I am currently looking into getting a chest/deep freezer for my house. I continually have minimal space in my current refrigerator freezer and am looking for one between 5-7 cubic feet. The problem that I have run into is that all the models I have seen have manual defrost and are not frost free. Does anybody know where I can get one this size and frost free or if they even manufacture this size in a frost free variety?
I thought about buying one 6 months ago and reconsidered, because I don't have a reason for storing that much more food to justify the cost. I will say this... Only buy what you need. Anything over that amount will consume more power. Many of us (including myself) tend to believe that more is better. When the cost of the unit cancels the savings in buying by bulk, then it doesn't make sense. Just my 2 cents.
I am with smokerwilkins on that one. I thought only places like SAMS sell that because they're the "wholesale" people. I mean, only if you're a merchant should you get one... right?
The thing is I store a lot of frozen game and fish; rabbit, deer, trout, catfish, etc. along with store bought meats that I usually find on sale. I usually store these for long periods of time and I end up having to waste some of it because there is no room in the freezer and nobody will take the meat. If the meat doesn't get wasted something else gets ruined from unfreezing anyway. That's why I am looking at getting some small like a 5 cubic foot version and not the 19.3 cubic feet that my girlfriend's parents have or the 14.5 cubic feet my parents had when I was growing up.
Have you thought about going used? My parents have had the same deep freezer for over 20 years. Those things last FOREVER. Don't matter how ugly they are, just stick 'em in the garage. One more thing: you do not want a frost free deep freezer. Frost free models stay frost free by cycling on and off to melt frost. This ruins your food! This is why you're having such a hard time finding a frost free model, because frost-free = short term storage.
