An upright freezer changes how you shop: buy meat and vegetables when prices are good, portion them once, and cook from the drawers for weeks. Argosta's No-Frost models never need defrosting, so the only thing you have to get right is the first setup and a few freezing habits.
Models this guide covers
- Upright Freezer — 175 L, 5 drawers + 1 shelf (head-panel display)
- Upright Freezer — 226 L, 6 drawers (push-button digital display, zero-clearance door)
1. Installation
- Choose a cool, dry, ventilated spot. Not next to the cooker or in direct sun. A freezer in a hot corner runs non-stop in summer.
- Reverse the door if needed. Both models have reversible doors — decide which way it should open before loading, and let the delivery team or an authorised technician move the hinges.
- Clearance. Roll it into place on the rear rollers, then leave about 10 cm behind and 5 cm at the sides for airflow. The 226 L model's zero-clearance door hinge lets it sit flush against a wall on the hinge side.
- Level it with the front feet so it stands firm and the door closes by itself from half-open.
- Wait 4 hours after moving it before plugging in (24 hours if transported on its side), then connect to its own earthed socket.
- Run it empty until the display shows the set temperature — usually 4–6 hours — before adding food.
2. Setting the temperature
Set −18°C. That is cold enough for months of safe storage and anything colder just costs electricity.
- 175 L (head-panel display): the display on top of the door shows the set-point; use the control to step it colder or warmer.
- 226 L (push-button display): press the temperature button to cycle through the set-points; the display confirms the value.
- Adding a big batch of fresh food? Set the freezer 4–6 degrees colder (or use the fast-freeze function if your model shows one) about 12 hours before, keep it there for 24 hours after loading, then return to −18°C. Fast freezing makes smaller ice crystals, so meat keeps its texture.
Set it to −18°C, leave it there, and spend your attention on wrapping food properly — that is what decides quality.
3. Freezing food properly
- Freeze fresh, freeze fast. Food frozen the day you buy it tastes like the day you bought it.
- Portion first. Freeze in meal-size portions; a 2 kg block of mince cannot be partly thawed.
- Flat and tight. Flatten bags, squeeze out the air, seal, and stack — flat packs freeze faster and fit the drawers better.
- Label with the date. A marker on the bag beats guessing six months later.
- Blanch vegetables (1–3 minutes in boiling water, then ice water) before freezing — they keep colour and crunch.
- Never refreeze raw meat or fish that has fully thawed. Cook it, then freeze the cooked dish if you want.
- Cool cooked food to room temperature before it goes in; a hot pot warms everything around it.
Use the drawers by zone
| Drawer | Suggested use |
|---|---|
| Top drawer / shelf | Ice tray, ice cream, things you reach for daily |
| Upper drawers | Bread, pastries, ready-cooked meals |
| Middle drawers | Vegetables, fruit, prepared sauces |
| Lower drawers | Raw meat, chicken and fish — the heaviest and longest-stored items |
| Flap-cover compartments (226 L) | Small loose items — herbs, nuts, spices — that fall through a drawer |
Transparent drawers mean you can see what is where — but keep one drawer per food group anyway so raw meat never sits above anything you eat uncooked.
How long food keeps at −18°C
| Food | Keeps well for |
|---|---|
| Beef, lamb | 6–12 months |
| Chicken (whole / pieces) | 9–12 / 6–9 months |
| Minced meat | 3–4 months |
| Fish | 3–6 months |
| Blanched vegetables | 8–12 months |
| Bread | 3 months |
| Cooked dishes | 2–3 months |
4. No-Frost: what it does for you
A fan circulates the cold air and a short automatic defrost cycle runs every few hours, so frost never builds on the walls or on your food packets, drawers never stick, and you never have to empty the freezer to defrost it. You may hear the fan and an occasional click or soft hiss — that is the cycle working.
5. Power cuts
Keep the door shut. A full freezer stays frozen for about 24 hours; a half-full one for about 12. Fill empty drawers with bottles of water — the ice adds thermal mass and keeps everything colder for longer. When power returns the freezer restarts on its own. If food has thawed completely and is warm to the touch, do not refreeze it.
6. Cleaning and care
- Drawers: wipe spills as they happen; every few months take the drawers out and wash them in warm soapy water. Rinse the ice tray and the freezer shield the same way.
- Interior: a cloth with warm water and a little baking soda. No bleach, no abrasives, nothing sharp against the walls.
- Door gasket: wipe monthly and check that it seals on every side — a torn or dirty gasket means frost and a hard-working compressor.
- Back and underneath: unplug twice a year and brush the dust off the condenser area.
- Not using it for a while? Empty it, switch off, clean and leave the door ajar.
7. Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature alarm / indicator | Door left open, big warm load, or power was off | Close the door; wait for the display to come back down to the set-point |
| Frost on food or walls | Door not sealing, or opened too often for too long | Check the gasket and that no bag is stopping the door; close it quickly |
| Runs constantly | Normal in summer; otherwise clearance, dusty condenser, hot location | Clean the back, open up airflow, move it out of the sun |
| Drawer hard to pull | Spilled liquid frozen in the runner | Empty the drawer, wipe with warm water, dry |
| Nothing on the display | No power | Check the socket and breaker; wait 5 minutes for the compressor's restart delay |
For anything else, call 17724 or message us on WhatsApp. Your freezer is covered by a 5-year warranty with genuine spare parts — see the warranty guide.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should an upright freezer be set to?
−18°C is the standard for long-term food storage. Go colder (−22°C to −24°C) only for a day when you add a large batch of fresh food, then return to −18°C.
Can I reverse the door on an Argosta upright freezer?
Yes — both the 175 L and 226 L models have reversible doors. Ask the delivery team or an authorised technician to swap the hinge side before the freezer is loaded.
How long does a freezer keep food frozen without power?
A full, closed freezer holds its temperature for roughly 24 hours; a half-full one for about half that. Fill empty space with bottles of water to add thermal mass.
Why does No-Frost food sometimes look dry or white at the edges?
That is freezer burn — air reaching the food. It is harmless but affects taste. Wrap food tightly, squeeze air out of bags and use within the recommended time.
Upright freezers that never need defrosting.
No-Frost, reversible doors, transparent drawers and a 5-year warranty. Made in Turkey for Egyptian homes.
See the freezers