How to choose freezers for the home: tips, which is the best, vertical and horizontal chest

Types of freezers

To decide which freezing device to purchase, you should know what types of freezers exist. There are 2 types of products on the modern market.

Horizontal. Such freezers are also called chests. The chest chamber looks like a horizontal box with a lid installed on top. It can have the following dimensions: height in the range of 78 - 100 cm, width in the range of 48 - 190 cm, depth in the range of 50 - 80 cm. Useful volume can range from 90 to 670 liters.
Vertical. Externally they look like a regular refrigerator. In terms of dimensions, the product can be as follows: height from 49.5 cm to 210 cm, width from 40 to 140 cm, depth from 46 to 80 cm. The useful volume of such chambers ranges from 28 to 450 liters.

Before choosing a freezer for your home, decide on the location in which it will be installed. After this, using the measurement results, you can select a device that is suitable in size.

Freezer defrosting system

You can also select household freezers based on their defrosting system. It doesn’t matter where the freezer will be used: at home, in the country, in the office or in business, the main thing is how convenient it is to use and easy to clean. Modern freezers (cabinets and chests) are available with manual defrosting or with an automatic No Frost defrosting system.

When defrosting manually, the ice needs to be thawed independently, and when defrosting No Frost, the device itself gradually regulates the process of thawing and condensation. Devices with No Frost are more expensive in price, but more practical to use: they save time and carefully defrost equipment. Even so, freezers with No Frost also require maintenance 1-2 times a year. They need to be defrosted manually and wiped inside and outside for further stable operation. Manual defrosting of the freezer should be carried out at least 3-4 times a year, and with a constant full load, up to 5-6 times.

Choose: freezer or chest

So, there are two main options on the freezing equipment market: chamber and chest. They have the same function, but there are some differences. Let's think about what to prefer.

Boxes with horizontal lids usually operate in only one mode. Vertical chambers with isolated compartments allow you to change individual settings for each section.
The camera is less energy efficient. But the height of the shelves inside varies, which contributes to a more rational distribution of products inside.
Cameras make more noise, especially if you set the operating mode to maximum.
A chest costs less, and it is also a more compact option; finding a place for it will not be difficult.

Everyone chooses the optimal solution for themselves. We also note that laris have recently become more popular among buyers.

Additional functions of freezers

A freezer is a rather serious device, so when selecting the right unit for home use, do not forget to take into account :

The freezer must have a battery. With it, equipment will be able to work autonomously, and even in the absence of electricity will continue to produce cold. Useful in conditions where power is cut off for a long time. Please note that different models, depending on the price, can continue to work autonomously for up to 30 hours.
The child lock will help you lock the freezer control panel. By activating such a program, you don’t have to worry about your children switching the temperature or changing the operating program of the unit while playing. Also, you will not be able to disrupt the program by accidentally touching the freezer.
A light or sound alert will let the owner know when the refrigerator door has been left open for too long. This will prevent warm air from entering the chamber and changing the temperature maintained there.
The removable door will allow you to install the camera in a place convenient for you - for example, if it is convenient for you to have the device’s door open on the right rather than on the left, you can simply move it to the other side.
If you like to make cooling cocktails or simply drink iced tea, choose a model with a built-in ice maker. In some models, the device can connect directly to the water supply and freeze ice cubes as needed.

Climate classes

The climate class determines the power level and temperature regime of the freezing system. There is a low temperature and medium temperature option. When deep freezing is required, it is worth using a low-temperature chamber with a range of 45° -10°C. This effect guarantees long-term storage. For short-term freezing, a medium-temperature chest freezer is more suitable. They are often used in food production. The temperature range here is -10°/+10°C.

The climate class plays an important role when choosing equipment. You should choose it based on the humidity and air temperature in the room where the chest will be located. There is the following classification.

The “normal” class (designation – N) includes models operating in rooms with a temperature range of +16°/+32°C.
For halls where the air temperature ranges from +10° to +32°, chests from the “subnormal” class (SN marking) are suitable.
There are also “suptropical” class (ST) freezing units, designed for temperatures of +18°/+38°C.
The fourth, “tropical” (T) class includes models that can operate safely at +18°/+43°C.

