Use the Food Storage Calculator to estimate fresh and frozen storage capacity for your household.

Related collections

Related articles

Buying guides

Tools

Fridge.com · Blog

Best Home Upright Freezer

Share
Best Home Upright Freezer | Fridge.com
Michelle Thomas | Fridge.com
Michelle Thomas· Interior Designer
6 min read
Summarize with

Key Takeaways

  • What That Costs Yearly (at $0.13/kWh).
  • A savvy model might sip just 200-400 kWh a year, slicing those electricity bills and giving Mother Earth a little love.
  • Keep it at a steady 0°F (-18°C) so nothing spoils..
  • Some models never frost over, so less upkeep for you..
Browse Food Storage Appliances

Why Would You Want a Home Upright Freezer?

Perks of Owning an Upright Freezer

Getting an upright freezer for your house is like adding a secret weapon to your kitchen arsenal. It’s got perks, plenty of 'em!

What's Good
Why It's Good
More Storage
Buy in bulk, stash the extras, and skip the endless grocery runs.
Super Organized
Shelves and compartments mean you can find that frozen pizza without the treasure hunt.
Handy-Dandy
Extra freezer room gives you the freedom to prep meals ahead, handy for hectic lives.
Keeps It Fresh
Freeze your fruits and meats while they’re fresh, no more tossing out rotting produce.

With all these reasons, you can see why an upright freezer could be your kitchen's new best friend, especially if cooking or planning meals is your jam. Get inspired with more ideas by checking out Fridge.com piece on fridge meal prep ideas.

Why Upright Freezers Trump Other Styles

Picking the right freezer isn’t a tough choice when you line them up next to each other:

Feature
Upright Freezer
Chest Freezer
Getting Stuff
Easy-peasy since you don’t have to dig deep to fish out a small tub of ice cream.
Expect a bit of a workout trying to find that one item.
Room Fit
Does well in tighter spots; doesn’t hog the floor space.
Needs more real estate on your floor.
Keeping Tidy
Shelves and bins make organizing a breeze.
Limited shelving means you’re playing Tetris with your food.
No Frost Fuss
Some models never frost over, so less upkeep for you.
Be ready to defrost it yourself.

Picking an upright freezer is basically putting convenience and tidiness first. If squeezing out every inch of space matters, take a look at options with more clever storage bits like best home built-in freezers.

At the end of the day, an upright freezer might just be a lifesaver for busy homes, trendy food bloggers, or families wanting to maximize their food storage game.

Features to Look for in a Home Upright Freezer

Shop this collection

Upright Freezers

Browse all

When you're in the market for the perfect home upright freezer, keeping an eye on certain features can change the game when it comes to how handy and effective this kitchen superstar can be. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

Capacity and Size

Size and capacity are a big deal with upright freezers. You want one that slides right into your space while still having ample room for your chicken nuggets and ice cream extravaganza.

Capacity Range
Who It's Good For
5 - 10 cubic feet
Smaller households, single folks
10 - 20 cubic feet
Mid-size families, meal preppers
20+ cubic feet
Big families, bulk buyers

Grab a tape measure before you hit the store, so you know this shiny new freezer isn't going to turn moving day into an Olympic sport.

Energy Efficiency

When you think energy efficiency, think less dough on your bills and saving the planet one chill at a time. Scan for that bright ENERGY STAR label—it's like a gold star in the freezer world.

A savvy model might sip just 200-400 kWh a year, slicing those electricity bills and giving Mother Earth a little love.

Energy Usage
What That Costs Yearly (at $0.13/kWh)
200 kWh
$26
300 kWh
$39
400 kWh
$52

Going green with your freezer pays off in savings and our shared love for this spinning blue ball.

Organization and Storage Options

Being organized in freezer land means no more guessing games during dinner prep. Seek out features like:

  • Adjustable Shelves: Customize the space for your pizza stacks and mystery leftovers.
  • Baskets or Bins: Keep those smaller stuff easy to grab and separate.
  • Door Bins: They're a bonus for using every inch available.

A snazzy, organized freezer makes life just that much easier. And because we all need a little more order, why not peek at our fridge meal prep ideas for more organizing wizardry?

Make the most of size, energy know-how, and smart storage, and you'll snag an upright freezer that tackles what your family throws at it, keeping your kitchen chaos-free. Whether you're trying to feed a soccer team or keep up with the chef foodie trend, these features are your go-to.

