REEEEEALLLY OT: Upright vs. Chest Freezers

[Calstate361]

I'm, glad you're leaning toward an upright freezer. I had one of those huge chest freezers that I purchased real cheap from an Uncle. With all the shelving we have in our garage, we couldn't fit it in there so we had to put it out on the patio. The others are correct when they state that things kind of gravitate to the top of the chest freezer because of all that nice space waiting there. I also had to clean it off to get inside. I even purchased extra hanging baskets to use inside it and it was still a hassel trying to find things. I'm tall and I still had trouble reaching the bottom of the freezer. I now have 2 upright freezers and a refrigerator in the garage. It is really great when meat and other things are on sale so you can stock up.
 
I have another suggestion that hasn't been mentioned. Look for a place that rebuilds refrigerators. They usually also rebuild freezers. You can find them much cheaper there and they will, usually, give you a guarantee with it. I have purchased a freezer from one of those places and it ran for another 5-6 years before I had to replace it. We also go to this type of place to purchase a refrigerator for work. We have had good luck.
 
Get the biggest one you can afford, and make sure it is "frost free". It's a hassel even cleaning/defrosting an upright once a year. Once you start filling it up you seem to always need more room for more stuff. Believe me, I've been there and done that!;)
 
Joan

[B-flat]

Woman's point of view:  Want a freezer but something has to be romantic:)
 
Man's point of view: Get any ole type of freezer;)
 
Larry's point of view: How do I get a freezer  at Christmas for Holly and still be the romantic, thoughtful and caring man of the house?:confused:
Conclusion:  Larry is a Real Romantic, Thoughtful and Caring Man:XMas
 
(He isn't our Super Moderator for nothing, you know!)

[vjm1639]

Conclusion: Larry is a Real Romantic, Thoughtful and Caring Man:XMas
 

YES!!! I think Larry trying so hard to get Holly what she wants IS super romantic....  Actually, Larry, I'm sure you know her best, but not all women want jewelry, diamonds, flowers, and clothes... I personally am one that doesn't not like either diamonds or roses!  LOL..DH asked me if I'd actually put that in writing when I told him that before we were married!  I would much rather have a freezer than a diamond ring!   I love to cook and anything cooking related is like girly power tools to me!  A vacuum cleaner however....bad, bad choice!  LOL..... I think you just have to know your wife and her favorite gifts to receive.  A lovely card, or even a handwritten note inside is a lovely addition though!  
 
Hope you find just the perfect gift!

[brainpause]

This has actually developed into something pretty funny. To show my effort, I think I'll print this thread and put it in the freezer!
 
Larry

[Turn Key]

Larry,
If Holly wants an up-right, get it for her.  Chests are cheaper but if that's not what she wants, she won't be happy and you've lost money (among other losses:( ).
Don't worry about the coils.  Have had 2 with coils through the shelves with no problems.  Just purchased a new "frost-free" for DW about 6 months ago.  Old one (18 years old with no problems) was still running fine but DW was tired of de-frosting it.  Gave the old one to our son and his roomies and they're using it now.

[brainpause]

Old one (18 years old with no problems) was still running fine...

Reminds me of a funny story my Dad used to tell:
 
He was an appliance repairman for several years at a large furniture store. He kept an index card file on sales of appliances. The cards contained names, models, date of purchase.
 
A little ole lady called him one day, and said her refrigerator had quit working. While she was talking, he was looking at his file. He answered, "Yes, Mrs. Jones, I understand you are having trouble. But you bought it 19 years ago."
 
"Yes, and I'ma having trouble with it already!"

 
:J
 
Larry

[Civil_War_Buff]

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

Larry,

We are getting our new freezer delivered tomorrow.  We have a 15.2 cu.ft. Sears Coldspot that we have had for about 15 years (and we bought it used).  It still works, but we are working to replace our aged appliances with more energy efficient models.  Anyhow, we bought a 16.7 cu.ft. Whirlpool, it was on sale ar Sears for $599, but an appliance specialty store on the next block had the identical freezer for $499, and they had a holiday sale taking an additional $100 off of that....so we got it for $399, but we did have to pay $40 for delivery which would have been free from Sears...I am still $$$$ ahead.  The freezer is frost free (the ones that aren't have the coils in the shelves), and it's a little bigger than our old one.

Anyhow, the freezer is listed as Energy Star, but I am not sure how they did that, but it is....and this the model that we got:
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Whirlpool_EV170NYLQ_EV170NYLB_Upright_Freezer/display_~full_specs

Good luck in your search, but there are deals to be had on them if you look.

Happy Holidays.

[tlhdoc]

I have had both and agree with the other ladies that an upright is the way to go.  Food will last longer in a freezer you have to defrost, so I  have to defrost mine 2 or 3 times a year and it takes less than an hour to do it.  I put the food in the freezer bags that I have bought at Sam's Club or coolers.  Next I put cake pans with hot water in them on the top and middle shelf.  Then I take a spray bottle and spray warm water at the top of the freezer.  I have the drain hose draining into a pan and dump it into a bucket as needed.  By the time the top shelf is frost free, the rest of the freezer is just about frostless too.  I would get another frosty upright when I need to replace the one we have now.

[brainpause]

OK, I closed the deal on Saturday. Bought a 13.7 cubic foot upright frost-free Frigidaire freezer. It's at a friend's house in the garage now.

I also bought something else for her that is not practical at all, but on the extreme off chance that she will see this thread, I don't want to post it here.

I also bought a neat little rack thingy that goes in the dryer, where you can put shoes or delicates on the rack to dry.

Larry

[angelsmom10]

.......
I also bought a neat little rack thingy that goes in the dryer, where you can put shoes or delicates on the rack to dry.
 
Larry

I want one of those.  We were at an auction and they had a dryer that had one of those, but the dryer went for more than we could afford.  Told DD about the shelf and she wished we had gotten it.  She has so many sweaters that can't be dried and this way she could turn it on "fluff" and air dry them.

[brainpause]

Well, I gave the freezer to her tonight (Xmas Eve) and she started crying. I'm in trouble now.

Larry

[tlhdoc]

Was it happy crying or upset crying?  You need to give us more information.

[B-flat]

Larry, I guess all of us here are in trouble if you put in a copy of this thread with the freezer.  Now all of us will be blamed. Duh.  Let us know what went wrong or if these were happy tears being shed.:confused:

[Acts 2:38 girl]

C'mon - curiousity is getting to me!  Did she think that was her only Christmas gift?!

[brainpause]

I showed Holly the thread after I gave it to her. She really enjoyed reading. Now for the explanation of the above post.

Yes, she started crying...tears of JOY! She loved it! So, thanks to all of you for helping me choose.

And yes, I'm in trouble because of all the food we'll have at the house. I've already looked at bulkcooking.com for some ideas.

I will try and get her to post a reply to this thread. We are keeping the key to the freezer in a plastic baggie tied to the handle (so we won't lose it), and we are also planning on printing this thread and keeping it in that baggie!

Remember the dryer rack thingy mentioned above? I had it wrapped, and sitting in her lap. It was Xmas Eve, and we wanted to keep a present to give to each other on Xmas DAY. So, I told her the present in her lap was the nice present, and we would not open that one. Her other present (the "piddly" present), I told her, "was perishable, and that it was in the fridge/freezer in the garage. And I want you to go get it yourself."

She later said she was thinking I got her a hunk of meat, or a some ice cream or something. But I had the freezer positioned so that when she opened the garage door and turned on the light, it was immediately in front of her with a huge red bow on it! She loved it! We were up until midnight uncrating it and getting it into position and leveled.

I also got her some non-practical things too.

Larry