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Appliances Refrigerators
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Midea MRC050S0AWW
Check Price at Walmart
This is a small but formidable freezer that offers a great starting point for those who don’t necessarily have the space for something bigger. Read More
Pros
- Moderate amount of storage
- Good value for price
- 1-year full warranty
Cons
- Not as large as some models
- No indicator light
Igloo ICFMD35WH6A
Currently
Unavailable
At just $200, this Igloo freezer is one of the cheapest freezers in its class on Amazon, and it has a number of advantages over similar models. Read More
Pros
- Small and compact
- Trusted brand
- Indicator light
Cons
- Too small for some families
Koolatron KTCF195
If you’re looking for a little more space in your chest freezer, this 7.0-cubic-foot Koolatron chest freezer is worth considering. Read More
Pros
- Lots of space
- Indicator light
- Wide temperature range
Cons
- Too small for families
- Lacks a good warranty
Northair BG-30004N2
Currently
Unavailable
This Northair 3.5-cubic-foot chest freezer is another good option for space-conscious people who are looking for a compact model. Read More
Pros
- Different color than most
- Smaller profile
- Two baskets
Cons
- Narrow temperature range
- No warranty
Whynter FM-85G
If you’re in the market for a portable freezer that’ll fit well into your RV lifestyle, this is a great purchase. Just remember that it’s heavy. Read More
Pros
- Works on AC or DC power
- Holds just under 3 cu ft of volume
- Portable
Cons
- A little pricey
- Heavy
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- Midea MRC050S0AWW
- Igloo ICFMD35WH6A
- Koolatron KTCF195
- Northair BG-30004N2
- Whynter FM-85G
- Frigidaire FFCL1542AW
- Whirlpool WZC3209LW
- More Articles You Might Enjoy
Written by Steven T. Wright
Updated May 25, 2023
We’ve all been there—you’ve come back from a huge grocery run, but you can’t fit all your frozen products into your fridge’s tiny freezer. Sure, you can always Tetris your broccoli and popsicles to maximize that space, but it can be a huge hassle, especially during your busy week.
That’s why many people turn to chest freezers to stock up and maintain cold goods throughout the year. With the right chest freezer, you can bulk-buy at shops like Costco without having to worry about stuffing it all into a tiny space—within reason, of course. These appliances vary widely in size and functionality, so we picked seven different options that suit different use cases. Regardless of your living space or needs, we’ve got a chest freezer that’s right for you.
Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Midea MRC050S0AWW
The Midea Chest Freezer is one of the best-selling freezers on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a small but formidable freezer that offers a great starting point for those who don’t necessarily have the space for something bigger.
Each model has a hanging wire basket for easy storage, and its lid locks shut when you need to get something out with both hands. It also has a full one-year warranty and a two-year compressor warranty, which is quite convenient in case it breaks down on you.
However, if you have a larger family, you may want to invest in a freezer with larger storage space, as 5 cubic feet isn’t quite as much as some others on our list. Either way, this is a good option that’s worth considering. This freezer also comes in 3.5 and 7-cubic-foot models if you have a different size preference.
Pros
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Moderate amount of storage
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Good value for price
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1-year full warranty
Cons
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Not as large as some models
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No indicator light
$305.62 from Walmart
Igloo ICFMD35WH6A
Igloo is one of the biggest names in fridges and other cold technology, and its 3.5-cubic-foot compact chest freezer is worth considering. At just $200, it’s one of the cheapest freezers in its class on Amazon, and it has a number of advantages over similar models. For one, it’s got an indicator light on the outside to show you that it’s working.
This might seem like a really basic feature, but it’s something that’s a lot more helpful than you might expect, especially if you have a large amount of frozen items that might spoil if the freezer stops working. It also has a hanging basket and adjustable temperature of -10 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
The major downside of this model is it’s simply so small that it’s probably not the best purchase for large families or people looking to seriously stock up. Still, for what it is, it’s a good freezer that’s definitely found its place in the market.
Pros
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Small and compact
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Trusted brand
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Indicator light
Cons
-
Too small for some families
Koolatron KTCF195
If you’re looking for a little more space in your chest freezer, this 7.0-cubic-foot Koolatron chest freezer is worth considering. For around $400, it’s significantly more expensive than our smaller recommendations, but more space is always a plus. Of course, that means that this freezer is significantly wider than its competition, at roughly 36 inches, so make sure you have room for it.
