Whirlpool Upright Locking Freezer Review [Tested] 2024

By Emily Way

Tested by Sarah Farmer

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated on Sep. 24, 2024

We tested the Whirlpool upright freezer and were impressed with its thoughtful features, including a handy locking mechanism.

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While there’s a time and place for chest freezers, they’re oftentimes meant for long-term storage rather than quick-grab meals and frosty treats. Being horizontal, they’re rather tricky to rummage through, and they normally boast deep-freeze temperatures. Because of this, they’re not the ideal solution for stashing make-ahead dinners or popping into a basement for fast access to frozen pizzas. That’s where the best upright freezers come in.

After testing six different options, the Whirlpool frost-free upright freezer impressed our Test Kitchen thanks to its performance and features. It offers peace of mind for those who worry about an unsecured seal, along with additional bells and whistles that make it one of our top picks. Here’s why we love this handy meal storage sidekick for soup containers, meal prep and beyond.

The Whirlpool upright freezer looks a lot like a traditional refrigerator. With 16 cubic feet of interior space, this upright Whirlpool freezer easily fits into narrow places while still offering plenty of space for freezer containers. It’s the perfect option for slipping into basement rec rooms, kitchen corners and other small areas. Three freeze settings are indicated with snowflake icons that vary in shade from lighter to darker, determining how cold it gets inside. It even has a “Fast Freeze” option that quickly cools items for better nutritional preservation.

In addition, this Whirlpool standing freezer is frost-free, meaning that it won’t collect any frost on the interior. This also limits the amount of freezer burn on foods—bonus! LED lighting on the inside automatically turns on when the door opens, making it a good option for dark places like basements. That said, this is not a garage-friendly option. For that, we recommend the Hamilton Beach upright freezer.

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With a temperature drop alarm and a locking door, the Whirlpool upright freezer offers ample peace of mind.

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To find the best upright freezers for garages, basements and rec rooms, we identified top-selling models from the most popular brands, including Whirlpool, GE, Hotpoint, Hamilton Beach, Maytag and Gladiator. We then gathered six models to test, focusing on the best-reviewed picks.

During our evaluation, we 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.

After thoroughly testing each potential inclusion and noting over 65 data points across all six freezers, our Test Kitchen pinpointed the top performers.

SARAH FARMER/TASTE OF HOME

Our Test Kitchen already turns to Whirlpool when they want an appliance backed by a good reputation. The Whirlpool stand-up freezer easily impressed Test Kitchen leader Sarah Farmer, earning it a spot as the best lockable freezer. Because it boasts a secure locking mechanism, it’s a good option for storing items away from children or ensuring that the door doesn’t pop open. This makes it an excellent choice not only for short-term freezing but also for long-term chilling of bulk meats and make-ahead meals.

It doesn’t make loud humming sounds or prove difficult to open, even despite the securely suctioned seal. Those who are especially worried about the freezer warming up too much can even activate a handy built-in temperature alarm, which sounds when there’s a large fluctuation. Adjustable leveling legs also add a little security for uneven floors, ensuring that none of your freezer organizers tip sideways and cause a mess.

While it’s not meant for garages since it must stay above 40 degrees to properly function, it’s still a handy option for basements and other heated areas. We especially love this easily organized freezer since it boasts a unique bottom storage area. It’s a lowered cavity with a plastic guard rail rather than a drawer—perfect for storing pizzas or stacking freezer meals. Five non-adjustable 4-1/2 in. wide door shelves and three adjustable main shelves offer tons of space for chilling cookie dough, stashing ice pops and securing ice cream.

RANHA POPPE/TASTE OF HOME

After our initial in-office testing, we sent this freezer home with a staffer to see how it holds up over time with typical use. After a few months, long-term tester Ranah Poppe is impressed with this freezer’s performance. She uses it in the unfinished portion of her basement and notes that it performs better than expected, especially when it comes to the freezer’s footprint and seal.

“The freezer is used primarily to store the meat from a local cow we purchase and split with friends,” she says. “We also use it to stock up on frozen staples as they go on sale. We really like it! It was easy to transport and fit through our garage door without taking the door off the jamb. So far, it has not had any issues and keeps food consistently frozen without frost.”

One quirk she noticed was when setting up the freezer. When she plugged it in, the light was working, but it was not cooling. That’s because it boots in “demo mode.” After referring to the “Quick Start” guide, she located the “Cooling On” instructions. She held the temperature button for over three seconds, as instructed in the manual. After some troubleshooting, she found that she had to hold the temperature button for exactly 3 seconds (and no longer!) in order to start chilling food.

“The door is heavy, but that is good because it is hard to accidentally leave open,” she says. “The gasket for the door has a strong seal, so it feels very secure when you shut it.” Overall, she likes it much better than a chest freezer since it doesn’t require any hunching over the freezer to dig through freezing cold packages. She also notes that there’s ample space—enough for a quarter of a cow! It holds a lot of ground beef, roasts and steaks (with plenty of room to spare).

Additionally, Ranah notes that this freezer accommodates a wide variety of package sizes through adjustable shelves in the main freezer. The door shelves are great for smaller items. That said, despite having six brackets, only three racks are included. Additional racks and baskets are available for purchase, but she mentions that they are a bit pricey.

One area where she’d love to see some improvement is cold retention when the door is open. Cold escapes very quickly, so she tries to make her selections fast. The door alarm goes off after five minutes of staying open, which feels like a very long time, given how quickly the cold escapes. She also doesn’t love that, while the door shelves vary in vertical space, they are not adjustable. There are also no drawers. The bottom space is more of a rail that creates a bin-type space, which may or may not appeal to some.

We have decades of experience testing products and recommending the top gear to Taste of Home readers. Our team has tackled everything from toasters to food processors so you can shop with confidence. Our primary tester for upright freezers, Sarah Farmer, is the heart of the Taste of Home Test Kitchen. On top of leading the culinary team, she develops, tests and food styles recipes, balances budgets, connects with vendors and oversees the product testing process for pantry foods and cooking gear. You might spot her in our videos on social media and TV, gushing about the latest food trends or must-have kitchen gadgets.

Unplug your freezer from the outlet, wait a few minutes, then plug it back in to reset your Whirlpool upright freezer.

This Whirlpool upright freezer is frost-free, so you will not have to defrost it at any point. Any moisture is collected and deposited on the cooling coil, which periodically heats up, drains and evaporates.

According to the owner’s manual, the condenser coils for the Whirlpool upright freezer are under the panel on the base grille. You can access them by opening the door and removing the grille panel with a Philips head screwdriver.

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With a temperature drop alarm and a locking door, the Whirlpool upright freezer offers ample peace of mind.

Shop on Lowe's

Shop on Whirlpool

The Whirlpool upright freezer is available for purchase at Lowe’s and on Whirlpool’s website. It normally retails for around $1,000 but periodically goes on sale. If you’re looking for a secure freezer that offers a locking mechanism and superior performance, you won’t be disappointed by this well-sealing option.