Monica Hewitt is an accomplished chef with an extensive background in setting up kitchens around the world. From selecting kitchenware and kitchen utensils to menu planning, Monica has been responsible for establishing complete restaurants from the ground up. As the Kitchen and Cooking Expert at Homesthetics, Monica is in charge of reviewing and curating all cooking and kitchen-related content on the platform. In her free time, Monica is a good sport, enjoying critiquing our homemade meals around the clock and telling us what could have been improved in sandwiches.
Doing groceries is fun until you are left with the dilemma of stacking them in the fridge, almost like you are stacking stones with fear that one wrong move and everything will fall apart.
Worry not; upright freezers are becoming popular because of how many items you can put into one freezer.
If you're like me, who constantly runs out of space for my frozen foods, then an upright freezer might be the one to solve your storage space problems.
The only problem is which upright freezer is the best for you. Why? As you can see, thousands of upright freezers are on the market today, and choosing one can be challenging.
Fortunately, I have done the hardest part of trimming down your choices to 9 of the best upright freezers today.
What Are the 9 Best Upright Freezers You Can Buy?
These are simply the best upright freezers on the market today.
They are all packed with convenient features that will make your life easier, and there is nothing to worry about having limited space.
The Frigidaire Brand has given us the best upright freezers in recent years.
This upright freezer, courtesy of Frigidaire, is made to keep your fruits, foods, and veggies frozen for longer periods while having plenty of extra storage space for additional items.
This upright freezer features EvenTemp technology that allows cold air to circulate evenly inside while reducing warm spots and keeping uniform temperature across all door shelves.
Most upright freezers don't have features like this, and it is a sight for new eyes knowing some of these features make the upright freezer purchase all worthwhile.
Overall, I'm impressed with the capacity of this upright freezer.
It has four freezer shelves, and while the upright freezer capacity is smaller than others, the internal layout's orientation is more than enough to keep your food frozen longer than expected.
Size: 29 x 27.75 x 67.75 inches | Capacity: 15.5 cubic feet | Product Weight: 143 pounds | Frost Type: Frost-free | Control Type: Electronic temperature control
The Insignia Frost-Free Upright Convertible Freezer is not your average upright freezer, as it's equipped with convertible features perfect for homes with small spaces.
In addition, it can handle any ambient temperature range between 5 to 109 degrees and regulate internal temperature with just a simple knob. I find this the best upright freezer for families on a budget.
It doesn't cost that much but packs the necessary features you want to keep your frozen fruits and food longer than usual.
The only problem with this upright freezer is you have to manually defrost it by simply unplugging the freezer. While I don't consider this a major drawback.
Size: 22.4 x 21.7 x 56.3 inches | Capacity: 7 cubic feet | Product Weight: 191.8 pounds | Frost Type: Manual defrost | Control Type: Mechanical
Don't let the size of this upright freezer fool you; despite its size, its food storage capacity is more than enough for a family of four. This is the best upright freezer if you need extra freezer space.
What I love about this product is despite its size, the internal layout makes it easy for me to store my food and frozen fruit without problems. It's wallet-friendly, and its 3 cubic feet capacity doesn't feel like it.
It feels this isn't a compact upright freezer. Despite putting all my groceries inside, I was shocked at how much storage space was left for me. It also has a reversible door for added convenience.
Size: 21.3 x 22.7 x 34.9 inches | Capacity: 3.0 cubic feet | Product Weight: 57.2 pounds | Frost Type: Manual | Control Type: Mechanical
GE's 17.3 Cubic Feet Upright Freezer ranks on top of the upper echelon in storing your meat, ice cream, and frozen fruit on a whole new level.
It comes with fixed shelves at the top, two adjustable wire shelves at the middle part, and two deep drawers that are great for storing food.
Other features making this upright freezer convenient are its easy-to-use temperature control panel, LED lighting, and a lockable freezer door to keep your kids from accessing the inside.
Overall, its large capacity creates more floor space for your entire home while keeping your frozen veggies and fruits frozen longer than expected.
Its consistent internal temperature range and circulating cold air should avoid food waste.
Size: 32 x 64 x 31 inches | Capacity: 17.3 cubic feet | Product Weight: 195 pounds | Frost Type: Frost-free | Control Type: Electronic
Energy efficiency is often the major factor when making money splurges, as it can save you money in the long run. Since upright freezers are plugged in 24/7, you'd want an energy-efficient upright freezer.
