Choosing a freezer: cabinet or chest

Chest freezer or cabinet: features, advantages and disadvantages

The fact is that both chest freezers and freezers are presented in a large number of different models that are suitable for both business and home. However, it is worth understanding their main advantages and disadvantages in order to decide what is better in a particular case.

Chest freezer

The chest is a horizontal single-chamber device. Typically, such a unit has a large internal displacement. At the top of the chest you can attach special baskets for convenient placement of products. The lower part of the freezer is designed for storing large products.

Advantages

• Large chamber volume. Allows you to load a large number of products.
• Horizontal loading. Reduces condensation formation and keeps the device cool.
• Thermal insulation. Due to the fact that the lid is located on top, it presses the seal under its weight, which creates a good seal.
• Electricity. It consumes a small amount of electricity, since it has only one chamber and additional systems that require additional energy to operate are less often installed in chests.

Flaws

• They occupy a significant area due to horizontal placement.
• Designed for long-term storage of products. This reduces the possibility of storing small-piece products.
• There is no specific storage system. Despite the presence of upper drawers, all the products are piled up (especially in the lower part). Even the boxes don’t help the situation much, since they either don’t hold many pieces, or they are too deep and everything is piled on top of each other.

Freezers

Freezers are very similar in appearance to refrigerators. They even have a large number of different functions, systems and capabilities that housewives are accustomed to seeing in ordinary household refrigerators.

Advantages

• Occupy a small amount of space. Thanks to the horizontal type of installation, they do not take up much space, and they can also be built into the kitchen wall.
• Convenient loading. Thanks to the presence of shelves, drawers, containers (and in some models even special cells), products can be conveniently laid out in such a way that each of them will be accessible, without having to remove other products.
• Designed for everyday use. The freezer door is not heavy and is designed to be opened quite often. Therefore, it is convenient to store small-piece products in such a unit.
• Two compressors. Depending on the ambient temperature and the amount of food, the cabinet automatically turns on one or both compressors.

Flaws

• Due to vertical loading, moisture accumulates and frost forms.
• The density of the elastic band. Over time, its density decreases, which reduces the fit of the door. The worse the door is attracted to the device chamber, the more frost forms inside.
• Electricity consumption. The freezer consumes more electricity due to the presence of two compressors, as well as additional systems (such as No Frost, etc.).

Camera - cabinet

Outwardly it resembles a familiar refrigerator , that is, it has a vertical loading . Inside there are several shelves, drawers, and lattice baskets for storing and freezing food. The device can be two-chamber or single-chamber, and depending on this, have one or two compressors, each regulating the temperature in its own compartment.

The volume of the cabinet is from 100 to 300 liters, and in industrial models it can be much larger. Freezing capacity 2 – 30 kg per day.

The front walls may or may not be transparent. Loading products is easy and simple: each type should have a separate shelf, which will help you quickly navigate the installation.

Do not think that freezers are used only in private homes and apartments. They are readily used for storing food in the catering industry, grocery stores and offices. Particularly popular in recent years are models with glass doors, which serve not only for storing products, but also for displaying and advertising them.

comparison table

Imported or Russian - what to choose

Which equipment to choose - Russian or imported? The options are compared based on a number of parameters discussed above. The advantage of domestic analogues is their low price and decent quality. Having reviewed competitors and analyzed demand, we will highlight the leaders:

• "Snow." Low cost and high level of reliability. Plus - all models have wheels for comfortable movement. Maintain performance characteristics in sub-zero weather and in hot weather.
• "Liebher." The high cost of German chests is justified by their enviable functionality. The costs will be recouped due to high energy efficiency. The asset is high quality, comfortable use and good capacity.
• Frostor. A domestic manufacturer offers a compact chest. Attractive price, light weight. The model is equipped with a glass lid and metal baskets for food. 12…-25°C – operating temperatures.
• Polair. An example of high-quality Russian production. Transparent lid with curved glass. Suitable for any purpose - domestic or commercial.

What to choose for your home: freezer or chest?

You should choose based on the needs of a particular family. In addition, you should carefully study each model you like.

Reference! But in general, it is worth noting that a freezer is more convenient for storing and freezing food at home.

Capacity

For home use, models with a volume of up to 300 liters will be sufficient. You can purchase a device of smaller volume. For example, if only fruits/vegetables are frozen, then it is better to choose small models with a volume of up to 100 liters. If your family often freezes semi-finished products, then you should pay attention to models with a volume of about 150 liters. And for freezing various meats, it is better to choose devices up to 300 liters.

Large freezers (with a volume of 500 liters or more) should not be purchased for home use, since even for the largest family it will be problematic to fully load such a model, and the energy consumption will be significant.

Built-in or free-standing

In this case, you should choose based on the interior design and the possibility of placing the device. In addition, only freezer cabinets can be built in; you will have to find a place for chests.

Autonomous cold storage

Some devices are able to remain cold for some time after being disconnected from the network. Therefore, it is important to consider such a feature in cases where frequent power failures occur.

