If you need to buy food in bulk because of a larger household or to minimize your trips to grocery shops, consider buying a chest freezer. It’ll allow you to store your food conveniently to keep it fresh for a longer time.
A chest freezer offers a more open floor space as compared to an upright freezer or refrigerator freezer to store a large amount of food.
These freezers are available in different sizes and it can be daunting to choose the right one. That’s where this guide will come into place.
It’ll allow you to understand what size of chest freezer you need based on your requirements.
Different Sizes of Chest Freezers
Just like upright freezers, chest freezers also come in a variety of sizes, and choosing the right size is critically important. You don’t want to buy a small chest freezer that doesn’t fulfill your needs because you’ll run out of storage space quickly.
Whereas you’ll be wasting money if you buy a larger chest freezer than you need as you won’t be able to utilize its full capacity. Generally, chest freezers are divided into the following four categories in terms of freezer size.
- Compact chest freezer: 3 to 5 cubic feet
- Small chest freezer: 5 to 9 cubic feet
- Medium chest freezer: 10 to 16 cubic feet
- Large chest freezer: more than 17 cubic feet
So, What Size of Chest Freezer Do You Need?
Generally, a chest freezer with a 1.77 cu ft storage capacity will be enough for two individuals to store a week’s worth of frozen food. If your family consists of four to six people, you should go with a product with 7 cubic feet of freezer capacity.
Freezers that offer more than 10.6 cu ft capacity will suit a large family consisting of up to 10 or more individuals. Keep in mind that these are general rules and the storage capacity you need can be different.
Therefore, you should consider the following factors to determine the right chest freezer size based on your family’s unique requirements.
The Amount of Food You Want to Freeze
Considering the amount of food that you want to store in your chest freezer is an important factor to determine the right size. For example, if you want a chest freezer that’ll work as an extension of your existing refrigerator freezer, a 3 to 5 cubic feet freezer will suffice.
On the other hand, you’ll need to go with a 14 to the 16-cubic-foot freezer if you want to store an entire side of beef.
Your Budget
Price is one of the most important factors that you should consider while buying a chest freezer. If you’re on a budget you’ll need to go with a small chest freezer that doesn’t break your bank.
Your Family’s Food Consumption habits
One of the most overlooked factors when buying a chest freezer is the family’s food consumption habits. If your family consumes more food, then your chest freezer will be used more frequently. Additionally, you’ll also need extra freezer space to store food items for every individual.
If there are four people in your family and they eat more than average people, then going with a chest freezer with 8.83 to 10.6 cu ft of storage capacity will be a wise choice.
What Other Factors to Consider While Buying a Chest Freezer?
The following are some factors, other than the storage size, that you should consider while buying a chest freezer.
- Choose a chest freezer that comes with compartment dividers and a removable basket to organize your food properly.
- Go with an energy-efficient chest freezer to reduce your electricity bills.
- If you want to place the chest freezer in your apartment, consider a low-noise product.
- Look for a chest freezer that offers a hinge-style top door that stays in place once opened. It’ll allow you to use both hands.
- You should buy a chest freezer that offers a front-mounted thermostat. It’ll allow you to control the freezer’s internal temperature with ease.
- Always choose a product that comes with a warranty to protect your investments.
Tips to Use a Chest Freezer Properly
The following is the list of some important tips that you should follow to utilize your chest freezer’s true potential.
- Always place your chest freezer in a cool spot for energy efficiency.
- Only open the door of your chest freezer when you need to store or remove something.
- Leave some room along the sides and at the top of the freezer compartment to increase airflow. It’ll also help you access food stored on the bottom.
- Use freezer-friendly plastic bags or containers to seal your freezer meals before storing them to prevent freezer burn.
FAQs
How Much Will a 7 Cubic Foot Freezer Hold?
A chest freezer that comes with 7 cubic feet of storage space will hold around 245 to 280 pounds of food. You can easily use such a chest freezer to store a quarter of beef and you’ll still have room for other food items.
How Much Can a 5 Cubic Foot Freezer Hold?
A 5 cubic foot chest freezer can hold about 180 pounds of food. It’ll be more than enough to store a week’s worth of frozen food for two individuals. A chest freezer of this size is suitable for small families living in apartments.
What Size Chest Freezer Do I Need for a Family of 5?
You’ll need a small chest freezer for a family of five people. However, it also depends on your unique food storage needs. If you need to store food in bulk like an entire side of beef, you’ll need to go with a medium size chest freezer.
Final Words
Chest freezers are available in different sizes and it’s important to choose the one that suits your family’s unique needs.
Make sure that you consider all the factors discussed in this guide while buying a new chest freezer.
It’ll help you find an easy-to-use, energy-efficient, and correct-sized product that’ll last a long time.
