Best Reviewer may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
People have invented all manner of appliances to make food preparation easier, covering every aspect of the process from cutting the raw ingredients to dedicated serving utensils that allow hosts to present exactly one dish with greater ease and pomp.
The mechanization of our food supply begins from the abattoir, field, or fishing ship and continues through processing plants, storage facilities, freight containers, and so forth until your dining room table. We enjoy an ever-increasing array of dishes on a daily basis, with ingredients that were once thought prohibitively rare or expensive and cuisines from around the world.
Each stage of the supply chain utilizes its own mechanical marvels to help keep the world fed, often moving incredible quantities that require multiple companies to support a single stage. These machine systems can be the size of whole superstores and employ more people than a township population, but a common necessity among nearly every one of them is the freezer.
Freezing food at any stage keeps it almost perfectly preserved making it physically durable enough to survive long periods of storage and rough transport. Frozen goods remain usable for years and can be reconstituted in bare minutes with many appliances available in a modern kitchen. It is fair to say that the bulk of the world’s food industry relies on the freezer to keep people fed.
Naturally, kitchen supply companies are aware of this and have gone a long way to putting a freezer of some description in every kitchen. For some families, this can mean the small icebox on the top shelf of a refrigerator (itself a critical advance in kitchen supply) or a large standalone with a separate door and power supply that can hold weeks worth of groceries at once.
Private homes are far from the only places that find themselves in need of a freezer. Many shared spaces, from office break rooms to dormitories and small businesses, will need some way of keeping things frozen, either for the patrons themselves or to keep supplies fresh for customers.
While all of these places may want a freezer separate from their main refrigerator, not all of them will have the funds or space needed to support a full-size standalone freezer, let alone the quantities needed to justify it for these cases. The compromise is usually an under-counter freezer, specifically designed to keep food frozen while fitting into the spare spaces that would otherwise not have been used.
Read Related Article: Best Cool Box
Smaller under-counter freezers often provide the amount of freezer space needed without the need for a refrigeration compartment as well. While not as spacious or as strong as their larger, free-standing counterparts, they can be incredibly handy to have around. Its use is not limited for frozen storage, more often than not they can double as extra counter space too.
Under-counter freezers, like any kitchen appliance, are available in a broad range of strengths, sizes, and styles, allowing any customer to choose the ideal extra space for their specific needs. We’ve put together a list of the ten best freezers to give your kitchen or coffee room a little extra cold storage space.
Comparison Table
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | LATEST PRICE |
|---|---|---|
1. Fridgemaster MUZ5582M  |
| Check Price |
2. Hisense MUZ4965M  |
| Check Price |
3. Cookology MFZ32WH  |
| Check Price |
4. IceKing BU300  |
| Check Price |
5. Amica FZ1334  |
| Check Price |
| 6. Coleman No Bland |
| Check Price |
7. Keg KS83F-BK  |
| Check Price |
8. Zanussi ZQF11431DV  |
| Check Price |
9. Montpellier MBUF300  |
| Check Price |
10. Polar  |
| Check Price |
Our Best Under Counter Freezer and Comparisons
1. Fridgemaster MUZ5582M
Product Highlights
Fit this freezer in anywhere with a fully reversible door that can open to the right or left as you choose.
Features
- 56 centimeters wide
- 82 liters capacity
- A+ energy rating
- 180 kWh/annum
What We Like About Fridgemaster MUZ5582M
With a fully reversible door that can swing either right or left, there will be no worries about other pieces of your counter blocking this machine – or vice versa.
What We Don’t Like About Fridgemaster MUZ5582M
Despite other measures to ensure it fits, the 82-liter capacity will make this freezer too bulky to fit into tighter spaces.
PROS
- Spacious interior
- Physical temperature controls
- Reversible door
- Good energy rating
- Three drawers for organizing your food
CONS
- Too large for small niches
- Stains will be highly visible on white finish
2. Hisense MUZ4965M
Product Highlights
A fridge with excellent internal organization, boasting a number of drawers and shelves to keep things tidy.
Features
- 65 liter capacity
- A+ energy rating
- Manual defrosting mode
- 494 millimeters square, 839 tall
What We Like About Hisense MUZ4965M
This freezer not only runs extremely cold, but it is also extremely quiet as well, making it a useful companion in places like an office or study where noise is unwelcome.
