Chest Freezers & Deep Freezer Chests

Discover Chest Freezers at Abt

A full freezer can be a common occurrence for those living in large households with their families, who may buy more to cut down on frequent grocery store runs. Instead, invest in a chest freezer from Abt to hold all your overstock. Chest freezers, unlike upright freezers, are designed with a door on top that opens like a chest, as the name suggests. These freezers are ideal for those who buy frozen food in bulk or larger products that won't fit in your typical refrigerator with a freezer. There are many advantages to these freezers, like their ability to stay cold for a longer period of time after power outages. In fact, their temperatures are more consistent because they don't cycle on and off. They run quieter than upright freezers, have a longer lifespan and usually cost less than comparable models. Because chest freezers are outdoor capable and built to handle more extreme temperatures, they are most commonly stored in garages.

Freezer Capacity & Defrosting

One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a chest freezer is its interior capacity, which is measured in cubic feet. Abt models offer anywhere from 2.5 to 24.8 cubic feet of space. But how much room do you really need in your freezer? Some experts recommend 1.5 cubic feet per person in your household. Because frozen food comes in all different shapes and sizes, consider what kind of frozen food you plan on buying and storing consistently; choose a freezer that is just big enough to fit these items. Buying too large means more empty space, forcing your chest freezer to work harder at staying cold, ultimately wasting more energy. Freezers are prone to frost buildup, which can stick to the cooling coils and walls and altogether make your appliance less efficient. In order to prevent frost buildup, your freezer needs to be defrosted occasionally. Typically, chest freezers are manual defrost only, but this is not the case with Abt models as we offer both manual and automatic. Manual defrost freezers require you to turn off the appliance and leave the lid open so the ice can melt. This can be messy and time-consuming unless your freezer comes with a defrost drain that collects the melted water. Self-defrosting freezers have a heating element that activates on a regular schedule in order to melt the frost buildup. While this means less work for the owner, the temperature fluctuation can drain moisture from the food as well, causing freezer burn. Vacuum sealing and tight packing with plastic wrap or other materials can help prevent this.

Chest Freezer Features

Many of the chest freezers at Abt include storage baskets where you can place smaller frozen items for easier access. The ideal temperature for a freezer is 0° Fahrenheit and this can be monitored and maintained when you choose a model with temperature controls. Mechanical thermostats or power indicator lights can also help in this process. If you don't notice a red light, certain models will activate a high temp alarm as well. Why would your freezer be warmer than usual? Most often it's because the door was not closed all the way. Invest in a chest freezer with door locks to avoid this danger. Some higher-tech models even have an LED digital display. As chest freezers can be quite large and heavy, consider an option with caster wheels for easier transportation. For questions about maintaining an appliance like this, speak to a member of our team at 800-860-3577. Learn more about chest freezers and other models by exploring our freezer buying guide.