We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Appliances Large Appliances The 8 Best Freezers, According to Hundreds of Home Cooks Our list includes popular household names like GE, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool. By Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is a passionate and voraciously hungry home cook and eater. She's been writing about food in all its forms since 2014 and is a big believer that anyone can and should love to cook. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 9, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Best Freezer Brands Our Freezer Survey Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Alli Waataja Freezing is one of the fastest and most effective ways to preserve food. Freeze seasonal summer produce like peaches and berries to brighten up a dreary winter, or have a dedicated space for favorite freeze-ahead recipes. You can freeze leftovers, you can make frozen soup base for instant comforting meals; the possibilities for frozen meals are endless. But if space is getting limited in your main refrigerator/freezer, it may be time to add a standalone freezer to your home. To help you find the best freezer for your setup, we surveyed more than 600 home cooks with dedicated freezers, asking them about brand, design, organization, and durability. Whether you need a chest freezer that opens from the top, a spacious reach-in upright freezer to complement the rest of your kitchen appliances, or something compact that can fit in a basement or garage, we included a wide range of the best freezer brands, trusted by hundreds of home cooks. Our Top Picks Best Chest Freezer: GE Garage Ready Manual Defrost Chest Freezer at Wayfair $341 Jump to Review Best Upright: Frigidaire Frost-Free Upright Freezer at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Garages: GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freezer at Wayfair $877 Jump to Review Best Large-Capacity: SALE Whirlpool 19.65-cu ft Frost-free Upright Freezer at Lowe's $1,199 $779 Jump to Review Best Value: Frigidaire Platinum Design Series Upright Freezer at Amazon $350 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Hestan Built-In Outdoor Refrigerator with Freezer Drawer at Amazon $6,949 Jump to Review Best Convertible: Samsung 11.4-cu ft Frost-free Convertible Upright Freezer/Refrigerator at Amazon $1,103 Jump to Review Best Mini-Freezer: Magic Chef Upright Freezer at Amazon $291 Jump to Review Best Chest Freezer GE Garage Ready Manual Defrost Chest Freezer PHOTO: The Home Depot $341 at Wayfair $379 at Home Depot View on Sears.com Pros GE units are beloved for their reliability and longevity. Cons This model lacks an automatic defrost feature. Of our more 600 survey participants polled, nearly a quarter used a GE chest freezer. Many respondents have been using the same freezer for years and continue to be happy with the units' operation. This 7-cubic-foot model is our top overall chest freezer recommendation for its balance of generous size, reasonable cost, and space-efficient footprint. This freezer includes two plastic lift-out baskets to help organize frozen fruits, veggies, or freezer-friendly food storage containers. Participants also noted that they like the exterior power light, which makes it easy to confirm that the unit is on and running at a glance. Our main complaint is that it doesn't have any kind of self-defrost settings. When it comes time to manually defrost and clean this freezer, though, there is a drain in the front to help avoid messy spills. Type: Chest | Capacity: 7 cubic feet | Dimensions: 33.5 x 32 x 21.7 inches Best Upright Frigidaire Frost-Free Upright Freezer PHOTO: Amazon View on Amazon $657 at Wayfair $628 at Home Depot Pros This dependable upright freezer has a smaller footprint than a chest model, with more drawers and shelves for organization. Cons You might have trouble fitting oversized items. Frigidaire was the second-most-popular brand among freezer owners in our survey. Its upright model offers excellent organization, durability, and space efficiency for homes that need lots of freezer room but might be short on on floor space. Unlike deep chest freezers, which can be difficult to organize, the tall Frigidaire has shelves and a pull-out drawer that make it easy to find what you’re looking for. We also like the built-in light on this unit and the fact that it is frost-free, making maintenance easier. Superior freezing and insulation is what Frigidaire is known for; the specialized door seal helps this freezer keep its temperature in hot garages, and even for up to 2 days during power outages. The door alarm alerts you if the door is left open, so you never have to worry about accidental defrosting. On the other hand, if you're looking mainly for a meat freezer to hold large items like a Thanksgiving turkey, leg of lamb, or venison from a hunting trip, you might be better off with a chest freezer. All the convenient shelves and drawers in this model make it hard to fit a whole rib roast or entire ham. Type: Upright | Capacity: 15.5 cubic feet | Dimensions: 27.75 x 29.12 x 67.75 inches Best for Garages GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freezer PHOTO: Best Buy $877 at Wayfair $999 $848 at Home Depot $850 at Best Buy Pros This well-organized freezer is ideal for garages because of its high temperature tolerance, door lock, and adjustable legs. Cons The door isn't reversible, so the freezer