What are the differences between chest freezers and upright freezers?

Today, we’ll analyze the differences between chest freezers and upright freezers from a professional perspective. We’ll conduct a detailed analysis from space utilization to energy consumption convenience and finally summarize the matters that need attention.

The differences between chest freezers and upright freezers vary among different brands. The following is an analysis from three aspects for you:

Ⅰ. Differences in Exterior Design and Space Utilization

Common chest freezers are in the shape of a cuboid and are usually placed horizontally. The door-opening methods are generally on the top or the front (top-hinged or front-opening) (in the case of having a solid door).

Its advantage is that the internal space is relatively spacious, making it very suitable for storing items that are large in volume and flat in shape. For example, large meat gift boxes, whole poultry, etc. It is widely used in supermarkets, ice cream shops, and seafood markets.

The weight also varies according to different brands’ manufacturing processes and is usually above 40KG.

Upright freezers are widely used in supermarkets, shopping malls, and households. They are in the shape of a tall and thin cuboid. The cabinet door is on the front and usually opens sideways, which is convenient for users. The internal layered design is obvious, with multiple drawer-type or shelf-type layers, enabling better classification and storage of items.

For example, different kinds of frozen foods, such as eggs and meat, can be placed in different drawers respectively. Generally, the upper layer is used for keeping vegetables fresh, and the lower layer is used for quick-freezing and storing meat.

Ⅱ. Refrigeration Effect and Temperature Distribution

When you go to buy ice cream, you’ll find that most of them use chest freezers. Since ice cream and similar items need to be kept at a low temperature for a long time, the refrigeration temperature is stable. The reason is that the opening of the freezer is on the top or the front, and the cold loss is relatively slow. When you open the cabinet door, the cold air inside it will not escape quickly and in large quantities like that in an upright freezer, so its temperature fluctuation is relatively small. This is its unique feature.

Of course, the refrigeration effect of upright freezers is also good. With the development of technology, they can also achieve the same constant temperature as chest freezers. In the early days, upright freezers had the problem of uneven temperature distribution. Now, by using the principle of magnetic field, food can be refrigerated evenly, and the efficiency has been improved by 78%.

Have you noticed that due to the characteristic that hot air flows upward, the cold air in the upright freezer is more likely to be lost every time the cabinet door is opened, resulting in a slightly larger temperature fluctuation than that of the chest freezer. However, many upright freezers are now equipped with a rapid refrigeration and a good sealing system, which can reduce this influence to a certain extent.

Ⅲ. Energy Consumption and Obvious Convenience in Use

The energy consumption of freezers is generally related to whether the door is opened frequently. Long-term opening of the door will increase energy consumption. According to the data, the energy consumption of chest freezers is higher in shopping malls. For example, there are a lot of frozen foods in chest freezers in shopping malls, and customers will take a long time to make selections. Even in some shopping malls, some chest freezer doors are left open for a long time, which will also lead to an increase in energy consumption.

To address the above problems, you can design an automatic door opening and closing function or urge employees to pay attention to this issue.

Based on the editor’s experience, the energy consumption of household upright freezers is not very high, and they are not used as frequently as in shopping malls. If it is in a shopping mall or an ice cream shop, under the same volume, the energy consumption may be slightly higher than that of chest freezers. In shopping malls, the more times the door is opened, the more cold air is lost, and the refrigeration system needs to work more frequently to restore the temperature, increasing energy consumption.

However, the use of upright freezers is more ergonomic. Users can stand upright in front of it and open the cabinet door just like using an ordinary refrigerator, easily see and take items on different layers without having to bend over or squat down, which is more convenient for the elderly or people with waist problems. In terms of functions, upright freezers will be designed with more functions to improve the user experience.

Note: Both of them have various prices, depending on multiple aspects such as brands and quality. Customers with specific needs can consider consulting suppliers.