What is more energy efficient - having a freezer packed full of frozen food or keeping the freezer empty?

Question

I assume that over time, having a freezer jam-packed with frozen food would leave less physical area inside the freezer to be chilled. The freezer would have less space to chill, thus conserving more energy than a freezer that is virtually empty.
In the short term, a freshly packed freezer filled with warm foods would obviously require more energy to chill this new food, but long term - is your electric bill going to be cheaper with a packed freezer?

Answer 1

full is more efficient. Mainly due to less air to exchange when you open the freezer to get something out. (especially with upright... not as important with chest type)

It is also safer in case of power outage. There will be more mass to "retain cold". But that only works if the power outage is less than about a day long... because eventually things will defrost and spoil.

The energy usage if the freezer is kept closed... virtually identical.

Answer 2

If done correctly it can be about the same. Have I gotten your attn yet LOL.

Where you lose the most is when you open the door. All the air exchange, hot for cold... There are a couple of things.

First off keep a list so you dont have to dig around and take a long time trying to figure out what is in there. Yea like people will do that LOL.

Second hang onto your old milk jugs or 2 leater bottles. Now there are a couple ways to use them. First off if you know you are going to have space for quite a while then you fill them 3/4th full of water and place them around inside. If the power goes out you basicly have solid blocks of ice to keep your food for longer and in a real desaster it becomes water if you leave it laying out. Or for a temp thing you place them around empty. That way when you open the door the air in them can not leak out, so it holds the cold air in.

So that is the simple trick.
Hugs Kim Lynn

Answer 3

Less energy is used to keep the temp constant if the freezer is full. I live alone & therefore don't keep much food in my freezer. However, I fill my Tupperware containers with water and keep them in the freezer to take up room. Plus, it leaves my 'dry' storage areas more open for other things.

Answer 4

I would have to say a jam packed freezer because an empty freezer would be running and serving no purpose. putting food in your freezer allows you to keep it plugged in for a reason. if your freezer is empty you should probably unplug it because you are wasting money and energy.

Answer 5

It seems to me, you'd want to keep food away from the edges of the freezer. Having air in between the food and the wall would allow for more insulation (and air circulation), and thus less cycling of the motor, and less energy use.

However, it seems like you would want to keep your freezer as full as possible if only to justify having it in the first place. So, keep it as full as possible in the center.

I found a source that confirms this.

Answer 6

the traditional thinking is that full is better. it allows for less circulation. when you open the door, less cold air spills out. on the other hand, if you fill the front with gallon jugs, then when you open the door, you'll have it open longer to find what you're looking for. If i had to guess, that would eliminate any savings from having the frig full in the first place. in other words, i think i disagree with the "fuller is better" idea. i think the less the frig is open the better. on the other hand, if you don't open it much, then maybe fuller is better. so i'll give you a definite "maybe" on this one.

Answer 7

Most are engineered to use less energy if full. If you dont have yours full, you could fill gallon jugs or 2 liter bottles with water to take up space

Answer 8

keep your freezer packed-wastes less electricity, same with your fridge. you should also read your booklet if you have one for the recommended temp.

Answer 9

packed is cheaper in the long run and easier on the cooler pump and fan