can't squeeze into every corner. GE is a customer-favorite brand, and this model is an upright version of our favorite chest freezer above, with more than double the interior space. Pretty much no matter the climate where you live, this appliance will stay both cold and functional in a garage: It's rated for exterior temperatures from 0 to 110°F. The door has a lock to keep it from popping open (and to protect from errant wildlife), and a beeping alarm to alert you if it's not closed securely. Garage floors can be uneven, and this freezer comes with adjustable legs to keep it stable no matter the surface. We love the easy-to-clean glass shelves and door caddy for added organization. The only downside is that the door isn't reversible. Unlike some other freezers, this one can only be installed in a space where there's room for the door to open left-to-right. Type: Upright | Capacity: 17.3 cubic feet | Dimensions: 64.88 x 32.86 x 31.25 inches Best Large-Capacity Whirlpool 19.65-cu ft Frost-free Upright Freezer PHOTO: Best Buy $1,199 $779 at Lowe's $1,399 at Home Depot View on Build.com Pros This unit is spacious, efficient, and doesn't require manual defrosting. Cons Large freezers like this one can be complicated to keep organized. In our survey, this spacious unit was the top choice for gardeners, hunters, foragers, bulk shoppers, and anyone else with large quantities of meat or produce to freeze. Among respondents who chose a larger freezer, many said that Whirlpool’s deep chest units are difficult to organize, making this upright alternative a great option. It's the single largest freezer on our list, with adjustable (or removable) shelves that run the full width of the interior, a deep basket at the bottom for extra-large items, and shelves inside the entire door from top to bottom, to hold lots and lots of ice cream, frozen pizzas, and other packaged items. With any freezer this big, though, you're definitely going to wind up with items stacked on top of each other, and organization may be a challenge. But the Whirlpool has a few nice bonus features, including a frost-free system that minimizes the need to defrost, and a fast freeze option that instantly decreases the temperature by 10 degrees for when you load in a lot of warm items or after a power outage. Type: Upright | Capacity: 19.6 cubic feet | Dimensions: 66.75 x 33.25 x 30 inches Best Value Frigidaire Platinum Design Series Upright Freezer PHOTO: Amazon $350 at Amazon $349 at Home Depot Pros This smartly designed freezer is versatile enough to fit almost any space or budget. Cons We wish the shelves were removable. If you're looking for some overflow freezer space without breaking the bank, this smartly designed Frigidaire fits the bill. Our respondents praised Frigidaire for its great insulation and freezing power, and this upright unit fits 6.5 cubic feet of storage into a small footprint, at a low price. Its tall, slender design utilizes vertical space that often goes to waste with chest and two-door upright models. It's not the absolute least expensive pick on this list, but considering storage space for money, the Frigidaire Platinum is easily the best value. With a completely flat back that can sit flush to a wall and a nearly square footprint, this freezer can easily slide into even the tightest spaces without sacrificing the storage you need. The door installation is reversible for extra versatility, too. The included shelves are handy but not removable, which makes both cleaning and fitting oversized items a challenge. Type: Upright | Capacity: 6.5 cubic feet | Dimensions: 21 x 23 x 56 inches Best Splurge Hestan Built-In Outdoor Refrigerator with Freezer Drawer PHOTO: Williams Sonoma $6,949 at Amazon $6,999 at Williams Sonoma Pros This durable modular refrigerator-freezer system can maintain temperatures even in a hot outdoor kitchen. Cons It's expensive to begin with, and you'll have to hire a professional to install it. Technically, this isn't just a freezer. Hestan's modular outdoor drawer system can be set up with dual refrigerators or a refrigerator and a freezer. The editor-trusted luxury brand is known for high-tech kitchen innovations (we love its copper cookware) that more than delivers on luxury and extra features. And who couldn't use a little extra fridge space next to the built-in grill for their dream outdoor kitchen? Hestan lets you choose from a large selection of bright colors (or standard stainless) for the front of this stacked fridge and freezer combination. The drawers make access easy even while cooking, and the heavy-duty slides pull out seamlessly even when your freezer is packed and it's 100 degrees out. A digital temperature display allows you to adjust the freezer drawer from -10 to 10°F, while the refrigerator drawer can be adjusted between 33 and 42°F. The best thing about this freezer system is its durability; it's designed to live outdoors year-round in all kinds of conditions. The weather-resistant exterior is tough, and the heavy-duty insulation lets it operate in any weather. If you're looking to upgrade your outdoor kitchen or match your outdoor pizza oven, we recommend this splurge-worthy modular unit. Type: Modular | Capacity: 5.2 cubic feet | Dimensions: 24 x 23.88 x 34.31 inches Best Convertible Samsung 11.4-cu ft Frost-free Convertible Upright Freezer/Refrigerator PHOTO: Best Buy $1,103 at Amazon $808 at Wayfair $809 at Samsung Pros This unit has plenty of drawers and shelves to