For easy access to individual portions of frozen meals, choose an upright freezer if you want to sort them into drawers. Consider a chest freezer if you mainly store large containers or bulk buys and can keep its open space organised. A compact model or the freezer compartment in a fridge freezer may be a better fit when space is limited, as long as it offers enough freezer capacity. Whichever type you choose, check that the compartments open properly and that the model is suitable for the room temperature.
If you cook several meals in advance, easy-to-reach drawers can help you keep portions separate without having to move everything else. The French National Consumer Institute recommends freezing food in portions for later use; check that your containers will fit in the compartments of the model you’re considering.
If you buy in bulk or store large containers, check the usable capacity and think about how you’ll retrieve portions stored at the bottom. A chest freezer also needs enough floor space and clearance to open its lid.
In a small kitchen or utility room, measure the space before choosing a capacity. You’ll need room to open the door or lid. If the appliance will be in an unheated room, check that its operating temperature range is suitable for the space.
UFC-Que Choisir highlights, among other things, the larger footprint of chest freezers and the easy access to food offered by upright models. For batch-cooked meals, your choice needs to suit both the way you like to organise your food and the constraints of the space where the freezer will go.
Choose this if: you want to sort portions into drawers and reach them individually.
Bear in mind: the compartments have fixed dimensions, so check that your containers will fit and that the drawers can open where you plan to put the freezer.
Choose this if: large containers or bulk buys make the open storage space worthwhile.
Bear in mind: you’ll need more floor space and an organised storage system to find portions at the bottom.
Choose this if: there isn’t enough room for a larger appliance.
Bear in mind: storage capacity is more limited, so consider how many portions you need to store and their size.
Choose this if: you want to replace your kitchen appliance without adding a separate freezer.
Bear in mind: the fridge freezer’s total capacity isn’t the same as its freezer capacity, so check the freezer compartment separately.
| Factor | What to check | Relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Height of drawers or baskets; whether they can be opened and removed in the space you’ve chosen. | When I prepare several meals, I want to find a portion without moving everything else; around 33% of consumers would prioritise this organised access. |
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity and space for large containers; how baskets are arranged in a chest freezer. | If I freeze bulk buys, I’m happy to organise them more carefully to have the storage capacity I need. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Space needed | External dimensions, clearance for the door or lid, and the freezer compartment’s capacity in a fridge freezer. | In a narrow kitchen, I need a space where the appliance and its door won’t obstruct the way; around 20% of consumers would put this space constraint first. |
| Room temperature | Minimum and maximum room temperatures; the climate class or operating temperature range of the exact model. | If I’m installing the appliance in a cellar or garage, I first need to know whether it can operate at the temperatures in that room. This compatibility would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Capacity doesn’t tell you how easy it will be to reach your portions. Containers may not fit in a drawer, while items stored at the bottom of a chest freezer can take more effort to find.
Measure your containers and the space, then check that the drawers or baskets of the model you’re considering can be opened and handled easily.
The climate class specifies the ambient temperatures an appliance is designed for. A feature advertised for a model intended for cooler rooms won’t necessarily apply to every model from that brand.
Compare the room temperature in winter and during warmer spells with the range stated in the product details or manual for the exact model.
A small compartment built into a fridge won’t necessarily meet your needs if you regularly freeze prepared meals.
Before relying on this compartment, check its manual to confirm that it has a freezing function and that there’s enough room for your portions.
These ranges give you options to compare in terms of layout and installation location; the features mentioned depend on the model you choose.
Upright freezers to consider if you want separate storage for your portions.
Chest freezers to consider if you have floor space for open storage.
Upright models that include options with features designed to reduce frost or allow installation in a cool room.
A range that includes upright and chest freezers, which you can compare based on how you want to access your portions.
The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting it to −18 °C. Also follow the storage instructions for the food you’re freezing.
Don’t assume it is just because the compartment is there. Check the manual to make sure it has a freezing function suited to this purpose, then measure the space available for your containers.
Choose a model with a declared ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures in the room where it will be installed. Record the room temperature throughout the year and compare it with the climate class or the guidance in the manual for the exact model.