If you place the chest in a place where the air temperature is higher than recommended, it will still function. However, this may negatively affect service life.

When the climate class does not match the actual environmental conditions, excessive condensation occurs and the freezer operates at its maximum capacity.

How to choose the right kitchen appliances

Before buying a freezer, decide where you will install it

First you need to decide what capacity the camera should be. If only seasonal vegetables and fruits are frozen in it, then a volume of up to 100 liters will be sufficient for a small family. To store a large supply of semi-finished products and ready-made food, it is better to choose a container of 200-300 liters.

When choosing a device, you should consider the defrosting method. Freezers with the No Frost function do not need regular defrosting. They have a built-in fan that ensures constant circulation of cold air. Frost collects on the evaporator, hidden from view, which heats up after the fan stops. The resulting water flows into the pan and evaporates. This freezer function prevents food from freezing. Unfortunately, they lose moisture and dry out.

The built-in freezer will help hide equipment behind the facades

Video about choosing a freezer - expert advice

How to choose a freezer - expert advice:

Additional functions

Freezers may have additional functions. Therefore, you should think in advance about how and for what purpose the device will be used, so as not to overpay for unused options.

The super freeze feature instantly cools food using the full power of the processor. This mode should be turned on several hours before direct freezing. The temperature in the chamber must first drop.

Quick freezing helps preserve vitamins and minerals in foods as much as possible. But this option requires additional electrical energy. And the compressor wears out faster due to continuous load.

It is important to take into account such a parameter as the camera’s ability to maintain temperature when the power is turned off. Special batteries in the form of plastic containers with a special liquid inside save cold. It cools and warms up slowly, giving off heat to the freezer for a long time.

Additional features that you can consider when purchasing a device:

protection against power surges, which is very good for safety in the kitchen;
antibacterial coating;
carbon filter for air purification;
sound and light signal about an open door;
child locking of electronic control keys and others.

I really want to pamper myself during Lent. An interesting recipe for lean pancakes made from zucchini and apples. Advice? Freeze the zucchini in advance.

Click to enlarge

Energy efficiency and volume

The energy efficiency of freezers is influenced by many factors, from volume to ambient temperature conditions and the quality of thermal insulation. Today, manufacturers of freezing systems offer various options for the internal volume of chambers (up to 600 l).

The volume should be selected based on individual needs. So, for owners of country houses where they have their own vegetable garden, a lake or a forest nearby (which means the “freezer” will not be empty), a chest of 300 liters or more is suitable. For city dwellers who simply want to always have a certain supply of frozen meat and vegetables on hand, more compact models are also suitable. According to reviews, the average family will need a product with a volume of 150 to 250 liters to store meat and fruit and vegetable preparations.

The chest freezer of each climate class has a corresponding energy consumption. In one month, these figures seem insignificant, but the camera works smoothly, and over the course of a year a significant amount has already accumulated. That's why it makes sense to choose the option with the lowest energy consumption. This technique has a standard marking: A, A++.

Horizontal freezer: advantages

If we talk about the appearance of the horizontal camera, then it is elongated and opens upward. Freezer volumes vary greatly, but in general they are larger than upright freezers. The “insides” of the chest are presented in the form of lattice boxes with vertical partitions, dividing the freezer into compartments.

The advantages of the chest include:

Greater capacity.
Mobility. A horizontal freezer is similar to a portable cellar, which can be installed not only in an apartment, but also on a balcony or loggia.
Economical. Due to the fact that the chest has a specific design and good thermal insulation, it keeps the cold much longer than a vertical freezer.

Horizontal freezer is perfect for narrow but long spaces

It should be added that on the shelves you can find a freezer and a refrigerator, which, despite the fact that they stand separately, are made in the same style. We must pay tribute to the manufacturers who think through all the details. After all, if the kitchen is spacious, then the cameras can be connected and placed together, and if there is not enough space, then place them in different places.

