REEEEEALLLY OT: Upright vs. Chest Freezers

[brainpause]

One advantage of Holly not looking at the boards much at all is that I can ask opinions about Xmas gifts here.:p
 
Holly has been wanting a freezer to put in our garage. So, as unromantic as it is, I have been looking at them for her, just because it is something she wants.
 
Here's the problem: She doesn't want a chest freezer, for whatever reason. I think it has to do with ease of finding things in it. The upright freezers are more $$, and, frankly really out of our budget. The only upright freezers that I could possibly afford are the ones that have the coils running inside the freezer compartment as shelves. I don't want that kind, as it seems adjustable shelves might be nice, and if one little leak develops in a "shelf coil", the whole freezer is out of service.
 
My question is this: Are there any of you that have had both, or have had a chest-type freezer, and what are your comments? To me, a chest freezer would be FINE.
 
Larry, who is in search of the wife's Christmas gift

[angelsmom10]

I have a chest freezer (20 cubic feet - HUGE!!!).  I have had it for OVER 22 YEARS and I hate it -- am waiting for it to DIE (die sucker die :J ).  I don't like it for several reason.....

 
----takes up tooooo much space
----has to be defrosted
----getting things out as I just can't reach the bottom
----things get buried as there is just sooooo much room to fill - rotation is
    very hard
 
It is in our laundry room, and does make a nice table for sitting laundry and folding.
 
I have been watching at auctions to find an upright that does not have to be defrosted and if the price is right, I'll be getting it regardless whether the other one has died or not.
 
Because of the size, we do have gallon milk jugs filled with water to....
 
----take up space - they run more efficiently if all the space is used up
----and to bring items closer to the top (still doesn't help for me)
 
If she doesn't mind - look in the paper for a used one for sale.
 
Happy Holidays!!!!!!:XMas :XMas :XMas :XMas  (had to use him)

[B-flat]

Larry, has the wife asked for a freezer for Christmas?:eek:   If not, you might be in a very big doghouse on Christmas Day.   Women want diamonds and jewelry and flowers and candlelit dinners and beautiful clothes.   Now back to the question at hand, I have had both types of freezers.  For me, the the upright shelf type works easier. It's easier to get things in and out with no bending over for access.  Whereas, the chest type usually has baskets that are removed to get to the contents on the bottom.  I had problems remembering where things were in there but some people use the cardboard box trick and put all meats in one, veggies in another, fruit in another.  You might try watching the sales frequently and find a great buy in one.  Also, check the local warehouse places like Sam's Club.  If you don't have a membership and know someone who does, you can go in with them and look at what they have.  Another option would be to start with a smaller freezer which should cost lest.  Lots of the big builder supply places carry those appliances and there are the kinds that have the wire shelves, too.

Be sure to give her a nice big romantic Christmas Card and some flowers or jewelry in addition to the freezor and you will still come off as a thoughtful and romantic guy.:XMas

[NightOwl]

One advantage of Holly not looking at the boards much at all is that I can ask opinions about Xmas gifts here.:p
 
Holly has been wanting a freezer to put in our garage. So, as unromantic as it is, I have been looking at them for her, just because it is something she wants.
 
Here's the problem: She doesn't want a chest freezer, for whatever reason. I think it has to do with ease of finding things in it. The upright freezers are more $$, and, frankly really out of our budget. The only upright freezers that I could possibly afford are the ones that have the coils running inside the freezer compartment as shelves. I don't want that kind, as it seems adjustable shelves might be nice, and if one little leak develops in a "shelf coil", the whole freezer is out of service.
 
My question is this: Are there any of you that have had both, or have had a chest-type freezer, and what are your comments? To me, a chest freezer would be FINE.
 
Larry, who is in search of the wife's Christmas gift

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Larry, one of the great things about PUT--you will get lots of informastion to help you with this question.

