What is an under bench freezer?
An under bench freezer is a commercial freezer built into a stainless steel workbench. It keeps frozen stock at the point of use, right next to the fryer or grill, while the top doubles as a prep surface. That saves trips to the cool room or upright freezer on every busy service.
How to choose an under bench freezer
Width and number of doors
Measure the bench run first. Our range covers compact 900mm single door models like the Skipio SUF9-1, 1200mm and 1500mm two door units such as the Atosa YPF9027 and Skipio SUF15-2 (395 litres), and 1800mm three door models like the Skipio SUF18-3 (505 litres), plus four door freezer tables like the Atosa EPF3482.
Doors or drawers?
Drawers let chefs see and grab frozen portions without bending to look behind a door, and they let out less cold air. Skipio drawer freezers come with 3, 6 or 9 drawers, for example the SUF12-3D-3 and SUF18-3D-9. Doors with shelves are better for bulk boxes and larger items.
Temperature
Frozen food should stay hard frozen, and -18°C is the standard target. Choose a freezer with a digital controller and fan-forced cooling so it pulls the temperature back down quickly after each opening.
Ambient rating and tropicalised models
Under bench freezers often sit right beside the hottest equipment in the kitchen, so the ambient rating matters. Tropicalised models like the Thermaster GN2100BT and GN3100BT are built for hot kitchens and hot climates, and several of our models are rated for ambient temperatures of 38°C to 40°C.
Under bench freezer vs upright freezer
An under bench freezer is about convenience: frozen stock at the point of cooking, with a bench on top. An upright freezer is about capacity, holding far more stock in the same floor space. Most commercial kitchens use both: an upright for bulk storage and an under bench freezer on the line for the current service.
Installation and care
Check where the freezer breathes before you build it into a counter, as some models vent at the front and others need clearance at the back or sides. Do not put hot cooking equipment directly on top unless the manufacturer allows it. Clean the condenser regularly, check the door and drawer seals, and do not overfill drawers so they can close properly.
Our under bench freezer range
- Skipio: SUF under bench freezers from 900mm to 1800mm, plus drawer freezers with 3, 6 or 9 drawers.
- Atosa: YPF under bench freezers in 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m and EPF freezer tables with 2 to 4 doors.
- Thermaster: FE stainless bench freezers (260 and 386 litres) and tropicalised GN gastronorm bench freezers.
- Anvil: single door underbench freezers, 598mm wide, with a stainless steel door (FBF2203) or glass door (FBFG2204).
- Glacian: slimline 660mm deep underbench freezers with 1 to 4 stainless steel doors, running at -22°C to -18°C with a door-open alarm.
Delivery, warranty and our price-beat guarantee
We deliver Australia-wide by tailgate truck, usually within 2 to 5 business days to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide and 4 to 12 days elsewhere. Every freezer comes with the manufacturer's warranty, and prices are shown ex GST with the GST-inclusive price alongside. Found a lower price? Send us the link under our Price-Beat Guarantee and we'll send you a one-off discount code.
Under bench freezer FAQs
What temperature should an under bench freezer be?
Around -18°C, so frozen food stays hard frozen even with constant door openings during service.
Is an undercounter freezer the same as a freezer table?
Yes. Under bench freezer, undercounter freezer, bench freezer and freezer table all describe a commercial freezer with a stainless steel bench top.
Can I put a fryer on top of an under bench freezer?
Not usually. Heat from cooking equipment makes the freezer work harder and can void the warranty. Use an equipment stand for hot equipment.
Do under bench freezers need defrosting?
Most commercial under bench freezers have automatic defrost. Keep the door seals clean and intact so warm air does not get in and cause ice build-up.
Do you deliver Australia-wide?
Yes. We deliver to every state by tailgate truck. Standard delivery is to your door, so ask us if you need it carried inside.