Tip of the Day: Find the best freezer for your home

Freezer sales rose last spring, as more Americans apparently made bulk to purchases to stretch their food-buying bucks. But an inefficient freezer that delivers inconsistent temperatures will melt away your savings through higher electric bills and damaged food.

Our new video buyer's guide to freezers (right) details the strengths and weaknesses of some popular models of chest and upright freezers we tested. For more details on these appliances, check out our latest report on freezers, free buyer's guide, and ratings of 20 models (available to subscribers).

Once you've chosen a model, find the best places to buy appliances. Also be sure to take advantage of federal, state, and local governments tax incentives and rebates for freezers and be on the lookout for details on the $300 million State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, commonly called cash-for-clunkers for appliances.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Follow these easy instructions for freezing food.

Tip of the Day: Freeze summer fruits and vegetables

With recent projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicating that prices for "food at home"—that's all the stuff you buy at supermarkets, farmers' markets, and convenience stores—will rise 2 to 3 percent this year and 2.5 to 3.5 percent in 2010, you might be more inclined to buy a stand-alone freezer, figuring that freezing food that you buy in bulk or cook in big batches might save you some money.

See our September 2009 report on freezers for news on and ratings of the latest models (ratings available to subscribers) and read our free buyer's guide for freezers and shopping advice for refrigerators. (The photo shows freezer testing in our labs.)

Now's also a great time to freeze summer produce in your refrigerator's freezer or stand-alone freezer, whether it's the bounty from your own garden or fruits and vegetables you pick up or at local farm stands.

Some vegetables aren't freezer friendly because they become limp and soggy when thawed. The do-not-freeze list includes celery, endive, lettuce, parsley, radishes, and nonmarinated cabbage and cucumbers, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, which offers advice on freezing dozens of different foods. You'll learn other ways to freeze fruits and vegetables and prevent freezer burn and odors from permeating produce with this advice from the University of Minnesota Exentsion. Cook's Illustrated also offers a PDF with step-by-step freezing information.

Once you've prepared your food for freezing, keep the freezer temperature at 0°F or lower, since foods lose their quality faster when stored at higher temperatures. Place produce in the coldest spot in the freezer and next to refrigerated surfaces. And leave a little space between packages to allow the air to circulate. After the food has frozen, pack it more closely together, which frees up space for more items.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Learn more about the federal government's State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, aka cash for clunkers for appliances.

Forum Friday: Reader discussions about cookware, freezers, and paint

If you haven't visited our revamped appliances and home-and-garden forums, take a quick spin. A streamlined navigation and look seem to be spurring discussions. The following discussions center around home-related content from the September 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Cookware
Forums moderator Angelo Mannino offers great tips to avoid warping griddle pans and to quickly test whether cookware will work with induction cooktops.

Freezers
Chest freezers cost less than upright models, but some commenters are starting to wonder whether the time needed to defrost them is worth the savings. Our latest report on freezers includes a self-defrosting upright model for $380—close to the price of many chest freezers.

Paint
"Hue Name It: How Pink Paint Became 'Marry Me'" details how to make sense of the the names associated with paint. Check out the discussion on the reliability of paint samples and read our latest report on interior paints. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

What's new on ConsumerReports.org: September 2009 home-related content

Summer got off to a slow start in much of the U.S., but some features in our just-posted September issue will pay dividends during the dog days of August and far into the upcoming year and beyond.

• Freezers are hot. Freezers have been the only appliance to post sales gains this year, and federal, state, and local utility incentives make it even easier to trade your old clunker for an efficient new model. Our latest report on freezers found that upright models were more convenient than chest-type models. But upright models also cost more, and during our tests manual-defrost upright models couldn’t keep a consistent temperature in door shelves.

Our ratings (available to subscribers) include four excellent chest-type models ranging from $250 to $400. (A downside to these models is that you’ll have to bend to reach the Ben & Jerry's.) Recommended upright standouts cost from $600 to $800.

• Safer, better cookware. As our latest report on cookware shows, nonstick sets from Emeril and Calphalon provided good performance and value for under $200. Testers also found three under $190 sets whose manufacturers claim they’re free of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—a potentially harmful chemical. A Swiss Diamond Reinforced set also claimed to be PFOA free, since its cooking surfaces are lined with a nanoparticle composite of diamond crystals. But while it was a top performer in our tests, its $500 price tag kept it from being recommended (ratings available to subscribers).

• Paint colors proliferating. As paint sales rise, so does the number of sometimes oddly named colors. In "Hue Name It: How Pink Paint Became ‘Marry Me’," you’ll find out why purple, gray and yellow . . . oops, mimosa, are this year’s hot shades—and how you can pick the a perfect personalized tint from this ever-expanding palette.

• FDA targets celebrity endorsements. If you feel that celebrity pitchmen and women have been painting too rosy a glow on some products, you’re right. Our past reports on kitchen knives and cookware have shown that a celebrity endorsement doesn’t always make for a top-performing product. Proposed guidelines from the Federal trade Commission will further regulate what’s allowed in such endorsements. The celebs’ informal mentions of products in media appearances or  blogs will also be regulated for the first time.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you’re sending your kids off to school in September, see the many smart buys we’re collected into our recently published Back-to-School Appliance-Buying Guide.