We just gave away our 30 year old upright Frigidaire freezer with coils on the shelves to a resale store for a local womens' shelter..  By using wire baskets, we found just as much flexibility in those widely-spaced  "unadjustable" shelves as DH's Momma did with her big chest freezer.  Also, because of those big, widely-spaced shevlves, I could put huge or odd-shaped  things in my upright  with no problem (including a dead dog--but that is another story) which  would have caused a lot of "re-arranging" in  Momma's  chest style.We never had a repair bill or a problem with de-frosting ours except for the time a workman accidently unplugged the freezer.  %!*#%!!.  
Yes, the chest is cheaper to buy and maybe cheaper to run.  I say "maybe" because with an upright the cold air "falls out"  everytime you open the door.   And of course, this doesnt happen with the chest type.  But, when Mother was digging for something in the bottom of her freezer, she had to keep it open lots longer than I did where I could spot  things quickly, grab them, and close the door in a matter of seconds.  (And loading it was just as quick and easy.)

And there were times when  Mother would be digging around in the bottom of her freezer, her whole upper body would disappear from sight,  and we were afraid she might fall in headfirst.

In the end  of course, what type you choose is strictly going to depend on what aspects of this purchase you and Hally find the most important for your particular needs and situation.  But one thing I guarantee, no matter which type you get, she will be delighted.  I will never forget how thrilled I was the day we brought our freezer home.  It is a wonderful appliance!

[brainpause]

Larry, has the wife asked for a freezer for Christmas?:eek: If not, you might be in a very big doghouse on Christmas Day.

Not specifically for Xmas, but I know she wants one. I bought her diamond earrings last year for Xmas (and a diamond engagement ring and diamond wedding band the one before that).
 
So I'm all diamonded out!
 
Anyway, she'll like it. At least it's not a treadmill or something like that!
 
I also just talked with my Mom. Between her and you gals, I have just about decided against a chest freezer. I guess it's either an upright freezer or no freezer at all!
 
Larry

[NightOwl]

PS--Nancy is SO RIGHT--get her something romantic as well, doesnt have to be expensive--just something a bit unpractical that says "I love you' to her  in some special way.  Let us know how it all works out.

I still think the freezer is a wonderful present, but then I am a bit on the practical side and would probably have been delighted with the freezer even as a newly-wed.  I  always loved to cook and found the freezer a wonderful help since we entertained a whole  lot  then.

And of course, an upright takes up less floor space, always a useful thing.

[Papaso]

We have a side by side refrigerator freezer in our utility room along with the one in the kitchen. We had just a freezer when we lived in Jersey but I really enjoy the convenience of the additional refrigerator section. I have yet to buy that side of beef to keep in the freezer but we do take advantage of all kinds of sales of every other item we need to keep cool or frozen.

[campingboaters]

Just a note on the freezers that do not have to be defrosted.  In order for the frosty ice not to build up, the freezer has to defrost its self -- which means it gets just warm enough to melt any ice that might build up.  IMHO, a freezer for storing foods long term should remain as cold as possible to prevent food from spoiling.  Based on that, I got a small upright freezer that I need to manually defrost.  I think I paid under $200.  I find that it helps me eat the food -- if I know I have to defrost it once a year.  Any food that doesn't get eaten in that year, gets tossed.  I spend a couple hours with a hair dryer defrosting and cleaning the freezer and then I'm ready to stock it once again.
 
I'm pretty practical too, but I NEVER get a necessity for the family as a gift
for myself!  I'd somehow check with your wife if she would really want that as her gift.  If she really does, then maybe you can get a bigger/better freezer if you both buy it for each other instead of you just buying it for her.

[cyclone]

If you haven't already looked there, check out the Sears outlet store on Thompson Lane.  Sometimes you can find a great deal there (and sometimes not).  But it's worth looking.

[Michicampers]

Larry - just so you know, I don't think it's possible for a girl to own too many diamonds   .

We have one of the small upright freezers like campingboaters described, for many of the same reasons. We call it the "deep freeze" - since it is not self-defrosting, stuff does stay quite a bit colder in there (ice cream comes out rock-hard), and you can store food for much longer. I defrost it 2-3 times a year - I transfer everything to a laundry basket and put plastic dish tubs full of scalding hot water in there to melt the frost build-up. I toss out everything that has been up there for a year once a year too. It only has coils on the top and back - not in the shelves. I think if I had a bigger freezer, I would just waste more food, since things can get lost in there easily. I have also heard freezers run more efficiently when full (and the opposite for refrigerators.) Just make sure you mark everything you put in there - DH is famous for stuffing ours with UFOs (unidentified food objects), no date, no description  :rolleyes: . I would also recommend one of those single-appliance surge protectors.

