I Replaced My Cramped Chest Freezer with This Convertible Upright One (It’s So Spacious and Versatile!)

A few years ago, I purchased a chest freezer in hopes of alleviating the cluttered freezer section of my existing refrigerator, as well as allowing me to buy and freeze bulk purchases of meat and produce to save on my grocery bill. That all worked well until my household size grew from two people and a dog to three adults, two kids, and three pets, now that my sister and nieces live with us. Now that same chest freezer that once felt spacious has started to feel small and completely disorganized.

Over time I’ve started to call it a pit because it was packed to the gills with frozen foods, and anything at the bottom was immediately considered a goner because it’d be forgotten for months and eventually lost to freezer burn by the time it resurfaced to the top. I needed an upgrade, but didn’t want to settle on another chest freezer — especially as our needs may change over time. We might need two refrigerators instead of one in the future, but for now we definitely needed a dedicated freezer. So when I learned about Midea’s new 50/50 Flex 3-Way Convertible Freezer, I knew instantly that it was exactly what my family needed. 

This upright freezer from Midea is split in two sections with two separate doors and has the flexibility to be used in three ways: as a full freezer, full fridge, or half fridge and freezer. This allows you to choose how you want to use it and be able to switch it up whenever you want to or as your needs change — all through the Smart Home app, as it’s WiFi-enabled.

The convertible freezer has a capacity of 20 cubic feet and measures 29.72 inches wide, 66.6 feet high, and 32.70 inches deep. It’s Energy Star certified and garage-ready, which means that it is specifically built to work in spaces that don’t have any cooling or heating (like a garage). It’s available in white or a stainless steel finish.

The most obvious reason I love this freezer is that my storage has more than tripled, going from a capacity of 4.9 cubic feet with the chest freezer to 20 cubic feet with this upright freezer. Another reason is that because it’s upright, organization is so easy. I can see and access items with ease, and with built-in bins at the bottom and sides of each split section, storing things is simple too.

Additionally, the fact that it’s a convertible freezer still boggles my mind. Because of the split setup and flexible usage, I could have a full freezer, full fridge, or half-and-half (aka a second refrigerator). Right now, I use it as a full freezer, but in the future I can just as easily make it another split refrigerator when the need arises. The fact that that’s even a possibility makes this convertible freezer a prized possession in my house. 

Because it’s garage-ready, it can be used in spaces like garages that have zero cooling or heating (hence the name). Scanning a QR code takes you to the app, allowing you to sync up to the fridge and control it right from your phone. You can switch the freezer mode, watch the current temperature, monitor your overall energy usage, and there’s even a Sabbath mode, which allows you to disable all lighting and sounds from the fridge (inside and out) for 24 hours. Plus, you can set notification alerts so that when the fridge is open or closed, it’ll alert you so you never have to wonder if you or anyone else in your home has accidentally left it open.

Once the freezer was plugged in, it took six to 12 hours to get cold; and thanks to the app, I was able to check in to see when it was cold enough to transfer items into it. This is when the fun part started for me — I got to organize the freezer, adding bins I already owned (keeping in mind what else I may need to purchase after I got a layout I loved). I decided to keep meats, seafood, and pet food items (I cook fresh food for them) in the bottom section, and ready-to-eat meals, fruits, vegetables, and the like in the top section. Now when I open the freezer, I am met with organized bliss versus a disorganized pit. It’s been a godsend. 

If you are in need of more freezer space, fridge space, or your needs may fluctuate in the future, then you will definitely benefit from having the Midea 50/50 Flex 3-Way Convertible Freezer over a regular upright or chest freezer. It has a large capacity, has the flexibility to be used whichever way you need to use it, and makes keeping things visible, organized, and cold easy. 

What’s more, it’s on sale right now for $400 off at Lowe’s, making it less than $1,000 for a high-tech freezer. You can’t beat the added storage and great value this smart find will bring to your home.

Buy: Midea 20 cu. ft. 50/50 Flex 3-Way Convertible Freezer, $899 (normally $1299)