Gorenje FH50EAW chest freezer, 500 L, fast freeze, LED display, class E

The chest has a net capacity of 500 litres, enough for a large quantity of meat, fish, berries and vegetables, as well as bulky packs that would not fit into the drawers of an ordinary freezer. It opens from the top and the inside is one single compartment. The manufacturer lists 0 baskets, so boxes or bags, or separately sourced baskets, help keep things organised and make food at the bottom easier to reach.

The fast freeze function temporarily lowers the temperature below the normal setting, so fresh food added in one go freezes faster and the stock already inside does not warm up. That helps when a large batch of meat, fish or garden produce goes in. Food frozen more quickly generally forms smaller ice crystals, which helps preserve its texture. The freezing capacity in kilograms per day is not specified by the manufacturer.

Instead of a simple mechanical dial, the FH50EAW has electronic control, with settings shown on an LED display. This makes it easy to check the temperature and fast freeze status without opening the lid. The display is especially handy when the chest stands in a utility room or basement you visit less often: a quick glance tells you everything is working as it should.

On the EU energy label scale from A to G, the FH50EAW is class E, with an annual consumption of 295 kWh according to the manufacturer. It runs on 220–240 V, 50 Hz mains. The noise level is 40 dB with noise class C on the A–D scale, so the compressor is audible but not loud. Defrosting is manual: once the ice layer on the walls gets thick, you switch the chest off, empty it and let the ice melt.

The chest freezer is 164.6 cm wide, 71.7 cm deep and 84.7 cm tall, and weighs 60 kg. Since the lid opens upwards, there must be enough free space above it, and a little room behind and at the sides lets the heat escape. It is more than one and a half metres wide, so measure doorways and corridors beforehand. The colour is white.

Gorenje FH50EAW suits large families, country houses and homes with a garden where the harvest gets frozen, as well as anyone who gets meat in bulk. The 500-litre capacity, fast freeze and electronic control with an LED display make storing large stocks simple. If drawers and automatic defrosting matter more than capacity, an upright No Frost freezer is the alternative to look at.