Super freeze / fast freeze (snowflakes)
The freezer runs at full power to drop its temperature well below the setting, so fresh food put in freezes through quickly. The regulation calls it ‘fast freeze’: a feature the user switches on that lowers the freezer’s storage temperature to freeze unfrozen food faster.
What the manuals say to do
Switch it on hours before you put in a large amount of fresh food, not at the same moment: Bosch says 4–6 hours as a rule and 24 hours before the maximum freezing capacity; Miele and Liebherr say about 6 hours, 24 hours for the maximum; Electrolux 3 hours. It switches itself off — after about 2½ days (Bosch), up to 72 hours (Miele), 30–65 hours (Liebherr), 26 hours (Hisense), 24 hours (Electrolux, LG).
What it does not mean
It is not needed for food that is already frozen, or for small amounts: Bosch, Miele and Liebherr all say up to about 2 kg of fresh food can be frozen without it. It is not a way past the freezing capacity on the rating label — Bosch says that capacity needs super freezing switched on 24 hours beforehand.
Makes differ, check your fridge’s manual: the same drawing can mean different things on different brands, and only your model’s manual says exactly what a button does, what temperature it sets and when it switches itself off.
- What it looks like
- One or two snowflakes, sometimes with “super”, “extra” or a plus. Liebherr prints two stars side by side for SuperFrost; Electrolux writes “Extra Freeze”.
- Names used
- Super freezing (Bosch); SuperFreeze (Miele); SuperFrost (Liebherr); Super Freeze (Hisense, Electrolux); Express Freezing (LG); Power Freeze (Samsung); Fast freeze (Regulation 2019/2016)
Where makers differ
Samsung says Power Freeze also “enables you to get ice faster”; LG’s Express Freezing increases “both ice making and freezing”. Hisense shows −24 °C while it runs; Electrolux stops it early if the sensor drops below −32 °C. Expect louder running and higher energy use while it is on.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No public standard defines this panel symbol, so its meaning is taken from the manuals of 7 different maker groups (Bosch, Miele, Liebherr, Hisense, Electrolux, LG, Samsung), each fetched and read on the date shown; the regulation’s definition is listed first:
- EU / UK law: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 — Annex I, Definitions applicable for the Annexes, on legislation.gov.uk — Point 36: “‘fast freeze’ means a feature that can be activated by the end-user according to the supplier’s instructions, which decreases the storage temperature of the freezer compartment(s) to achieve a faster freezing of unfrozen foodstuffs”. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Bosch: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) — “Several hours before placing fresh food in the freezer compartment, switch on super freezing … As a rule, 4–6 hours is adequate … 24 hours before … max. freezing capacity … Smaller quantities of food (up to 2 kg) can be frozen without ‘super freezing’ … After approx. 2½ days the previously set temperature will be automatically restored.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Miele: Miele — Operating instructions, fridge-freezer, M.-Nr. 11 746 390 (PDF) — SuperFreeze “should be switched on approx. 6 hours before”, 24 hours beforehand for the maximum amount; not needed for frozen food or up to 2 kg a day; switches off after a maximum of 72 hours. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Liebherr: Liebherr — User guide, built-in combined fridge-freezer HCB 1060 (7086622-03, 2021-04-09, PDF hosted by a Liebherr parts store) — SuperFrost: switch on about 6 hours ahead for a small amount, about 24 hours for the maximum; not needed up to about 2 kg a day; switches off “at the earliest after 30 hours, at the latest after 65 hours”. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Hisense: Hisense — User’s operation manual, HR6BMFF435 / HR6BMFF520 (PDF, copy hosted by productreview.com.au) — “Super Freeze can quickly lower frozen temperature … the freezer temperature setting will display -24°C … Super freeze automatically switches off after 26 hours.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Electrolux: Electrolux — User manual, freezer-fridge RCB732E5MX (PDF) — Super Freeze mode: activate 3 hours before putting in fresh food; “will automatically cancel after 24 hours or when the freezer sensor temperature drops below -32 °C”. Checked 2026-09-27.
- LG: LG — Owner’s manual, bottom-freezer refrigerator, P/No MFL62184515 (PDF) — Express freezing “increases both ice making and freezing capabilities … The function will automatically shut off after 24 hours.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Samsung: Samsung — Owner’s manual and installation, side-by-side refrigerator RS263 / RS265 / RS267 / RS269 (DA99-01278A rev 0.4, 2007, PDF hosted by Encompass) — “POWER FREEZE BUTTON — Speeds up the freezing process in the freezer … This feature enables you to get ice faster … If you use this function, energy consumption will increase.” Checked 2026-09-27.
Written in our own words; quotations are the regulation’s or the makers’ wording.