The best chests include the Gorenje FH 40 IAW brand. This is a spacious chamber with a volume of up to 38 liters. It has electronic control and has a tropical and subtropical class, which allows not only to include it in home life, but also to use it in country conditions.

Refrigerants

Special substances called refrigerants allow maintaining a low temperature in a freezing unit. There are two main types that manufacturers use today. Thus, R134a has been used for more than 20 years; this agent is found in the vast majority of domestically produced freezers. In terms of operation, it is cheaper, however, R134a is not as effective and less environmentally friendly than the R600a agent.

In the event of improper disposal of a domestic freezer or a freon leak, human health will not be affected, but the harm to the environment is obvious. The compressor with R600a is highly economical and quieter. It is completely harmless, but in the event of a breakdown, costs cannot be avoided.

Design

Manufacturers do not pay much attention to the appearance of freezing containers; they look rather monotonous. The main options are:

model with a metal lid;
with stainless steel lid;
option with transparent lid.

The latter type is intended more for supermarkets, as it allows you to clearly see the contents. The main materials used for the manufacture of cooling equipment are plastic, glass, stainless steel and painted metal.

Glass lid - option for stores

Extra options

Before choosing a freezer, after looking at the instructions in the store, you may come across some interesting functions that you need to have at least a little idea about. Therefore, so that you do not worry about how to choose the right modern and convenient freezing unit, we will provide a breakdown of the most common options.

Extra freezing

This option is useful if you plan to frequently add new products to the product for storage . When the door is opened, and when warm products are placed inside the unit, the temperature inside the unit inevitably increases, which affects the quality of the frozen contents. To avoid this, some time before the unit is replenished with food, the fast freezing mode is turned on, and when the door is opened, a critical increase in temperature does not occur.

Control system

The operation of the freezing product can be adjusted using manual or electromechanical control. With manual control, all modes, including temperature, are set using regulators. With the help of the latter, it is difficult to achieve precise settings when setting up equipment; you can only set approximate values of the modes.

With electromechanical control, the user can set precise values for all parameters, such as humidity and temperature. This is done using the buttons located on the control panel, and the set values can be observed on the social LCD display.

Automatic cold storage

This function is indispensable if you often have power outages. The effect of maintaining a negative temperature is achieved due to cold accumulators, which were previously placed in the product chamber . In a situation where there is a power outage, the freezer is able to keep the cold, preventing food from melting, for 2 days. In this case, the dimensions of the device with the “Auto-save cold” function do not matter.

Batteries are freely available and can be purchased later.

Defrosting

Few people want to deal with defrosting the camera and freeing it from frozen ice. Listen to the advice of advanced users: when choosing a freezer, take a closer look at products that have the No Frost function. This technology prevents frost from forming inside the device, and you will only need to turn it off occasionally to wash it.

But there is one drawback to such products: due to the use of dry freezing, some products may dehydrate (dry out). The problem is solved by placing all the products you choose for storage in airtight packaging, or wrapping them in cling film.

What to look for when choosing technology?

The choice of freezer and, accordingly, its characteristics will depend on the personal preferences and needs of the user. For example, characteristics such as freezer volume, load type, and freezing class may vary. Don't forget about the additional features that some models can offer.

Volume

It is this indicator that determines how many products you can load into the freezer at the same time. The volume of such equipment can be very different: from 60 to 400 liters, depending on the purpose of using the unit. Do not forget that the larger the equipment, the more electricity it consumes.

Work power

This parameter depends on several factors: the volume of the freezer compartment, the type of compressor and the quality of the heat-insulating material of the unit. There are three power classes in total:

minimal - implies freezing from 4 to 9 kilograms of food per day;
average - from 10 to 19 kilograms;
maximum - from 20 to 35 kilograms.

Reference! If you have to purchase products frequently, but in smaller quantities, we recommend paying attention to the minimum or medium power class. Otherwise, it is better to choose the maximum class.

Defrost type

There are only two types of defrosting here. It is manual and automatic. A sign that defrosting the freezer does not require human intervention is the No Frost function.

