Settings for Stand-Up Freezers
Stand-up freezers, also commonly referred to by the name upright freezers, provide easily accessible storage for all types of frozen goods. Several features, like adjustable temperature controls and temperature alarms, keep your frozen foods consistently at the right temperature. Adjust the settings for your particular freezing needs; most models simply consist of a control dial to switch between selections.
Temperature Control
The temperature control dial selects the temperature at which your stand-up freezer should run. Most dials have settings from one to seven, with one as the warmest and seven as the coldest. Many stand-up freezer manufacturers recommend you choose a mid-range setting, such as four, and adjust it if your freezer is too warm or too cold. Keep the temperature at the same setting for at least 24 hours to accurately test the setting.
Temperature Alarm
Some stand-up freezers come equipped with a temperature alarm to alert you when the inside temperature reaches an unsafe level. This feature, usually activated because of temperature control malfunctions, will not work if your household electricity fails. The temperature alarm sounds a buzzer when the inside temperature reaches unsafe levels, usually above approximately 23 degrees F. The buzzer keeps sounding until you press a reset button. Adding large quantities of warm food to the freezer may trigger the alarm. The alarm may be deactivated if desired.
Fast Freeze
Certain stand-up freezer models offer the "Fast Freeze" or similarly named feature. This feature forces the freezer to cool to its coldest level to quickly freeze large quantities of food. The setting runs continuously. It's most often useful for when you place items in the freezer, such as groceries that were previously frozen but may have started to defrost. To use this setting, switch the control knob to the appropriate setting. Set foods in the freezer, spreading them out. Switch the control knob back to its previous setting after the freezer has sufficient time to cool, usually after 24 to 48 hours.
References
Writer Bio
Sommer Leigh has produced home, garden, family and health content since 1997 for such nationally known publications as "Better Homes and Gardens," "Ladies' Home Journal," "Midwest Living," "Healthy Kids" and "American Baby." Leigh also owns a Web-consulting business and writes for several Internet publications. She has a Bachelor of Science in information technology and Web management from the University of Phoenix.
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