If we made a list of the essential home appliances that keep us safe, the freezer would take a top spot. Refrigerators are equipped to store food for a short period, but freezers, especially chest freezers keep food stored for much longer. Besides having a reliable compressor cooling system, a good freezer should also keep your food frozen for a full 24 hrs or longer if you experience a power outage.
Before you head to home appliance store for a freezer, there are a couple of things you should know first. What type of freezer would suit your home better? Do you know what is a chest freezer? Which is better – manual or auto-defrost (a.k.a. frost-free)? Did you know manual defrost freezer models are better at storing food for the long term than their auto-defrost counterparts? Is your garage well insulated to accept a refrigerator or freezer?
In this blog, you’ll find a complete freezer buying guide that outlines the essential features to look for in a freezer. We have also compiled a list of the best freezers on the market to make your choice an easy one.
What you keep in your freezer is only limited by the amount of space that you have available. Making planned leftovers of soups, stews or casseroles is one smart strategy. Each of us has different requirements when it comes to our fridges and freezers: as much storage space as possible, long-lasting food freshness, innovative yet timeless design, and the use of high-quality materials that ensure an appliance has a long service life. Whatever your requirements, Best view Reviews is sure to have an appliance that is the right solution for you.
When it comes to buying an ice machine, the wide variety of models and options can seem both confusing and overwhelming. Before choosing a model, be sure to double check that you have selected a commercial ice maker machine that can work with the unique setup of your business. The choice is yours, but here are five mistakes you should always avoid when buying an ice machine.
To know more about, how do I choose an Ice Maker. You can view my blog The Best Ice maker in 2020 and it's Review's.
Difference between Fridge and Freezer
A 'fridge, also known as a refrigerator, is where you place items you want to cool, but not freeze. So, most fridges are set to temperatures between 35F and 40F. A freezer is where you place items you want to remain frozen. Freezer temperatures are usually set to below zero degrees farenheight.
The relative simplicity of design makes chest-type freezers much cheaper, too: upright models with automatic defrost and ice makers cost well over $1000, whereas it’s hard to find a simple chest type freezer of the same volume costing more than $800. Check out our appliance search tool to compare prices.
Freezer Types
There are three freezer types on the market. Appropriate one for your home depends on the space available, the storage capacity you desire, and how long you want to store food items.
Upright Freezers
Upright freezers are tall rather than wide, making them an excellent fit for the kitchen. You could choose a model with customizable panels to match your kitchen cabinetry and decor. Upright freezers have shelves that make storing food items more convenient to access but less flexible if you’d like to reconfigure the shelves. They are usually designed with an auto defrost or frost-free feature. Prices range from $300 to $2,000.
Chest Freezers
Chest freezers usually have the best storage flexibility of all three types. They are wide rather than tall and typically take up more floor space. Thanks to its storage flexibility, they are ideal for storing bulky items and are great for households that stock up on a lot of frozen food. The manual defrost feature makes it a great choice for long term food storage too. Prices range from $200 to $1,500.
Pros of Chest Freezers
● They have more space for use compared to upright freezers.
● They are more energy-efficient than other freezer types.
● Chest freezers maintain lower temperatures.
● With Chest freezers, your food is less likely to burn compared to upright freezers.
● They keep food frozen for an extended period in case there is a power outage.
And here are the negatives:
● They are more difficult to organize than upright freezers
Undercounter Freezers
During Summer, our freezers have become one of the most important appliances in our homes. But the question remains: how long is frozen food actually good for? Well, if we’re talking technically, the answer is: forever. Freezing food stops bacterial growth in its tracks, so in theory, frozen food should keep indefinitely.
However, there’s a catch (isn’t there always?). While you won’t get sick from eating foods that have been frozen for a while - as long as they were frozen properly - the USDA guidelines 2020 does provide general guidelines on how long to keep freezer foods, after which you can expect a marked drop in quality. Oftentimes, this drop in quality is due to freezer burn. Freezer burn is a result of air coming into contact with food, and it sucks both taste and texture out of food, leaving food bland and limp once it’s cooked. Look out for any grayish-brown discoloration and formation of ice crystals on your food.
Generally speaking, most food should last 3-6 months without succumbing to freezer burn. But wrapping foods properly with freezer wrap (not plastic wrap, which lets a lot of air in), or using air-tight, freezer-safe containers can increase their “shelf” life. Taking frequent inventory of your freezer will also help you keep track of what to keep and what to throw out. Label everything with the name of the item and the date - and for even easier safekeeping, keep a corresponding paper list on the fridge so you know what’s inside without having to dig around
Frozen chocolate-peanut butter banana-cookie bites
Winter Weather Food Safety
With the hurricane season of late summer and early fall behind us, it may be tempting to believe that the weather-related threats to food safety are behind us as well. However, winter storms can cause power outages that disable refrigerators and freezers just as well as summer storms do.
As with power outages in any season, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
One key mistake to avoid if the power goes out in winter is to try to use the winter weather as an informal outdoor refrigerator or freezer.
Even when there is still snow and ice, outside temperatures can vary, causing chilled food to enter the “danger zone” of warmer than 40°F and cooler than 140°F, and frozen food to begin thawing. Moreover, exposed food can be exposed to animals and unsanitary conditions.
However, there is one way the winter conditions can be helpful. Refrigerators and freezers that lack power can still function as old-fashioned “iceboxes” that use ice instead of electricity to keep food chilled. Coolers that always use ice can be useful when the power goes out as well. Fresh ice can be obtained by filling buckets or cans with water and leaving them outside to freeze. Use this ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers.
Remember to place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross contamination of thawing juices.
Once electric power returns, it’s time to carefully examine everything and discard anything that is possibly unsafe.
First, check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. If any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers) has been above 40°F for two hours or more, get rid of it.
Next, check each food item separately. If there is food in your freezer that is partially or completely thawed, it can be safely re-frozen if still contains ice crystals or is 40°F or below. But throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture or feels warm to the touch, and never taste a food to decide if it's safe. When in doubt, throw it out.
Just because the weather outside is frightful, doesn’t mean your family meals can’t be delightful – or at least safe.
Start with one of these delicious, freezer-friendly recipes
Chili
Soups and stews
Conclusion
Each of us has different requirements when it comes to our fridges and freezers: as much storage space as possible, long-lasting food freshness, innovative yet timeless design, and the use of high-quality materials that ensure an appliance has a long service life. Whatever your requirements, Best view Reviews is sure to have an appliance that is the right solution for you
