Families eat. A lot. Keeping everyone happy, healthy and well fed is almost a full time job. You’re buying in bulk, you’re cooking big meals, you’re trying to find any edge you can to make the most of your time. And that means you’re looking for the ultimate meal planning hack.

Say hello to your family freezer.

If you’re serious about making the most of your menu, you need to start storing food. Made a nutritious stew? Freeze it. Organic produce on special? Freeze it. When you plan to cook and buy in bulk, your freezer will pay for itself a hundred times over. You’ll have ready-made dinners, you’ll go grocery shopping less often; not only will it save you money, most importantly it will save you time.

So what do you need to know?

Chest Freezer vs. Upright Freezer

Once you move beyond your refrigerator’s freezer capacity, you basically have two options. A chest freezer, or an upright freezer.

Chest Freezer by Danby

You can store more food in a chest freezer. They run quietly, and they don’t dry out food as quickly as their upright counterparts. They’re more energy efficient, and in the event of a power outage they maintain temperature and can keep food frozen for up to 24 hours.

The downside here is access. With a deep compartment, it’s easy to lose sight of food at the bottom. A chest freezer also won’t offer you an auto defrost option, so be prepared to defrost the unit about twice a year.

Upright Freezer by Whirlpool

An upright freezer has a smaller footprint than a chest freezer, so they’re a more comfortable fit in the home. With shelves and bins, your food is better organized with easier access. Many upright freezers offer an auto defrost function, which is a definite plus. And with a wide selection of finishes, they’re easy to integrate with an existing kitchen.

That said upright freezers don’t always hold a consistent temperature, especially on the door. In the event of a power outage, you have a lot less time before you suffer spoilage. And finally, for what you gain in organization you lose in storage space. Compared to a chest freezer, the shelves and bins can account for up to 30% of the interior space.

Whatever style you decide, it’s a good idea to buy the smallest freezer that will fit your needs. You’ll save energy, you’ll save money and you’ll reduce frost build up.

Stone Cold Features

Door Lock: Great if your freezer is in the garage and you’d like some added security. But it’s best for keeping little ones safe and out of the cold.

GE Freezer with door lock

Alarm: If the temperature in the room is too hot or too cold, the freezer will not operate correctly. With a heads up, you’ll be able to plan accordingly.

Storage Solutions: Some chest freezers come with optional storage bins and shelves to increase organization.

Auto Defrost: About twice a year, or when the ice builds up about half an inch, you’ll need to defrost manual freezers. It’s a time consuming chore, but with the auto defrost feature the unit uses a heating element to prevent ice from forming.

Upright or chest, now you know what to expect from a freezer. And if you’re anything like me, that means you’re ready to see what’s out there.

Don’t get left out in the cold. Head over to our Brandsource store for a great deal on your family’s new freezer today.

Isabelle, Your Appliances Expert