When Freezers Are Sold Out, Consider a Second Refrigerator

Top-freezer fridges offer the same amount of frozen-food storage space as a small chest freezer

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If you’ve tried to buy a freezer during the past month, you’re probably all too aware that it’s almost impossible to find one.

“The last six weeks saw significant panic buying of freezers,” says Nish Suvarnakar, Consumer Reports’ market analyst for refrigerators and freezers. “What makes it worse is that retailers haven't been able to replenish their stock with new models, which don't arrive until the middle of summer.”

Consumer Reports searched for freezers at a host of national, regional, and online-only retailers, including AJ Madison, BrandsMart USA, Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, P.C. Richard & Son, and Sears. Though we found a handful of models still available at AJ Madison and Best Buy, most freezers were listed as either out of stock or backordered to late May into August.

More on Refrigerators and Freezers
CR's Refrigerator Ratings & Buying Guide
CR's Freezer Ratings & Buying Guide
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If you want a freezer now, you might consider purchasing a second refrigerator instead. Top-freezer models cost about the same as a full-sized freezer and are typically smaller and more affordable than other refrigerators, such as side-by-sides and French-doors.

That makes them a smart choice for a second fridge assigned to the garage or basement. In terms of capacity, the freezer compartments of the biggest top-freezer fridges in our ratings have about the same space as a small chest freezer, or about 6 cubic feet. And as a bonus, you get plenty of extra cold storage for fresh foods and beverages.

Just remember that there's no need to hoard food during quarantine. And there's a difference between hoarding and preparing. If you need help figuring out what and how much to buy, see our guide to what you need when you're quarantined at home.

Below are the best top-freezers with large freezer compartments from our refrigerator ratings, arranged in order of most to least freezer capacity. They carry prices ranging from $700 to $900 and are made by Frigidaire, Insignia, Maytag, and Whirlpool.

Best Top-Freezers With Big Freezer Compartments

Home Content Creator Daniel Wroclawski

Daniel Wroclawski

I'm obsessed with smart home tech and channel my obsession into new stories for Consumer Reports. When I'm not writing about products, I spend time either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@danwroc).
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