A commercial chest freezer is the simplest way to add bulk frozen storage. It is also used up front, with a glass lid, to sell ice cream and frozen foods. Here is how to choose the right one.
1. Solid top or glass top
Solid top chest freezers are for back-of-house storage. The insulated lid holds temperature well and the unit is usually the lowest cost per cubic foot. Glass top (often curved sliding glass) chest freezers are merchandisers: customers can see and grab ice cream, frozen meals or novelties without opening a door. Choose glass for selling, solid for storing.
2. Size by capacity and floor space
Chest freezers are measured in cubic feet and by length. Models we carry range from about 7 cubic feet to more than 20 cubic feet, and from around 38" to over 70" long. Measure the floor space, and remember that you need room above the unit to open the lid fully.
3. Chest freezer or upright reach-in?
A chest freezer holds more for the money and keeps cold air in when opened, because cold air sinks. The trade-off is access: items at the bottom are harder to reach, and it uses more floor space. An upright reach-in freezer uses less floor space and puts everything at eye level, which suits busy kitchens that pull product all day.
4. Features to compare
- Temperature control: adjustable thermostat or digital control
- Baskets or dividers to organize product
- Lock for overnight security
- Interior lighting on glass-top merchandisers
- Defrost: many chest freezers are manual defrost, so plan to defrost periodically; check the spec sheet
- Casters for moving and cleaning
- Exterior: white painted steel or stainless steel
5. Placement
Leave the air gap the manual lists around the unit so the compressor can breathe, and keep it away from ovens and direct sun. Most chest freezers plug into a standard 115V outlet; confirm the plug type on the spec sheet.
Quick checklist
- Solid top for storage, glass top for selling
- Capacity and length fit the space
- Room to open the lid
- Defrost type, baskets and lock checked
- Ventilation clearances planned
Compare chest freezers from Atosa, Kelvinator, Dukers and Saba in our commercial chest freezers collection, or browse all freezers.