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Chest freezers cost the least to buy and run, but self-defrost  uprights are the winners for convenience.
If you buy box loads of burgers at a warehouse club or like to keep a few weeks' worth of dinner fixings on hand, the 4- to 6-cubic-foot freezer compartment in most refrigerators may seem positively Lilliputian. A separate freezer might be a good investment.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
Most freezers sold in the U.S. are from one of three companies: Frigidaire, which makes models sold under the Frigidaire, GE, and Kenmore labels; W.C. Wood, which makes models sold under its own name as well as Amana, Magic Chef, Maytag, and Whirlpool; and Haier, a Chinese manufacturer, which has become a major player in the freezer business in recent years. Haier is now the leading supplier of compact-sized freezers sold under its own name and some under the Amana, Kenmore, GE, and Maytag brands.
There are two types of freezers: chests, which are essentially horizontal boxes, with a door that opens upward; and uprights, which resemble a single-door refrigerator. Both types are available in self-defrost and manual-defrost versions.
In recent tests, we found models of both types that failed to keep food frozen.
Manual-defrost chests. These freezers vary most in capacity, ranging from 4 to 25 cubic feet. Aside from a hanging basket or two, chests are wide open, letting you put in even large, bulky items. Nearly all the claimed cubic-foot space is usable. The design makes chests slightly more energy efficient and cheaper to operate than uprights. Cooling coils are built into the walls, so no fan is required to circulate the cold air. Because the door opens from the top, virtually no cold air escapes when you put in or take out food. A chest's open design, however, does make it hard to organize the contents. Finding something can require bending and, often, moving around piles of frozen goods. If you're short, you may find it difficult to extricate an item buried at the bottom (assuming you can remember it's stashed there). A chest also takes up more floor space than an upright. A 15-cubic-foot model is about 4 feet wide by 21/2 feet deep; a comparable upright is just as deep but only about to 21/2 feet wide.
Defrosting a chest can be a hassle, especially if it's fully loaded or has a thick coating of ice. You have to unload the food, keep it frozen somewhere until the ice encrusting the walls has melted, remove the water that accumulates at the drain, then put back the food. Price range: $150 to $500.
GE 19.7 Cu. Ft. Manual Defrost Chest Freezer
Self-defrost chests. This type of chest freezer is relatively new to the marketplace and, except for defrosting, has the same advantages and disadvantages as a manual-defrost chest freezer. Self-defrosting involves heaters that turn on periodically to remove excess ice buildup, eliminating a tedious, messy chore but using extra energy. Because of the circulating fan, self-defrost models are somewhat noisier than manual-defrost chest freezers. Price range: $250 to $700.
Manual-defrost uprights. These freezers have a capacity of 5 to 25 cubic feet, of which some 15 percent isn't usable. They cost less to buy and run than self-defrost models but aren't as economical as chests. Unlike their self-defrost counterparts, they don't have a fan to circulate cold air, which can result in uneven temperatures. Defrosting is quite a chore with some. The metal shelves in the main space are filled with coolant, so if you're not careful scraping off the ice you can damage the shelves. What's more, ice tends to cling to the shelves, so defrosting can take up to 24 hours. Other models have a "flash" defrost system that heats the cooling coils to quickly melt any frost. There's no need to scrape, but, as with any freezer, you must empty the contents before defrosting. Because a manual-defrost upright's shelves contain coolant, they can't be adjusted or removed to hold large items. Price range: $170 to $700.
Frigidaire 17.1 cu. ft. Upright Manual Defrost Freezer - FFU1724DW 
Self-defrost uprights. These models (sometimes called frost-free) have from 11 to 25 cubic feet of space. Like a refrigerator, they have shelves in the main compartment and on the door; some have pullout bins. This arrangement lets you organize and access contents, but reduces usable space by about 20 percent. Interior shelves can be removed or adjusted to fit large items. When you open the door of an upright, cold air spills out from the bottom while warm, humid air sneaks in at the top. That makes the freezer work harder and use more energy to stay cold, and temperatures may fluctuate a bit. These models compensate by using a fan to circulate cold air from the cooling coils, which are located in the back wall.
A self-defrost model costs about $20 a year more to run than a similar-sized manual-defrost model. For many people, the convenience may be worth the extra cost. Self-defrosting models are a bit noisier than other types, an issue only if they're located near a living area rather than in the basement or garage. While freezers of old weren't recommended for use in areas that got very hot or cold, current self-defrost models should work fine within a wide ambient temperature range-typically 32° F to 110° F. Price range: $350 to $800.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
While freezers are simpler than some other major appliances, there are several features worth looking for. Interior lighting makes it easier to find things, especially if you place the freezer in a dimly lit area. A power-on light, indicating that the freezer has power, is helpful. A temperature alarm lets you know when the freezer is too warm inside, such as after a prolonged power outage. (If you lose power, don't open the freezer door; food should remain frozen for about 24 to 48 hours.) A quick-freeze feature brings the freezer to its coldest setting faster by making it run continuously instead of cycling on and off; that's handy when you're adding a lot of food. The flash-defrost feature on some manual-defrost upright freezers can make defrosting easier and faster.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Figure the capacity you need. This will depend on the size of your family and its fondness for frozen foods. Freezers are available in four general sizes: compact (5 cubic feet), small (6 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet). Aside from hanging baskets, chest freezers are wide open so that almost all of the claimed space is usable. Upright freezers have shelves and pull-out bins. These make it easier to organize and reach contents but reduce usable space by up to 20 percent.
Danby 7.8 cu. ft. Propane Manual Defrost Reversible Door Auto Lighter White Refrigerator - DPR2262W 
Weigh manual vs. self-defrost. Manual-defrost freezers, either chest or upright, are generally quieter and more energy efficient than self-defrosting models of the same type. But manually defrosting a freezer is a lot of work and can take up to 24 hours.
Consider local power problems. If the area where you live is prone to brownouts or power failures, a chest freezer will be the better choice.
Check the controls and lights. Easy-to-reach controls make adjusting the temperature simple. An interior light makes it easier to find foods, especially if the freezer is in a dimly lighted area. A power-on light on the outside of the freezer lets you see at a glance that the freezer is on. That way you don't have to open the unit to check, letting cold air out. About half of the models we tested have this feature. We think all should have it.
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Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. All of the above text is provided by Consumers Union. GuideBuy disclaims any liability for the content provided above.
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