Cold Food Keeps Things Cold
Keeping your freezer mostly full is beneficial for several reasons. Food that’s frozen solid holds on to the cold, meaning less low-temperature air escapes when you open the door. If the freezer is empty, warm air replaces the cold air whenever the door opens, forcing the compressor to work overtime to recool the space. A filled freezer, on the other hand, helps extend the life of the compressor, keeps electricity bills lower, and maintains colder temperatures during a power outage.
This isn’t to say the freezer should be packed to the brim. In fact, some empty space is necessary for it to function properly. A freezer that’s packed too densely may block vents that circulate cold air. According to Whirlpool, it’s best to keep your freezer between 75% and 80% full at all times for optimal efficiency.
A Frozen Fix
Groceries are expensive, and some people may balk at buying more food just to keep the freezer full. Fortunately, that isn’t necessary — you can simply fill your empty freezer with frozen water jugs to keep temperatures low.
Whenever you buy a gallon of milk or water, hold on to the plastic jug after drinking it. (You can also save plastic tubs from yogurt or sour cream, along with soda and water bottles.) Rinse the jug if necessary, then fill it 90% full with tap water, leaving 1 to 2 inches of space at the top to allow for expansion as it freezes. Put the jug in the freezer and let it freeze solid (which should take about 24 hours). It’s best to keep several jugs handy so you can hold the freezer at roughly three-quarters full, adding or removing them based on what else is inside.
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As a bonus, stashing frozen water jugs in the freezer proves useful during an emergency. Allowing the jugs to thaw provides a potable water source. While it’s completely safe to drink clean water that’s been frozen then thawed, it’s best to replace it every six months for optimal quality and taste.
Frozen jugs of water also help keep the inside of your refrigerator or freezer cool during a power outage. This can prevent food from spoiling or buy you time to transfer it to an insulated cooler. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, a full freezer keeps contents frozen for about 48 hours. A half-full freezer, however, will last only 24 hours, which might not be enough time for the power to come back on.
