The best countertop freezers

Among freezers up to 85 cm high, the model from Ardesto is one of the most affordable on the market. The device can be classified as the most compact solution and is recommended even for the most cramped living conditions. So, its width is less than 45 cm, which means it will not take up much space under the countertop: it requires a niche of the same size as, say, a narrow dishwasher.

Ardesto URM-85M60 received laconic hidden handles - in the form of recesses under the top cover. It also provides reversible doors and traditional internal controls in the form of a rotary dial.

The freezer is divided into three compartments, which are represented by retractable transparent boxes of different capacities. The tallest (but least deep) is at the bottom, plus it comes with a traditional ice cube tray. The operating temperature range is quite familiar - from -16 to -24 degrees Celsius. In one day you can freeze up to 6 kg of food, which can be considered the norm for small-sized models.

Energy consumption is rated A+ with an annual rate of 195 kWh, and noise levels should not exceed a tolerable 41 dB.

The price for compactness is a small usable volume, even among low analogues - 60 liters. Another disadvantage of the device is the short time it takes to retain cold during a power outage - up to 9 hours. In any case, the Ardesto URM-85M60 is an interesting budget countertop freezer.

As for freezers up to 85 cm high, the Vestfrost brand appliance is characterized by a fairly large usable volume of 103 liters. The main competitors with the same dimensions are 10 - 15% smaller. Here you can also place several kilograms of frozen fruit or one more meat carcass.

Vestfrost CMF 103 W is very ergonomic and will easily fit into the interior of a small kitchen, as it has a hidden handle. The corresponding recesses are located at the top of the door and allow you to open the freezer without bending over.

There is a classic white and silver model on sale; in addition, related versions of other volumes (and sizes) are available, up to 227 liters for the CMF 155 W.

The layout of the model is quite standard - there are three retractable transparent boxes of the same size. You can freeze up to 4 kg of food in them per day, which is not a lot at all and should be attributed to the shortcomings of the freezer. The autonomous cooling time is stated at 16 hours, which covers most emergency power outages with a margin.

The freezer must be defrosted manually, but thanks to the Low Frost function, such procedures are often not required. The evaporator circuit is located around the perimeter of the internal walls, so temperature differences in the freezer are minimal, as is the rate of frost formation.

In terms of energy consumption, the device is not wasteful (class A+), but the noise level could be lower (up to 43 dB). If this is not a problem, then the Vestfrost CMF 103 W is a worthy freezer in the mid-price segment.

The small-sized Liebherr G 1213 freezer with the SmartFrost drip defrosting system is characterized by an even distribution of cold along the entire contour of the cabinet with minimal frost formation on the internal walls and surfaces of the products. This technology allows you to better retain cold and less frequently subject the device to scheduled defrosting. The model belongs to the Comfort family of freezer appliances and is made in the Swing design with an upper transverse door handle. For variety, the device is offered to the consumer in 2 colors - white and beige. With standard dimensions for mini-cabinets of 85x55x62 cm, the device stands out for its large usable freezer volume, amounting to 98 liters. Inside the cabinet there are 3 deep FrostSafe drawers, characterized by good tightness and a transparent front panel that gives a good overview of the contents. And the convenient VarioSpace system allows you to optimize storage space by removing containers at random to free up space for large products.

The external push-button control panel makes it possible to make all settings and control the operation of the freezer without opening the door. The panel contains 3 buttons (power on, activation of the automatic fast freezing mode SuperFrost and the settings selector), as well as a MagicEye liquid crystal display. Indicator lights display the current freezing temperature, including 5 fixed values from -15 °C to -32 °C (short-term), access to the settings menu, button lock status (child lock), temperature alarm and display brightness adjustment icon (5 steps). The freezing capacity of fresh food is 11 kg/day, and the cold retention time during an emergency power outage is 26 hours. The model corresponds to the SN-T climate class and can be operated at temperatures of +10 – +43 °C. Over the course of a year of operation, the freezer “burns up” by 190 kWh (energy consumption class A+). And the main difference between the device and related models is the ability to operate in sub-zero temperatures (down to -15 °C), which allows it to be installed in unheated rooms. The freezer is manufactured at the company's plant in Bulgaria.

The new small-sized freezer Gorenje F 492 PW from the Primary collection arrived in stores in 2021. The model, measuring 85x56x58 cm, has a useful internal volume of 86 liters and is designed for regular manual defrosting. The freezer space without internal lighting is divided into 3 compartments, each of which has freezing drawers made of transparent food-grade plastic. The only freezer door that can be hung on either side is made of painted metal and equipped with a short handle.

The device is equipped with an external mechanical rotary-type temperature controller. The average freezing capacity of 4 kg/day is not impressive, and the stated cold storage time (15 hours) when the lights are turned off is a very respectable indicator. The device is very economical and consumes only 165 kWh/year, which corresponds to energy efficiency class A++ (according to the new scale - class E). And the multi-class climatic version SN-T allows you to operate the device in the range of external temperatures from + 10 to +43 ° C. The freezer is equipped with a container for ice cubes, which will be very useful for preparing cold drinks and cocktails.

The Lithuanian mini freezer Snaige F10SM-T6002F1 is a product of 2020 and will be a good addition to a regular refrigerator in a cramped kitchen. With overall dimensions of the model 85x56x60 cm, it does not require additional space and can easily fit into the free space under the tabletop. In addition to the usual front legs, designed to adjust the tilt of the device during installation, there are additional wheels on the back to make moving the freezer easier. The model is equipped with a reversible door with a curved hinged handle. Between the top edge of the door and the cabinet visor there is a special space in which you can monitor the light signals of the power indicators (green) and critical temperature increases above -9 ° C (red). And access to the rotary temperature regulator can be obtained only by opening the door of the device.

The total capacity of the freezer, divided into 4 compartments, is 85 liters. The top compartment contains a transparent freezer container, and all other drawers are made of white opaque plastic. The minimum temperature maintained in the freezer compartment is -18 °C. The device is distinguished by its high freezing capacity of 12 kg/day and the average duration of cold food storage (17 hours) during a power outage. The freezer is designed for stable operation in conditions of relative humidity of 70% and ambient temperature from +16 °C to +43 °C (climate classes N-ST-T). And the declared noise level of 38 dB indicates a high-quality and quiet compressor, which, together with the cooling system, consumes approximately 209 kWh/year (class F). The manufacturer has established a 5-year warranty period for this model.