Look no further than the GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freeze, as this will be more than enough to hold loads of food, veggies, and fruits while keeping electricity consumption to a minimum.
Another feature that makes this one of the best upright freezers on the market today is it can handle ambient temperatures in your garage, making it a good addition, especially if you find yourself working longer.
Lastly, it has an audible temperature alarm, a lock with a key, and slide-out freezer bins. The electronic temperature control allows controlling temperature inside without releasing cold air, which is impressive.
Size: 31.3 x 32.8 x 76.5 inches | Capacity: 21.3 cubic feet | Product Weight: 215 pounds | Frost Type: Frost-free | Control Type: Digital
UPRIGHT FREEZER - This Frigidaire stand up freezer for home...
IDEAL CHOICE - Our standup deep freezer allows you to store...
What I like
Adjustable wire shelves
Reversible door
Compact and sleek
Adjustable temperature control
Power outage safe
What I don't like
No frost-free features
If you're cramped up on floor space and are looking for the right upright freezer on the market, look at the Frigidaire Upright Freezer Platinum design series.
It's the best upright freezer for homeowners with less floor space and looking for a reliable upright to store their food. This upright freezer has reversible door features, which makes it more impressive.
The sleek and elegant design makes you think this upright freezer is worth a premium, but thankfully it's not. It's the best upright freezer for compact space while packing several features that are icings on the cake.
Its sliding storage basket and LED lighting make it visible in the darkest environment. Superb performance, and you can feel the cold air circulating inside.
Size: 21.26 x 22.24 x 55.91 inches | Capacity: 6.5 cubic feet | Product Weight: 93.8 pounds | Frost Type: Manual defrost | Control Type: Mechanical
The GE FUF14DLRWW Garage Ready is one of my top nine picks because it serves its purpose extremely well. For one, it has a ton of storage space for the price, and the product is also Energy-star certified.
Another feature that makes this upright freezer impressive is its clever storage orientation. It locks your frozen food up securely while accessing other snacks, foods, and beverages.
This model is also garage-ready, as it can withstand temperatures from 0 to 100 Fahrenheit with no problems.
It also has a turbo freeze setting, lock, and key, and it is power outage safe as it can hold frozen food for 48 hours.
Size: 62 x 28 x 32 inches | Capacity: 14.1 cubic feet | Product Weight: 168 pounds | Frost Type: Frost-free upright freezer | Control Type: Electronic
This upright freezer, courtesy of Insignia, is a great addition if you want to squeeze more freezer space for some of your frozen goods, fruits, and veggies.
While it has a small capacity, this model makes up for it with its internal design. It has reversible door features that are great for families having cramped spaces.
Controlling the internal temperature is quick and easy with a simple knob, and the cool air radiates throughout the entire freezer inside. This model is also noted for being garage-friendly.
The only downside I found with this upright freezer courtesy of Insignia is you have to unplug the upright freezer to manually defrost the entire thing, which I feel is quite a bummer.
Size: 22.4 x 21.7 x 56.3 inches | Capacity: 7 cubic feet | Product Weight: 99.2 pounds | Frost Type: Manual | Control Type: Mechanical
If you have all the money looking for an amazing upright frost-free freezer, the Whirlpool WSZ57L18DM 17.7 cu. Ft. SideKicks might just be up to the challenge of becoming one.
What I love about this product is its thoughtful design; it has a shallow depth and a wider opening giving you easy access to frozen foods and goodies.
It can also operate under extreme temperatures from 0 to 110 Fahrenheit, making it a great garage freezer for anyone. Its compressor constantly bombards cool air inside to ensure a uniform temperature.
Lastly, it can trap cold air inside for up to two days to ensure your food doesn't go to waste. The auto-close door functions and door alarm are like the cherry on top for this great upright freezer.
Size: 33 x 72 x 28 inches | Capacity: 20 cubic feet | Product Weight: N/A | Frost Type: Frost-free | Control Type: N/A
Before you go to your local store and make your purchase, there are some things you need to consider when looking for the right upright freezer.
Capacity
The capacity of an upright freezer is often measured in cubic feet, which means the higher the number goes, the higher the freezer's capacity.
However, as the capacity increase, so does the price. So, I recommend you weigh everything out, as you can only go as far as your money goes.