Types of Home Upright Freezers

Picking the right freezer is a choice that can make a world of difference in your kitchen. Let's break down what you might be looking at when you shop for an upright freezer.

Manual Defrost Vs. Frost-Free Models

When you're choosing an upright freezer, you'll see two main types: manual defrost and frost-free. Both have their own perks and quirks.

Feature
Manual Defrost
Frost-Free Models
Defrost Required
Sure thing
Nope
Maintenance
Higher - Needs a little elbow grease now and then
Lower - Takes care of itself
Cost
Usually a bit cheaper
Tends to be pricier
Ice buildup
Might pile up
Ice? Never gonna happen
Efficiency
Energy-saving
Uses more juice

Manual defrosts are like those friends who're a bit high-maintenance but always there for you. They'll save you on energy bills but ask for some TLC. Frost-free? More hands-off but mildly power-hungry. They save you the hassle later on.

Standalone Vs. Built-in Freezers

Next thing to mull over – do you want a free-roaming standalone or a fixture like a built-in upright freezer? Both are champs in storage but serve up different vibes.

Feature
Standalone Freezers
Built-in Freezers
Space
Spreads out a bit
Squeezes into cupboards
Installation
Just plug and play
Might need the pros
Mobility
Easy to shuffle around
Stays put
Style
Lots of look choices
Blends into your kitchen

Got a creative side? Standalone is the way to experiment with placement. Going for a polished kitchen look? Built-in it is.

Specialty Features and Customization Options

Upright freezers can come with cool add-ons to make life smoother. Here’s what to watch for:

Feature
Description
Shelves that adjust
Helps with those oversized or oddly-shaped goodies
Temp Controls
Lets you pick the perfect chill for every grub
Alarm notifications
Friendly reminder if the door's been left open
Interior lighting
Brightens up your treasure hunt in a packed freezer

Think about what bells and whistles you need most to find the perfect freezer match. Whether you’re a food-saving hero or a meal prep whiz, you’ve got options. And hey, don’t skip our fridge meal prep ideas — they’re packed with inspiration!

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

Shop this collection

Freezers

Browse all

Getting an upright freezer for your home takes some thought, but don't stress—I'll help you find one that works for you and your lifestyle.

Factors to Think About Before Buying

Before making a choice, consider these points to ensure you snag the perfect freezer:

Thing to Think About
Details
Size
Check out how much room you've got in your home and pick a freezer that’s a comfy fit.
Capacity
Figure out how much you usually store based on your family's munching habits.

Deciding What You Need

Figure out your freezer needs with these pointers:

  • Storage Amount: Love bulk shopping or saving leftovers? Go big with your freezer size.
  • What’s Going In: Different foods need different spaces. Proteins? Veggies? They might need special shelves or baskets.
  • Usage Level: If you're in and out of the freezer a lot, organizational features are your new best friends—makes finding stuff so much easier!

Keeping Your Upright Freezer in Top Shape

A little TLC will keep your freezer humming and extend its lifespan, too.

Maintenance Trick
What You Should Do
Regular Touch-Ups
Wipe the inside and outside often to keep everything fresh and nice-smelling.
Temperature Check
Keep it at a steady 0°F (-18°C) so nothing spoils.
Defrosting Routine
Got a manual defrost? Stay on top of it for top efficiency.
Seal Inspection
Ensure door seals are tight. This helps keep the cold in and the bills down.

By keeping these tips in your toolkit, you'll score a home upright freezer that perfectly matches your needs and makes meal prep a breeze. And if you're itching for meal ideas, check out our fridge meal prep ideas for some tasty inspiration!

From Fridge.com research

Figures below come from data Fridge.com builds and maintains. Each links to the record behind it.

  • Fridge.com Energy Index, built on U.S. EPA and DOE ENERGY STAR records

    Across 5,455 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and freezers from 263 brands, median use is 360 kWh per year.

    See the data·How this is measured

Free tool
Freezer BTU Calculator

Free interactive tool from Fridge.com — get a quick answer while you read.

Open the tool ↗
Share
More upright freezers

Top upright freezers on Fridge.com

Top rated

The highest-rated refrigerators on Fridge.com

Continue reading: Upright Freezers