10 Best Under Counter Freezers UK 2023 – An Expert Buyer’s Guide

Are you limited for space in your kitchen? I’ve certainly lived in my fair share of small flats over the years. It can be tricky to store fresh food with limited storage. While I’m sure everyone would love a massive kitchen, not everyone has that luxury.

It takes some clever planning and some effective use of space to get the job done. When you have to use all the space you’ve got, an under counter freezer is the ideal solution.

Under counter, freezers are a kind of upright freezer, designed to fit under your kitchen counter. While they’re certainly not a tall freezer, they’re roughly the same size as the lower half of a fridge freezer.

I’ve reviewed some of the best under counter freezers currently available in the UK. In addition to covering their key features, I’ve also listed the pros and cons of each model so you can make an informed decision.

You can go straight to the product page for any of the freezers listed in the top 5 below by clicking on the appropriate link.

Let’s start by looking at my top choice – the Bosch Serie 2 Under Counter Freezer.

Top 5 Best Under Counter Freezers

• Top Choice – Bosch Serie 4 GTV15NWEAG Under Counter Freezer
• Runner Up – HOOVER HTUP130WKN Undercounter Freezer
• Best Integrated – Candy CFU135NEK Integrated Under Counter Freezer with Fixed Door Fixing Kit
• Best Frost Free – AEG ATB68E7NU Undercounter Freezer – Stainless Steel
• Best Budget – BEKO UF584APW Undercounter Freezer

1. Top Choice – Bosch Serie 4 GTV15NWEAG Under Counter Freezer

My top choice is the Bosch Serie 4 Under Counter Freezer. Let’s take a look at some of its key features.

It has a capacity of 83 litres, giving you space enough for 4 bags of shopping. The transparent drawers keep food organised and make it very easy to see what you have.

The reversible door is another very handy feature that allows you to fit the freezer into the layout of your kitchen without worrying about it clashing with the doors of any of your other appliances.

With a convenient thermostat dial on the front, it is easy to adjust how cold your freezer is.

You get a 2-year manufacturer warranty included with this model which is something I like about Bosch Appliances, they are built to last and always include a guarantee or warranty to reflect that, which is why they are so often my top choice.

2. Runner Up – HOOVER HVTLU542WHK Undercounter Freezer

If you’re like me, you think that hoover are vacuum cleaners only, and you forget they do other appliances too. But they do! And they are superb, like this under counter fridge which comes with a 1-year labour guarantee and a 10-year parts guarantee, so it’s just going to work and work as the years go by.

The capacity isn’t the biggest at 64 litres, that’s about a quarter less than the Bosch above, but it’s a little cheaper too so if you don’t need to maximize freezing space then this is a great choice.

I don’t personally like that the handle sticks out, that’s exactly the type of thing I’ll walk into every time I go into the kitchen, but I know some people prefer a proper handle you can grab instead of the integrated handle that’s the dip at the top of the door you can grab, so I included it anyway.

Inside are 4 drawers that are made of clear plastic so you can see inside them easily, very handy instead of having to open every drawer when you need something.

The guarantee that comes with it makes it an easy runner up choice, if you want reliability then this is the one for you.

3. Best Integrated – Candy CFU135NEK Integrated Under Counter Freezer with Fixed Door Fixing Kit

This freezer has a very neat and compact design while still giving you enough space to store plenty of frozen food at one time.

It has a capacity of 95 litres, enough for 5 bags of shopping, so this would be good for small to medium households. The A+ energy rating makes it very energy efficient, so you don’t have to worry about high running costs or the negative impact on the environment.

You can choose which side you want the door to open on too, which makes this great for smaller kitchens where space is at a premium.

You get a 1-year labour and 10-year manufacturer guarantee for peace of mind that it’s going to last properly.

4. Best Frost Free – AEG ATB68E7NU Undercounter Freezer – Stainless Steel

It’s always nice when getting what you paid for goes both ways, and all though this is a pricier freezer compared to even the top choice of the Bosch above it’s simply a lot better.

For one you get the frost-free technology which helps it run more efficiently and saves you having to defrost it, it’s also got frostmatic technology that quickly freezes food to lock in the nutrition of any fresh meat or vegetables you put in there.

Side note, does anyone else think of Wallace and Gromit when they read Frostmatic? Just me? Alright then…

Plus an audible alarm goes off if the door gets left open and the temperature starts to rise. Which, as someone who tends to leave the freezer open, I can tell you is a very useful addition.

