New deep freezer

[davidmcg]

Our deep freezer is 20 years old and on its last leg. Its the chest type about 19 cubic feet and is not frost free. The compressor has about had it according to the guy that came out. So anyhow, because we are getting older in life my wife insists we get an upright, maybe 2 uprights. But we have been told by a few people that frost free freezers aren't good for long term storage because of the freeze/defrost cycle. Never heard of that, is this true? If so, glad I learned now. Also, the non-frost free sure are cheaper.

[Mark R]

Frost free will dehydrate what you have frozen. Freezer burn!

[Bassman]

We have two frost free uprights in the garage. The only time I have a problem with freezer burn is if one of the vacuum sealed bags loses it's seal. Other than that, they're great. I'm sure the same thing would happen in an old chest type too. It sure is nice not to have to defrost these things every year before hunting season.

[davidmcg]

Yup, there are the same two voices/opinions we are getting. Not having to empty and defrost once a year would be nice every September. But I don't like freezer burn and saving a few hundred bucks isn't bad either. Well, the old one is still keeping up barely and it is a electricity hog, but we have a little more time....

[Mark R]

We have two frost free uprights in the garage. The only time I have a problem with freezer burn is if one of the vacuum sealed bags loses it's seal. Other than that, they're great. I'm sure the same thing would happen in an old chest type too. It sure is nice not to have to defrost these things every year before hunting season.

Bassman is correct here, The only time it would be an issue is if there is a leak or hole in the storage container. I have both and it is more of an issue with the defrost but only if there is leak. Not having to defrost manually is kinda nice.

[RowdyRay]

If it's not cryovac'd or in a food sealer type bag, it will burn it. Period. That's why I never leave any long term items in the freezer over the fridge. That all goes in the chest freezer.

The biggest downfall I see with any upright, is this. Open the door......where does all the cold air go? Out! Plus the door seals always give you trouble a few years down the road. You'll save a lot on the electric bill with a chest type. Open them and the cold air sinks and stays inside.

Just my .02, but I'll never own another upright again.

[davidmcg]

I know the seals go out quicker on an upright. But when your tired and/or your back is hurting, its no fun bending over to the bottom of a chest freezer. Ya know, we are just about to crest 50 now, 20 years down the road i expect the new on(s) to still be working, at that age, it will really bite to bend over and get near your toes, let alone dig a steak or a roast from the bottom. Anyhow, we still haven't decided.

[SmokinLee]

You aint gonna have any teeth to chew on a steak anyway by then Dave
Don't know much about the newer ones but I have had my chest freezer goin on 30 years and really like it.

[Fishawn]

Personally, I would pay for the convenience of an upright.... Having had both, digging in that chest freezer was a bitch, but maybe my method of organizing was not very good ..... Same thing with a fridge/freezer for me..... Interesting topic.

[SMOKE FREAK]

Chest freezer is nice because it holds the cold in when opened but I get so tired of having everything stacked on top of everything else...Hell i got stuff on the bottom that i dont even remember...

The idea of a defrosting deep freezer is kinda hard for me to deal with...
Thats why I havent bought one yet...

[davidmcg]

You aint gonna have any teeth to chew on a steak anyway by then Dave

You may have a point there, but I hope not. I'll miss my steak dinners an awful lot if it comes to that. Never been much of a sirloin burger soup fan.

[davidmcg]

Forgot to mention, all of our meat from the butcher is vac sealed, he doesn't use shrink wrap or freezer paper. He was one of the ones who cautioned us about the frost free. All the game meat we package ourselves is also vac sealed. Only way to go. I like to use as much of the natural juices as possible when I get to the marinading fun. Freezer paper and shrink wrap all leak. They can leave a real mess in your fridge when the meat is thawing. And we also have the same problem as everybody else, organizing the meat so you don't have to do so much digging.

Either way, we are headed to Best Buy this weekend to see just how much of a footprint a 20+ cubic foot upright takes up. We have a $250 BB card to use up anyhow from last Christmas.

[erain]

have had an upright freezer to go with a chest freezerfor well over 5 years now, have a 15 CF chest and not sure what the upright is for sure but is size of a fridge... i pack the chest and usually after hunting season and butchering.sausage making is pretty full up. what i do with the upright is keep a lil bit of everything in it as it is so easy to access and as i use up stuff will keep on moving from the chest to the upright. usually someime in summer i have room to fit everything in the upright so at that time i shut down the chest and give it a good clean after it finishes defrosting. i really dont think the seals are to worry about either, they aint gonna wear out and you surely dont open your freezer as often as your fridge...

[curious aardvark]

Frost free will dehydrate what you have frozen. Freezer burn!

not if it's properly sealed in clingfilm or vac pack bags.

[Richtee]

not if it's properly sealed in clingfilm or vac pack bags.

I think that was mentioned, CA. And I'd doubt cling/Saran in the long run. Might be a bit better than some methods, but it's not impermeable like a vacuum seal bag.