Control

There are three types of control:

Electronic - involves fine-tuning the equipment. Equipment with this type of control is equipped with indicators and a touch display, through which the settings are carried out.
Electromechanical is the most reliable. It involves control from a thermostat, but with the ability to set more precise settings.
Mechanical - control is carried out only using rotary switches. Fine tuning is impossible, but the cost of such equipment is significantly lower.

Freezing class

You can often see asterisks in the descriptions of freezers. These signs indicate to which freezing class the equipment belongs. The shelf life of the product also depends on it.

* means that the minimum cooling temperature is -6 degrees Celsius. The shelf life of products that are subjected to such freezing does not exceed one week.
** — the minimum temperature is -12 degrees Celsius, the shelf life of products is up to four weeks.
*** — the minimum temperature is -18 degrees Celsius, the shelf life of products does not exceed three months.
**** - the minimum temperature for cooling products is -24 degrees Celsius. The maximum shelf life reaches one year.

Energy class

The energy consumption class shows the ratio of the actual costs of the device to the nominal. There are 9 classes in total:

A+++ - energy efficiency index is 22.
A++ - energy efficiency index ranges from 22 to 33.
A+ - from 32 to 42.
A - from 42 to 55.
B - from 55 to 75.
From C to G. It is almost impossible to find equipment with such classes now, since its use is not rational.

Additional functions

These include:

An ice maker is a device that forms ice without human intervention. All that is required of a person is to pour water into the designated tank.
Low Frost is an evaporator function that minimizes sudden temperature changes, which reduces the likelihood of ice formation.
Stop Frost is a system for easier defrosting of the freezer. Thanks to it, all accumulated moisture settles on the plate. There it turns into ice, which is not difficult to remove.
Super freezing is a special mode in which the temperature in the chamber drops below -24 degrees. You can enable this function for no more than one day, since uninterrupted operation of the compressor significantly reduces the service life of the freezer.
Air purification system.
Signal about chamber leakage.
Possibility of reversing the door on the opposite side.

Cost of the device

The size of freezers has a major impact on pricing. Therefore, it is worth choosing a unit that meets your needs and not chasing excessive internal volumes.

Budget options for freezers that have a standard set of functions will cost around 16-20 thousand rubles. Such models of devices are very popular among the bulk of the urban population.
The average price category of freezers includes devices whose cost ranges from 23 to 30 thousand rubles. They are already larger in size than the budget models described above and are designed for large families.
The most expensive and “sophisticated” ones include products whose cost exceeds 40 thousand rubles. They have a beautiful design, a maximum number of functions and many different improvements designed to make the operation of refrigeration equipment more comfortable.

Top 9 best freezers

Best Budget Freezers

Biryusa 115KH

The Biryusa 115KX freezer is more of a chest freezer than a chamber. It is quite economical and consumes no more than 219 kWh/year.

This freezer is surprisingly spacious (102 liters) for its small dimensions (56.5x52.3x85 cm). It is quite light (only 23 kg), and the maximum cooling inside the chamber reaches -18°.

This model has two disadvantages: manual defrosting and the smell of plastic inside. But for the convenience of the first, there is a drain plug at the bottom, and the second disappears over time. The Biryusa 115KX freezer in the price category up to 8,500 rubles can be called the best budget freezer.

Price: ₽ 8,090

ATLANT M 7402-100

The ATLANT M 7402-100 freezer, with almost identical dimensions, is inferior in internal volume to the Biryusa 115KX (only 85 l), but is much more economical - 177 kWh/year (class A+).

This model autonomously retains cold for up to 10 hours, which is important during power outages. You also need to defrost it manually, but due to the vertical position of the door, it is not at all difficult to clear the frost.

The noise level of the ATLANT M 7402-100 freezer is quite low (only 42 dB), and if it were a little more spacious and cheaper than 11,000 rubles, it could be considered the best budget freezer.

Price: ₽ 10,690

Bomann GB388

The advantage (or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it) of the Bomann GB388 freezer is that it is very small (volume 30 liters, weight 16 kg), although it costs about 12,000 rubles.

