Conventional refrigerators include specific food storage spaces, resulting in unmet needs. The solution is definitely a freezer with large capacity in order to store quantities of food that will remain fresh.

Categories of freezers

Freezers are divided into 2 types: Horizontal (chest) and Vertical (upright).

Horizontal

The horizontal ones have the shape of a chest and are usually more economical than the vertical ones. They open from the top, require a lot of floor space due to their width, and have a single compartment with large capacity. However, organization is more difficult since there are no drawers, so the food on top needs to be removed to reach the ones at the bottom. They are suitable for placement in non-residential spaces, such as warehouses, which may have access by many people or even children, as they often have locks. Due to their construction, they are considered quieter as they do not require an additional fan and maintain cooling for a longer period of time in case of power outage.

Vertical Freezers

Vertical or upright freezers externally resemble a regular refrigerator. The door opens to the right or left according to your preference and includes shelves and drawers for better organization and easier finding of products. In this case, however, the capacity is reduced by up to 20%. Due to their shape, they pass through doors without difficulty, you can place them in many areas of the house, and there are several models available in stainless steel. For better cooling, they have a fan inside that creates noise unlike horizontal ones.

Also, you can take care to acquire an embedded or an undercounter freezer to go unnoticed and not take up much space, especially when it is limited.

Built-in freezers

A good choice for even greater space saving and beautiful kitchen layout is the built-in freezer. It can be placed under the counter or inside a cabinet to be covered and harmonized with the decoration.

Undercounter Freezers

They are small in size and are placed under the counter to be discreet in the space. If the needs are not very large, then undercounter freezers will be handy for you. They have a door in the front and do not exceed 80-82cm in height. 

Technology in Freezers

Freezers use various technologies to control temperature, preserve food, and provide timely updates to users. Some of these include:

• Automatic SuperFreezing: This technology quickly freezes food while simultaneously protecting already frozen items from defrosting.
• LowFrost: The amount of ice formation is reduced, allowing for less frequent defrosting and saving time and effort.
• No Frost: With this technology, the freezer rarely needs defrosting. The circulation of air reduces humidity, preventing ice formation and creating more storage space for food.
• Stop Frost Technology: With Stop Frost technology, ice formation is eliminated, resulting in less frequent defrosting. Additionally, this system is not pressurized when opening and closing the freezer door, allowing it to be opened immediately after closing.
• Visual and Audible Notification Technology: This is a safety system that notifies the consumer through sounds, lights, or indicators in case the temperature rises above desired levels.
• Inverter Technology: Inverter technology allows the compressor to adjust its speed according to the cooling needs, leading to greater energy efficiency.

Which freezer to choose?

Below you will find all the characteristics that are considered necessary for researching and making the final decision to purchase a freezer that will meet your needs.

1. Space: Initially, what you need to decide before purchasing is where you will place it. Will it be inside the house? Or in the warehouse, in the garage? Space is the primary characteristic for your final decision. If you want to have it in the kitchen, the best choice is an upright freezer in order to save space on the floor.

2. Noise: When it comes to buying a freezer and placing it in the kitchen, it is good to choose a quiet one. Horizontal freezers make less noise, but if you cannot have this type, then choose an upright one that does not exceed 40dB to avoid being disturbed.

3. Autonomy: Very important in case of a power outage is maintaining the cooling to protect the food. You need to know for how many hours the desired low temperature can be maintained inside the freezer. It is good in this case to avoid opening the door so as not to alter the contents.

4. Energy consumption: The higher the energy category the freezer belongs to, the more the consumer will save in energy/efficiency.

5. No Frost technology: The best choice for everyone is one that will not create further work and effort. If defrosting is not needed for a long period of time or almost not at all, then this freezer is the most suitable.

6. Magnetic doors: Magnetic doors ensure that the freezer closes tightly and thus the temperature does not rise, the food does not defrost, and their freshness is preserved.

7. Lighting: It may seem of minor importance, and yet... Proper lighting helps you find what you are looking for quickly, without delays, resulting in keeping the door open for a shorter time and maintaining the cooling inside.

8. Storage spaces: It is good to consider before purchasing the quantities you want to store in a freezer. If your needs will be met with 2 weeks' worth of food, then a small one will serve you. However, if you want to have supplies of meat brought from distant areas, then the capacity should be large and you will be satisfied with a chest freezer.

Energy class

Freezers, together with refrigerators, are among the appliances that operate nonstop all year round. Each model is classified into a different energy class based on a comparison of its annual electricity consumption, that is, how much power it uses. According to the latest guidelines of the European Union, every appliance that belongs to a broad range of product categories (dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers, televisions, refrigerators, freezers, light bulbs) must be rated on a seven-level A-G scale, where A is the best class and G the lowest.  (Details about the energy class you can see here.)

Climatic class

The climatic class of a freezer refers to the range of environmental temperatures in which it can operate effectively without consuming additional energy or losing its cooling. The table below presents the climatic class in relation to the range of temperatures.

Freezer Protection Instructions

Every household appliance includes user instructions as well as protection guidelines for longevity. It is important to remember to:

• Clean the inside of the freezer to avoid strong odors.
• Defrost it when it is not a No Frost technology.
• Clean the dust that accumulates on the metal grid at the back of the freezer to maintain its energy efficiency.
• Do not store glass bottles for a long time as they may break.
• Do not use sharp objects to remove food items.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best technology for a freezer?

The best choice for a buyer is No Frost. Defrosting is a difficult task as all the food needs to be removed, it takes hours for the ice to melt, and then the areas on the walls of the appliance need to be cleaned. This process is not only tiring, time-consuming, and dangerous as it is usually done with sharp objects to break the ice, but it also needs to be scheduled when there are not many products stored.

2. What should be the ambient temperature for the freezer to work properly?

If the temperature of the room where the freezer is located is low, it will operate more efficiently and economically. During the summer months, we usually lower the temperature to keep the food as frozen as needed.

3. How can the proper temperature of the freezer be maintained stable?

It is good to:

• Not open the door for a long time or multiple times during the day.
• Adjust the thermostat to -16 degrees Celsius.

If you want, you can use a thermometer to monitor the temperature yourself.