What We Don’t Like About Hisense MUZ4965M
Unlike some models, there is no light in this freezer, making it less convenient late at night.
PROS
- Good interior space
- Plenty of options for organizations
- Whisper-quiet
- Cold enough to be used in outbuildings, even in the summer
- Reversible door
CONS
- No interior light
- Reduced storage space from all the drawers and shelves
3. Cookology MFZ32WH
Product Highlights
This freezer might not be the biggest around but has a tough metal chassis that can handle wear and tear. This product has earned the coveted best-seller spot in its class on Amazon.
Features
- Four-star energy rating
- -18C running temperature
- 42 decibels under ordinary conditions
- Single horizontal divider
What We Like About Cookology MFZ32WH
This freezer is the choice for keeping all those things you want to stay frozen solid while still fitting easily into any room.
What We Don’t Like About Cookology MFZ32WH
Although convenient, you will quickly run out of space – the interior is only 32 liters without the shelf.
PROS
- Highly recommended
- Fits into tight niches
- Comfortable running volume
- One-year guarantee
- Removable shelf
CONS
- Small storage capacity
- Shelf is relatively flimsy wire grid
4. IceKing BU300
Product Highlights
This freezer borders on the size of a full family model and can be useful to stock up on extra groceries when you don’t want to go shopping for a while.
Features
- Three compartments
- 95 liter capacity
- A+ energy rating
- Reversible door hinge
What We Like About IceKing BU300
When you want to stock up on a good sale or need to defrost your main freezer, this freezer will come in handy to make everything keep until you are ready.
What We Don’t Like About IceKing BU300
This may prove too large a freezer to truly put under some counters, and is not frost-free.
PROS
- Plenty of storage space, even with all drawers inserted
- Flame retardant back in case of malfunction
- Reversible door lets you position it anywhere
- Thicker insulation layer than usual
- Two year warranty
CONS
- May be hard to move and position
- Risk of frost buildup
5. Amica FZ1334
Product Highlights
Food can get heavier when frozen. This freezer’s shelves are built thicker than usual to make sure it can handle the weight.
Features
- 79 liter capacity
- Two shelves and one drawer
- 57×55 centimeter base, 82.5 centimeters high
- A+ efficiency rating
What We Like About Amica FZ1334
Unlike most shelving in home freezers, this model has shelves built into the walls as opposed to slotted in and held with brackets or studs, giving it added strength to handle heavy frozen foods.
What We Don’t Like About Amica FZ1334
Fixed shelving and frontal covers to the shelves make this freezer hard to clean and not adaptable to unusual loads.
PROS
- Drawers and shelves
- Plastic shields keep groceries in place when door is opened
- Door can be affixed from right or left
- Aluminum back with flame-retardant qualities
- Two years warranty
CONS
- Shelves and front shields cannot be removed for cleaning
- Shields can cut down on the amount of usable space on every shelf.
6. Coleman No Bland
Product Highlights
Coleman is a longtime household name in the appliance field, and once again produces a sterling machine to help your kitchen along.
Features
- 61 centimeters tall
- Car adapter
- A+ energy rating
- No dividers
What We Like About Coleman No Bland
This model’s relatively diminutive size and the ability to utilize a car charger make it the perfect companion on family outings.
What We Don’t Like About Coleman No Bland
Although it can handle a picnic’s worth of food easily, significantly more will be a stretch.
PROS
- Small enough to take in the car
- Stays cold even in sunlight
- Balanced pump makes it safer to tip over
- Car charger compatible
- Trusted manufacturer
CONS
- No dividers
- Minimal space
7. Keg KS83F-BK
Product Highlights
This freezer’s internal organization keeps your groceries divided by size to make sure that things don’t go missing.
Features
- A+ energy ranking
- 80 liter capacity
- 54×58 centimeter base, 85 centimeters tall
- Two large drawers and one flap compartment for storing smaller items
What We Like About Keg KS83F-BK
Between the interior light and the different sizes of compartments, this freezer gives you easy access to your food.
What We Don’t Like About Keg KS83F-BK
There are no storage spaces on the door, and the light will likely be blocked by food when the freezer is full.
PROS
- Easy-access controls
- Large capacity
- Shelves divided by size
- Black finish does not need to be cleaned as often
- Two year warranty
CONS
- No door storage
- Poorly placed interior lamp
8. Zanussi ZQF11431DV
Product Highlights
This freezer is packed with convenience features, from an interior lamp to independently operable cooling pumps.
