Deep Freezers: Frost-Free Vs. Non Frost-Free
Freezers can add a tremendous amount of flexibility to your food buying and storage options. Many families buy and freeze in-season produce, take advantage of bulk buying opportunities and employ other strategies that require significant storage space, usually in the form of a chest or upright freezer. For those just getting started or replacing an old freezer, there may be questions about the pros and cons of frost-free models versus those which require manual defrosting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Frost-Free Defined
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Traditional freezers, over time, build up a layer of ice on the interior walls and coils, which is a result of moisture entering the unit when the door is open, then freezing when trapped inside. This layer of ice eventually encroaches on precious storage space and makes the unit less efficient. At some point, the ice buildup begins to act as an insulator and the interior of the freezer will only be as cold as the ice, which is not cold enough to keep food frozen. The USDA recommends that frozen foods be kept at a constant zero degrees Fahrenheit for safety. A frost-free unit has a mechanism that draws the moisture out of the freezer intermittently to reduce or eliminate the buildup of ice.
Pros and Cons of Manual Defrost Freezers
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According to Consumer Reports, most manual defrost freezers are quieter and more energy efficient than self-defrosting models because they don't use extra energy to run the self-defrosting mechanism. Additionally, the process of defrosting the freezer requires removing all the food inside, forcing you to handle and inspect the contents of your freezer on a regular basis, which will help you to keep the contents edited and discard old food in a timely manner. The drawback is the time and work required to complete the defrosting process. Defrosting can be messy, requiring pans of hot water and newspapers on the floor to catch water draining from the appliance as the ice buildup thaws.
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Pros and Cons of Frost-Free Freezers
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Frost-free freezers never require emptying and thawing to remove accumulated ice, which saves time as the process can take hours and must be performed about twice per year. Frost-free models also make food savings a possibility for individuals who would never take the time to manage and properly defrost a traditional freezer. One disadvantage is that the same process that removes moisture from the air inside the freezer causes stored foods to dry out more rapidly, which is a greater concern to those who store foods for longer periods. The added energy costs to run a frost-free unit must be considered as well. However, note that the potential savings on food for freezer users can easily offset this added expense.
Personal Preference and Usage
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Ultimately, the choice to purchase one type of freezer over another is related to your personal desire for convenience and your planned patterns of use for the appliance. Both types of freezers have their merits and can help your family eat well for less money, gaining more nutrition for fewer dollars.
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