Guide to Buying a Freezer Only: How A Stand-Alone Freezer Can Save You Money

Stand-alone freezers have become quite popular over the last few years due to their durability and the benefit that the appliance alone can bring to our homes and to our budgets. Coolers, mini freezers, or stand-alone freezers can help you save a good buck in the long run, by helping you store a bigger number of groceries that can be frozen to be eaten later. 

If you are a gardener that harvests their own veggies or if you like to go fishing, or you are just an ice lolly enthusiast – think about the benefit that would imply having your fish frozen for longer, fresh vegetables stored in case you want to eat them later, or just imagine having your own ‘ice cream hop’, right at home. Sounds terrific, isn’t it? But how to choose a freezer-only that would suit your needs best?

In this article, we have put together a buying guide that will help you to choose the best cooler that will team up with your kitchen fridge to preserve your foods for much longer!

Stand-Alone Freezer Buying Guide

Choosing the Best Freezer For Your Home

Coolers or mini freezers are independent appliances that will depend on a power source to operate. Just like your kitchen refrigerator they usually connect to a standard AC outlet, although you must consider that freezers, just like common fridges, should not be connected to an extension cord. Also, bear in mind that your electric bill will suffer if you bring home a cooler of high energy consumption, in the long run, the investment of the cooler would not have been worth it.

How do you choose an energy-efficient freezer that will save you money, instead of draining your wallet?

Certifications play a key role when choosing a refrigerating appliance. For example, Energy Star, UL are organizations that are devoted to rate and test fridges and freezers for low electricity consumption. We can measure the yearly consumption of your freezer on Kilowatt per Hour: 150 kWh / 600 kWh may be a good rate for a chest or freestanding freezer for example. However, you need to compare the capacity of your freezer against its yearly electricity consumption. If you have a 20 cubic feet freezer of large capacity for example, that consumes less than 600 kWh annually, then you have made a great purchase.

Make sure you check the voltage, wattage, and yearly consumption of your desired freezer, on the manufacturer’s websites or in online stores like Amazon. Read reviews from other customers that have owned the appliance for weeks or months.

What is the Price Range Of a Stand-Alone Freezer?

Stand-alone freezers can be small chest-square-shaped freezers or freestanding tall freezers that can be mistaken for a common refrigerator. 

Depending on their size, inner capacity, and features, the prices for individual coolers can go from $180, $ 600 up to $2000 dollars, and they can be purchased at department stores or online stores. Some manufacturers may even offer free shipping on their products. Unfortunately, there have been customers claiming that they have received their products dented, damaged or that the padding inside the box was not enough to protect the appliance on the delivery trip. 

If you receive a damaged unit, try to immediately contact the sellers/store, sometimes you will be asked to send photos or videos of the broken unit. Be ready to ask for a refund, and do not get discouraged if customer service does not attend to your complaints immediately. You have the right to get a new unit or your money refunded if your freezer was damaged on the go. Keep your warranty information at hand.

In this article, our editors have picked their top 5 Stand-Alone freezers from renowned brands such as Koolatron, GE, Whynter, Frigidaire-Electrolux, Euhomy, which we hope you will find interesting to dig into!

Looking for more than a freezer? Check out our picks for best refrigerator brands.

Review Of The Different Types Of Stand-Alone Freezers

Koolatron KTCF99 3.5-Cu. Ft. Compact Chest Freezer

Google’s Rating: 4.6

Manufacturer, color, type: Koolatron, an expert manufacturer of freezers and coolers that have been around since the early ’80s presents their Compact Chest Freezer, a very practical freestanding vertical cooler that has a top lid and great storage capacity for your fruits, vegetables, and meats. Its design makes it very adaptable to reduced spaces, ideal for apartments, offices, cabins, or small kitchens. It is made of steel and resistant plastic. It comes in white color.

Dimensions, Weight, and Capacity: This indoor compact cooler measures 22.25 x 20.75 x 33.25 inches and weighs 60 pounds. The standard storage capacity of this Koolatron freezer is 3.5 cu. ft, however, this model can also be chosen with bigger storage capacities, 5.0 or 7.0 cu. ft. Check online for all the options the Compact Chest Freezer offers.

