We currently have a 12 cu ft chest freezer, which is not self-defrosting. I'm perfectly satisfied with it, but found out this morning that it's a lot older than I expected. We had purchased it used in the early 1980s, thinking it was about 4 years old. Come to find out with the help of Dan on the appliance411 Q&A, it's at least 33 years old. So we're starting to think, it will probably need replacing in the next few years. It's a Sears Kenmore Coldspot, and still has the model number paper inside it, though it's deteriorating.

If I had to buy another freezer today, I would definitely buy another chest freezer that has to be defrosted. This one only needs to be defrosted about twice a year, and I use a blowdryer on a cooler day.

Has anyone found a good utility model chest freezer? I need no bells and whistles ... one that runs well, opens and shuts at the top, and keeps stuff frozen without needing to be defrosted every few weeks.

DonnaR/CA