It also looks very sleek in the stainless steel and you get a 2-year manufacturers guarantee to assure you it’s going to keep working. But it’s an AEG product, they are always up to scratch and worth the money.

5. Best Budget – BEKO UF584APW Undercounter Freezer

What I love about this Beko is that not only is it the cheapest to buy, it’s the second cheapest to run, which almost never happens! You normally get one or the other, not both so this is the best budget option out there.

It’s got a slightly smaller capacity at 65 litres, which is equivalent to about 3 bags of shopping, if you need the extra space you might be better of splashing the extra for the top choice Bosch further above.

The defrost is manual but it’s got the integrated door handle which I like and it’s even suitable for outbuildings and garage use if you want to have it out of the kitchen.

Other than that you get a 1-year manufacturers guarantee which is reasonable for the price point and it’s nice and quiet at only 37 dB so it will just sit and hum quietly to itself wherever you decide to put it.

A nice budget option, you won’t be disappointed.

Under Counter Freezer Buying Guide

Integrated vs Free Standing

An integrated under counter freezer comes with the benefit of blending in seamlessly with the rest of the decor in your kitchen since it’s hidden behind a cupboard door.

A freestanding under counter freezer can be placed anywhere but it won’t have any covering, so you might want to get one that matches the look of your kitchen as it is. Freestanding freezers don’t even need to be stored under kitchen worktops. Their versatility allows them to even be placed under a regular tabletop or even on their own.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is another important thing to consider. Because of their smaller size, most under-counter freezers have good energy efficiency, making them cheap to run and good for the environment.

When choosing a freezer, it’s usually best to go for models that are A+ rated or higher.

Capacity

The freezer capacity is always going to be a big consideration. It’s always worth fitting as much storage capacity into the space you have available.

The external size of under counter freezers can vary quite a bit, so be sure to make the most of how much storage space you have. Most models will have shelves and racks to help keep your food organised too.

It is always worthwhile making sure you have plenty of space so you don’t have to sacrifice the ice cream to fit everything in.

Dimensions

The dimensions of an under counter freezer are vital to know before purchasing since you’ll need to know if you can fit it in your kitchen. When measuring the space you have available, be sure to measure for depth as well as height and width.

You should also think about whether the door will interfere with any of your other appliances when opened. A lot of freezers have reversible doors to eliminate this problem.

Noise Level

Both fridges and freezers alike will make some noise. From funny gurgles to a constant hum, a little bit of noise is just part of how making things cold works.

For some, a noisy freezer might not be an issue at all, although some people have their living room and kitchen in the same room. I’ve certainly lived with this myself. In these cases, you want to make sure the freezer has a low noise level.

Features

Under counter, freezers don’t tend to be as fully featured as fridge freezers but there are still plenty of models that come with a range of very handy features.

Some key features to look out for when buying an under counter freezer include –

• Frost-free (no-frost) technology
• Fast freezing
• Manual temperature control
• Reversible door
• Ice cube dispenser

F.A.Qs

Are frost-free freezers any good?

Generally, frost-free freezers are good for storing frozen food. Some people have concerns about whether food will stay fresh because of how the freezers remove frost (periodically raising the temperature throughout the day) but this usually isn’t an issue.

Do frost-free freezers cost more to run?

All things being equal, when compared to freezers that need to be manually defrosted, frost-free freezers use more energy and therefore cost more to run. However, the extra cost usually isn’t prohibitively expensive.

Are freezers expensive to run?

How expensive a freezer is to run will depend mostly on its size and energy efficiency. If running costs are a concern, then it’s usually better to opt for a smaller model that’s A+ energy rated or better.

What is the difference between frost-free and automatic defrost?

The difference between a frost-free freezer and automatic defrost is in how they remove frost. Auto defrost is the more common feature of the two and gets rid of frost by simply melting it by raising the temperature inside the freezer and then draining the water.

A frost free freezer prevents frost build up by circulating the air inside.

What is the best way to extend the lifespan of a freezer?

To keep an under counter freezer functioning for a long time, you need to maintain it properly. This means making sure it’s kept in good conditions and also that you defrost it regularly if you don’t have a frost-free or automatic defrost model.

Other Under Counter Fridge Freezer Reviews

Polar CD081 Frost Free Commercial Under Counter Freezer – Stainless Steel

If you’re looking for a freezer for commercial use, then the Polar CD081 is well worth considering.

