What is a deep freezer?

As a standalone appliance that supplements a refrigerator freezer in your kitchen, a deep freezer keeps food frozen around 0 °F, or -18°C. Both Whirlpool^® Chest Freezers and Upright Freezers are considered deep freezers.

While both kinds of deep freezers offer more food storage options for your home, they differ in configuration: an upright freezer has a vertical orientation with swing doors, and a chest freezer has a lid that you open from above. This means freezer organization will differ depending on the freezer you purchase. Select deep freezer models in either configuration can be placed in the garage.

Whirlpool® deep freezer with frozen food organized on shelves

Why is it called a deep freezer?

The name has less to do with temperature and more to do with space. Both chest freezers and upright freezers keep food at 0°F, but you can adjust the settings based on your preferences. You can also adjust temperature settings on a deep freezer based on your preferences and needs. The name “deep freezer” can be used interchangeably with upright freezer and chest freezer, and all designations keep food frozen that won’t be eaten or cooked right away.

Overhead view of a Whirlpool® deep freezer with frozen food in bins

What’s the difference between a fridge freezer and a deep freezer?

A deep freezer has more space to store frozen food for longer periods than a typical fridge freezer found in your kitchen. Deep freezers are bigger, have a larger storage capacity than fridge freezers. A typical kitchen fridge freezer can start as low as 4 cu. ft. capacity for small households, while a deep freezer capacity can range from 5 cu. ft. to over 21 cu. ft.

When thinking about deep freezer vs. refrigerator freezer sizes, fridge freezer configurations vary based on the overall orientation of the refrigerator. For example, they may have either drawers or doors which impact their size and capacity.

Whirlpool® deep freezer being filled with frozen food

How cold is a deep freezer?

When considering freezer vs deep freezer temperature, keep in mind that deep freezers get as cold as a standard kitchen fridge freezer: 0 degrees Fahrenheit (or -18 degrees Celsius). Setting your freezer temperature too low may result in frost covering your food.

To maintain an ideal temperature for your deep freezer, be sure to monitor freezer thermometers, and remember that freezer burn does not indicate a freezer’s temperature is too cold—it means that food hasn’t been sealed properly before freezing.

Whirlpool® deep freezer shown in dark room with lid open and LED light illuminating frozen food

How much electricity does a deep freezer use?

Deep freezers and refrigerators of similar size typically have about the same electricity requirements. However, if you use your deep freezer for longer-term storage and do not open the door as often, it may help prevent the loss of cold temperature inside. Learn more about how a freezer works.

Overhead view of Whirlpool® deep freezer chest configuration with lid open

What is the purpose of a deep freezer?

A deep freezer keeps larger amounts of food frozen for longer periods of time and offers more space and capacity than a typical fridge freezer. If you’re wondering whether a deep freezer is right for your home, consider these points:

A deep freezer benefits a big family that enjoys many meals per month.
Living in a rural area far from grocery stores and fresh food could mean a greater need to keep foods frozen for longer.
Buying in bulk may require freezing large amounts of food at the same time.
Buying food during seasonal sales can lead to an increased need for frozen food storage.

Close up view of food organized in a Whirlpool® deep freezer

What should I store in a deep freezer?

A deep freezer is best for storing and organizing a large amount of food for use within a few months or up to a year. It can accommodate meal prep routines with space to store pre-made dinners including soups and stews. Consider these optimal time frames for storing food in a deep freezer:

Hamburger, ground meats, ground poultry: 3-4 months
Fresh beef, veal, lamb, pork: 4-12 months
Whole chicken: 12 months
Fin fish: up to 8 months
Soups, stews, leftovers: 2-3 months