Frigidaire FFFC16M5QW Freezer Review

However, while the FFFC16M5QW's size may be impressive, its overall freezing ability left us cold. During our tests, the freezer displayed ideal temperatures almost everywhere.

The key word here is "almost." We measured a few hot spots that got warmer than 0ºF, and food stored there would be susceptible to freezer burn. That keeps us from giving the FFFC16M5QW our unqualified recommendation.

Design & Features

Big and basic

Like most chest freezers, this Frigidaire is sturdy and simple. The white textured finish is par for the course: tough to get dirty, easy to clean, with a neutral tone that'll fit in anywhere you put it.

There’s a door lock located by the handle, but you won’t have to worry about accidental openings. The wide door is well balanced, and shuts with a definite "thud" unless its obstructed.

Inside, things are pared down. Aside from the low shelf on the side, which blocks off the condenser, a lone sliding bucket is the only organizational feature included. This model comes with two sets of color-coordinated clips for the bucket's handles, but presumably you’d have to purchase another bin separately to make use of the second set.

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Performance & Usability

Cold, but some inconsistencies

Sometimes, our tests show the so-called "recommended" settings on certain fridge and freezer thermostats aren't quite cold enough. Not so with the FFFC16M5QW: Average temperatures in this freezer were definitely chilly, hovering around -6°F.

Pretty great, right? Well, unfortunately, a few warm spots got well above 0ºF—a key factor in the development of freezer burn. The closer you store food to the top, the warmer the temperatures get. Temperatures also fluctuated a bit over time—not a problem at the bottom of the freezer since the numbers we measured down there were far below zero, but it is an issue for the already-warm top.

Like most chest freezers, this model requires a manual defrost from time to time. Check the owner's manual for helpful tips on how to do this safely.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page

A Big Ol' Ice Box

A plain freezer with a few minor issues

At the end of the day, the Frigidaire FFFC16M5QW is a big box that keeps your food frozen—and as a freezer, that's what it should be. It may not be as consistent as some other chest freezers, or as easy to organize, but it still does exactly what it was designed to do. Plus, it's extremely spacious, and with retail prices hovering around $540, that's a lot of bang for your buck. Just make sure to keep the foods you intend to store for a longer time towards the bottom.

The Cold Hard Facts

Unlike many of the freezers we test, the Frigidaire FFFC16M5QW (MSRP $649) actually maintained chilly temperatures on average when set to the recommended level. However, our tests revealed this affordable ice box was unable to maintain this temperature evenly over time or throughout the interior. Combine those two issues, and you have reason for concern.

Temperature Performance

The overall average temperature inside this Frigidaire was a brisk -6.4°F. That’s excellent, and more than cold enough to preserve your food effectively... or at least, it would be if the freezer was able to maintain it.

We recorded a range of temperatures running the gamut from -16.5°F at the bottom all the way up to 8.7°F at the top.

At the bottom, a total temperature fluctuation of ±5.2°F over 72 hours won't matter—temps still stayed very cold. However, up top, it pushes temperatures north of 0ºF—and that's what causes freezer burn.

True, the freezer is quite large, and it’s a lot of space to evenly cool. Nevertheless, we’ve got to call out this model on its lack of consistent chilling, which could lead to freezer burn.

Freezing & Thawing

Average freezing times weren’t quite as rapid as we’ve seen in other models. Room temperature items were chilled down to 32°F in roughly 2 hours and 42 minutes. It also took nearly 45 hours to fully freeze an item down to 0°F—not very quick at all.

Fortunately, Frigidaire’s ArcticLock insulation did a great job hanging onto that cold air. To simulate a power outage, we unplug the freezer and let it sit for 36 hours without opening the door. After that time, temperatures had only risen to 26.2°F on average—still thoroughly frozen.

Storage Space

With no internal features and just one optional sliding bucket, measuring the usable storage space in this model was a snap. Taking into account the small shelf on the bottom that blocks off the compressor, we determined that you could comfortable fit 15.04 cu. ft. of groceries inside this freezer.