In terms of efficiency (117 kWh/year - class A++) and noise level (40 dB), this model is definitely better than its competitors, and it autonomously retains cold for about 12 hours.

The Bomann GB388 freezer would be the best budget freezer, but in addition to its small volume, it is also not the best in terms of freezing power (3 kg/day). Therefore, Bomann GB388 is only in third place.

Price: RUB 11,880

The best freezers in the mid-price category

Biryusa 260VK

The Biryusa 260VK freezer, like many chest freezers from this manufacturer, is equipped with a drain hole for easy defrosting. This is a good bonus to its price - about 12,500 rubles.

The model is spacious (217 liters) and not very noisy (about 45 dB). Due to its rather large dimensions (93.5×66.5×81.4 cm), it is not very convenient to place it in the kitchen, but it is quite suitable for a balcony or loggia.

An additional advantage to the price/quality ratio of the Biryusa 260VK is the non-standard warranty period (730 days), which makes it one of the best freezers in this category.

Price: RUB 12,690

ATLANT M 7184-003

The ATLANT M 7184-003 freezer has a super-freezing function, which makes it more attractive for its price of 16,500 rubles.

In terms of energy consumption, this model is class A (341 kWh/year), with a freezing capacity of up to 20 kg/day. Manual defrosting could be considered a disadvantage, but this freezer only needs it once a year.

A slight drawback of the ATLANT M 7184-003 freezer can be considered the somewhat flimsy doors of the upper compartments, but the low noise level (42 dB) and the traditional reliability of the manufacturer make it one of the best freezers in the mid-price category.

Price: RUB 16,490

Indesit SFR 167 NF

The Indesit SFR 167 NF freezer is more expensive than its competitors (about 26,000 rubles), but it is the only one of them that has a No Frost system.

Perhaps the only drawback of this model is its high energy consumption (536 kWh/year - class D), however, this is compensated by powerful freezing (more than 20 kg/day). In addition, despite its large volume (220 l), it is quite compact - 60x67x167 cm.

The Indesit SFR 167 NF freezer is a little noisier than other contenders (46 dB), but this difference is almost unnoticeable, which allows it to be considered the best freezer in the mid-price category.

Price: RUB 22,490

The best premium freezers

Liebherr GNPes 4355

For freezers of such a class as the Liebherr GNPes 4355, the No Frost system is the norm, and this model also impresses with its super-efficiency - class A+++ (168 kWh/year).

A nice feature of this freezer is the sound alarm, both when the temperature rises and when the door is open. It is almost silent (38 dB), and very powerful - up to 18 kg/day.

A small drawback of the Liebherr GNPes 4355 freezer is that the touch control panel is located inside and not outside, but at a price of 80,000 rubles it can be considered the best premium freezer.

Price: RUB 79,990

Bosch GSN36VW21R

The Bosch GSN36VW21R freezer is slightly smaller (237 l) and slightly noisier than its competitor (42 dB), but costs almost the same - 74,000 rubles.

This model is capable of autonomously maintaining cold for 20 hours, and freezes up to 20 kg of food per day. Moreover, this can be done with the super freezing function.

An additional advantage of the Bosch GSN36VW21R freezer is the ability to hang the door, but the disadvantage is that there is no open chamber alarm. And yet, given the traditional Bosch quality, this model can be called one of the best premium freezers.

Price: RUB 73,990

HIBERG VFR-250D NFX

The HIBERG VFR-250D NFX freezer is inferior to its competitors, both in terms of freezing power (15 kg/day) and energy consumption (291 kWh/year), but it is also cheaper - about 57,000 rubles.

The model is not noisy (40 dB) and has sufficient capacity (227 l). It is quite compact (59.5x63.2x172.2 cm) and has a good design.

The disadvantages of the HIBERG VFR-250D NFX freezer include the lack of an alarm on this model. Not a big deal, but it kept this freezer in third place among the best premium freezers.

Price: ₽ 56,400