Ideal temp for freezer?

If you are considering keeping stuff for long periods, consider a vacuum sealer to prevent freezer burn. I've had meat for three years when vacuum sealed.

o for a few weeks. I did not get an elec bill yet but ask if 10f would save noticable cash. No numbers to give. Maybe a gibson? Is 10f as good as zero ?

I just checked mine a few minutes ago and the temperature is registering at -10°F.

I've got a vacuum sealer, too, and they are great for anything you want to keep freezer burn-free and for a long period of time.

Set the freezer temperature so icecream isn't really hard and can be spooned fairly easily. This is the optimum freezer temperature.

Thermometers rarely give reliable readings at freezer tempertures, whereas the ice-cream method sets the freezer temperature just right.

If you have the freezer running 5 Centigrade too cool it is just the same as having the freezer running at the correct temperature but in a room 5C hotter than it actually is, which will make the freezer use quite a bit more energy in percentage terms - maybe even double the energy consumption over what it could be if set correctly.

Ross

older fridge, will jack up your electric bill a lot.

Oh really? It might be the optimum for you but you really want frozen meats at the temperature that ice cream can easily be scooped?

Greg

I've been told for years to keep such things full. Even if you put water filled milk jugs in it the mass will keep the freezer from running as much.

Yes, if there's a lot of air in the freezer, when you open the door, a lot of cold air will fall out at the bottom, replaced by room air at the top. BTW, I have a 45 year old working freezer and was wondering if replacing it with a new higher efficiency unit would be worth it. So I picked a warm summer week and put the Kill-a-Watt unit on it. Turns out, it would take many years to pay for a new freezer with the savings on electricity.

I replaced an old 14 cu ft fridge with a new 18 cu ft and payback was 4 years for $400 I paid for it. It is a second fridge and the base model. If you get a newer one with all the goodies the payback is very long.

If you replace an upright freezer with a chest one, you will find that the payback will be much shorter with a new efficient one. Not only are the ch est ones more efficient (they don't lose the cold air when opened), but the re will be less freezer burn as there will be little variation in temp.

Dan

Yes, but it is easier to lose stuff on the bottom too. I'd never go back to a chest as it was a PITA finding things at times.

first part is true

second part is not

energy used is about proportional to the DIFFERENCE in temperature outside inside

to double the energy usage, you would have to double the temperature delta.

chests take up a bigger footprint in your cluttered garage/basement.

That really depends on the condition more than purely the age unless this freezer/fridge is like the one in "the Honeymooners". One tip, if it trips a GFCI, it is costing you money.That is a partial short to ground in the compressor from damaged insulation in the windings, wasting energy in 2 ways (lower compressor efficiency and extra heat energy wasted in the short).

Here in the UK -18C is the recommended 'ideal' temperature for a freezer.

That's 0 degrees Fahrenheit (more or less!)

HTH

I've been told for years to keep such things full. Even if you put water filled milk jugs in it the mass will keep the freezer from running as much.

How come none of you guys ever mention that there are no such freezer

OP posted "qf", which we all understood to mean qubic feet.

the payback will be much shorter with a new efficient one. Not only are th e chest ones more efficient (they don't lose the cold air when opened), but there will be less freezer burn as there will be little variation in temp.

That's the truth! Who in the world likes digging inside of a coffin for hiding food items. Yes, I know many of these chest freezers have baskets you can place food in but I don't want to be lifting and moving those out of the way to find whatever.

This is why there is a choice; upright or chest. Give me an upright, frost-free model any day.

... when you open it. Closed, no difference.