lynn

[This message has been edited by Lynn B (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Janet K]

Lynn,

Don't know if this adds to the confusion or not...

When we went shopping for a freezer a few years back we asked everyone who we knew who had a freezer and they all said to buy an upright. I think mainy because with a chest freezer things get buried. Of course if your space is limited it's probably your only choice.

We were also told that you don't really want a frost free freezer. Here is some info I dug up since it explains it better than I can:

"A frost-free freezer has three basic parts. There is a timer, a heating coil and a temperature sensor. Every 6 hours or so the timer turns on the heating coil. The heating coil is wrapped among the freezer coils. The heater melts the ice off the coils. When all of the ice is gone, the temperature sensor will sense the temperature rising above 32 degrees F (0 degrees C) and turns off the heater.

Heating the coils every 6 hours takes energy, and it also cycles the food in the freezer through temperature changes. Most large chest freezers therefore require manual defrosting instead - the food lasts longer and the freezer uses less power. "

I certainly don't know how we lived without an extra freezer for so long,

Janet

[Lynn B]

Janet,
Thanks for the input! That makes a lot of sense. I am just worried about the actual defrosting process. I know NOTHING about it but it sounds GRUELING!!!!

I am only beginning to look, maybe there is an upright out there that will fit in our limited space... but I don't want to get my hopes up.

If I have to get a chest-type, I will just try organizing well w/ baskets, etc., and by keeping a good freezer inventory. Hopefully that will help!

Thanks again!
Lynn

[Janet K]

Lynn,

We ended up buying a huge upright. It really doesn't build up much frost at all - I think the only time we have defrosted it (we've had it I think 3 or 4 years) is when we moved a year ago. I don't know what contributes to frost buildup though - we bought it in WA and moved to CO - both places have very low humidity. That might have something to do with it.

Anyways, good luck on your hunt for a freezer!

Janet

[rosen]

This is VERY important!! The main advantage of a chest is that the food does NOT go thru the freeze/thaw cycle that a frost free (upright) goes thru. Therefor your frozen food will NEVER have that off/freezer burn taste even after months of being frozen. An upright is just a biger version of your regular fridge/freezer combo in your kitchen! If you do not think that stored food tastes off after a month or two in the regular freezer, then you will be happy w/ an upright. BUT if you think you CAN taste a difference, then an upright will be an expensive mistake. It's all a matter of your tastebuds. We have always had a chest & always will even though there are only 2 of us. The only thing in the kitchen freezer is ice & anything that I know will get used w/in a week or two. All else hits the chest in the basement. Do NOT put a freezer in a unheated or unairconditioned area or else it will have to work too hard to cool. We defrost ours maybe once a year. In the winter when it is freezing outside, we load up the coolers & set them outside. Unplug the unit, open the lid, & wait. Last year the entire process from unloading to reloading took less than a 1/2 hour. The key is to keep it filled (so it works less). My neighbor often stores a few things in ours & it helps keep it filled. We would be lost w/out our freezer & it is $$ well spent if you love to bake/cook. Things may get "lost", but there are ways to keep it organized. Thanks for listening & good luck! Let us know what you end up w/!

[Lynn B]

Rosen,
Thank you SO much for the valuable advice! Especially regarding the defrosting process.
It has been extremely helpful!
Actually... thank you, EVERYONE! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Lynn

[karen w]

Well, I just thought I'd confuse the issue a little more. We have a 17 cu. foot upright model(Frigidaire) that is not frost free, however it has a "power defrost" button on the bottom. When you want to defrost the freezer you pull the button out, and 20 min. later....voila...freezer defrosted. We keep it in the basement, and I usually do this twice a year. So far, I've been very happy with it. This was the compromise, since I wanted frost free, but was told(by DH and the people at the appliance store)that non frost free is the way to go-uses less energy, and food does not get freezer burn due to freeze-defrost cycles.

Happy hunting!
Karen

[Chefmom]

For many years I had a small (don't know cu feet, it was only counter height) freezer. You really don't need frost free if you are not in the freezer that often. Frost comes from the moisture entering the freezer when you open the door. It is trapped and then frozen. If you have a lot of frost, look and see if you need new gaskets (those pliable "things" that seal the doors). My husband is a HVAC man, and he has preached to me often about the freezer.

Anyway, my aunt has a frost free, and if she doesn't use her ice cubes up in a hurry they literally dissappear! The cycle somehow thaws and then evaporates the moisture. To me this means that it would dry out your freezer WORSE than a regular freezer, and the loss of moisture is the reason for freezer "burn".

If my little freezer was kept relatively full, and the door didn't hang open I really didn't need to defrost it at all, and that is with 7 years of constant use. It was defrosted when we moved, and the back of the freezer had some build up, but nothing really serious.

Good Luck, once you get a freezer you will NEVER be able to live without one again!! They are wonderful!

Tami

[Mamasue]

Lynn,

The manual states that its 13.5-15.4 cu. ft; Kenmore Upright type freezer with automatic defrost; capacity 13.7 cubic feet; uses 738 kwh per year. The estimated cost to operate on a yearly operating cost is appoximately $62.00 (based ib 8.42 cents per kwh for electricity).

