Listen, if you’re tired of cramming everything into your fridge freezer or losing food to forgotten corners in a chest model, you need to grab a Criterion upright freezer today. I bought mine on a whim from Menards a couple years ago, and it’s been one of the smartest purchases I’ve ever made.
For the price — often hundreds less than big-name brands — you get garage-ready performance, solid organization, and enough space to stock up without breaking the bank. Trust me, once you have one, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
Go get yours before the next sale ends.
My Experience With The Criterion Upright Freezers
Let me take you back to when I first brought home my Criterion 14 cu. ft. convertible upright freezer (model CUF14C1W).
I was skeptical at first — it’s a Menards house brand, after all — but I needed something garage-ready that could handle Midwest summers and winters without complaining.
The delivery guys wheeled it into my garage, I plugged it in, and within hours it was humming along at 0°F like a champ.
What surprised me most was how quiet it is.
My old chest freezer sounded like a jet engine starting up every cycle; this one?
You barely notice it unless you’re standing right next to it. I loaded it up immediately — bulk Costco meat, garden veggies I’d blanched and bagged, homemade soups, and even a few emergency ice cream stashes. The adjustable glass shelves are sturdy; I can slide them around to fit tall items or create flat space for pizza boxes.
One feature I use constantly is the convertible mode. Last summer when my kitchen fridge died, I flipped this thing to refrigerator mode overnight and it kept everything cold while I shopped for a replacement. Genius. And because it’s garage-ready (rated 0°F to 110°F), it never skipped a beat during our 100-degree heat waves or sub-zero cold snaps.
Organization-wise, it’s a dream compared to digging through a chest freezer. The door bins hold ice packs and smaller items perfectly, and the LED light makes finding that last bag of peas at midnight easy.
I’ve had zero frost buildup thanks to the frost-free design on my model, and the digital temperature display lets me keep an eye on things without opening the door.
Sure, it’s not fancy like some $2,000 Sub-Zero, but for everyday families like mine who buy half a cow every year or meal-prep for the week, it performs flawlessly. I’ve recommended it to three neighbors already, and they all love theirs too. If you’re on the fence, just do it — you’ll thank me when you’re not playing freezer Tetris anymore.
What I Love About My Criterion Upright Freezer: The Pros
I’ve had my Criterion for over two years now, and here are the things that make me smile every time I open the door.
- Insane Bang for Your Buck I paid $529 for my 14 cu. ft. frost-free convertible model on a Menards Black Friday deal. The exact same size GE Garage Ready frost-free was $949 that week, and the Frigidaire Gallery version was pushing $1,100. You’re literally getting 85-90 % of the premium experience for half the money. Every time I open it and see it packed with half a cow, garden harvest, and Costco hauls, I feel like I robbed the place (in a totally legal way).
- True Garage-Ready Performance You Can Actually Trust Most brands slap “garage ready” on the box, but Criterion means it. Mine sits in an uninsulated garage that hits 105 °F in July and -15 °F in January. It has never once warmed above 2 °F or cycled excessively. I stuck a cheap Inkbird temperature logger inside for a full year just to test — the temperature swing was usually under 4 degrees. That’s better than my old “premium” Kenmore ever managed.
- Organization That Changed My Life Five adjustable tempered-glass shelves, four full-width door bins, and two pull-out wire baskets in the bottom. I can fit 12 flat pizza boxes stacked on one shelf, stand gallon ice cream tubs upright in the door, and still have a dedicated “grab-and-go” basket for burgers and fries. My chest freezer used to be an archaeology dig; this is like having a second walk-in pantry.
- The Convertible Feature Is an Absolute Game-Changer One button switches it from freezer to refrigerator (34-40 °F). When my kitchen fridge died last spring, I flipped the switch at 10 p.m., moved milk, eggs, and produce over by midnight, and we ate normally for four days while waiting for the new one. I’ve also used fridge mode for party overflow during Thanksgiving — held 12 sheet cakes and six veggie trays perfectly.
