How to Choose the Perfect Mini Freezer for Your Kitchen Needs

Everything you need to know before buying a mini freezer.

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Mini freezers are so helpful whether you're storing bulk meat, preserving produce and veggies from your garden, or want easier access to frozen meals and snacks. It's also going to help you keep more food on hand for much longer and give you endless opportunities for getting an easy dinner on the table.

But what exactly do you need to be looking for when shopping for a deep freeze? The best freezers are going to keep a consistent temperature, be compact in size, and offer easy storage solutions. Some other factors you want to consider are where and how you're going to store it, defrosting methods, and whether you want a chest or upright model.

Country Living talked with Shirley Hood, Appliance Expert at Abt, about some key factors when it comes to freezers. "Chest freezers are great for long-term storage because they have consistent internal temperatures and are an excellent choice for those who prefer to store large cuts of meat, sheet cakes, bulk items, or fresh to frozen meal prep. Upright freezers are best for short-term storage like bulk meats... it's also ideal for storing pints of ice cream, frozen vegetables, fruits, or anything you plan on consuming more frequently," said Hood. I've also included a Q&A at the bottom of this page to help clarify different models and features when it comes to buying a mini freezer.

We did our research and tested a few freezers among Country Living editors and surveyed different options for style, storage, and space. Plus longevity, defrost options, and temperature settings.

Below, you'll find the mini freezers we've placed on the top of our list with high ratings and recommendations.

If you're looking for a large freezer to store a little bit of everything in, the Midea may be the one for you. Measuring 7 cubic feet on the inside, it's got plenty of storage space and comes with a removable storage basket. And you don't have to worry about things not getting cold enough with this one because it has a temperature range reaching as low as -11.2°F, and up to 10.4°F degrees, making it garage ready for any outdoor storage. The lid also stays open without having to hold it open yourself which we always find super helpful.

You can customize your temperature with the control provided on the outside wall, along with a drain hole to help defrosting. Users also say this one of the quietest freezers on the market!

"This thing runs so quietly, you'd be hard pressed to know its even on! Best yet, no difference in my electric bill. I don't know why I did not buy one of these things long ago. If you have a refrigerator with a top freezer (like me), this chest freezer has to be at least 3-times the volume!," said one reviewer.

One thing that can be hard about mini freezers is the organization. This one from Anypro is loved for it's functionality and organization. This design has an upright door and is 3.0 cubic feet. Inside, there are three pull-down drawers to keep everything separated and organized. There are also condensation pipes which claim to keep a stronger cooling capacity to your food stays cold and fresh for longer. It can store up to 11lbs of food and the temperature gets down to -9.4°F. A manual thermostat control for that is located on the inside of the freezer.

The 225° door angle easily swings open and shuts tight. While it's unsure if the freezer is specifically garage-ready or not, many reviewers say it does well in their garage. It's also known to be very quiet in comparison to other mini freezers on the market.

One of many 5-star reviews says, "This freezer came in perfect condition, no dents, no scratches, no mark. I switched the door to open from the left. In less than two hours and the freezer was ready. It's really quiet; I don't hear it running at all. Overall, I'm thrilled with this freezer, it's exactly what I wanted."

Whynter is a brand that comes highly recommended by most appliance stores and experts. This design has an upright door and is 3.0 cubic feet. Inside, there are two shelves and one pull-out basket. The coil shelves are designed to freeze as well, so when they make direct contact with any items placed on them, it speeds up the process and keeps them super cold. You can also adjust the temperature between -11°F and 10.4 with the control knob.

The reversible door swings both left and right and a lock is provided on the bottom of the door incase you want to keep little ones from opening it. It uses a manual defrost system and stays pretty quiet. However, if the area you live in experiences extreme temps, higher than 100°F and lower than 0°F, you'll want to mainly use it indoors as it's not garage ready, meaning it won't perform as well in extreme heat or cold.

This freezer from Whynter is extra mini, making it perfect for small spaces like apartments and dorm rooms. At just 1.1 cubic feet, there's one removable shelf inside to store your different items. It's temperature reaches as low as -11°F and goes up to 10.4°F. And because it's Energy-Star Certified, it uses less energy than a light bulb and most customers say there isn't a change in their electric bill since using it.

The adjustable temperature knob is located inside, on the back wall of the freezer, which can be a little difficult to reach if you have a lot of items inside. There also isn't a drain hole for defrosting which will require a little more work on your end if you do need to defrost it. Lastly, this small freezer also includes a lock on the front to keep any little hands from getting in.

This chest freezer from Frigidaire is a bestseller, a great budget buy, and used in the Country Living test kitchen! It's 7.0 cubic feet so it's going to be great for storing larger food items, and lots of them. Inside is a removable basket to store items you want to easily access. It's garage ready, meaning it can handle temps ranging from 0°F to 110°F, keeping a consistent temperature inside, and your items unbothered.