Features
- 105 liters
- Four large drawers
- 189 kWh per annum
- A+ energy grade
What We Like About Zanussi ZQF11431DV
There are a lot of reasons to like this freezer, including a self-closing door, two separate controls for exact cooling, and adjustable feet to hold it level on uneven flooring.
What We Don’t Like About Zanussi ZQF11431DV
Due to regulatory concerns about the coolant pump and the policies of the manufacturing company, this model is not available outside of the United Kingdom.
PROS
- Above 100 liters of storage space
- Self-closing door
- Open door alarm keeps you from accidentally thawing the whole freezer
- Adjustable feet keep the freezer level
- Interior lamp lets you find things quickly
CONS
- Too big to fit in most kitchens
- Not available outside the United Kingdom
9. Montpellier MBUF300
Product Highlights
This freezer packs three individually covered shelves and an impressively long warranty.
Features
- 87 liters capacity
- 186 kWh per year
- Three glass shelves
- 55X60 cm base, 87 cm tall
What We Like About Montpellier MBUF300
The shelves in this model are three solid panes of toughened glass, which is stronger and easier to clean than wire grid or plastic shelves.
What We Don’t Like About Montpellier MBUF300
This freezer is far from frost-free, and the shelves are brittle and will break under sharp impacts or blows.
PROS
- Strong shelves
- Exterior controls
- Five-year warranty
- Only 42 decibels
- Reversible door direction
CONS
- Not frost free
- Glass shelves can slip and break easily
10. Polar
Product Highlights
This freezer is built to the exacting standards demanded of catering and foodservice establishments, ensuring your food is being kept properly.
Features
- Brushed stainless steel exterior
- 78 liters capacity
- 48 centimeters by 51 at the base, 62 centimeters tall
- Energy grade A
What We Like About Polar
A steel shell makes this freezer particularly durable, and its cooling speed and operating temperatures are up to food-service levels.
What We Don’t Like About Polar
The faster cooling speed makes this model less efficient, earning only an A energy grade as opposed to the A+ and up of similar models.
PROS
- Durable steel exterior
- Integrated door lock
- Rear castors for mobility
- Exceptionally powerful cooling
- LED temperature display
CONS
- Less efficient than other models
- Not recommended in high ambient temperatures
Final Verdict
An under-counter freezer can be the answer to all kinds of concerns when you need a little extra cold storage, whether at school, in your house, or for the office break room. Getting one can mean the difference between losing food or being able to save it. They can serve as extra counter space too, making them doubly welcome in any active cooking area.
Although many of these models are rated for relatively high ambient temperatures, do your best to ensure that the freezer does not sit in direct sunlight, even if the room is air-conditioned. At the basest level, the freezer is still a metal box, and excessive sunlight will still make it heat up to critical levels.
Like any freezer, the under-counter freezer has a certain amount of electronics built-in, and should only be connected to an outlet of the correct voltage. Make sure your outlet is suitable before connecting.
In a similar vein, do not overload the outlet supporting your under-counter freezer any more than you would your main freezer. An under-counter freezer is a serious load, and connecting it to the same outlet as other large loads can cause short outs, power loss, and even electrical fire.
When moving a freezer around, including when it is delivered, there is a good chance that it will need to be tilted on its side or front. This can cause shifts in the coolant or lubricant reservoirs that leaves the compressors empty of one or both.
Activating the freezer in this state can cause serious damage to the internal machinery. Unless otherwise noted on the instruction manual for your freezer, allow between 12 to 24 hours for the coolant to settle before activation.
If placed in a shared location such as a dormitory or office, it is not uncommon for the freezer to run hotter than it normally would. As a freezer is intended for only a few people, frequent opening and closing throughout the day can make it lose cold air affecting its ability to keep your food frozen.
Another risk of a shared freezer is fungal growth, caused by the common phenomenon of people forgetting food in the freezer for long periods of time. Make sure to thoroughly clean your freezer on a regular basis to prevent mold and mildew; even in a cold environment, they can form and will spread to other foods left nearby.
Using one of these freezers could be the finishing touch for all kinds of places. Pick one that suits your needs and budget whether it is for your office, study, or classroom.
Read Other Article: Best Food Steamer