- It’s Genuinely Quiet My old chest freezer rattled the garage windows. The Criterion? I can stand two feet away and barely hear the compressor kick on. In the house 25 feet away with the door closed, it’s inaudible. Sleep in the room above the garage? No problem.
- Energy Efficiency That Shows Up on the Bill Energy Star rated and pulls about 380 kWh/year on my model. My actual Kill-A-Watt meter says it’s averaging 0.9 kWh per day even in summer — that’s roughly $8-10 a month here in the Midwest. My 15-year-old chest freezer was pulling almost double that.
- Bright LED Lighting and Reversible Door The interior light is bright white (not that dingy yellow bulb nonsense) and the door swings either direction. Saved me from doing garage yoga trying to make it fit.
- Temperature Alarm Actually Works If the door is left ajar or power flickers, it beeps like crazy. Caught a kid leaving it open twice — saved hundreds of dollars of food
These pros make it feel like a premium appliance without the price tag.
Downsides of Criterion Upright Freezer I’ve Encountered
Look, nothing’s perfect, and I’ve run into a few quirks I’d want you to know about before buying.
- Manual-Defrost Models Are Still Out There — Avoid Them If You Hate Work The cheaper 6.6 cu. ft. and some 10 cu. ft. versions are manual defrost. I helped my brother-in-law defrost his — four hours, two shop vacs, and a flooded garage floor. Spend the extra $100-150 for frost-free unless you enjoy that kind of suffering.
- Parts and Service Are the Weak Spot Criterion is made by Midea for Menards exclusively. If something breaks after year one, you’re at the mercy of Menards’ extended warranty or finding a tech willing to work on a “house brand.” Most parts are standard Midea, but they’re not stocked at every appliance parts house like GE or Whirlpool. I bought the 5-year SquareTrade plan for $69 just for peace of mind.
- Plastic Components Feel Budget (Because They Are) The door bins and shelf trims are thinner plastic than a $1,200 Frigidaire. I’ve cracked one bin by slamming a frozen turkey into it too hard. Lesson learned — treat them with medium aggressiveness, not Hulk-level force, and they’re fine.
- Shipping Damage Happens More Often Than It Should Because they’re shipped by the pallet load to stores, dents and scratches are fairly common. Out of the five people I know with one (including me), three had minor cosmetic damage on delivery. Menards is amazing about exchanges, but inspect it in the store or on delivery day.
- No Fancy Features Like Soft-Close Doors or Wi-Fi You won’t get door-open chime tones, app control, or turbo freeze modes. It’s analog-simple in a lot of ways. If you want your freezer to text you, look elsewhere (and prepare to spend triple).
- Limited Model Range Right now you’re basically choosing between 6.6, 10, 13-14, 17, and 21 cu. ft. — almost all white, almost all basic handles. No stainless, no black, no counter-depth, no 25+ cu. ft. monsters. If you need something very specific, you might be out of luck.
- Coil Location Makes Deep Cleaning Slightly Annoying The condenser coils are on the bottom back with a kick-plate cover. Vacuuming them twice a year requires lying on the floor or tipping the unit slightly. Not hard, just less convenient than side-vented premium models.
- Door Can Sag Over Time If You Hang Heavy Stuff Constantly I overloaded the door bins with gallons of ice cream for a year straight and noticed the door started dragging a tiny bit. Tightened the hinges with a socket wrench (10 minutes) and it’s been perfect again. Easy fix, but something the heavier-duty brands rarely need
These aren’t deal-breakers for me — the savings far outweigh them — but good to know going in.
Also Read: Alternatives To Whirlpool Sidekick.
Keeping Your Criterion Upright Freezer Running Like New
You want this thing to last 12-15 years or more, right? Here’s exactly what I do to keep mine humming perfectly.
- Clean the Door Gasket Monthly → Wipe the rubber seal with warm soapy water, then dry thoroughly. I use a toothbrush for the creases. This prevents air leaks that make the compressor work harder and cause frost.
- Vacuum the Condenser Coils Twice a Year → Pull the freezer away from the wall (it’s on wheels — easy), unplug, and vacuum the back coils. Dust buildup is the #1 killer of efficiency. Takes 10 minutes, saves you money long-term.