Outside on the front wall is the temperature control that can easily be adjusted with the the turn of a knob, and a light that indicates the freezer is on and running. It uses a manual defrost mode to keep the temps consistent and includes a water drain so all the water is easily released and doesn't create a frozen mess inside. Plus, it's very quiet when running!

We should note, though, that this freezer isn't Energy-Star Certified like many others on this list. So while it costs less upfront, you might end up paying a little more on your power bill every month in comparison to some other models.

"It works really great, especially considering how affordable it is," said Charlyne Mattox, Food & Crafts Director at Country Living.

This freezer can easily convert into a refrigerator when needed, which earns it a spot on our list. Hotpoint is a customer and editor favorite as it's been tested by CL Editor-in-Chief, Rachel Barrett. It's known and proven to be durable with a pretty low price. On the front exterior, an easy switch of the button changes the mode from refrigerate to freeze. There's also drain next to the switch that allows everything to flow out easily when you defrost it.

An LED light is inside, as well as a removable basket for better storage options. Since this is a convertible refrigerator/freezer, it's got a temperature range of -8°F to 48°F.

Chest vs. Upright

This depends on your personal preference and needs. Chest freezers offer more storage for bulk items, while upright freezers don’t have quite as much space, they offer you easier organization and access. Like Shirley Hood said, "Chest freezers are great for long-term storage because they have consistent internal temperatures and are an excellent choice for those who prefer to store large cuts of meat, sheet cakes, bulk items, fresh to frozen meal prep. Upright freezers are best for short-term storage though long-term storage is possible the cycling on and off of the compressor can cause the foods inside to defrost slightly and then refreeze again. For this reason, upright freezers are best for bulk meats that have been condensed into smaller portions. It's also ideal for storing pints of ice cream, frozen vegetables, fruits, or anything you plan on consuming more frequently." Defrost Method

The biggest difference in auto-defrost and manual, is auto uses technology that senses when there is too much frost build-up. "Auto-defrost models automatically heat the interior refrigerator coils at regular intervals to prevent frost from forming on the walls and contents inside the freezer," Hood explained.

However, some users don’t like auto-defrost because there is a risk of it getting too warm to the point that it melts the products inside. Whereas a manual defrost allows the buyer to decide when they want to defrost their freezer. They just have to go through the process of defrosting, draining, and any cleanup. We find most people prefer manual defrost.

Size and Storage

The size you want in a freezer also depends on the space you have for one. It’s important to measure out the exact space you have for a freezer and ensure that it will be on a flat, non-carpet surface. Next, how much you want to store inside of it depends on the size you should get. Most average mini freezers are going to store anywhere from 3 cubic feet, up to 9 cubic feet.

Additionally, Hood says to never overpack your freezer, as it can cause issues with the products inside, and the appliance itself. "Don’t overload your freezer. Doing so can cause poor air circulation which in turn can cause icing, foods to not freeze properly, and an overworked compressor."

Energy-Star Certification

Energy-Star is a certification that confirms a product is more energy efficient and won't cause high electric bills. Certified products undergo a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet EPA requirements. It basically promises to use less energy, saving you more money in the long run.

When testing mini freezers, we researched the bestselling brands and models, and compared features that users said they're looking for. We also consulted with our food editors about product type, recommendations, and best judgement when choosing ones to test.

We pulled from brands that are top rated and recommended like Frigidaire, Midea, and Whynter. We compared size and capacity, storage models, defrost types, noise levels, and price points.

Three editors used a number of the above freezers and tested them for at least a month to better understand how they work. We also considered consumer reviews very seriously from the highest ratings, to the lowest.

The editors at Country Living have years of experience when it comes to testing the latest appliances and products on the market. Our work includes numerous stories that are researched and backed by editors, and approved by experts including Best Pet Cameras, Best Outdoor Grills, Best Mosquito Traps, Best Pizza Ovens, even Backyard Chicken Coops, just to name a few.

Our food and kitchen editors who we consulted with for this piece include Christopher Michel and Charylne Mattox.

I also talked with Shirley Hood, Appliance Expert with 30 years of experience at Abt, a national retailer of electronics and appliances based in Glenview, Ill.

Anna Mahan is the Associate Commerce Editor at Country Living, where she regularly covers the best sales and shares hidden gems you’ll want to know about. Joining the Country Living team in 2023, Anna creates plenty of gift guides, finds celeb-loved items, and reviews everything from beauty and skincare products to worthy home goods. Putting products through earnest testing processes, she can help determine the best quality and price, so readers get the best out of their purchase. She grew up listening to classic country and still loves the new stuff, so you’ll often find her writing about the latest on musicians like Dolly Parton and Lainey Wilson. When she’s not writing or scoping out viral trends, you can find her reading, watching Gilmore Girls for the umpteenth time, or convincing someone to do a TikTok with her.

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