Connect type, Voltage, Wattage: The Koolatron Compact Chest Freezer is an electrically powered cooler that can be connected to a power source/AC outlet, it uses 120 volts to operate and its wattage is 125 watts. Its annual energy consumption is 193 Kilowatt Hours, this model is UL listed, which means it is an energy-efficient appliance.

Safety: Koolatron advises to not use boiling water to clean this unit because it may damage its plastic parts, also, never use a metallic instrument to remove frost as the cooling coils of the unit may get torn and the warranty would not cover the damage. Defrosting may take a few hours, leaving the door open may speed up the process.

Other features: This cooler includes removable, washable wire baskets for your comfort, also, this unit counts with an efficient compressor that uses a CFC-free coolant to keep your foods between 0°C and -24°C (32°F and -11.2°F), also, it has a thermostat that allows you to control the inner temperature of the appliance.

Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW 13-Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer

Google’s Rating: 4.8

Manufacturer, color, type: Frigidaire by Electrolux is a leader brand in refrigeration appliances, they feature their Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW, a freestanding upright cooler with great depth for your frozen meats, or large portions of vegetables, it is equipped with a door-ajar alarm that alerts you if the door was left open and bright LED light for you to easily see/store food inside its shelves. It can be chosen in white or brushed grey colors.

Dimensions, Weight, and Capacity: This elegant cooler, measures 69 x 29 x 27 inches, it is a sturdy freezer that weighs 150 pounds and should be carried with care. Its inner capacity is 13 cu. ft. but this model can also be chosen with a larger inner capacity (16 cu. ft.) check the available options for the FFFU13F2VW with the sellers. It has adjustable leveling legs, 4 shelves, and in-door storage available.

Connect type, Voltage, Wattage: The Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW freezer is an electrically powered appliance, it uses 115 Volts to operate and it is energy efficient despite its large storage capacity it consumes only 461 Kilowatt Hours yearly, Electrolux estimates your annual electricity bill cost will only increase 55 dollars if you purchase this unit.

Safety: Frigidaire proudly informs us that this frost-free unit is resistant and capable of operating in low or high temperatures without problems, from 0°F to 110°F (-17°C to -43°C) the appliance can be set in basements, garages as long as the unit is not overloaded or exposed to outdoors harsh weather conditions (rain, hailstorms, direct sun rays).

Other features: This smart appliance comes with a power outage emergency system that assures to keep your food frozen for two days without electricity, also, its EvenTemp cooling system assures you that the freezing on your foods will be even, avoiding extra freezing or warm spot on your stored products. Also, it comes with a reversible door option.

Whynter CUF-110B 1.1-Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer w/ Lock

Google’s Rating: 4.4

Manufacturer, color, type: Whynter, the renowned brand known mostly for their air conditioning appliances, presents their CUF-110B Freezer, a smartly designed compact freezer of low electricity consumption (Energy Star certified) that can be of great help for you to store delicate products such as ice cream, dairy products, fish or even breast milk. Its installation is freestanding, it comes in elegant stainless steel black color.

Dimensions, Weight, and Capacity: This fancy, black cooler measures 24 x 20.8 x 19.5 inches, it is a lightweight freezer that weighs barely 35.6 pounds. Its storage is 1.1 cu. ft. in its inner basket-shelf. Is a compact freezer that is ideal for reduced spaces (Offices, commercial places, basements)

Connect type, Voltage, Wattage: The Whynter CUF-110B Freezer is an electrically powered cooler and can be connected to a power source/AC outlet, it uses 115 volts to operate and its wattage is 79 Watts (1.1 Amp.) It is an energy-efficient appliance; its annual energy consumption is barely 251 Kilowatt Hours.

Safety: Whynter specifies that the warranty for this product doesn’t cover the partial or total loss of the unit due to natural disasters, such as floodings, hurricanes, earthquakes, nor damage caused by the customer misuse, such as not defrosting the appliance properly, the use of strong chemicals for cleaning or overloading the unit.

