Types of freezers, their pros and cons

If you have a need to freeze large volumes of meat, fish, berries, vegetables and fruits, then there is a reason to buy a freezer for long-term storage of food. Manufacturers of large household appliances produce freezers in two form factors: vertical (in the form of a cabinet) and horizontal (in the form of a chest).

The vertical layout of the freezer makes it space-efficient and easily adaptable to the kitchen interior. It can also be integrated into the kitchen set and concealed using a hinged facade for a seamless look. With storage compartments stacked on top of each other, access to the contents is through a door that opens either to the left or right. Some models even offer the flexibility to switch the door's side, allowing you to install the freezer closer to a wall or furniture on either side.

The chest freezer requires more space and is challenging to integrate into the kitchen because of its top-opening design. As a result, it is typically placed separately in locations such as the pantry, basement, garage, or balcony. However, these freezers offer a significant advantage in terms of internal volume, allowing ample storage for large quantities of frozen food, including sizable catches from fishing trips or hunting.

Freezers in the form of a cabinet (left) and a chest (right).

Freezer capacity

Freezers with an internal volume of 100 — 200 L are suitable for small families, while those with 200 — 300 L are more appropriate for medium-sized families. For larger families or those who need to store significant amounts of frozen food, spacious cabinets and chest freezers with volumes exceeding 300 L are recommended. On the other hand, compact freezers with a volume of up to 100 L are ideal for individuals or households with limited space, where a full-size freezer may not be feasible.

However, in order to choose the right freezer by volume, it is necessary to take into account not only the composition of the family, but also its habits. After all, someone replenishes the supply of vegetables, meat, fish and semi-finished products more or less regularly, while others can stock up rarely, but in large volumes (a large freezer chest is better here).

Popular freezers 151 – 200 L

Compartments, drawers and shelves

Freezers are designed with careful consideration for efficient food storage, taking into account the need to separate incompatible items. They feature multiple compartments, typically in the form of shelves or removable plastic containers, to organize the internal space for convenience. Some models come with large drawers to accommodate sizable pieces of meat, poultry, or whole fish, while slim shelves are available for storing dough or meat preparations. Additionally, there are door shelves for quick access to small items like ice cream or oils. Certain freezers even have a built-in ice maker, making it convenient to produce ice cubes right within the appliance.

Having a variety of compartments, containers and boxes in freezers allows for efficient organization of food storage, preventing odors from mixing and items from interfering with each other. It also ensures quick and easy access to all contents. Smaller freezers typically come with 2 — 3 compartments, while medium-sized cabinets (with volumes of 100 — 200 L) have at least 4 — 5 shelves and drawers. On the other hand, larger-format freezers with substantial internal volumes usually boast 7 — 9 compartments.

4 Compartment Freezers

Unlike other types of freezers, chest freezers generally lack separate compartments, with only rare exceptions. Instead, the entire internal volume of the chest functions as a single unit. To organize and store the contents effectively, wire baskets, hanging trays, and partitions are used to separate different types of products within the chest freezer.

There is a lot of space inside the chest, but there are no closed compartments to separate "incompatible" products.

Freezing class and storage duration of products

The maximum storage duration for frozen food depends on the freezing class or temperature setting. At a temperature of -18 ° C, meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, and fruits can be stored without spoilage for approximately 3-6 months (butter, margarine, mushrooms, and dried herbs can be stored for up to 9 months). For longer storage needs, a freezer with a freezing temperature of -24 ° C is recommended, as it allows frozen food to be stored for up to a year.

Some freezer models boast the capability of freezing food to extremely low temperatures, such as below -24 ° C (and occasionally as low as -32 °C). Typically, this feature indicates the presence of a quick freeze mode, which is activated manually or automatically when a fresh batch of food is loaded into the freezer. After a short period of quick freezing, the freezer returns to its regular operation, maintaining a stable temperature of -18 °C, -24 °C, or any other temperature set by the user.

The cooling mode down to -32 °C is used for “shock” (quick and deep) freezing of products.

Freezing power

The performance and classification of a freezer can be determined by its freezing power, which indicates how many kilograms of food the device can fully freeze from room temperature within 24 hours. Smaller freezers typically have a capacity of less than 10 kg/day, while a range of 10-20 kg/day is considered adequate for household use. Freezers with a higher freezing capacity (over 20 kg/day) are primarily required by catering establishments or individuals, such as hunters, who bring home large game like a whole deer or wild boar.

