Chest freezers are a great invention. They’re the perfect place for storing extra food, pre-prepared meals, or food that you want kept separate from what’s in your family’s main freezer. Chest freezers are also a great option for tiny homes where there isn’t enough space for a full-sized unit.
Magic Chef and Frigidaire are both excellent brands. Both offer chest freezers of similar sizes and with similar features. However, we’re going to review each brand’s chest freezer, the features they offer, and answer some pressing comparison questions to determine which is better.
Are you in the market for a new chest freezer and debating between Magic Chef and Frigidaire? Well, you’re in the right place! Let’s dive right in and start reviewing these brands.
What’s the Difference Between Magic Chef and Frigidaire Chest Freezer?
Magic Chef and Frigidaire have very similar chest freezers, but there are some key differences between the two. The first difference is their sizes. Magic Chef only offers chest freezers up to 10 cubic feet, while some Frigidaire chest freezers exceed 20 cubic feet!
Another difference is their ability to work in extreme temperatures. Magic Chef can only work between a certain temperature range, while Frigidaire has more flexibility on this. We’ll get into more detail about this later in this guide.
Magic Chef
Magic Chef is a brand that was acquired by CNA international in 2010. This brand is specifically dedicated to producing compact appliances that are dependable, easy-to-use, and affordable. Their goal is to create products that simplify everyday tasks and allow customers to take less time out of their busy days while taking care of the necessities.
Magic Chef Chest Freezer 
Magic Chef has a solid variety of chest freezers. They come in a range of sizes, from a more compact 3.0 cubic feet to a more spacious 10 cubic feet. These chest freezers also have a variety of special features including manual defrost, wire shelving and storage baskets, adjustable temperature control, reversible doors, and flush back designs.
The most basic Magic Chef Chest Freezer is 3.0 cubic feet and is perfect for someone who needs to store extra items but doesn’t have a ton of floor space available. This unit comes with a few additional features, such as manual defrost, adjustable temperature control, and 2 wire shelves for easier organization.
Their chest features are great for storing additional meat, pre-prepared meals, extra ice, and any other essentials that need to stay frozen. Their flush back designs allow these chest freezers to easily fit any space.
How to Use The Magic Chef Chest Freezer?
There are plenty of ways to use the Magic Chef Chest Freezer. You can place this chest freezer easily in any room that has some additional storage space. The wire baskets and shelves are perfect for keeping smaller items organized and opens up the entire bottom half of the unit for larger items.
You can use the Magic Chef Chest Freezer for virtually anything that needs to be stored. Here are some suggestions for what you can use these units for,
- Use these chest freezers for anything that needs to be stored separately from your main freezer. This could include breastmilk for nursing mothers, vegan or vegetarian meals that you don’t want to be mixed with the rest of your family’s meals, large game portions, or pre-portioned meals
- This is also an excellent place to store extra bags of ice for when you’re hosting a party or event
- These units are perfect for storing extra food that you don’t plan on touching for a while. With only the top opening, much less cold air is lost whenever you open it to add in more food. That makes this the perfect place to build up a food supply if you’re homesteading or worrying about running out.
Where Can You Install A Magic Chef Chest Freezer?
These freezers have installation flexibility, so they can be installed in virtually any room that has available floor space. It’s recommended to place these freezers in a room where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate outside of a 32-100°F range.
These freezers are perfect for basements, garages, large pantries, and even kitchens. As long as you have the floor space, you can put one of these chest freezers in any room.
Is Magic Chef A Good Brand Of Freezer?
Magic Chef freezers have consistently positive reviews across various internet platforms. Their freezers all have a minimum of 4 stars on Amazon, and the reviews heavily lean towards the positives.
Most people mention these freezers are great for extra storage, and that the LED light inside of them helps find items even in darker rooms like basements. Their adjustable temperature control features is frequently praised in online reviews, as is their manual defrost feature.
Does Magic Chef Have Good Customer Service?
If something goes wrong with your chest freezer, then being able to contact a customer service representative is essential. Magic Chef has excellent customer service, which you can see when you visit their website.
Their customer service center in Chicago has 15+ customer service representatives who are available to help 24/7. They have representatives who can converse in English, Spanish, and French. Along with their customer service hotline, you can also contact Magic Chef through a live chat feature on their website or through email.
Frigidaire
Frigidaire has been around for over 100 years. In 1918, they produced the world’s first self-contained refrigerator, and the unit was named Frigidaire. They followed that up with the world’s first chest freezer in 1929, which they called an ice cream cabinet.
Since then, this company has continued producing new and innovative appliances for the home. Their goal is to create fixtures that make their customer’s lives easier. They make a wide variety of products for the home from air conditions to laundry units.
Frigidaire Chest Freezer
Frigidaire has a large selection of chest freezers, ranging in size from a more compact 5 cubic feet to an impressive 20 cubic feet. Whether you need a smaller chest to store pre-packaged meals or a larger chest to store large game portions, this company has a freezer chest for you!
The 7 cubic feet Frigidaire Chest Freezer is one of their most popular sizes. It comes with some special features, as do their other chest freezers, such as external temperature control, a power-on indicator light, manual defrost, a defrost water drain, and wire baskets.
