Freezers Buying Guide

We're here to help you buy a new freezer. We've got advice and information about all the latest freezers. We discuss the features and specifications you need to look for, and explain the environmental issues you need to think about.

Please note that this buying guide talks about freezers only - if you are interested in a fridge-freezer, please read our Fridge Freezers buying guide.

Freezers are a standard part of almost every kitchen but with a wide choice of size and style we help you to decide the best kind for your needs - whether it be for simply keeping your vodka cold or storing a range of family foods.

• What's my budget?
• Size
• Type
  • Upright
  • Chest
  • Mini
  • Integrated
• Defrost
  • Frost Free
  • Auto Frost
  • Fast Freeze
• Star rating
• Energy Efficiency Class
• Volume
• Features
  • Shelves/drawers
  • Reversible doors
  • Interior Light
  • High temperature warning system
  • Counter Balanced Lid
  • Lockable Lid
  • Bacteria Guard
• Worried about the Environment?
• What do I do with my old freezer?

What's my budget?

Prices for a basic table top freezer start from £80 with the cost of a top of the range freezer with a host of features rising to more than £2,500.

Frost free freezers (see section on defrosting) cost more with prices starting from £200.

Size

The size of the freezer you choose will depend on two things; where you are going to keep it and how much storage space you need inside it. Also try not to buy a freezer too large for your needs. A freezer which is not full is not as energy efficient.

Upright freezers generally come in a range of heights, some can fit under a kitchen counter. The standard freezer width is 60cm and depth is 62cm.

Chest freezers can vary in width from 55cm upwards.

Type

"Upright or chest" are the two main options when deciding on the type of freezer to buy and the decision needs to be made on the basis of how much freezing capacity you need.

Upright freezer

Upright freezers come in various sizes and colours so there is one for kitchens large or small.

With shelves or drawers they make it easier to organise food and access it, but they normally have less freezing capacity than a chest freezer.

Chest freezer

Although there are a number of different sizes chest freezers generally have a much greater capacity than uprights. They are therefore ideal for freezing food in bulk and storing large food items like turkeys and hams.

Although most have a number of baskets at top of the appliance it is more difficult to get to food in a chest freezer – particularly at the bottom.

Chest freezers also take up more room in a kitchen and with their top opening lids cannot have items placed on top of them.

Many people store a chest freezer in a garage – however this is not always convenient for the kitchen.

Mini freezer

If you require extra freezing space or space is at a premium, you may want consider a small and compact mini freezer.

Integrated freezer

An integrated freezer has a front panel that matches the rest of your kitchen units, so when the door is closed, the freezer will be completely hidden.

Defrost

Most modern machines will only need defrosting once a year. To help reduce the need to defrost try to avoid leaving the door open for long periods when using the freezer.

Tall models are more difficult to defrost and because of their large capacity can mean they need it done more often.

Frost free

With these freezers there's no more defrosting, emptying out, scraping off ice and mopping up puddles of water in your kitchen.

Because of the way these models work they tend to be more expensive to buy and can be a bit noisier. However they do save the effort of defrosting.

Other benefits of frost freeze freezers:

• Packages do not stick together
• Food labels are easier to read
• Operational temperatures are regulated more effectively
• Food freezes faster

Auto Frost

An alternative to frost free, auto frost automatically regulates the temperature in your fridge freezer to prevent frost build up.

Fast Freeze

A fast freeze option should be used to freeze freshly prepared or recently purchased food. It prevents the temperature in the freezer rising when warmer items are introduced into it, and helps preserve the quality of the food. Some advanced models will have automatic fast freeze which cuts in if the temperature in the freezer becomes too warm, and turns off again when food is safely frozen.

Star Rating

From 1 star* to 4 stars ****, the more stars the colder the freezer and the longer food can be stored.

Most freezers will be three or four stars which means that the majority of foods can be frozen and safely stored for up to twelve months.

Lower star ratings usually apply to ice boxes rather than freezers meaning that food can only be safely frozen for ** = one month and * = one week.

Only a 4 star rating means you can actually freeze fresh food because the temperature will drop below -18 degrees C.

Star rating	Freezer temperature	Food storage
****	-18°C or colder	Can freeze fresh food, and store food for three to 12 months
***	-18°C	Stores pre-frozen food for 3 to 12 months
**	-12°C	Stores pre-frozen food for up to a month
*	-6°C	Stores pre-frozen food for up to a week

Energy Efficiency Class

By UK law, the European Union (EU) energy efficiency label must be shown on the packaging of all freezers.

Freezers are rated "A-G" according to their energy efficiency. "A" is the best and will save you money on your electricity bill.

Classification	Evaluation
A	Optimum
B	Excellent
C	Very good
D	Good
E	Average
F	Mediocre
G	Poor

Their running costs are very often given in "kilowatts per year", which can be used to compare different models. And newer models are becoming increasingly efficient.

Freezers labeled 'energy efficiency recommended' use less energy, so reduce your energy bills and have less impact on the environment. An energy efficient product need not cost any more to buy than a less energy efficient item.

Volume

The storage capacity of a freezer (usually measured in cubic feet) gives you an idea of how much space you will have for foodstuffs. Generally chest freezers have the most space, followed by uprights, and then the smaller under-counter units.

Freezing capacity is also shown in kilograms, being an indication of the amount the freezer can freeze per 24 hours. A standard three drawer upright generally has a freezing capacity of 10-12kg, with a six drawer tall upright about 20kg.

• Size – outside dimensions are given in centimetres
• Capacity – inside measurements will be given in cubic feet. Use this figure to compare the inside space of different models. It is not always easy to tell by looking, which ones will hold the most food. Chest freezers usually range in capacity from about 3.5 to 15 cu.ft.

Features

Shelves/drawers

Upright freezers are fitted with a set of shelves and food is stored either directly on a shelf with a flap at the front to help it stay put, or in wire or bin-type drawers mounted on the shelves. The solid bin-type 'buckets' generally make a freezer a little more expensive but access to food is more convenient.

How many shelves/baskets there are and how they're situated can make a huge difference to the ease with which you can access your food, so look at these carefully.

Reversible Doors

Most upright freezers now come with the option of reversible doors allowing you more flexibility on the positioning of your freezer.

Interior Light

An obvious but handy option – particularly if your freezer is in an area with poor lighting like a garage.

High Temperature Warning System

Using either a light or an alarm to warn that the temperature inside the freezer is rising.

Counter-Balanced Lid

Prevents the lid falling shut. An option that can be found on chest freezers that makes access easier and safer especially when loaded with armfuls of food.

Lockable Lid

An option that can be found on chest freezers.

Bacteria Guard

Also known as Microban, Antibacterial Protection, Hygiene + etc., this is a system of anti-bacterial enzymes contained within the shelves and walls of some fridges and freezers which help destroy bacteria on food.

It is difficult to say just how effective these systems really are when compared with regular cleaning alone. Manufacturers claim that they can reduce levels of bacteria within the appliance by up to 75%.

Worried about the Environment?

CFC gas used to be the most common cooling agent though it is no longer used since leaks are harmful to the ozone layer. Other gases that do not interfere with the ozone layer are frequently used though these contribute to global warming instead.

An increasing number of manufacturers are using natural gases as cooling agents such as Isobutene (R600A). Natural gases are better from an environmental point of view since they have no harmful effects on neither the ozone layer or on global warming.

What do I do with my old freezer?

Freezers now have to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. An old freezer may contain CFC gases that are harmful and the unit should be destroyed accordingly.

Some suppliers will dispose of your old freezer when you buy a new one.

Alternatively, ask you local council for details of how to dispose of your an old freezer.

• Useful Links