Garage freezer....do I want wire or glass shelves?

[Tap]

We have had a chest freezer in the garage for 27 years. I think it is time to get a new one, so I am looking at uprights this time. We used to get half a beef at a time, so the chest freezer with bins was a better choice for long term storage. Now I find I would rather have the accessibility of an upright. I see the same freezer with wire shelves and with glass. Which is better?

[SoCal_Bear]

I have glass shelving, and it's great. I'm on my second upright and I am thankful that it has an alarm. I can't tell you how many times I had problems with the old one because some persons in my household did not shut it properly. 

 

[Tap]

5 minutes ago, calbear said:

I have glass shelving, and it's great. I'm on my second upright and I am thankful that it has an alarm. I can't tell you how many times I had problems with the old one because some persons in my household did not shut it properly. 

 

That is a great reminder! We have never had that issue with a chest freezer, but I can see it happening easier with an upright.

[SoCal_Bear]

It's super covenient just to slide things around on the shelf when I need to rearrange something. I actually store 1/2 gallon mason jars of bone broth in my freezer so it sits more stable on the glass shelf.

[Hannah]

If the shelves are able to slide out, then defrosting won't be a problem, but if they're built in, then defrosting might be easier with wire shelves.  If it has drawers, then the wire is sturdier than plastic.

[gardenmom5]

wire.  you get better airflow, as well as bits will fall down and be easier to clean up.

[Halftime Hope]

I prefer wire, with a caveat. When you freeze something in a bag, make sure your bag doesn't sag through the wires. Not matter which you get, try to avoid rupture of contents, cleaning it out of a freezer, any freezer, is the pits. 

If you are tight on space around the freezer, think about making sure you can swing your door open far enough to pull out the shelves. 

[Katy]

Whichever one is in stock?

I currently have wire, but I prefer glass.  

[LuvToRead]

We have wire and I have no issues with it.  When I freeze stuff in a plastic bag, I generally lay it on a cookie sheet to freeze.