These freezers are perfect for storing a range of items, and the wire baskets make keeping the chest freezer organized a breeze. You can keep all your larger items in the bottom part of the freezer, and keep easy-to-reach smaller items in the wire baskets.
Where Can You Install A Frigidaire Chest Freezer?
Frigidaire chest freezers can be installed virtually anywhere. You can place one in your basement, garage, laundry room, kitchen, a large pantry, or anywhere else you have some unused floor space.
The great thing about these chest freezers is their ability to work well in extreme environments. These freezers will work in temperatures well below 32°F and in spaces that reach temperatures up to 110°F.
Is Frigidaire A Good Brand Of Freezer?
Frigidaire is one of the best brands of freezers on the market. They have excellent reviews on multiple platforms, and most of their freezers are rated 5 stars on Amazon. Most reviews mention some of their special features as being the deciding factor in why they went with Frigidaire.
Many reviewers mention the power-on indicator light as being a unique feature that helps them know their items are reliably being kept at temperature without having to open the door to check. The defrost water drain is also very helpful for preventing a build up of ice in the unit.
Does Frigidaire Have Good Customer Service?
Frigidaire does appear to have good customer service. Several reviews mention having to contact customer service to assistance after losing their manual, and reviewers seem to feel positive about the experience.
Their contact information is displayed very prominently on their website. You can contact Frigidaire through phone or email, and they also have a live chat feature for instant assistance.
Comparison Questions (Magic Chef vs Frigidaire)
Is Magic Chef or Frigidaire More Affordable?
Frigidaire is almost always going to be more expensive than Magic Chef. Their price points are generally higher when comparing chest freezers of the same cubic feet. However, it is possible to break down their prices to compare how much each brand charges per cubic foot.
Here’s a table showing this breakdown:
| Brand | Price Per Cubic Foot |
| Magic Chef | $60.40 |
| Frigidaire | $61.28 |
This definitely shows Frigidaire as the more expensive brand. If you’re looking for a more affordable chest freezer that still comes with great features, then Magic Chef is the perfect brand for you!
Do Both Brands Offer Special Features?
Magic Chef and Frigidaire have several special features included with their chest freezers. Most of their features are similar, with a few differences. Let’s break this down a little further.
| Features | Magic Chef | Frigidaire |
| Manual Defrost | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Drain | ✓ | |
| On-Light Indicator | ✓ | |
| Temperature Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wire Baskets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wire Shelves | ✓ | |
| Reversable Doors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Flush Back Design | ✓ |
Both brands offer a wide range of special features, and many of those features overlap between those two brands. However, only Frigidaire offers an on-light indicator and water drain, while only Magic Chef has wire shelves and a flush back design.
If you’re looking for functionality, then Frigidaire might be a better option because the water drain makes the defrosting process much easier, and their on-light indicator will allow you to see the freezer is working properly without having to open the lid.
However, if you’re looking for a better fit and easier organization, then Magic Chef would be the better choice. They have wire shelving and a flush back design that allows their chest freezers to fit in most spaces for easily.
Can You Install Magic Chef and Frigidaire Chest Freezers In The Same Places?
Magic Chef and Frigidaire chest freezers can both be installed in the same rooms of your home. You can put these in your kitchen, laundry room, basement, garage, or anywhere else you have the floor space. However, there is one notable exception between these two brands.
Magic Chef can only be placed in rooms where the temperature won’t fluctuate outside of a range of 32°F-100°F, while Frigidaire can work in rooms that fall below 32° and will work in rooms where the temperature reaches 110°F.
Related Questions
How Do You Drain A Magic Chef Chest Freezer?
Regularly draining your Magic Chef Chest Freezer is essential to keeping it running properly. Not draining your freezer can cause a build up of ice that prevents you from storing all the items you need in the freezer.
To properly drain your Magic Chef Freezer, follow these simple steps.
1. While your freezer is defrosting, the ice will melt into the cabinet.
2. Unscrew and remove the cap on the exterior front bottom left of your freezer.
3. Place a shallow pan, bucket, or bowl underneath the drain outlet.
4. Allow the water to drain into your pan.
5. Replace the cap when no more water is draining out.
How Do You Reset A Frigidaire Chest Freezer?
Resetting your Frigidaire Chest Freezer can be a nerve-wrecking process if you’ve lost your manual and can’t remember the steps. Thankfully, it’s a relatively simple process. Here are the steps for resetting a Frigidaire Chest Freezer.
1. Unplug your freezer for 15-20 minutes.
2. Plug the freezer back in.
3. Hold down the alarm reset button for 3 seconds.
4. Press the down arrow 3 times.
5. Press the up arrow once.
6. Select the temperature you want for your freezer.
How Long Do Chest Freezers Last?
Chest freezers can have an impressive life span if they’re properly taken care of. You can expect a Magic Chef and Frigidaire Chest Freezer to last between 15-20 years. The best way to make sure your chest freezer lasts for its full lifetime is to defrost it often and keep it in a room where the temperature won’t put it under too much strain.
The Verdict – Which Is Better?
In the debate of Magic Chef vs Frigidaire Chest Freezer, we reviewed their products, special features, affordability, and more. While Frigidaire has some unique features, it’s not enough to beat out Magic Chef. If you want a freezer that’s affordable, can fit nearly anywhere, and makes organization a priority, then Magic Chef has the perfect chest freezers for you!
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.