Product type
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Freezer. A device for storing frozen food, made in the form of a cabinet with a vertically located door. Freezers are convenient because they can occupy a relatively small area with significant capacity.
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Chest freezer. A device for storing frozen food, made in the form of a chest, that is, a horizontally located box, in which the top cover acts as a door. The chest has a small height and, as a result, occupies a larger area than freezers. On the other hand, they are more convenient for storing bulky products and allow you to use the entire working volume without dividing it into boxes.
— Display chest showcase. Freezer designed for commercial use. It has a transparent top cover through which the buyer can view the product without opening the device; the same cover usually serves as a door. Display chest showcases can be seen in modern stores. They store ice cream and semi-finished products.
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Ice maker. Unlike other types of freezers, the ice maker is designed not to store food but to produce edible ice in large quantities. Such units are widely used in cafes, restaurants and bars, where chilled drinks often have to be prepared.
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Shock freezer. A shock freezer is a high-capacity freezer. Shock freezing involves the processing of products with a temperature of 30 to 50 °C below zero. At this tempe
...rature, the tissue structure freezes at the micro level. It is very important because, in the products subjected to shock freezing, the tissues are not damaged so that the products will not turn into a liquid during defrosting, and it also makes it possible to preserve the original microelement and vitamin composition in the products. Thanks to shock freezing, you can harvest any vegetables, berries, fruits, etc. After defrosting, the products will acquire the same appearance and taste properties as at the start of shock freezing. After quick and deep freezing, the low-temperature zone switches to the mode of operation of an ordinary freezer.Capacity
It is the total working capacity of the freezer. A larger capacity allows you to accommodate more products but affects the dimensions and cost of the unit. Therefore, when choosing according to this parameter, you should not chase after the maximum capacity but the capacity you really need. For example, the average required capacity is 50 litres per person. And when choosing a display chest freezer (see "Product type"), you need to take into account the number of products offered for sale.
It is also worth considering that the freezer is often divided into several compartments (see below) - which means that a large capacity does not guarantee that large pieces of food can fit in the device.
Inverter compressor
Unlike classic compressors, inverter compressors operate continuously, with the power changing depending on current needs. Freezers with
an inverter compressor are free of the main drawback - regular switching on / off, which negatively affects the durability, energy consumption and noise of the device. On the other hand, such units are quite expensive.
No Frost
No Frost system inside the freezer. A special fan provides air circulation, while moisture condenses in the frost, not in the working chamber, but in a special compartment. Periodically, the fan turns off, the frost melts, and the meltwater flows into a special tray, from which it evaporates. Such a system eliminates the need to defrost the freezer to remove frost periodically. On the other hand, it imposes special requirements on the packaging of products, since in such freezers the products dehydrate fast.
Number of compartments
it is the number of compartments provided in the design of the freezer. In some models, it is possible to set different temperatures for different compartments. It is worth noting that a large number of boxes does not always mean maximum convenience, since, with an increase in their number, the volume of each individual box inevitably decreases.
Big drawer
The presence of a larger drawer in the freezer. Such large containers allow you to store a whole turkey and other large products. It is worth noting that the concept
of a large drawer may vary depending on the manufacturer - in some cases it is quite possible that it will be comparable to a classic drawer of another model.
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.
Max. temperature
The highest temperature maintained by the freezer during normal operation. This parameter is not as important as the minimum freezing temperature, however, it allows to evaluate the optimal conditions for storing certain categories of products that do not need deep freezing. And in some cases, it shows that the freezer can
work as a refrigerator.
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.