The average capacity of most freezers is around 16 cubic feet, and anything above that is more than enough to keep foods frozen for your entire family.
But if you have a bigger family, you can always opt for a much larger capacity to accommodate every piece of grocery you have.
If you don't need a bigger capacity, you might want to opt formini freezers.
Temperature Control
Temperature control is a major factor when choosing the best upright freezer.
In most freezers today, the interior temperature can range from -10 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more than enough to store food for long periods of time.
To get the best upright freezer possible, consider what type of food you will store to ensure it never goes to waste and prevents untimely spoilage.
Defrosting
There are two types of defrosting, manual and automatic. A manual defrosting freezer means ice and frost will slowly build up over time, and the only way to defrost is by manually unplugging the cord.
This part usually takes time as you need more time to melt the ice away before returning your goods.
On the other hand, an automatic upright freezer doesn't have to go through this routine. Instead, the upright freeze regulates itself to ensure foods and goodies remain frozen without frost buildup.
While most automatic upright freezers are pricier than manual-defrosting freezers, nothing beats the convenience it brings you and your family.
Freezers will run 24/7, so having an energy-star certified freezer is a surefire way to keep electrical costs to a minimum.
An upright freezer that has energy-star certification uses energy efficiently while still operating at normal settings.
Additionally, airtight insulation and doors will keep cold air inside, allowing the freezer to keep the whole foods and goodies frozen longer while using less energy.
Additional Features
Some additional features can help make your life easier when storing food.
Door Safety Lock
Whenever you have kids at home, it is important to have upright freezers with door-safety lock features. Kids are always curious and often wonder what's inside the fridge.
To avoid this problem, it is better to be safe than sorry, which is why it is highly recommended to have door safety locks rather than nothing at all.
Ice Maker
Upright freezers with ice makers are a plus. Nobody wants to sip room-temperature water when everything is hot during the summer.
While this is optional, having an ice maker will do wonders, especially during summertime. Most of the time, these freezers have this feature already installed.
Touch Screen
Most of the time, upright freezers with touchscreen features are already at premium prices. While this feature can be enticing, I find it not useful enough for that added price.
Upright freezers still work the same way with freezes having a touchscreen. They can keep your food frozen for long periods without this additional miscellaneous feature that only adds to the cost.
Wheels
Having built-in caster wheels can make your life easier when moving your freezer from one location to another. Fortunately, most freezers today are equipped with this kind of feature.
However, you must check if they are installed to ensure you can smoothly change your freezer's location.
Shelves
Having more than five door shelves is a plus if you're looking for an upright freezer. Remember, you need an upright freezer to accommodate frozen fruits, veggies, and foods.
The higher the number of shelves, the more it can accommodate. The same goes for having more than five door bins; having more than five spacious door bins is advantageous for you.
Again, this depends on how much stuff you will put inside your upright freezer.
Interior Lights
Having interior lights is a bonus. This feature is helpful whenever you crave that ice cream or smoothie late at night. It keeps every stored food visible within your grasp.
Thankfully, most freezers today have built-in interior lights that make your life easier when trying to find your stored food in the dark.
Upright Freezers FAQs
If you have additional questions regarding upright freezers, you might find some answers below.
How Do You Do Temperature Control in an Upright Freezer?
Temperature controlling is usually done by either a single push-button or a temperature control knob.
How to Avoid Freezer Burn?
Freezer burn happens when stored foods are exposed to cold air, causing them to lose moisture. To avoid this problem, the best solution is to keep your stored food in airtight bags or containers.
What Is Better, a Chest Freezer or an Upright Freezer?
For me, personally, it is just a matter of personal preference. It also depends on the intended use of the freezer. The only difference I can see from these freezers is how you open them.
Chest freezers mostly lay flat on the ground and can be opened from the top, whereas upright freezers can be opened on different sides.
For chest freezers, you might want to take a look at this if you plan on buying achest freezer.
Conclusion
There are a lot of brands selling dedicated freezers to many consumers. Some of these reputable brands include Frigidaire, GE, Magic Chef, and Whirlpool, to name a few.
Regardless of which one you choose, what I've listed on top should serve its purpose of keeping your stored foods frozen for longer periods of time without fear of spoilage.
This article about the best upright freezers should give you plenty of options to add to your home. If you're planning to opt for a refrigerator, you might want to take a look at the best refrigerators.