Quick Freezers

Climate class

Refrigeration equipment, including freezers, is designed to function within specific temperature limits. Each freezer comes with a nameplate that provides various technical details, including information about the climate class. This class indicates the range of room temperatures in which the equipment can operate efficiently and reliably.

The climate class is indicated by one or two letters:

In European climates, purchasing an N-class freezer (or ST class in southern regions) is a practical choice. However, if the intention is to install the freezer in a cold room, such as a pantry or basement, an SN class freezer would be more suitable. Many modern freezer models come with a dual climate class designation, indicating extended temperature limits for operation, making them suitable for various regions worldwide. For instance, the SN-T marking means the freezer can function normally in ambient temperatures ranging from +10 °C to +43 °C. There are also outdoor freezers designed to operate in sub-zero temperatures, allowing placement in unheated and uninsulated areas like garages or balconies.

Outdoor Freezers

Manual defrost or No Frost system

In traditional freezers, a layer of frost and ice crystals gradually accumulates on the inner walls during operation, occupying valuable storage space. Manual defrosting of these freezers is required once or twice a year, involving the complete unloading of products, power shutdown, waiting for the walls to thaw, and removing ice blocks. As this process can be inconvenient, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on producing freezers equipped with the No Frost system. This system significantly reduces frost formation on the inner walls.

In the article "Educational programme on No Frost technology: principle of operation, components, pros and cons" all the features of this system are described in detail and exhaustively. But it will not be superfluous to once again highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages using the example of freezers.

Benefits of No Frost Freezers:

  • the freezer does not need to be defrosted manually;
  • there is no layer of frost and ice on the inner walls;
  • all freezer compartments are kept at the same temperature.

Disadvantages of No Frost Freezers:

  • higher price due to the presence of additional parts and assemblies in the design of the freezer;
  • less usable space with the same external dimensions of household appliances;
  • increased power consumption and more noise due to the almost constant operation of the fan that circulates air in the compartment;
  • the need to pack food in airtight containers or vacuum bags. This is because the No Frost system "dries" the air inside the freezer, which can lead to moisture being drawn out from meat, vegetables, and fruits.
A visual difference between a conventional freezer (left) and a No Frost one (right).
No Frost Freezers

Energy efficiency class

Energy consumption is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a freezer, as these appliances operate continuously throughout the year, making freezing and maintaining food cold a highly energy-intensive task. The technical specifications, nameplates, and labels of freezers provide information on the annual electricity consumption under average operating conditions and their energy efficiency class. In 2021, there was a reform in the energy labeling system, resulting in new energy efficiency class designations for all freezers sold in the European Union.

Before reform After the reform
Approximate ratio of old and new energy efficiency classes
of freezers 		A+++ D
A++ E
A+ F

The higher the letter in the alphabet indicating the energy efficiency class (or the more "pluses" after the letter A), the more advanced and economical the freezer is compared to its competitors with the same volume and temperature capabilities. Although freezers with higher grades may have a higher initial cost, it is a justified and profitable investment in the long run. Over the appliance's entire life cycle, the energy savings from a more efficient freezer can recoup the price difference within a few years due to reduced power consumption.

Inverter compressor

Inverter technology allows more flexible, smooth and precise control of electric motors in household appliances. In the context of refrigeration, it is important to know that freezers with inverter compressors:

  • consume less electricity (have E energy efficiency class or higher);
  • keep the temperature set by the user more accurately and freeze the products loaded into the compartment faster;
  • less noisy (the quietest freezers, even when operating at full power, emit noise less than 38 dB, which approximately corresponds to the volume of human speech in muffled tones);
  • operate without "shudders" with the whole body when turning the electric motor on and off;
  • last longer (a 10+ year warranty on a freezer with an inverter compressor is a common situation);
  • more expensive due to the presence of additional electronic components.

In more detail, all the advantages of this technology are described in the article "Inverter drive in household appliances: what is it, the pros and cons of inverter control".

Inverter Compressor Freezers

Other useful features

When choosing a freezer, it is also worth considering how convenient it will be to use a cabinet or chest. Therefore, in the process of selecting a freezer using our catalog, you should pay attention to the following details and functions:

Multifunctional appliances can operate in freezer or refrigerator mode, depending on the settings.

In place of a final note

Considering the information discussed earlier, we suggest beginning the process of choosing a freezer by prioritizing parameters such as overall dimensions, useful volume, and the number of compartments for food storage. After that, narrow down the selection by considering the climate class and required freezing capacity. From the remaining models, prioritize those that have lower electricity consumption. If your budget permits, it is advisable to choose inverter-controlled freezers with No Frost technology, as they have longer lifespans and require less maintenance.