Super freezing - is it necessary or not?

This feature is available in some freezers to quickly freeze large items without damaging the food's internal structure. Super freezing is necessary in case of long-term storage, so it is worth deciding whether it makes sense to overpay for an additional function.

Electricity consumption

The devices use consumption classes C, B, A, A+, A++, A+++. The least economical devices of classes C and B, it is not recommended to install them at home.

Control system - electronic or electro-mechanical

And although in some devices you can still find a completely mechanical control system, it is becoming less and less relevant. Many manufacturers install mechanical buttons and levers and complete the device with a display. Others make the control panel completely electronic. In principle, electromechanical control will be sufficient for home use (it allows you to set modes and temperatures quite accurately).

Important! Models with all-electric control have a significant cost.

Defrosting method: with or without “No Frost”

There are freezers that defrost manually. To do this, you need to turn off the freezer on a regular basis, wait until it is completely defrosted, then rinse it, and then start it up again.

Automatic defrosting and No Frost system allow liquid to flow into a specific container and evaporate. Therefore, there is no need to turn off the device.

Freezing temperature

Marking of devices by temperature conditions is indicated by “*” with this sign. The most optimal devices are with three stars (from -18 to -24 °C), those with one or 2 stars freeze to only -12 degrees.

Power

Capacity indicates how much food the device can freeze in a certain period of time (usually an hour). It depends on the volume of the chamber. The following are considered optimal:

• devices up to 100 l – 4-5 kg;
• up to 150 l – 10-11 kg;
• up to 200 l – 16 kg.

One or two compressors?

If the device has large dimensions and a good chamber volume, then you should opt for a model with two compressors. If necessary, the device will automatically turn on/off the second compressor, but no power will be lost. For small models, one compressor is sufficient.

Examples of the best chest freezers and freezers

Based on the above nuances, it is much easier to decide between a freezer and a chest. But even with selection according to all the necessary parameters, dozens of suitable options remain. Here you can pay attention to popular manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and get acquainted with the rating of the best models of different classes over the past year.

Budget small chests made in China. Electronic control system. Reliable and roomy - 140 liters with dimensions of 75*52*85 cm and 93 liters with a width of 57 cm. Mobile, energy efficient (class A), which allows you to take them on trips. There are no additional options, excluding antibacterial coating, but this is forgivable at this price.

1. Freezer Atlant M 7402-100. The low, narrow body allows installation in small spaces. Simple mechanical control with manual defrosting. Owners note the noiselessness, strong material and low price.
2. Chest freezer Hansa FS3. The device is from a reputable German company in the mid-price category, ideal value for money. Silent. Belongs to energy efficient class A+. In case of a power outage, it retains the cold for more than a day. The control is electromechanical, clear, without unnecessary problems.

Interesting: the Hansa FS200.3 model is almost identical, the only difference besides the volume is the increased freezing capacity (from 7.5 kg/day to 10).

1. Freezer Pozis FVD-257. A distinctive feature is two cameras with independent control, which allows you to actively use one of them during low seasonal loads. Standard width 60 cm, height 168 cm. It is possible to change the door fastening to the other side. Low energy consumption, good volume of 204 liters. Noisy.

2. Chest freezer Hiberg PF 32L4 NFW. The company is young and has not yet been promoted. The quality of the equipment, its reliability and capacity do not suffer from this. Electronic control. Main advantages: high freezing power, stable operation in conditions of high humidity and temperature, refrigerator mode is maintained. There is a child lock and automatic backlight. The price is steep, but reasonable.
3. Freezer Gorenje FN 6192 PW. One of the best price-quality ratios, although some may find the cost of 45 thousand rubles too high. A decent volume, 277 liters, a width of 60 cm is standard for refrigerators and freezers, a height of 185 cm. Electronic external controls, automatic notification, LED lighting, strong glass shelves with drawers. A special plus is the No Frost system.

You may be interested in: Criteria for choosing a chest freezer for your home

The presented freezers and chests are in good demand, and shortcomings are rarely mentioned among reviews.

What to choose for business?

For commercial purposes, larger volume models should be selected. However, a chest or freezer depends on the purpose. In shops and supermarkets it is worth giving preference to display chests for displaying and storing goods. Various units can be installed in utility rooms.

For small-piece products (semi-finished products, vegetables, fruits, etc.), it is better to choose freezers. If it is necessary to store fish, meat, etc. for a long time, it is better to give preference to capacious and convenient chest freezers.

What parameters should you pay attention to when choosing

The main parameters that people pay attention to when choosing household refrigeration equipment are:

• useful internal volume (capacity);
• power;
• Energy consumption;
• freezing class;
• availability of additional functions;
• price.

Capacity

If we compare this indicator, then the chest has an advantage. The useful volume can reach 550 liters, versus 350 liters for the camera. But this advantage only makes sense if large quantities of food are to be stored for a long time. A chest with a maximum volume will take up too much space and the energy consumption will be quite significant. Usually a volume of 350 liters is enough for a family.

