A chiller holds product in the fresh regime and a deep freezer in the frozen regime; they do not do the same job. The wrong choice either shortens shelf life or wastes energy. Before volume come the product's storage instruction and how many days it will stand in the unit: where the time is short, the frozen regime is unnecessary, while weekly or seasonal stock and product kept at -18 °C or colder need a freezer.
Capacity and type
Capacity is set by the fullest day of the year, not by average stock; empty volume is cheaper than a week when product waits outside. A chest type keeps cold air in when the lid opens: by ENERGY STAR figures, certified household chest models use about 215 kWh a year and uprights 395 kWh. An upright makes product easier to reach. Count how many times the current cabinet opens each day for a week; frequent openings point to smaller compartments, rare ones allow a large volume.
When both are needed. Splitting the volume sizes each regime to its own need, and when one unit fails the other keeps running. If eutectic plates are used, freezing them needs separate capacity: GEBHARDT offers plates with different melting points, and the freezing temperature depends on the plate chosen. Taken from the product freezer, that capacity leaves plates half frozen or product without space. Send route, product and target temperature and we choose the plate together.
