So, while you gain some storage on the doors, you may have a difficult time keeping everything at an even temperature. In addition, the temperature of the doors may sometimes be warmer than the temperature inside. This reduces the space vertically, giving no room for tall items, such as a large turkey or ham. However, larger frozen items are not going to fit well in the freezer due to the shelving compartments. Adjustable and removable door storage bins and adjustable shelving with pull out baskets can all make an upright freezer more usable. The many shelves allow better organization, particularly if you choose a model that allows you to move the shelves to better make use of the space. In the past, upright freezers were thought to be more convenient for this reason. This provides an easy way for items to be neatly organized on different levels throughout the freezer. Upright freezers have shelving compartments in them, much like a fridge. So, if you plan on storing large items, this type of freezer gives you the most utility. The lack of shelves make it easier to fit in a single large item such as a turkey, and many chest freezers have up to 20% more usable space than an upright freezer. One of the benefits of using a chest freezer, however, is the ability to fit in larger items. This makes using a chest freezer more bearable, although the user still has to bend over to access the items or remove baskets. Some models have drawers that can be pulled out and used for quick access. However, due to product innovations in the freezer industry, many chest freezers now have additional storage baskets and compartments that can be used to make organization easier. This can become tiring when you’re searching for a small bag of peas but have thrown bags of meat on top. Also bending, lifting, and moving is required to find what you’re looking for. However, the way the food is organized on the inside of the freezer makes a huge difference.Ĭhest freezers have only a wire basket inside them to provide organization, which means that other food items can become buried under one another. Generally, a chest freezer needs to be unplugged, drained, and then cleaned while some upright models defrosts themselves.īoth of these freezer options are available in different sizes, which provides more or less space as required. This is due to the additional air circulation, as well as to the fact that they require more energy to run, sometimes producing a louder, electrical hum. Freezers equipped with auto-defrost tend to be noisier or louder in general than those that do not have an auto-defrost. This means that the frost is removed from the inside of the freezer. Additionally, chest freezers have to be manually defrosted, while upright models may come with an auto-defrost option. Upright freezers can only keep things frozen for one day at a time. This is again due to the seal on the outside rim of the freezer. Upright freezers have smaller gaps in the door mechanism, which can take more energy to keep the food cold.Īlso, if the power in the home goes out, chest freezers can keep food frozen for 2 to 3 days at a time. Due to this, it also means that less energy is used to keep the container cool. Both options come in energy-efficient models, which can further your cost savings.Ĭhest freezers use an airtight locking seal at the top to keep the food inside fresh and frozen. Upright freezers cost around $14 a month to run. Generally, they cost a little more than $4 a month to run when divided. Energy-efficiencyĬhest freezers are more energy-efficient than upright freezers. Chest freezers tend to be wide in length and width, making finding a spot more difficult.

They can easily slip in areas where there is less horizontal space.

They are more space-saving than chest freezers, which makes it easier to find space in the home. They stand vertically and work in the same way that a fridge does to hold the items on the various shelves and compartments. On the other hand, upright freezers look a lot like refrigerators. This may be ideal when adding food items into it, but it also means that you will have to dig for older items. Chest freezers sit horizontally on the floor and are deep in comparison to upright freezers.

Best upright freezer