Power consumption

With constantly rising electricity tariffs, this indicator is important for almost every owner of household equipment. The consumption of electricity directly depends on the power of the equipment used. Chest freezers have an advantage in this regard. The design allows for the lid to open upward. According to the laws of physics, cold air masses are kept below and when the chest is opened, there is no sharp increase in temperature inside the unit.

The freezer opens like a regular refrigerator. With frequent tearing, intense mixing of air masses will occur and, therefore, additional time will be required to create an optimal regime inside the chamber, and this will lead to additional energy consumption. There is one more nuance. Modern chambers can be equipped with two compressors to regulate the temperature in individual compartments (chambers). This is also an additional energy consumption.

Control system

Each manufacturer tries to offer the consumer a unit with a practically autonomous control system over specified operating modes. It is difficult to separate different management principles. Manual, electromechanical, electronic control, one way or another, requires preliminary adjustment to the optimal mode. The only advantage of the electronic control system is the ability to view all significant parameters on the display, where you can also find information about possible problems in the operation of the equipment. Most often, an electronic control system is used in freezers.

REFERENCE! Some models have an electronic protection unit against accidental shutdown through the controls and protection against accidental switching of the cooling mode.

Power

The power indicator of the selected freezing unit is somewhat different from the generally accepted concept. Here, the power is determined by the number of products that need to be frozen, without allowing the simultaneous defrosting of the products already inside. For a volume of 100 liters, the optimal capacity is 5 kg/day. For freezers with a capacity of up to 200 liters, which are most often used in ordinary families, you should focus on a capacity of 16 kg/day.

Availability of additional functions

Most models of household freezing equipment have additional functions. Automatic defrosting of the unit allows for periodic defrosting of the chamber with simultaneous discharge of the resulting moisture. But in this case, there is a forced reduction in the useful volume of the freezer due to additionally installed equipment (No Frost).

The super freezing function is mainly used in units intended for long-term storage (chest freezers). Super freezing ensures simultaneous freezing of a large number of food items.

IMPORTANT! It should be remembered that in this case the unit operates in “emergency” mode and it is not recommended to keep the quick freezing system turned on for more than a day.

The autonomous cold storage function is designed to preserve food longer in the event of a power outage. In this case, there is an automatic switch to an autonomous power source (battery) or a device is used that is a plastic container with a liquid that has a low freezing temperature threshold. In the absence of electricity, the liquid gradually heats up, giving up its cold to the freezer, which allows for longer shelf life.

Freezing temperature

When choosing a model, buyers mainly focus on average freezing temperatures (from -18ºC to -24ºC). This is enough to create an optimal freezing and storage regime for most products.

Based on the above, we can conclude that if you need to store food for a short period and in small volumes, it would be better to purchase a freezer. If you have a large number of products and need to ensure long shelf life, choose a chest. The final decision remains with the consumer.

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Flaws

The cameras have a small usable volume. For this reason, bulky products should not be stored. Meat and fish will need to be cut and frozen into pieces. Best suited to vegetables, berries, mushrooms. Upright freezers consume more electricity.

The chest freezer has virtually no disadvantages. Freezes well and holds large items. Significant disadvantage: horizontal load. Products must be stacked on top of each other; there are no clear differences between shelves and containers. To get to a specific item at the bottom, you will have to unwrap everything at the top. Moreover, both devices require space in the apartment. However, the stand takes up more space.

Freezers

Freezers are the ideal solution if you don't have too much space to spare. They store food vertically, like a refrigerator. The doors also open like a refrigerator. The capacity of this type of freezer can even exceed 300 liters. Thanks to the transparent drawers, the products in them are easily accessible and clearly visible. An interesting solution is labeling with a description of the boxes, following it you will always know where, for example, meat, vegetables or other semi-finished products are located. The only drawback of a freezer is that you cannot store large items in it. Here are a few models worth checking out.

Freezer Beko FSA 21320 A+

The freezer compartment of the Beko FSA 21320 A+ cabinet has six drawers, which allows you to conveniently and intelligently arrange food. In this model, you can change the direction of door opening to the left or right. The door seal is antibacterial and protects the inside of the freezer from germs. Class A+ energy takes care of the natural environment and protects the budget from high energy bills. The freezer freezes food quickly and, importantly, is quiet.

Freezer Whirlpool AFB 601 AP A+

Small white freezer. I would even say that this is not a cabinet, but a freezer. The cabinet has four drawers for storing food. Cooling elements under the drawers distribute the temperature evenly. Class A+ ensures low operating costs. This model has the ability to change the direction of door opening to the appropriate side. Lightweight and quiet.

Freezer Electrolux EUF2242AOX

High-performance unit A + with 197 hp. The FastFreeze system allows you to freeze fresh food faster. This feature allows you to preserve the entire nutritional value of the product. Another function, EcoMode, allows the user to select the appropriate temperature. In critical situations, that is, when the temperature inside the device suddenly increases, there is an alarm in the form of an audible signal and a warning light. The SpacePlus intelligent system tells you what products are in the freezer.