I measured the outside of it and it is 28 inches deep, 28 inches wide and 59 inches tall from floor.

[This message has been edited by Mamasue (edited 06-26-2001).]

[SQ]

Originally posted by Mamasue:
We keep it down in the basement and I keep a spreadsheet upstairs for inventory.

Mamasue, you are so organized. Mine is also in the basement and when I defrost it 1-2x/yr, I find lots of "forgotten packages"!

From reading everyone's ideas, I realize I definitely need to use mine more efficiently. I shouldn't be in mine every day! I guess I need to start by organizing my upstairs freezer so I can get a good system going. Thanks for the reminder, BBers.

[Grace]

Well, the things you learn on this board. I had NO IDEA that "frost-free" meant there was a freeze/thaw cycle!! I guess maybe my chest freezer in the basement isn't frost-free, but I have to say, in three years, it doesn't have any frost in it! (I don't go into it that often, though, so maybe that's the reason!). Thanks everyone for the great freezer education I just got here. Sorry I gave you "misinformation" Lynn! But if it's any consolation, at least you know that you shouldn't have to defrost yours all that often! And now I know if I ever need a new one (not likely to be soon, but...) I won't get a frost-free one! Whoulda thought that! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Lynn B]

BosunsWife,

Thank you for the input!

And Mamasue - thanks for the dimensions!

I think I've decided that the small non-frost-free (chest-type) is the way to go, for us. I like the idea of avoiding the "freeze/thaw" cycle. I never knew that before!!! Duh!!!!

I'm in the process now of looking at the different ones and price-comparing.

One thing that won't be a problem is "where to put the food when we defrost". If I wait till the middle-of-winter time, I can load all the food into a box out on the deck, and TAKE MY SWEET TIME about defrosting the freezer! That food would probably stay rock hard till spring!!! (That's probably the ONLY advantage to NOT living in Hawaii... !!!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Thanks again, everyone, for all your great advice and information!

Lynn

[Lynn B]

Grace,

I think we were posting at the same time!
I had to LOL over your post! I wish you could have heard me arguing on the phone the other day w/ this one salesguy! (Me: (impatiently!): "I absolutely AM POSITIVE that there are FROST-FREE CHEST TYPE FREEZERS!!! MY FRIEND GRACE HAS ONE!!!!") http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (To which he replies, "Well, then, ask GRACE what kind she has because I never HEARD OF IT!" <Click>!) haha!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Well, you're right... the things we LEARN on this BB!!!

Lynn

PS Hey, Grace - go defrost that thing, willya?!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

ROFL Lynn!! I'm SOOO sorry I made you argue with that poor sales guy!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

But really, since mine hasn't "grown" any frost in three years, I thought for sure it was frost free....

Oh well. Good luck in your search anyway, I do know you will love having a new freezer!

[BosunsWife]

LynnB sorry to be so long in responding to your question, but my SIL surprised us with a visit yesterday. She is in Hawaii on business from Connecticut!

It doesn't take long at all to defrost. My problem is where to put things to defrost it. I would say that if you clean it out and turn it off in the morning you could probably clean it by early afternoon. I guess it all depends on the warmth of your day.

My parents are only on their second freezer in 41 years of marriage. They bought another upright two years ago, just smaller than the one they had when us kids were at home. They bought another regular (not frost free) because my mom hates her frost free that is above her fridge. She doesn't like what it does to food (freeze/thaw cycle). They don't defrost but once a year and my mom is anal about ice in the freezer so I can only guess it doesn't frost up much.

[Lynn B]

Well, I bought a freezer today! (But not at one certain store where I gave the salesguy such a hard time... I don't think I'm allowed in there!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif )

I got a 7 cubic foot (non frost-free!!!)Haier brand. It's very adorable!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif It's 36" x 21" and it's not as tall as some I looked at. (Meaning I can reach down to the bottom and still have both feet on the floor!!!) It has a nifty (removable) divider and 2 sliding baskets. Plus a handle, lock, and drain.

I hope it will be quite happy living here w/ us! It will be delivered Friday afternoon. Saturday I am going big-time grocery shopping!

So, thanks again everyone for all the great input!

Lynn

[Mamasue]

Congratulations Lynn....now the grocery bill will be increasing. Its best that you get a foodsaver now! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[mandarin2j]

Originally posted by Alisa:
On humid nights I have been know to put my sheets in it before bed....

OMG, that is hysterical! What a great idea for when we go to Puerto Vallarta in August! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

-Amanda

[Laura B]

Originally posted by Alisa:
On humid nights I have been know to put my sheets in it before bed....

That IS a good idea. And it reminded me of something I used to do when I was a little girl. The place where I took ballet was un-airconditioned (in SC http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif ), so we used to put our little skirts in the freezer while we waited for class to start. Then we would all put our chilly skirts on over our leotards and be cooled off for at least a few minutes. That is a fun memory that I had forgotten all about until now!

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 06-27-2001).]

[Lynn B]

Mamasue,

<oh noooo!> This freezer is supposed to SAVE me money!!!!!!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lynn