{"id":2021721,"date":"2024-08-12T14:11:28","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T19:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=2021721"},"modified":"2025-03-17T17:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T22:21:16","slug":"hamilton-beach-upright-freezer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/hamilton-beach-upright-freezer\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer Review: The Best Option for Garages"},"content":{"rendered":"There's nothing wrong with storing soup containers<\/a> and make-ahead dinners<\/a> in the freezer. In fact, meal prepping is our favorite life hack that cuts down on the dinnertime rush. However, overstuffing the freezer is a surefire way to give yourself a headache. Not only does it usher in more freezer burn<\/a> and lead to poor temperature consistency, but it can also prevent the freezer door from fully sealing. This uses up more energy in the long run (and can lead to spoilage and melted ice cubes\u2014ick!). That's why stand-alone freezers\u2014like the Hamilton Beach upright freezer<\/a>\u2014are a lifesaver for excess storage.\r\n\r\n\"According to the Department of Energy, 34% of American households have a second fridge or freezer. Auxiliary food storage space has always been sought after for large families and homes that like to entertain\u2014yet the pandemic popularized this trend and made it mainstream,\" says Jessica Petrino<\/span>, educator and appliance expert at AJ Madison.<\/a> \"An upright freezer is a great space-saving way to store more food. They're perfect for small storage areas such as a pantry, garage or basement. Stock up on food at the store, buy protein in bulk, stash milk for a baby or flash freeze your favorite dinners, soup or sauces for later.\"\r\n\r\nExecutive Culinary Director\u00a0Sarah Farmer,<\/a> who tested six upright freezers to find the very best, agrees. \u201cVertical, upright freezers<\/a> offer a more compact design while providing the same storage capacity as chest freezers<\/a>,\u201d she explains. Here's why our Test Kitchen recommends the Hamilton Beach freezer<\/span> for garages, basements and other places with regular temperature fluctuations.\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"We Tried It\" product_name=\"Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer\" short_description=\"A garage-ready, upright convertible fridge\/freezer\" image=\"2083938\" image_credit=\"TASTE OF HOME\" pr_name=\"Wayfair\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wayfair.com%2Fappliances%2Fpdp%2Fhamilton-beach-14-cu-ft-upright-convertible-refrigeratorfreezer-hmb10851.html\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Wayfair\" retailers_2_name=\"Walmart\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FHamilton-Beach-14-Cu-ft-Upright-Convertible-Freezer-and-Refrigerator-HBFRF1494-White%2F2244896387\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" retailers_3_name=\"Home Depot\" retailers_3_url=\"https:\/\/homedepot.sjv.io\/eKm2MX\" retailers_3_display_text=\"Shop on Home Depot\" \/]\r\n

What is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the Hamilton Beach upright freezer?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\nIf you're unsure whether you want a\u00a0chest or upright freezer<\/a>, the bells and whistles on the\u00a0Hamilton Beach freezer<\/a> will almost certainly\u00a0<\/span>sway your opinion. A whopping 14 cubic feet of space is plenty of room for storing cookies<\/a>, freezer organization products<\/a> and frozen pizzas. This comes in the form of four removable tempered glass shelves, four shallow in-door shelves and a bottom slide-out bin. Do you need more fridge space? No worries\u2014this two-in-one option can convert to a fridge, too. Additionally, the Hamilton Beach upright freezer is garage-ready, meaning that it's rated for fluctuations in temperatures between 0\u00baF and 110\u00baF.\r\n\r\nIt's also self-defrosting, so you won't have to worry about frost coating your shelves or freezer containers<\/a>. This also makes it easy to clean your freezer<\/a>. A handy temperature control panel sits on the door, so you can easily see how cool it is at a glance. This feature also eliminates the need to open the door to make adjustments\u2014bonus!\u00a0Two adjustable legs allow for the freezer to sit level, and interior LED lights simplify making selections in low-light conditions.\r\n

How We Tested\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>the Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"Hamilton\r\n\r\nTo find the best upright freezers for garages, basements and rec rooms, we identified top-selling models from the most popular brands, including Whirlpool<\/a>, GE, Hotpoint, Hamilton Beach, Maytag and Gladiator. Our tester is Executive Culinary Director\u00a0Sarah Farmer<\/a>, an appliance and kitchen expert.\u00a0Sarah gathered six models to test, focusing on the best-reviewed picks.\r\n\r\nDuring our evaluation, she looked at temperature settings, capacity and storage, noise level, durability, build quality and design. We also noted whether each pick is garage-ready and if there are any additional features, like self-defrost, reversible doors, alarms, interior lighting and adjustable leveling legs.\r\n\r\nAfter thoroughly testing each potential inclusion and noting over 65 data points across all six freezers, our Test Kitchen pinpointed three top performers and two other solid options worth considering.\r\n

Test Kitchen Results<\/h3>\r\n\"Hamilton\r\n\r\nThe Hamilton Beach upright freezer boasts a simple, handsome look. With a classic white finish and a single control panel in the center, it feels both modern and basic enough for most decor styles. The handle is recessed (making the door non-reversible), which also gives it a cleaner look.\r\n\r\nThe seal is very effective\u2014almost to the point where you need to give the freezer a good tug for it to open. Testers had to exert pressure, and it took about two tugs to open the door. In the event that it doesn't seal closed, a three-minute alarm alerts you when the door remains open. The freezer features four preset temperature modes: Fridge, Subzero, Freeze and FastFreeze.\r\n\r\nBoth the shelves and lower freezer bin are solid and sturdy. However, the freezer door bins are somewhat lightweight (though not flimsy). Overall, Sarah feels that this is a perfect pick for families who want a little extra storage room for ice pops, frozen meals and bulk meats.\r\n
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