keep it organized, and it works as refrigerator or freezer. Cons The door doesn't always shut and seal properly. If you’re unsure if you need additional freezer or fridge space, a convertible unit is a great middle ground. This Energy Star-certified Samsung unit is made to swap back and forth between sub-zero frozen temperatures and standard refrigerator range. The interior of this upright unit has lots of removable shelves and drawers that make it easy to keep the spacious interior organized, whether you're chilling fruit, cheese, meats and Champagne for a charcuterie party or stocking up on frozen pizzas for a house full of teenagers. Other features include a reversible door, automatic internal light, door alarm, and power freeze setting that reduces the unit’s temperature quickly and efficiently. However, you need to pay close attention to shutting the door properly; if seated incorrectly, it can pop open and cause the freezer to defrost. Type: Upright | Capacity: 11.4 cubic feet | Dimensions: 73 x 23.5 x 27.4 inches Best Mini-Freezer Magic Chef Upright Freezer PHOTO: Home Depot $291 at Amazon $272 at Wayfair $304 $258 at Walmart Pros This tiny upright freezer is easy to organize and won't break the bank. Cons Frequent manual defrosts are necessary as ice can build up in this unit. If your home doesn’t have space for a sizable chest freezer, or if you're just looking for a little bit of auxiliary storage, this is the perfect freezer for you. The compact unit offers 3 cubic feet of cold storage in roughly the same amount of space as a mini-fridge or a wine fridge. The built-in shelving makes it easy to stay organized, and the flat back can sit flush against a wall, perfect for tight spaces. Our respondents said Magic Chef freezers are durable and super-quiet, and they're not terribly expensive. The downside with this miniature model is that it requires manual defrosting, typically more frequently than a larger model. Type: Upright | Capacity: 3 cubic feet | Dimensions: 23.20 x 20.30 x 32.10 Inches Best Freezer Brands GE Among our more than 600 survey respondents, we found that GE freezers were the most popular, with one in four people owning a GE unit. Some of our respondents have owned their freezers for over 20 years, which is a testament to the longevity of GE’s products. Overall, survey participants thought GE freezers have consistent temperatures and hold a lot of food for their footprints. However, some said they wish their GE units had better door locks and more models with manual defrost. GE freezers are often on the more expensive end, but given that many of our respondents have had their GE freezers for decades, we think they're worth the price. Frigidaire Frigidaire was the second-most-popular brand, owned by one in five respondents. Our survey participants said they were "extremely satisfied" with their Frigidaire freezers. Frigidaire is the stand-out brand for high-quality insulation, with models that respondents said freeze food quickly and hold temperature well when the power goes out. If a deep freeze is important to you, go with a Frigidaire, but be aware than many participants also reported their Frigidaires accumulating a lot of frost. Whirlpool Another favorite brand among our survey respondents was Whirlpool. Fans of Whirlpool freezers praised the brand's compact units that don't sacrifice internal storage. Participants loved Whirlpool's chest freezers for their high capacity and ease of cleaning, but some said they'd like an internal light and more upright options. Our Freezer Survey To inform these recommendations, we conducted a large-scale survey of standalone freezer users nationwide, receiving more than 600 responses. We asked participants to evaluate their freezers based on features, design, performance, and value, collecting data that helped us understand how people utilize their freezers. The most popular brands were GE and Frigidaire, accounting for nearly half of respondents, followed by Kenmore and Whirlpool. Participants also called out specific products from other brands that performed exceptionally well. Through this data, trends emerged, showing what brands and individual freezers last the longest and leave users feeling satisfied, as well as what features are most helpful to long-time users. Using these responses on participants' favorite brands, we researched the best freezers from each brand to inform our picks. Factors to Consider Freezer Style A chest freezer is a short, wide, deep freezer that opens from the top, while a taller upright freezer opens from the front like a standard refrigerator. For storing large cuts of meat and bulk groceries over the long term, a chest freezer could be the better choice, as it tends to be more efficient and heat up less when the door is opened — cold air sinks to the bottom and stays there. The lack of shelves and drawers also makes for more space to fit big, oddly shaped items. Upright freezers come in a wider variety of sizes and are generally easier to organize. Plus, it's a lot easier to see what is in an upright freezer since things aren't stacked on top of each other. The upright style is somewhat more practical for everyday use. Freezer Size and Capacity To decide which freezer will best suit your needs, consider where you’ll keep the unit and how much space you have. If floor space is at a premium, opt for an upright freezer, which takes up minimal square footage without sacrificing capacity. Keep in mind