U.S. freezer sales increase. Will the American waistline follow suit?

We've recently reported on declining shipments and sales of major appliances. But as was the case in 2008, stand-alone freezers continue to buck the downward trend. Sales of these appliances increased almost 20 percent in March, while demand for refrigerators, ranges, and other major appliances fell nearly 12 percent, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

It seems that more American consumers are buying in bulk at discount retailers and warehouse clubs as they try to save money. And when they shop, they're also apparently stocking up on ice cream. "Despite tighter budgets, our customers are buying lots of ice cream," says Caren Epstein, a spokeswoman for Walmart, the nation's biggest grocery retailer. Sales of frozen pizzas at Walmart are up too. (Check out our report to find the best light ice creams.)

If you're in the market for a new freezer, read our buyer's guide to find the model that's right for your home. And be sure not to keep your new freezer in the garage, where high temperatures, say during summer months or in a warm-weather climate, can make the compressor work harder.

Our new report on freezers will appear in the September 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in August.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Read our advice for cutting your grocery bills, and avoid buyer's remorse when you're shopping at warehouse clubs by not giving in to the big-box binge.

By the Numbers: Freezers sales rose in 2008, only major appliance not to drop

2.1 million

Number of stand-alone freezers shipped in 2008 in the U.S., according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a 5.2 percent increase over 2007 shipments. The gain suggests that consumers need increased freezer space as they buy more in bulk and hope to save money. Either that, or people have been bagging lots of game during hunting seasons.

The rise in freezer sales might not sound impressive, but freezers were the only major appliance to post positive year-over-year results. Shipments of all major appliances declined 8.9 percent for the year.

Essential information: Read our report on freezers and visit our appliances hub to access information on other appliances.

Forum Friday: How's your home faring for the holidays?

With the 2008 holiday season officially under way, copious cooking and numerous guests are probably putting your appliances and accommodations through their toughest test of the year.

For example, washing machines and mattresses have been our most popular forum topics over the past two weeks, and these specific discussions of large-capacity washers and guest-room mattresses were especially busy.

If you've been stumped while stuffing leftovers into your refrigerator, consider the platter-swallowing capacity of a French-door model. Earlier this year, we took a First Look at the GE Profile PGSS5PJX[SS] and wrote a Product Preview on the Liebherr 2062 Series French-door refrigerators. Members have been sharing their feedback in a French-door refrigerator discussion that’s taken off since last Thanksgiving.

If your conventional storage-tank water heater isn't producing enough hot water for your holiday needs, you can join a lively debate over whether tankless water heaters are worth their higher cost.

Essential Information: Visit our Home Improvement Guide interactive for more advice on appliances, decor, tools, and building materials that will make your house more comfortable and functional all year long.

U.S. freezer sales buck overall appliance downturn

As in many other industries, appliance sales have suffered as the U.S. economy has slowed and consumers spend less. Major-appliance shipments declined 7.4 percent for the year through August, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. But there's one bright spot in the market: stand-alone freezers. Shipments of freezers were up 3.5 percent for the first eight months of the year and rose 13 percent in August over a year earlier; upright models saw an annualized sales jump of nearly 17 percent in August; chest models, 10 percent.

Rising food prices could be a factor in the growth of freezer sales. From 2005 to 2008, the overall cost of food for home consumption was projected to climb 4 to 5 percent, according to this Wall Street Journal report. The ever-increasing tab at the checkout line has spurred more Americans to buy in bulk at warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club, likely creating a need for more freezer space.

If you're considering getting a stand-alone freezer, use our buyer's guide to get the right unit for your needs. Avoid placing the freezer in the garage, where fluctuating temperatures can force the compressor to work extra hard. If you find that after a while you're not using your separate freezer, consolidate frozen foods in your primary refrigerator-freezer and turn off the stand-alone freezer.

As for what goes into the freezer, don't fill your new appliance with high-fat, high-calorie foods. As we reported in the July 2008 "Can Appliances Make You Heavy?" kitchen appliances could encourage poor eating habits. (Some freezers have dedicated storage compartments for pizza and ice cream, for example.) Visit ConsumerReports.org/health for diet and nutrition advice.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: To determine which appliances you should fix and which you should nix, read our updated repair-or-replace advice. Then find out about the best places to buy new appliances.

As food prices rise, consider a stand-alone freezer

Interesting article in today’s edition of The Wall Street Journal on how rising food prices have prompted U.S. consumers to buy in bulk and stockpile food (“As Food Prices Rise, Shoppers Stock Up,” by Gary McWilliams and David Kesmodel).

A chart accompanying the article details a 6 percent jump in the overall cost of food for home consumption from 2005 through 2007, ranging from hikes of 3.1 percent for fats and oils and 3.3 percent for poultry to 9.5 percent for fish and seafood and 35.5 percent for eggs. The authors note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting a 4 to 5 percent climb in food prices for 2008, double the level of 2005.

