Capacity
The total working volume of the freezer compartment. A larger volume allows for more products to be stored, but it affects the size and cost of the unit; therefore, when choosing based on this parameter, it's important not to chase maximum capacity but to consider what volume you actually need. For example, for household use, the average necessary volume is 50 liters per person; and when choosing a display freezer (see "Type"), you need to consider the number of products to be sold. More detailed recommendations for selecting the optimal volume can be found in specialized sources.
It is also worth considering that the freezer is often divided into several compartments (see below) — which means that a large volume does not necessarily guarantee that large pieces of products can fit into the device.
Hanging baskets
One or more removable baskets that are attached to the top of the freezer compartment.
Hanging baskets are made of both metal and plastic and are designed to store shallow frozen items or frequently used products that require quick access. Hanging baskets are also used to separate different types of contents.
Minimum temperature
The lowest temperature that the freezer can maintain in normal operation. First of all, the duration of food storage in the freezer depends on this parameter: it is believed that a temperature of -12 ° C is enough to preserve food for a month, -18 ° C – 3 months, -24 ° C – up to a year. At the same time, it must be taken into account that not only temperature affects the shelf life but also the type of product and its quality before freezing.
Power failure autonomy
The amount of time the freezer keeps food cold enough when the refrigeration system is turned off, for example, due to a breakdown or power outage. Technically, the power failure autonomy for each model is calculated differently; For example, for a freezer with an operating temperature of -18 ° C, this is the period during which the products in the chamber heat up from -18 ° C to -9 ° C. To sum up, the time is indicated during which the frozen products are guaranteed not to heat up to a temperature at which they could lose their properties.
Freeze capacity
One of the main indicators of freezer performance is the approximate amount of fresh food that the freezer can completely freeze from room temperature to the minimum operating temperature in 24 hours. For domestic use, a power of 10-15 kg/day is considered quite sufficient. More performant models may be required if you have to freeze a lot of food at a time or for industrial purposes.
Fast freeze
It is the forced freezing mode, in which the temperature inside the freezer is briefly reduced to -24 °C. This mode is intended for the case when you need to freeze numerous products at the same time — without a sharp decrease in temperature, the heat from numerous non-frozen products could lead to its critical increase.
Usually, the fast freeze mode must be turned on in advance — 5 to 6 hours before loading the products. Thus the freezer has time to decrease the temperature in the chamber. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the increased load on the compressor — it is impossible to turn on fast freeze for a long time. In some models, automatic shutdown of the fast freeze mode is provided. In some, it must be done manually.
Lighting
Freezer interior lighting system. This function is very helpful given that the working chamber of the unit, even with the door open, is often shaded, and it is not so easy to see its contents. The lighting usually works automatically — similar to how it is implemented in refrigerators: the light turns on when the door is opened and turns off when it is closed.
Mechanical lock
If a child lock provides for electronic locking of controls, then
mechanical lock is a lock for the door, which can be opened with a key. This solution is in high demand in chest freezers intended for non-domestic use.
Door closer
The door auto-closer is responsible for “pulling” the door when closing, and in some models also when opening. The idea is that the user does not need to close/open the door completely: pull it to the right place, and then the door will be "picked up" by the auto-closer and smoothly brought to a fully open or closed state. Such a system performs two functions. Firstly, it reduces the risk of leaving the freezer not closed. Secondly, such a device provides a very smooth opening and closing without shock. Thus it has a positive impact on the life span of the entire device.
