Best Under-Counter Freezers

Among freezers up to 85 cm high, the model from Ardesto is one of the most affordable on the market. The appliance can be considered a maximally compact solution and is recommended even for the most cramped housing conditions. Its width is less than 45 cm, which means it won't take up much space under a countertop: it needs a niche the same size as, for instance, a narrow dishwasher.

The Ardesto URM-85M60 features simple concealed handles — in the form of indentations under the top cover. It also provides for door rehanging and traditional internal control in the form of a rotary regulator.

The freezer compartment is divided into three sections, which are represented by pull-out transparent boxes of varying capacity. The tallest (but least deep) is at the bottom, and the package includes a traditional ice mold. The working temperature range is quite standard — from -16 to -24 degrees Celsius. You can freeze up to 6 kg of products per day here, which can be considered the norm for small-sized models.

Energy consumption is rated A+ with an annual figure of 195 kWh, and the noise level should not exceed a bearable 41 dB.

The price for compactness is a small useful volume even among low analogs — 60 liters. Another minus of the appliance is the short-lasting cold retention time during power outages — up to 9 hours. In any case, the Ardesto URM-85M60 is an interesting budget tabletop freezer.

As for freezers up to 85 cm high, the appliance from the Vestfrost brand is characterized by a fairly large usable volume of 103 liters. Its main competitors with the same dimensions have 10 – 15% less. Here you can place a few kilograms of frozen fruits or one more meat carcass.

The Vestfrost CMF 103 W is ergonomic and easily fits into the interior of a small kitchen, as it has a concealed handle. The corresponding indentations are located at the top of the door and allow the freezer to be opened without bending down.

Available in classic white and silver, you can also find related versions of other volumes (and sizes), up to CMF 155 W with 227 liters.

The model's layout is standard — it features three pull-out transparent boxes of the same size. They can freeze up to 4 kg of products per day, which is not much and should be noted as a drawback of the freezer. The cold retention time is stated as 16 hours, which more than covers most emergency power outages.

The freezer must be manually defrosted, but thanks to the Low Frost feature — such procedures won't be needed often. The evaporator circuit is located around the perimeter of the inner walls, so temperature fluctuations in the freezer are minimal, as is the rate of frost formation.

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

The new compact freezer Gorenje F 492 PW from the Primary collection launched in stores in 2021. With dimensions of 85x56x58 cm, it 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 containing freezing bins made of transparent food-grade plastic. The only freezer door, which can be repositioned to any side, is made of painted metal and equipped with a short overlay handle.

The device is equipped with an external mechanical temperature rotary regulator. The average freezing performance at the level of 4 kg/day does not impress the imagination, and the declared cold retention time (15 h) in the event of a power outage is a very good figure. The appliance is very economical and consumes only 165 kWh/year, corresponding to the energy efficiency class A++ (on the new scale – class E). The multi-class climate execution SN-T allows the device to be operated in the ambient temperature range from +10 to +43 °C. The freezer is equipped with an ice cube tank, which will be very handy for preparing cold drinks and cocktails.

The compact freezer Liebherr G 1213 with a drop system defrosting SmartFrost is characterized by the even distribution of cold along the entire contour of the cabinet with minimal frost formation on the inner walls and the surface of products. This technology allows better cold retention and minimizes planned defrosting. The model belongs to the Comfort family of freezing equipment and is designed in the Swing style with a top cross-door handle arrangement. For diversity, the device is available to the consumer in two color options — white and beige. With standard mini-cabinet dimensions of 85x55x62 cm, the appliance stands out for its large useful freezer volume of 98 liters. Inside the cabinet are 3 deep pull-out FrostSafe baskets, which are well sealed and have a transparent front panel, offering a good view of the contents. The convenient VarioSpace system allows you to optimize storage space by removing containers to make room for oversized products.

The external button control panel allows you to make all settings and monitor the operation of the freezer without opening the door. The panel has 3 buttons (power, activation of the automatic fast freezing SuperFrost and selection settings), as well as a liquid crystal MagicEye display. Light indicators display the current freezing temperature, which includes 5 fixed values from -15 °C to -32 °C (short-term), access to the settings menu, button lock status (child protection), emergency high-temperature warning and the indication brightness setting icon (5 levels). The freezing power of fresh products is 11 kg/day, and the cold retention time in case of emergency power failure — 26 h. The model conforms to climate class SN-T and can be operated at temperatures from +10 to +43 °C. The annual energy consumption of the freezer is 190 kWh (energy class A+). The main distinctive feature of the appliance from related models is its ability to operate in sub-zero temperatures (up to -15 °C), allowing it to be set up in unheated rooms. The freezer is manufactured at the company's factory in Bulgaria.

The Lithuanian mini freezer Snaige F10SM-T6002F1 is a 2020 product and will be a good addition to a regular refrigerator in a tight kitchen. With model dimensions of 85x56x60 cm, it won't require additional space and will easily fit in the free space under the countertop. Besides the usual front legs, designed for adjusting the inclination during installation, there are additional wheels at the back, making it easier to move the freezer. The model is equipped with a reversible door with a curved overhead handle. Between the top edge of the door and the cabinet visor, there is a dedicated space allowing for the tracking of light signals from the power (green) and critical high-temperature (above -9 °C, red) indicators. Access to the rotary temperature regulator is only available by opening the appliance door.

The total capacity of the freezer chamber, divided into 4 compartments, is 85 liters. The upper compartment contains a transparent freezing container; all other bins are made of white opaque plastic. The minimum temperature maintained in the freezer is -18 °C. The device stands out for its high freezing capacity of 12 kg/day and an average cold storage time (17 h) in case of a power outage. The freezer is designed to operate stably under conditions of relative humidity 70% and air temperature between +16 °C and +43 °C (climate classes N-ST-T). And the stated noise level of 38 dB indicates a quality and quiet compressor, which together with the cooling system consumes approximately 209 kWh/year (class F). The manufacturer has set a 5-year warranty period for this model.