It has a capacity of 78 litres, enough for 4 bags of shopping. It’s a frost-free model, so it won’t need to be manually defrosted – always handy when you’re using it in a commercial setting and time is of the essence.

The shelves inside are very sturdy and great for keeping the food inside organised. Despite its A energy rating, this freezer is very costly to run, so that’s something to bear in mind.

You get a 2 year commercial warranty included.

Electra EFUZ48W Under Counter Freezer

If you’re looking for an under counter freezer that’s very affordable and cheap to run, then this offering from Electra is well worth considering.

Although the 63-litre capacity doesn’t give you a huge amount of space, it’s still enough to store 3 bags of food shopping and the small size means this freezer is very affordable to run over a year.

It will need to be manually defrosted when required to keep it running at its best. The reversible door is great when you’re limited to space and don’t want to worry about it clashing with your other appliances.

You get a 1 year warranty from the manufacturer and professional connection and removal of your old freezer are available too.

Hisense FV105D4BC21 Under Counter Freezer

Another affordable under counter freezer that holds a decent amount of shopping and has some nice features. Let’s take a closer look

The 82-litre capacity gives you enough space for 4 bags of food shopping, so this would be great for smaller households or as an addition to the main fridge freezer. The reversible door means you can have it open from the right or left, depending on the layout of your kitchen.

It isn’t frost-free, so you will need to manually defrost every once in a while. The 3 included drawers make it very easy to keep your food well organised.

You get a generous 2 year warranty from the manufacturer as well as AO’s 100 day returns policy, so you can buy with full peace of mind.

Lec U5010W.1 Under Counter Freezer

The Lec U5010W.1 Under Counter Freezer is up next. Let’s have a look at some of its key features.

The 70-litre capacity gives you enough space to store 3 bags of food shopping. While this is definitely on the smaller side, it does make it a very compact freezer that’s easy to fit in even the smallest kitchens.

It has an A++ energy rating, making it very cheap to run and great for the environment too. The reversible door means it’s very easy to put this where you want without fear of it interfering with any of your other appliances. You will need to manually defrost it when you notice a build-up of ice to keep it running well.

You get a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

AEG ATB8101VNX Frost Free Under Counter Freezer

Lastly, is the AEG ATB8101VNX Frost Free Under Counter Freezer. It has a lot of nice features that make it a great choice if you can afford the high initial cost. Let’s take a closer look.

The capacity of this freezer is 80 litres, which is enough to hold 4 bags of food shopping. It’s a frost-free model, which means you won’t have to manually defrost since the air is well circulated to prevent ice build-ups.

The 4 drawers make it very convenient to keep your food organised and the reversible door means you can choose which side it opens from. This is great for smaller kitchens where you’re limited to space.

You get a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer included.

Beko UFF584APW Frost Free Under Counter Freezer

The Beko UFF584APW Frost Free Under Counter Freezer is my best frost free pick and has some excellent features that make it well worth considering

Being a frost-free model, you won’t have to worry about manually defrosting it since the air inside is circulated to prevent the build-up of ice. Fast freeze technology is another great feature of this freezer and ensures that any food you add to it is frozen quickly.

Freezer Guard technology allows this freezer to work in temperatures as low as -15 degrees, so if you plan to put this in a garage or other outbuilding, this won’t be an issue. You get 75 litres of space, enough room for 4 bags of shopping.

It comes with a 1-year manufacturer guarantee and 100-day returns from the retailer.

Fridgemaster MUZ4965M Under Counter Freezer

If you’re on a tight budget, then the Fridgemaster MUZ4965M Under Counter Freezer could be the perfect choice for you.

Not only is the freezer very affordable to purchase initially but its A+ energy rating ensures that it’s very cheap to run and good for the environment. The 65-litre capacity is admittedly very small so this would be best suited to a small household or as an addition to your main fridge freezer.

The reversible door means you can choose where to put this and don’t have the concern of it getting in the way of other appliances. Manual temperature control is another very handy feature that lets you set whatever temperature you need depending on the type of food you’re freezing.

Final Thoughts

You should now have a much clearer idea of what to look for when buying an under counter freezer. It may seem like they’re all similar but it’s worth considering the features of different models as well as the space you have available and your budget before making a final decision.

There are of course other brands like Hotpoint, Indesit, Samsung, and Miele, but I think the choices here are some of the best under counter freezers available.

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