[wiininkwe]

I have an upright and some of the family members have chest types.   Based on the hassles that I see them having when they want to get something out, I would never want one.   And, they take up way too much space.   You may be able to put more in it, but that's just because it's all piled up on top of itself.   My SIL has one, and it takes up so much space that she usues it for counter space, but then has to take everything off when she wants something out of it.   What a PITA.

T

[Diplomat]

I think that chest freezers are a little more efficient, the cold doesn't spill out every time you open the door.  That said, DM has an upright with freezer coils in the shelving that they must have bought in '70 or '71, GE I think.  It is still running strong.  We once had a chest freezer and found that things get lost int he bottom of it.  Both types will keep your food from spoiling.  Get what your space and budget will allow.  

I imagine that DM's freezer is stuffed to the gills right now in prep for Christmas.  I will get to go home for Christmas for the first time in almost 10 years!  Can't wait to see what comes out of that freezer!

[MommaMia]

My question is this: Are there any of you that have had both, or have had a chest-type freezer, and what are your comments? To me, a chest freezer would be FINE.
 
Larry, who is in search of the wife's Christmas gift

The thing that I found a PITA about a chest freezer is SOMEBODYkept putting/storing things on top of it.  Every time I needed to get into it, I had to move a ton of crap first.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

I've got to comment here!  I don't know anything about freezers, upright or chest style, but have always wanted one.  So now I know I want an upright (thanks everybody!)
During one of our first few Christmas' together DH thought I'd just love a "practicle" gift  We had been together long enough to where he thought that I was beyond all the sentamental stuff.  I can be pretty practicle and we were pretty broke back then, BUT if you go ahead and buy your Darling a practicle gift such as an upright freezer there had better be something very romantic hiding inside, such as a beautiful card and another small gift.  It doesn't have to be jewelry, it could be a figurine or something (anything) else.  If buying her gift breaks the bank, then make a handmade card that just sings her praises about how wonderful, thoughtful, and beautiful she is!  Trust me on this, PLEASE!!  At Christmas '92, when I opened up an electric razor (yeah I did really want one) there was a real struggle to hold back an astonished look.  A few days later I was able to throw a pillow at him and let him know any type of appliance is not an appropriate gift for your love during Christmas.  :XMas   The wierd thing is, if you bought her the freezer in March and said, "I know you want one Sweetheart, and I want you to have everything you want"  THAT would be romantic!  Go figure!  

[brainpause]

I've got to comment here! I don't know anything about freezers, upright or chest style, but have always wanted one. So now I know I want an upright (thanks everybody!)
During one of our first few Christmas' together DH thought I'd just love a "practicle" gift We had been together long enough to where he thought that I was beyond all the sentamental stuff. I can be pretty practicle and we were pretty broke back then, BUT if you go ahead and buy your Darling a practicle gift such as an upright freezer there had better be something very romantic hiding inside, such as a beautiful card and another small gift. It doesn't have to be jewelry, it could be a figurine or something (anything) else. If buying her gift breaks the bank, then make a handmade card that just sings her praises about how wonderful, thoughtful, and beautiful she is! Trust me on this, PLEASE!! At Christmas '92, when I opened up an electric razor (yeah I did really want one) there was a real struggle to hold back an astonished look. A few days later I was able to throw a pillow at him and let him know any type of appliance is not an appropriate gift for your love during Christmas. :XMas The wierd thing is, if you bought her the freezer in March and said, "I know you want one Sweetheart, and I want you to have everything you want" THAT would be romantic! Go figure!

Don't worry...I'll buy something else too.
 
BTW, March is probably the only OTHER month of the year that it wouldn't work for me either. March is our anniversary month. I guess June, July......would work.
 
Larry