Disadvantages of a no-frost freezer?

October 30, 2005 5:46 AM

Should I buy a no frost freezer?

I have read that a no-frost freezer tends to dry food out, but also that it keeps food fresher. I wonder about effects on my health.

Other tips for selecting a freezer are also appreciated. I am not in the USA though, so specific brands are probably not available here.

posted by davar to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

We have used no-frost freezers exclusively for nearly 20 years without a problem. I've never noticed an issue with food becoming dry, either. I sure appreciate not defrosting the freezer, though! Best of luck with your purchase.
posted by unclejeffy at 6:01 AM on October 30, 2005

I recently moved into an apartment with an older, non-frost-free freezer after having the newer kind for years and I can unequivocally tell you - GET IT! GET IT NOW!

I hate having to defrost the sucker every few months, and watching my already tiny freezer space slowly shrinking as the frost monster grows.

The only thing you need to do is get one of these, an ice cube tray with a cover so that the ice doesn't evaporate. (These are good ideas anyway because ice sometimes picks up nasty tastes in any freezer.)
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:12 AM on October 30, 2005

Yes, get it, they are a million times better than the frosted variety, although you may find food drys out. Just make sure you cover it before refrigerating/freezing.
posted by MrC at 7:13 AM on October 30, 2005

Yes, a frost-free 'fridge will dry foods out. I have noticed that ice cubes, left alone during the winter months, will sublimate to nothing over time. However, if the food is properly sealed in a container, it's not a problem.
posted by SPrintF at 9:10 AM on October 30, 2005

You may want to invest in one of thse vacuum sealer devices (e.g. Foodsaver) for meat, veggies, etc. no matter what kind of freezer you use. It takes a little more time to freeze things with the device than just throwing them into a plastic bag, but your food does remain moist and fresh much longer.
posted by maudlin at 11:10 AM on October 30, 2005

A frost-free freezer is pretty simple. It turns off for a little while every day so that frost will melt rather than build up. There is no reason I can think of that this would effect the healthiness of food. I would definately make sure that food you put in any freezer is properly sealed, as it will last longer and have less freezer burn. I usually just use a zip-type freezer bag, which also makes a handy defrosting container later.

No-frost freezers are a Good Thing.
posted by ilsa at 1:09 PM on October 30, 2005

No offense, but I would not even debate this. I think they're universally considered to be a vast improvement.
posted by crabintheocean at 2:05 PM on October 30, 2005

Another 'yes'. Defrosting freezers is a smelly, boring, dirty, energy-wasteful task.

Ziploc freezer bags seal tightly so things frozen in them do not dry out. They are quite useful in a frost-free freezer.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:53 PM on October 30, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for your replies. This is such a big expense for me, I would hate to regret it, so I really appreciate your opinions. I decided to go for a no-frost freezer. I did not know frost free freezers are already in use for twenty years, I thought it was a more recent technology.

Those foodsavers look wonderful, but it seems they cost about half of what my freezer wil cost... I will keep it in mind though.
posted by davar at 3:23 PM on October 30, 2005

On a scale of life stresses, davar, where 1 represents the least possible stressor, and 100 represents "death of a spouse," "buying a new freezer" ranks at 10.

So, someone out there feels your pain.
posted by ikkyu2 at 4:38 PM on October 30, 2005

Do they even make non frost-free freezers anymore?
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:21 AM on October 31, 2005