It has standard features like an indicator light and a stay-open lid, but it also has a large temperature range of -11 to 32 degrees, though we recommend keeping it around zero most of the time. The only real con with this Koolatron model is its lack of a hard warranty.
Though Amazon covers everything for 30 days, we couldn’t find a longer one in the listing or user manual. The Koolatron website seems to indicate that its chest freezers have a warranty of 90 days, however, which is still pretty short. Given that freezers have been known to fail within months, this is definitely a risk worth weighing before you buy one.
Pros
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Lots of space
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Indicator light
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Wide temperature range
Cons
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Too small for families
-
Lacks a good warranty
Northair BG-30004N2
This Northair 3.5-cubic-foot chest freezer is another good option for space-conscious people who are looking for a compact model. It’s about an inch smaller on both sides than our other 3.5 cu ft. model, so it can make for a tight fit. It sets itself apart from the other freezers in its price range with a few key features.
For one, it’s black instead of white, which isn’t exactly the most exciting aesthetic approach, but it’s at least different from the endless parade of white freezers. Second, it includes two baskets, which some might prefer in terms of keeping your frozen-food storage a bit more organized.
This model also has two drawbacks worth considering, which are that it lacks any sort of manufacturer’s warranty—as far as we can tell—and that it also has a smaller temperature range of -4 F to 6.8 F. Still, it’s a good bet if you prefer a small model at a good price.
Pros
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Different color than most
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Smaller profile
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Two baskets
Cons
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Narrow temperature range
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No warranty
Whynter FM-85G
If you’re the kind of person who loves to take a party on the go, Whynter’s line of portable freezers might appeal to you. The model we’re recommending holds 85 quarts (or 2.84 cubic feet) of volume, which the manufacturer says is roughly 120 standard 12 oz cans.
It works with both a standard AC cord (the kind you have in your house) and a DC power cord that you can hook up to your car’s lighter ports. With a temperature range of -8 to 50 degrees, this can easily serve as either a fridge or a freezer with just the simple turn of a dial. It also includes a one-year warranty, which is definitely handy.
Overall, if you’re in the market for a portable freezer that’ll fit well into your RV lifestyle, this is a great purchase. Just remember that it’s quite heavy—around 70 pounds with nothing in it.
Pros
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Works on AC or DC power
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Holds just under 3 cu ft of volume
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Portable
Cons
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A little pricey
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Heavy
Frigidaire FFCL1542AW
People with large families need a freezer to match, and that’s where this garage-ready 14.8-cubic-foot Frigidaire comes in. It’s one of the most popular models at stores like Home Depot, and it’s pretty easy to see why, as it offers a large amount of space for an MSRP of $800. Sure, that’s a lot of money compared to some other models, but when you consider the price per cubic foot, it’s a significant value given its capacity.
It also has an internal LED light that helps you find your food in low-light settings, as well as a lock with an auto-eject key if you need to secure your belongings. Its one-year limited warranty is also nice. When purchasing a freezer this large, it’s important to make sure you have the space to store it in your garage or basem*nt, so double-check that before you hit buy.
Pros
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A ton of space
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Interior LED light
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Great value for the price
Cons
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Physically large
Whirlpool WZC3209LW
This Whirlpool model is a mid-sized chest freezer with a few premium features that help justify the price tag. For one, its wide temperature range means you can convert it from a freezer to a fridge, which can be helpful when defrosting large cuts of meat or other food items.
It has two storage baskets, a temperature-adjustment light, and rollers on one of its sides to make it easier to move in a pinch. It also has a built-in drain for water runoff, which is helpful when defrosting, along with a one-year limited warranty. As a whole, this is definitely a good compromise if you’re debating between a few different picks, though keep in mind its MSRP of $850 is comparable to other options that hold a lot more volume.
Pros
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Can be converted from freezer to fridge
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A good middle ground in size
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Energy Star certified
Cons
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A little pricey
More Articles You Might Enjoy
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- The Best French-Door Refrigerators
- The Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators
- The Best Refrigerators
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Meet the writer
Steven T. Wright
Contributor
Steven T. Wright is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.
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