Thanks to 6 temperature settings, you'll be able to choose the optimal one based on the type of food you're going to store. The control panel includes a mechanical dial and LED indicators showing the current status.
The LED indicators are a bit too bright.
If you have a large family, we recommend considering this freezer with a whopping capacity of 99 litres. Also, it may be an attractive option for fishermen and hunters who need to store large cuts of meat or fish.
Chest freezer
99 litres
6 temperature settings
A+ (~160 kWh/year)
Mechanical dial
Adjustable wire basket
Manual
56.5 x 52.3 x 85 cm
1 year (4 more years for product registration)
The device boasts an energy efficiency class A ++ with low annual electricity consumption (doesn't exceed 117 kWh). That's why using this freezer will cost you less than 10 pounds per year.
The defrosting process is rather time-consuming.
If you'd like to run an additional freezer 24/7, the Klarstein Garfield Eco may be exactly what you need. With an A++ rating, it's one of the most energy-efficient freezers on the market that can help you trim your energy bills.
Upright freezer
34 litres
3 temperature settings
A++ (117 kWh/year)
Mechanical dial
Removable wire shelf
Manual
44 x 47 x 52 cm
1 year
The freezer is very easy to maintain. Defrosting takes very little time, and the water is easily drained through the special hole on the rear wall. The drawers can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
Some users find the ice tray too small.
The Russell Hobbs RHUCFZ3W is an unobtrusive appliance that can neatly fit under any standard-sized kitchen counter. It measures just 84.5 x 50.1 x 54 cm yet boasts an impressive capacity for the size.
Upright freezer
68 litres
5 temperature settings
A+ (~160 kWh/year)
Mechanical dial
3 removable drawers
Manual
50.1 x 54 x 84.5 cm
1 year (1 more year for product registration)
Due to the high-quality insulation of the walls, the device will stay at below freezing for several hours after switching off, which is especially great for the areas with frequent power outages.
The unit is a little noisy.
The Cookology black mini freezer is an ideal offering for long-term storage of food. It has a 4-star rating which means you can safely store food in it for up to 12 months. The inner temperature reaches as low as -18 degrees C.
Upright freezer
32 litres
3 temperature settings
A+ (146 kWh/year)
Mechanical dial
Removable wire shelf
Manual
47.2 x 45 x 49.2 cm
1 year
The height-adjustable feet make it possible to install the freezer on any surface. And to suit your kitchen configuration, the unit comes with a reversible door that can be opened either to the right or to the left side.
For the size, the energy consumption could be lower.
The Russell Hobbs RHTTFZ1 is a super-compact unit perfect for dorms, hotel rooms, studio apartments and other confined spaces. At just 47.2 x 45 x 49.2 cm, the freezer can be placed right on a kitchen table.
Upright freezer
32 litres
3 temperature settings
A+ (153 kWh/year)
Mechanical dial
Removable wire shelf
Manual
47.2 x 45 x 49.2 cm
1 year
Extra-Large
If you’re looking for an extra-large freezer, the Russell Hobbs company has a very attractive offering for you. This upright freezer has a generous 99-litre capacity, which is perfect for those who would like to stock up on food for a long while. Actually, it can easily fit 20 frozen microwave meals or 5 big bags plus 20 smaller ones. And with all that, it won't be full right up to the brim, leaving some space for smaller inclusions.
For neat organisation, the inside is split with a deep section on the left and a slightly raised section on the right. Also, there is a handy wire basket that can be accessed quickly and easily, so it’s ideal for storing veg bags or other frequently used items.
Despite the impressive capacity, the Russell Hobbs freezer draws only 160 kW of power and is rated as an A+ device. Also, it’s quite portable and lightweight. At 85 x 56.5 x 52.3 cm, it can be compactly stored in a shed or garage. And if you have uneven floors, the unit comes equipped with adjustable feet so that you can correctly balance it out. What we also liked is that the freezer is made all-black to easily blend in with modern interiors.
Additional Info
Last updated price | $0.00 |
Stock | May be out of stock |
ASIN | B00Q4YLVUE |
Eco-friendly Choice
Do you need a decent addition to your normal fridge or freezer? If so, we recommend that you take a closer look at the Klarstein Garfield Eco model. It’s a fantastic general-purpose freezer that can help you increase your current frozen storage without taking up much space in your kitchen. It boasts a slimline 44-cm construction while offering a reasonable amount of space inside. The gross capacity makes somewhere around 36 litres but the actual capacity is 34 litres, which should be more than enough to fit approximately two big bags of food.
When it comes to ease of use, this freezer is quite simple to install and operate. The only thing you should bear in mind is that it needs 10-12 hours to settle after delivery. Then you can choose any of 3 temperature settings to suit your needs and wait for a couple of hours before loading frozen food. All the adjustments can be done via a handy mechanical knob. And no matter what setting you choose, you can be sure that the freezer will maintain the accurate temperature owing to a nicely-insulated aluminium interior. Inside, you’ll find an ice cube maker and two spacers for neat organisation.
Lastly, we would like to stress that this small freezer is very energy efficient. The manufacturer states it uses about 117 kW/h, which equals less than £10 per year, so it’s quite cheap to run. All this makes the Klarstein Garfield Eco a good money-saving and space-saving gadget for confined spaces. It’s economical and durable.
Under-Counter Option
Those who are limited in space probably value every centimetre of their kitchen space. With that in mind, the folks behind the Russell Hobbs company have come up with a compact freezer that sits under the counter. It has a small footprint and modern design (available in white or black) that can discreetly fit under any standard-sized kitchen counter. Actually, it measures just 84.5 x 50.1 x 54 cm and boasts an impressive capacity for the size - 68 litres.
Unlike many other compact freezers with a top-loading design, the Russell Hobbs RHUCFZ3W has three freezer drawers with a door. This way, you’ll be able to get the needed foodstuff out without having to remove loads of other things first. Also, three separate drawers allow you to group food to suit your requirements. However, this design can make it a bit difficult to store extra-large items.
As a nice touch, the freezer comes with a reversible door allowing you to customise it as you wish. The box includes an informative instruction pamphlet that shows how to switch the door hinges from one side to another by yourself. All you need for that is a small spanner and an adjustable wrench. Even if you’ve never done anything similar before, you’ll be able to change the door opening direction with no extra help.
4-Star Rating Freezer
What we have here is another freezer with a multiple-shelf design for neat organization of food and easy access to it. However, what differs it from other similar models is the 4-star rating, meaning it can be used for safe long-term food storage. Actually, it reaches temperatures as low as -18 degrees C and can preserve the freshness of the contents for up to 12 months.
After unpacking and before switching this mini freezer on, you can change the door opening direction. By default, it comes with the hinge on the right-hand side, but you can reposition the hinges to the other side using a couple of screwdrivers and a spanner. After that, you can do some minor adjusting of the feet, plug it in, set the temperature, and wait a few hours for it to get frosty. No stupid electronic connectivity or whatever.
Besides the simplicity of use, the unit boasts an A+ energy rating and nearly silent operation with only periodic low humming noises. So, we can safely recommend the Cookology freestanding freezer for its quality, nice design, and good energy rating. It's suitable for long-term storage of foodstuff and owing to its multiple-shelf design, it’ll be much easier to access all the contents. Plus, since it has a classy design, it may blend beautifully into your living room, guest room, student dorm or anywhere else.
Last updated price | $0.00 |
Stock | May be out of stock |
ASIN | B0772VX3V7 |
Extra Compact
In case you’re in the market for a good micro-freezer that would be enough for one person and could fit into any confined space, the Russell Hobbs RHTTFZ1 may be exactly what you need. It’s an ultra-compact unit that measures a mere 49.2 x 47.2 x 45 centimetres and is ideal for everything from dorms and shared student houses to hotel rooms and caravans. It has a very small footprint and can easily fit on top of a counter, under the desk, under a worktop in a trailer, or in a cabinet. The only requirement is some clearance all around to let generated heat dissipate effectively. For stable placement on any surface, it has a solid rubber foot at the front and an adjustable one at the rear.
Despite such tiny dimensions, the freezer still boasts a good capacity of 32 litres. Inside, it’s fitted with two shelves with a removable drawer and a wire rack. Take note that the bottom shelf is half the depth of the top one because the electronics are housed there. So, you won’t be able to fit large stuff in it. Roughly speaking, you’ll be able to load about one loaf of bread in the bottom shelf and three loaves in the top one. That’s enough space for 1- 2 weeks worth of food.
Infographics
What is a Freezer?
A fridge is one of the must-have home appliances for every family, and as we know, most refrigerators have a freezer compartment to chill the heat-sensitive food. Yet, the freezer capacity is often too low and, therefore, many of us need more space for extra foodstuff. This is where buying a separate freezer would become an ideal solution. Small and unobtrusive, it'll provide you with some additional freezer space to stock up on some food and be ready for whatever life throws at you.
A freezer is actually a neat appliance that looks similar to a fridge and is designed for freezing meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, ice cream, etc. Freezers vary in shape, size, features, energy efficiency levels, freezer star ratings, and more. Before purchasing one, we highly recommend measuring the width and distance from the wall of where you’re going to store your new freezer. When you have these dimensions, you'll be able to narrow down the choice of models and decide how much usable storage space you need.
For this review, we have rounded up the best chest and upright freezers with different capacities to cater to any need and budget. However, if none of the reviewed models suits your needs, we advise you to read our other reviews on chest freezers and upright freezers.
What Features to Compare
Type
Type is the first point we will explore in our review. All freezers are divided into chest and upright models. The upright freezers (also known as freezing cabinets) largely resemble conventional fridges, yet unlike fridges, they feature retractable baskets. A number of shelves and baskets may vary depending on the model size. The chest models have oblong bodies and top covers opening upwards. The chest freezers are considered to be more effective than upright models thanks to a more rational arrangement of usable space and higher capacity. The chest freezers are commonly placed on balconies or loggias, though you can place you model in a cellar.
Efficiency
Let’s proceed to the efficiency of a freezer. This parameter depends on the model capacity that shows how much food you can store inside. If you are going to freeze a dab of fruit and vegetables, look for a freezer with a capacity up to 34 litres. Contrarily, those consumers who need to freeze a lot should look for the models from 40 to 80 litres, All in all, if your family is large, check for the freezers over 80 litres. Since any freezer should be plugged in all the time, the energy consumption also matters for efficiency. The energy consumption is the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed for 1 year, and the less this figure is, the less money you will spend on electricity bills. The storage period of the frozen food depends on the temperature range of the freezer, and the lower temperature is kept, the longer the food can be stored.
Usability
The usability is quite an important aspect of a freezer. The defrosting system is the very first indicator of freezer usability. If you have a model with manual defrosting, you will have to unplug and free it from food to melt icing and wash the interior once or twice a year. If you don’t want to tinker with washing, consider the models with automatic defrost. A freezer with automatic defrost features constant circulation of the cold air, so the food is kept chilled with no ice and frost. Nevertheless, such a freezer ought to be also defrosted and washed at least once a year.
The usability of a freezer depends on the number of shelves and bins. The shelves may be retractable or stationary. For maximum convenience, opt for a freezer with removable shelves to arrange the space for your needs and store bigger items. You should also consider dimensions to know how much space you would need to have your freezer installed in the needed place.
Extras
After you’ve decided on the key characteristics, make sure to check on little extras that make up for the convenience of use. They may include LED lighting, reversible doors with right or left swing, a door lock to block access off children and strangers, temperature range, controls and many more. You don’t buy freezers every year, so be sensible to get a decent one right away.
Sources:
1. How to Choose the Best Standalone Freezer, Consumer Reports. May 18, 2015.
2. Freezer Buying Guide, Lowe's.
3. Mariette Mifflin Freezers - Chest vs Upright: Which Freezer Style is Better, About Home. March 23, 2016.
4. Freezers Buying Guide, John Lewis.
5. Jeff Flowers 4 Different Types of Freezers and Their Best Uses, Compact Appliance.
6. Megan McArdle Cold, Hard Facts About Freezers, BloombergView. May 30, 2014.
7. Best Freezer Buying Guide, Consumer Reports.
8. Auto Defrost, Wikipedia. July 5, 2015.