If you’re considering buying a separate freezer to store certain foods you buy in quantity, read our buyer’s guide to and review of freezers, which features Ratings (available to subscribers) of manual-defrost chest and upright models and self-defrost uprights.

Follow this advice when shopping for a stand-alone freezer:

Figure the capacity you need. The freezer size you need will depend on the size of your family and their fondness for frozen foods. Freezers are available in compact (5 cubic feet), small (6 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet) capacities. Except for their hanging baskets, chest freezers are wide open so that almost all of the claimed space is usable. Upright freezers have shelves and pullout bins, which make it easier to organize and reach contents but reduce usable space by up to 20 percent.

Weigh manual vs. self-defrost. Manual-defrost freezers, whether chest or upright, are generally quieter and more energy efficient than self-defrosting models of the same type. But manually defrosting a freezer can be a lot of work and take up to 24 hours.

Consider local power problems. If the area where you live is prone to brownouts or power failures, a chest freezer will be the better choice.

Check the controls and lights. Easy-to-reach controls make adjusting the temperature simple. An interior light makes it easier to find foods, especially if the freezer is in a dimly lighted area. A power-on light on the outside of the freezer lets you see at a glance that the freezer is on. That way you don't have to open the unit to check, letting cold air out. Most of the models we tested have that feature. We think all should have it.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: Find out which warehouse shopping club is the best to join—and the best spot to save money.

Tip of the Day: How to keep food fresh

There’s a reason your grandmother kept her fresh-baked rye and pullman loaves in a breadbox on the kitchen counter and not in her icebox: Bread goes stale much quicker when you stow it in a refrigerator than at room temperature.

Grandma knew that proper storage will help your food maintain its flavor and freshness—and save you money since you won’t have to toss out so many spoiled items. Follow the advice here to get the most out of your weekly grocery shopping and watch our Food Gone Bad video (right).

Dairy
• Store opened sticks of butter in a covered dish in the refrigerator’s butter compartment. You can keep unsalted butter wrapped in foil or plastic in the freezer for about five months; salted butter, six to nine months.

• Plastic wrap used on some cheeses can impart an off flavor, so remove it. Wrap the cheese in wax paper, and then tightly wrap it in plastic. Store the cheese in the refrigerator’s meat-and-cheese drawer. You can keep unopened hard cheese, such as Cheddar or Swiss, in the refrigerator for six months; if it’s opened, the cheese will last for up to four weeks. Soft cheeses, like Brie, will last a week in the refrigerator.

• Keep eggs in their carton on a shelf in the main cavity of the refrigerator, not on a shelf on the refrigerator door.

Produce
• Once your bananas have ripened, store them in the refrigerator to slow further ripening. The peel might darken, but the fruit will be good for up to five days.

• Wash and thoroughly dry greens before placing them in a resealable plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Do not place greens near fruit, which emit gasses that can spoil vegetables. When properly stored, most lettuce will last a week; tender greens like spinach or mesclun will keep for three days.

• Keep fresh mushrooms in their package. After you open them, store your button, shiitake, portobellos, and other mushrooms in a brown-paper lunch bag.

• More than three-quarters of Americans keep fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator, according to the Florida Tomato Committee. But these fridge-happy folks shouldn’t because refrigeration keeps tomatoes from ripening, kills their flavor, and makes them mealy. Store fresh whole tomatoes at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, with the stem side up to prevent bruising.

Meat, poultry, and fish
• Place raw meat, poultry, or fish in a covered dish to keep the juices from dripping onto other foods, and store it in the back of the refrigerator. Ground meats last one to two days; chops, roasts, and steaks should keep for three to five days. When you get home from the supermarket, remove the store packaging and rewrap the beef with plastic wrap; you can then keep it for up to two weeks in the freezer. For longer storage, repackage meat in heavy-duty aluminum foil, freezer paper, or a plastic freezer bag, eliminating as much air as possible when sealing it.

• Poultry lasts one to two days in the refrigerator. When you get home from the supermarket, remove the store packaging and rewrap the poultry with plastic wrap; you can freeze it for up to two months. If you’re freezing it for more than two months, wrap foil, plastic, or freezer paper over the original plastic packaging or place it in a freezer bag. You can keep whole poultry for a year; poultry pieces, nine months.

• Refrigerate fresh fish and shellfish for a day to two. For freezer storage, place the items in a tightly wrapped plastic package and cover it with foil or place in a resealable bag. You can store fish in the freezer for three to eight months; shellfish, three to 12 months.

We’d like to hear how you make your food last. Send your own food-storage tips—for the refrigerator, freezer, or pantry—to us at home@cro.consumer.org.

Back to your grandmother’s bread: You can freeze fresh bread— sealed in an airtight bag—for up to three months.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: If you’ve ever picked up a piece of moldy cheese and wondered if it was safe to eat, read our guide to funky foods. When you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, visit our refrigerator product hub for the latest product information and Ratings and expert shopping advice. And to make sure you get the most refrigerator storage for your dollar, learn about capacity claims and how they don’t always measure up.