as you measure that many models need a few inches of clearance at the back and on the sides for proper ventilation, while there are also flat-backed options that can sit flush against the wall. The bigger the freezer, the more it can hold; there's a bit of variation in how efficiently different models use their space, but not much. Energy-Efficiency All freezers are designed with layers of insulation to hold in the cold air, but they can vary pretty widely in how much electricity they need to maintain their temperature. For the most energy-efficient models, look for an Energy Star certification. Keep the location of the freezer in mind, too: A unit in direct sunlight or another warmer-than-normal area needs more energy to maintain its temperature. If you plan to keep your freezer in the garage, look for a model designed specifically for a garage — it has extra insulation and settings to better handle wide temperature swings. Extra Features Many freezers come with extra features geared toward specific tasks or needs. A freezer with a lock is a great safety feature for households with children, or for a garage where animals might try to break in. Some come with wire baskets or inserts for better organization, perfect for meal prep or organizing leftovers. A light is ideal for freezers in garages, basements, or other low-light areas. What you plan to use your freezer for the most will guide you on what features are worth it for you. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between an upright freezer and a chest freezer? They both do essentially the same thing, but they have different shapes.A chest freezer opens at the top, with a door that swings upward. It's generally short and squat, with a bigger footprint and usually an open space inside. These are great for large, irregularly shaped items and long-term storage. Because heat rises, a chest freezer is more energy-efficient than a tall upright model, and it's a popular style for a garage freezer.An upright freezer is shaped like a traditional refrigerator, with a door in the front that opens outward. Tall upright models have more capacity to the amount of floor space they take up than chest freezers. They typically have lots of shelves and drawers that are easy to keep organized but can make fitting large items difficult. For the most versatile upright freezer, look for a model with removable or adjustable shelving. Why do I need a dedicated freezer? Freezing is one of the easiest ways to store and preserve food, whether that means items purchased in bulk or in-season produce that can be frozen and used throughout the year. Freezing extra meals and ingredients is a great way to save money and combat food waste, but most refrigerator-freezer combinations have limited room. A one-time investment in an extra freezer can definitely pay out in the long run.A dedicated freezer is also helpful for people who like to hunt or fish, providing space for a whole deer or an entire day's catch. Even things like bread, cheese, and indoor garden herbs can be frozen to prevent spoilage. What are the most important features to look for in a freezer? The features you’ll need depend on your lifestyle and the space you have for the unit. A chest freezer may be most appropriate if you want to store large cuts of meat, while a reach-in upright unit may be easier to use if you’re most concerned with keeping backups of grocery items around. Most freezers need some open space around the unit for airflow, but you can look for a flat-back model if it needs to squeeze into a tight space.Other extras include a door lock, storage inserts, and an automatic light. These are comparatively minor considerations, but they can be helpful and generally don't add a huge amount of cost. How do I clean and defrost a freezer? The first step to cleaning your freezer is to sort through all the food inside. This is your chance to throw away anything that's freezer-burnt, expired, or you know you won't eat. Transfer all the items you want to keep to a cooler or another freezer while you clean and defrost. If your freezer has an automatic defrost (or just doesn't have much frost buildup to deal with), you can unplug it and move directly on to cleaning.If your freezer has built-up ice and requires a manual defrost, turn it off and unplug it after emptying out the food. Some freezers have a drainage hose or spout to college water from the melted ice; if so, place a bucket under the outlet to catch the water. If not, set up a sheet tray in front of the door and line up some towels around the outside to catch drips. Leave the freezer off and the door open until all the ice melts — usually overnight.Clean the walls, shelves, and bins with an all-purpose cleaner and thoroughly dry every surface before plugging the freezer back in and turning in on. It's a good idea to let the freezer run empty and come down to temperature before loading the food back in. Our Expertise Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is an experienced professional home cook. She has worked in restaurant kitchens, professional test kitchens, and also on farms and at farmer's markets. She's an expert at translating techniques, recipes, equipment, and ingredient information for all skill levels. She's dedicated to making the home cooking experience more enjoyable and is always on the lookout for the next great tip or trick to pass along to readers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit