Which freezers are better and how to choose an appliance for your home

11/16/201808/24/2019 Ivan Korabelnikov 4 comments

With the onset of summer, many housewives begin to think about purchasing an additional device for storing crops, which is a freezer. If you have a vegetable garden or garden, then this is simply a necessary equipment in the house. Agree that preservation almost completely “kills” all useful vitamins, and no one has yet come up with a way to preserve a natural product without freezing. We don’t even need to talk about farmers and simply those who like to keep chickens, rabbits, quails, pigs and other animals; it is vital for them to preserve meat.

How to choose a freezer for your home that will last a long time, save electricity, be spacious and meet all your needs? Now we'll figure it out.

Horizontal and vertical types of freezers for the home: which are better?

There are two types of this technique – horizontal and vertical. Each of them has its own advantages.

Vertical - this model is very similar in appearance to a refrigerator: the height is from 80 cm to 2 meters, depending on the height, the chamber can have from 3 to 8 compartments. These are transparent drawers, less often – shelves. If you need an option for an apartment or house with a small kitchen, this option is suitable. About 60 cm wide, the rectangular freezer will not take up much space, and drawers and compartments will make storing food as convenient as possible. You can differentiate between meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. In order to understand how to choose the right vertical freezer, you need to estimate how much food will be frozen. If you plan to store food for a family, a small chamber with a useful volume (internal volume of equipment) of 70-80 liters will be enough, but if you need a chamber for a country house or dacha, where you need to keep vegetables and fruits fresh, you need to count on freezers over 1 .5 meters. Such units have a useful volume of 200 liters. Some models can hold even 400 liters. But this is too much for storing food for a family.

Horizontal ones are also laris. This freezing technique is typical for stores. They are small in height (approximately 80 to 110 cm), their usable volume is larger, but they take up a lot of space indoors. For those who do not know how to choose the right freezer for a large home, a chest freezer is the ideal choice. The volume of the smallest chest is about 100 liters, large units are designed for 400 liters. The advantage of such a freezer is that it allows you to store large foods - pieces of beef or pork on the bone, whole fish, mushrooms and berries in large quantities. There is no need to pack food for freezing in small bags. In order to more or less differentiate between products, the chests have special baskets that can be hung on the body. The basket is convenient for storing small products that are often used. It’s logical to leave space under the basket for freezing something bulky. The disadvantage of a chest freezer is that even in the best upright freezers the food is in close proximity. There is no wall to separate fish and fruit. Therefore, at the very beginning of freezing, odors may mix. This problem can be solved with the help of zip bags, but this is not always convenient if you plan to store bulky products.

For apartment dwellers who do not intend to freeze a whole leg of lamb, you can safely choose a vertical model. All products will be as fresh as possible and free of foreign odors. For those who have a large kitchen or live in a private house with a large garden or farm, when asked which freezer would be better: vertical or horizontal, the answer is definitely horizontal. You can place meat and vegetables in it for the winter as conveniently as possible.

Advantages and disadvantages of a separate freezer

The advantages are as follows.

1. Frozen foods are healthier than canned foods because they retain all their vitamins unchanged.
2. It is convenient to stock up on meat and fish products, poultry and semi-finished products.
3. Most berries, particularly raspberries, do not lose their structure.
4. Saves effort and time - put it in the freezer and you are free.
5. There are a certain number of drawers and compartments into which it is convenient to distribute food for freezing.

The disadvantages are as follows.

1. Extra costs for both the unit itself and electricity.
2. Takes up additional space in the kitchen, especially for horizontal installations.
3. Equipment is only needed when there is surplus.
4. Products must be packaged correctly. Only in ziplock bags or plastic containers.

Choosing a freezer for your home based on defrosting method

You need to pay special attention to how such equipment is defrosted.

It is clear that modern units do not require monthly defrosting; they all work while maintaining an optimal balance of moisture and cold, so a thick layer of ice does not form on the walls. But you still have to defrost it. Otherwise, the equipment will last much less than expected, and the food will be covered with frost.

Based on the defrosting method, home freezers are divided into two types:

1. Static (manual).
2. No Frost (automatic).

With manual defrosting, the equipment should be defrosted 1-2 times a year (depending on the number of products stored in the chamber). Many models have a “defrost” function, when you turn on the button and the freezer begins to release heat inside. This way, the ice and frost melt much faster, and all that remains is to wash the chamber.

The manual system is now little used in the manufacture of freezers. But still, some manufacturers, in an effort to reduce the price of their products, use this type. Choosing such a freezer for a large house is not the best solution. If you need to store a large number of products, the ice freezes faster, therefore, the products become covered with frost and even freeze to each other. If you choose a small vertical chamber, then manual defrosting will not be a big problem.

No Frost system is a relatively new convenient technology.
If you choose a unit equipped with this system, you do not need to defrost it. With this technology, cold air constantly circulates throughout the chamber. For those who don’t know how to choose a freezer for their home so that the food in it remains as fresh as possible and does not turn into ice, you can choose models with No Frost. The moisture that is formed from the temperature difference (if you open the door, warm air passes inside) is removed from the freezing device through a special evaporator, so there is no frost on the walls. Despite the fact that this equipment does not require defrosting, you will still have to turn it off periodically (once every 1-2 years) and wash it completely. Dust and dirt accumulate on the walls, which interferes with normal operation; because of it, even the best No Frost freezers for the home, such as Nord, Indesit and Samsung, can work poorly. Therefore, you should not be lazy and periodically wash your equipment.

Compressor

All freezers are equipped with compressors - conventional or inverter. The latter are better due to higher operating efficiency and a minimum number of stops. They work much quieter, consume less electricity, and most importantly, have a longer service life by minimizing the number of starts/stops (frequent stops and starts are harmful to any motor).

Inverter compressors also have disadvantages - price and instability to voltage surges. However, voltage stabilizers have been installed in modern apartments for a long time, and surges are extremely rare even in old houses.

What are the classes of freezers?

An important factor when choosing such large equipment is how much electricity is needed for its normal functioning. All large equipment in terms of energy consumption is divided into classes, which are designated by the Latin letters A, B and C. Equipment marked A is the most economical, but also costs more, devices marked C are correspondingly the cheapest, but “draw” a lot of electricity. Modern freezers come in classes A, A+, A++ and even A+++. This means that manufacturers are constantly improving their models, and equipment is becoming more and more economical. Only a few manufacturers make class B freezing units. They are cheaper, but over the years they will cost more and more money on electricity. Class A+++ models are the most expensive on the market. But they are practically silent, consume little electricity and, as a rule, last longer. Their engine operates in economy mode, so it does not wear out as quickly. If you take a class B model, you can save now, but spend this money in a few years on electricity and repairs. Which freezer is best to choose for the home is up to the buyer to decide, but, as you know, the miser pays twice, and immediate savings can result in big expenses in a couple of years.

Control

There are several control methods:

1. Mechanical (or electromechanical) - The user sets the approximate cooling level using a mechanical rotary switch or buttons.
2. Electronic - the user can set the exact temperature value, which will be automatically maintained by the system. The digital screen of the freezer displays the current value.

When choosing a freezer, it is better to give preference to a model with electronic control, but there is nothing wrong with mechanics. Precise temperature control is not needed for your home, so a device with mechanical adjustment is quite suitable.

What climate class freezer is best to choose for your home?

Freezing units are divided into classes not only depending on the energy consumed - there is such an indicator as “Climate class”. It shows at what temperature the camera can operate. The minimum and maximum temperatures are indicated at which the equipment does not lose its normal rhythm. It is important to choose equipment with a climate class that matches the conditions in which it will operate. Here are the types of home freezers by climate class:

1. SN – works normally at temperatures from 10 C to 32 C.
2. N – minimum operating temperature – 16 C, maximum – 32 C.
3. ST – designed for work in rooms with temperatures from 18 C to 38 C.
4. T – designed specifically for hot countries. Operates at temperatures from 18 C to 43 C.

Classes SN and N are widely represented on our market, since the temperature in kitchens rarely rises above 30 C. But experts do not recommend placing the freezer near a window or directly opposite it - in summer the sun’s rays can heat the surface too much and this will affect the operation of the unit. If you decide which freezer is best to choose for a country house or cottage, you can safely rely on the ST class. Especially if you plan to install the camera in the kitchen, which is located separately from the house.

The characteristics described above are mandatory parameters that you should pay attention to when purchasing this equipment. But there are also some options that make the camera easier to control and also make it much more functional.

What functions should a freezer have?

Super freezing mode.

This function is useful for those who put a lot of fresh products into the chamber at once and want them to be as fresh as possible. For example, when freezing fresh meat or fish, every hour is important. When asked which freezer with super freezing is best to choose, experts answer - one that can cool food to a temperature of -32 C. At this temperature, meat, fruits or vegetables will be frozen in just a couple of hours, and freshness is guaranteed. Plus, if you freeze freshly caught fish, the super-freezing mode will prevent the fishy smell from mixing with other products, even if they are not divided into sections. But it should be remembered that such an “emergency” mode should be turned on for no longer than a day. The compressor does not work properly and wears out quickly.

Freezing ability.

Another parameter that is worth paying attention to in order to understand how to choose a good, reliable freezer for a private home is how many kilograms of food the unit can freeze per day. Modern manufacturers have increased the capacity of their products so much that up to 30 kg of food can be frozen per day. Small models are designed for 10-20 kg. This is enough for a family freezer, but will not be enough if you freeze a large amount of harvest. Therefore, you should pay attention to the freezing ability, but select models according to your needs, and not “chase” the highest performance.

Child protection.

Another criterion that you should pay attention to in order to decide how best to choose a freezer is child protection. This system allows you to lock the display so that the camera cannot be accidentally turned off. For example, in Liebherr freezers the “lock” is placed in such a way that the temperature in the freezer can be changed, but it cannot be raised above a certain norm, and it cannot be turned off (unless you disconnect the cord from the network). Child protection is now available in most models, but in fact it is only needed by those who have children under 10 years old or a cat who can jump on the freezer and accidentally touch the display with its paw.

Protection against voltage surges.

The most reliable modern freezers are those that have built-in protection against power surges, in other words, an uninterruptible power supply. This device helps your freezer work better. It distributes the voltage evenly, giving the camera exactly what it needs to operate. If there is not enough voltage, uninterruptible power supply systems use internal resources to maintain normal operation. If it is too high, the device will take some of it and distribute it evenly throughout the network. It is thanks to the uninterruptible power supply that the motor in the freezer will last a long time and will not burn out when the electricity is turned off and on abruptly.

Compressor.

To finally decide which freezer model is better, it is advisable to clarify which compressor is in the unit - linear or inverter.

Linear compressors operate in a very simple way. When the freezer turns on, the compressor starts working at full capacity. When the required temperature is reached, the compressor turns off. When the temperature begins to rise, the internal thermometer in the freezer detects this and the compressor turns on at full power again. Such fluctuations in operation create tension on the electrical network, the camera consumes more energy, and the motor wears out more.

The best modern models of freezers have an inverter compressor. When you turn on the freezer, the compressor starts working at full power until it reaches the desired temperature. After this, the compressor switches to a smoother mode and works to maintain the “minus”. Thanks to smooth operation, electricity is consumed very economically, and the engine and the compressor itself have additional protection against breakdowns.

Cold accumulators.

A necessary thing to keep food frozen is a cold regulator in the freezer. In order to understand which freezer will be better for your home, you need to pay attention to the presence of a cold accumulator in its configuration. The battery is an ordinary plastic box filled with a special antifreeze liquid. When the unit is disconnected from electricity, the cold accumulator will prevent the food from completely defrosting. During the heat exchange process, it will transfer cold to the products, and this will prevent them from spoiling. One such refrigeration regulator can maintain sub-zero temperatures in the box for up to 24 hours (depending on its size).

Multi-threaded freezing system.

A food cooling system that is used in almost all refrigerators, but is rarely used in the production of freezers. Such models of modern home freezers as Bosch, Milano and Siemens have it. A multi-threaded freezing system directs cold air through several channels at once, so food is frozen evenly and the temperature in the chamber drops much faster. The multi-flow system prevents some foods from turning into ice blocks and others from being slightly chilled. Of course, if the chamber has No Frost technology, it partially takes over the function of distributing cold air throughout the chamber, but multi-threaded cooling is more reliable.

Sound signals.

Before you finally decide which freezer to choose for your home, it is important to pay attention to the function of sound signals. If the door is not tightly closed, or if the settings are lost and the temperature in the chamber has risen significantly, the freezer will notify you about this with a sound. This will prevent food from unintentionally defrosting. As with multi-threaded cooling, beeps are present in almost all refrigerators, but they are much less common in freezers.

Electronic or mechanical control.

Both mechanical and electronic controls have their pros and cons. Which freezer is better to take is up to the consumer to decide, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of both systems.

Electronic - helps to more accurately set the temperature in the unit, and also shows the current temperature and humidity. With an electronic system, the superfreeze mode turns off on its own, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of the compressor.

The mechanical system is more resistant to power surges. In addition, if the freezer breaks down, it is easier to repair. While the electronic system can cause difficulties for the master.

Additional options

Quick freezing

Some manufacturers may call this option “super freezing”. On the freezer compartment, the presence of the super-freezing function is often indicated by an additional large asterisk next to the small ones, indicating the freezing class, or by the inscription SuperFrost.

When this function is activated, and it must be activated before you place food, the freezer compartment will cool the interior to a lower temperature than normal. For example, the constant temperature for your chamber is -18 degrees, and with super freezing the temperature will drop to -24. When it comes time to place food in the freezer, it will not be able to significantly increase the overall temperature in the freezer by its presence. This is especially important when you are going to freeze several kilograms at once. Secondly, flash freezing helps freeze food while preserving its integrity and maximum vitamin content.

Automatic cold storage

For electrical networks subject to frequent outages, this function is simply prescribed. If there is a power outage in the apartment, a freezer with this function will continue to maintain a negative temperature inside the chamber for several more hours. There are models that retain cold for up to 2 days.

Additional options also include such pleasant and sometimes very important parameters as:

• ice generator – making edible ice;
• possibility of reversing the door;
• child lock – locks the door and control panel;
• sound alarm for open door - if the door is open for more than 1 minute;
• sound and light alarm for temperature increase in the chamber;
• antibacterial protection - antibacterial coating or filters, ultraviolet or infrared radiation;
• freezing tray - for pre-freezing small products so that they do not freeze together.

Select the additional parameters that are most significant for you, just remember that each of them adds its own significant contribution to the cost of the freezer. Good luck with your choice!

Manufacturers of the most reliable freezers

Every responsible buyer carefully chooses which freezer will be more reliable. In this case, you also need to focus on the manufacturer. Leaders in the large household appliances market are Bosch, Siemens, Nord, Indesit and Samsung. These companies provide warranty service for 5 years or more. But don't overlook smaller manufacturers such as Gorenje, Hansa, Liebherr and Saturn. If you choose the right characteristics, you can understand which freezer will be of good quality, and choose the one you need, and its price will not be as high as that of market leaders.

How to choose the best built-in freezer for your home (with video)

A criterion that does not in any way affect the quality or performance of the unit, but is very important for the interior of the kitchen. Most manufacturers offer models that can be placed anywhere. They are standard sizes and have a neutral appearance - white, silver or beige cabinets or chests, often with rounded corners. But if all the appliances in the kitchen are built-in and covered with doors that match the kitchen furniture, then you need to take a built-in freezer. There are not many of them on the market, but the best modern built-in freezers are from manufacturers such as LIEBHERR, Zanussi and, of course, Bosch.

You should choose equipment based not on its price, but on the functions that are necessary for life. The article describes all the necessary criteria for selection. For clarity, watch a video on how to choose a freezer for your home: