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.
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.
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.
Energy class
The energy class shows how economical the freezer is in terms of electricity consumption. Initially, the classes were designated in Latin letters from A (most economical) to G (high power consumption). Recently, improved classes A+, A++ and A+++ appeared (the more pluses - the more economical the device).
It should be borne in mind that this indicator represents not the actual energy consumption but the efficiency of the unit compared to similar models. Therefore, a small class A freezer may have a lower power consumption than a large class A++ model. And other things being equal, a more economical device, as a rule, costs more, but this difference can quickly pay off during the operation.
Noise level
The average noise level generated by the freezer during operation. The quietest models give out about 25 - 30 dB — this is the average noise background in a residential area at night (comparable to the ticking of a wall clock); the loudest — is about 60 dB (loud conversation). More detailed comparison tables can be found in special sources.
In any case, the lower the noise level, the more comfortable the use of the unit. However, it does not always make sense to look for the
quietest freezer: in some situations (for example, in a noisy workshop), the freezer's sound may be lost against the surrounding noise background. In addition, reduced noise often affects the price.