- Level It Properly → Use a bubble level on top. If it’s off-kilter, the door won’t seal right and you’ll get ice buildup. Adjust the front feet until perfect.
- Don’t Overload Right Away → Let it run empty for 24 hours after setup, then add room-temperature food in batches. Slamming it full of warm food stresses the compressor.
- Keep It 75% Full for Best Efficiency → Empty freezers work harder. I keep a few gallon jugs of water frozen as “thermal mass” when it’s light.
- Defrost Manual Models Before Frost Gets Thick → If yours is manual-defrost, unplug when frost is 1/4 inch, empty it, and let melt into towels. Never chip ice — you’ll puncture coils.
- Check Temperature Regularly → I keep a cheap freezer thermometer inside. Should stay 0°F or colder. The built-in alarm helps, but double-checking gives peace of mind.
- Leave Space Around It → At least 2-3 inches on sides and back for airflow. My garage gets hot — this keeps it from overheating.
Follow these and you’ll avoid 90% of problems I see people complain about online.
How Criterion Stacks Up Against Other Popular Brands?
- Criterion Vs. GE Upright Freezers
GE makes rock-solid freezers — everyone knows that. Their Garage-Ready models are legends for reliability. But here’s the thing: my Criterion performs almost identically day-to-day, yet cost me $400 less than a similar-sized GE. GE has slightly better shelf quality and more widespread service, but if you’re not abusing it, Criterion holds its own beautifully.
- Criterion vs. Frigidaire Upright Freezers
Frigidaire dominates the upright market with their EvenTemp cooling and Power Outage Assurance. They’re fantastic — I’ve owned one before. The difference? You pay premium for the name. My Criterion keeps just as even temperatures in my testing (I used a digital probe), and the convertible feature beats most Frigidaire models that don’t have it.
- Criterion vs. Whirlpool/Maytag
Whirlpool owns Maytag, and they build tanks — 15+ year lifespans are common. Great warranties too. Criterion probably won’t hit quite that longevity (most budget brands top out around 10-12 years with heavy use), but for half the price? I’m okay trading a few potential years for hundreds in savings.
- Criterion Vs. Insignia (Best Buy’s Brand)
Insignia and Criterion are basically cousins — both Midea-built store brands. Performance feels identical. Criterion edges out with better garage temperature range and more convertible options. If you’re near a Menards, Criterion wins on availability and price.
Overall, if you want bulletproof longevity and don’t mind paying double the cost, go GE or Whirlpool. But for 90% of us who want reliable freezing without the markup, Criterion delivers big time.
Also Read: Is Magic Chef Freezer Worth It?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
From everything I’ve seen and experienced, GE and Whirlpool consistently top reliability surveys (Consumer Reports loves them), often lasting 15+ years. Frigidaire is right there too. Criterion, being a budget brand, lands more in the “good enough for the price” category — many owners like me get 8-12 solid years, but you see more early failures reported online.
Criterion is Menards’ exclusive house brand, manufactured primarily by Midea (a huge Chinese OEM that also builds for many big names like GE, Toshiba, and even some Whirlpool lines). Quality control is to Menards’ specs, which keeps costs low.
Absolutely, yes — if your budget matters. You get 80-90% of premium-brand performance for 50-60% of the price. Perfect for garages, basements, or second homes where you don’t need 20-year durability.
Most quality upright freezers last 12-20 years with proper care. Budget models like Criterion tend toward the lower end (10-15 years), while premium brands push higher. Mine’s going strong at year two, and I expect at least another decade.
Final Thoughts: You Won’t Regret Adding A Criterion Upright To Your Life?
After living with my Criterion upright freezer daily, I can honestly say it’s transformed how my family eats and shops. Bulk buying saves us money, meal prep saves sanity, and knowing we’ve got backup food during storms gives real security.
If you’re ready for easier organization, lower grocery bills, and reliable freezing without spending a huge price tag, do what I did — head to Menards and bring one home. You (and your future self) will be glad you did.