Other features: This cooler comes with a reversible door option and a cylinder lock and two keys for the safety of your stored products, in case this freezer is used at a commercial place/office. Also, it is equipped with a powerful cooling R600a compressor and its noise level is 42dB.

EUHOMY ‎MF-3.0-H 3-Cu. Ft. Upright Mini Freezer

Google’s Rating: 4.8

Manufacturer, color, type: Euhomy, a brand that is popular thanks to their efficient ice maker machines, present their Upright Freezer Single Door Compact, a mini freezer of sturdy composition that becomes great storage for your frozen meats and meals, it is equipped with Euhomy’s technology for odorless interiors, allowing your foods to be frozen but not to be odor mixed, once stored in the unit. It comes with a reversible door option and different storage capacities; it comes in bicolor light silver/black. 

Dimensions, Weight, and Capacity: This practical unit measures 20.1 x 21.3 x 31.4 inches. It is a lightweight cooler as it weighs 53.2 pounds. The standard storage of the freezer is 3.0 cu. ft, but this model can also be chosen in smaller versions with reduced storage capacities, 1.1 or 2.1 cu. ft. Check online for all the options Euhomy offers for this appliance. It includes two non-removable inner shelves for you to order your frozen goods in it easily and adjustable feet.

Connect type, Voltage, Wattage: This freestanding compact freezer can be connected to a power source/standard AC outlet. It uses 115 volts to operate. Make sure you unplug this unit immediately if a power outage occurs, to protect the appliance’s inner mechanism from voltage overload.  

Safety: Euhomy advises their customers that if the freezer has been placed in a horizontal or tilted position for any period of time before/upon its delivery, you should allow 24 hours before plugging the unit into a power source; also, do not operate your freezer in the presence of explosive fumes, do not store aerosol cans or any other product that can be explosive under low temperatures.

Other features: The Euhomy Upright Freezer is equipped with a 7-level thermostat system, it allows you to control its inner temperature from -7.6°F to 6.8°F, (option 1 is the warmest, option 7 the coldest) it is recommendable to set this freezer to “4” for the first 24 hours of use, later on, choose your desired temperature level.

GE FUF21SMRWW 21.3-Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer

Google’s Rating: 4.6

Manufacturer, color, type: The veteran gigantic General Electric has released a line of home freezers and they present their FUF21SMRWW Frost-Free Upright Freezer, as a great option for you to store your frozen foods for longer, safely, as this freestanding unit can be placed in a garage or basement and it operates efficiently even under low or high temperatures (from 0°-110°F). It is equipped with a security lock and a key; it comes in white color. 

Dimensions, Weight, and Capacity: This practical freezer measures 32.8 inches wide, it stands 76.5 inches tall, its depth is 31.3 and it has a great storage capacity of 21.3 cu. ft., it is equipped with 4 inner freezer cabinet glass shelves and a slide-out wire storage basket. It is frost-free and has door storage available for your convenience, its overall design resembles almost any common kitchen refrigerator.

Connect type, Voltage, Wattage: The GE Frost-Free Upright Freeze uses 115 volts to operate properly, it adapts to any AC outlet, electrical supply of 115 volts/ 60 Hz, 15 or 20 Amps. GE strongly advises to not use an extension cord to operate this appliance, make sure you have an available outlet in the space you have designed for the freezer. This product is Energy Star certified for low electrical consumption. Its yearly estimated electricity use is 551 kWh, and the approximate yearly cost of operating this freezer at home is about 66 dollars.

Safety: GE informs us that this appliance contains isobutane as a refrigerant (R600a) which is natural gas with high environmental compatibility, but that can also be flammable under critical conditions, do not place this unit next to explosive/hazardous materials or vapors such as gasoline, aerosol cans and make sure the vents of the appliance are never blocked to avoid sudden explosions that can lead into regrettable accidents.

Other features: This very modern freezer comes equipped with an audible temperature alarm, it alerts you if the inner temperature rises, or if the door is open, it automatic defrosts, also, it includes bright LED interior lights.

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