For easy access to pre-prepared portions, an upright freezer with drawers is often more practical. A chest freezer can suit a larger stock if you have enough floor space and can organise food stored at the bottom. A higher-capacity fridge-freezer is mainly worth considering if you also need to replace or upgrade your fridge: compare the freezer compartment’s capacity, as well as the models’ dimensions and annual energy consumption.
If you prepare several meals in advance and want to sort and find portions easily, check how accessible the drawers are and what size containers they can hold. Que Choisir highlights the importance of ease of use, while MesMenus explains the benefits of labelling and organising portions.
If you store lots of meals or bulk food shopping, a chest freezer may offer the right capacity, provided you have enough floor space and plan how to reach food at the bottom. Que Choisir points out that capacity alone does not determine how easy an appliance is to use.
Measure the space available and compare the kWh/year figures for the models you are considering: as ADEME points out, a freezer runs continuously. With a fridge-freezer, always distinguish the total capacity from the space actually dedicated to freezing.
Start by estimating the maximum amount of food you’ll want to store at once. Then check how you’ll access your portions and whether the appliance will fit in your home.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Finding your portions | Number and dimensions of drawers or baskets; whether you can take out and identify containers easily. | If you prepare individual portions and take them out often, access and organisation can matter as much as capacity; around 28 % of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Storing a large quantity | Usable capacity of the freezer compartment, and freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you add lots of prepared food at once. | If you freeze large batches or shop in bulk, compare the freezer capacity with the maximum amount you expect to store; around 28 % of consumers prioritise storage capacity. |
| Fitting the appliance into your space | Dimensions, clearance to open the door or lid, access through to the room, and the permitted ambient temperature range. | If space is limited or the appliance needs to go in a cold room, its dimensions and installation requirements are crucial; around 22 % of consumers prioritise this. |
| Comparing energy consumption | Declared kWh/year and the corresponding freezer capacity; the number of appliances that will remain in use. | If you want to manage the energy use of an appliance that runs continuously, compare the annual figures for models that suit your needs; around 22 % of consumers prioritise this factor. |
In the LG GBB72BM9CQ1, the freezer compartment accounts for 110 l of the declared total capacity of 387 l. The 110 l figure is what matters when estimating how much room you’ll have for frozen meals.
Estimate the maximum amount you’ll store and compare it with the usable capacity of each model’s freezer compartment.
A compartment that’s too small could mean cutting back on your planned stock or considering another appliance.
A chest freezer opens from the top, so food stored at the bottom may be harder to reach. The Whirlpool W3RHS31DW2 is also listed as requiring manual defrosting.
Measure the floor space and plan how you’ll separate and label portions before choosing this style.
Remember to allow enough clearance to open the lid, and set aside time to organise the food or defrost the freezer manually.
ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. The energy class alone does not tell you the model’s annual energy consumption or its freezer capacity.
Compare the declared kWh/year figures for appliances suited to similar storage needs, taking into account any other appliances you’ll keep.
Adding an appliance means factoring its annual energy consumption into the total for all your equipment.
Whether a model can operate in a cellar or garage depends on the conditions specified for that particular model; its chest or upright design does not determine this.
Check the room temperature and the permitted range in the exact model’s product information and manual.
The models featured illustrate an upright freezer and a fridge-freezer, with capacities suited to different needs.
The W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer is an example of a top-opening storage solution.
The FNe 4204 is an example of a more compact upright freezer.
The RFNE448E45W is a freestanding upright freezer listed with a large freezer capacity.
The GBB72BM9CQ1 shows the difference between a fridge-freezer’s total capacity and its freezer capacity.
The models below include chest freezers, drawer-style upright freezers and fridge-freezers, so you can compare storage capacity, access to portions and the space actually available for frozen food.
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Worth considering if you want to build up a substantial stock in a chest freezer that can be switched between fridge and freezer mode.
Listed capacity: 291 L; energy class E; stated energy consumption: 226 kWh/year. A removable basket is listed for storage. Listed dimensions: 1100 × 597 × 872 mm. The product information specifies at least 10 cm of ventilation clearance around the appliance.
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The drawers and shelves may suit you if you want to sort portions and access them separately.
Listed capacity: 161 L; energy class C; No Frost. The product information lists three freezer drawers and two shelves, as well as a reversible door.
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Consider this if you also want to replace your fridge and the listed freezer capacity of 165 L suits your needs.
Listed total capacity: 495 L, including 165 L for the freezer; energy class E; No Frost. The product information specifies at least 50 mm of ventilation clearance at the back and sides.
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This fridge-freezer may suit you if you also need plenty of fridge space while keeping a separate area for frozen food.
Listed capacity: 525 L in total, including 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer; energy class E; No Frost.
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Worth considering if you want to add a chest freezer with a basket, bearing in mind its listed capacity of 140 L.
The product information lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm. With top-loading storage, you’ll need to organise food stored lower down in the compartment.
Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with the maximum amount you plan to store. For the LG GBB72BM9CQ1, LG lists 110 l of freezer capacity out of a total 387 l.
Only if the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperature in the room. Whirlpool lists the W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer as operating down to −15 °C; this feature does not automatically apply to other models. Check the manual too, along with the clearance needed for installation.
Anses recommends refrigerating cooked food within two hours of cooking, rather than leaving it at room temperature for longer. To defrost food, Anses recommends using the fridge, the microwave’s defrost setting, or defrosting it quickly while cooking or reheating. Eat defrosted food promptly and do not refreeze it.
To compare models, check the energy class and stated consumption in kWh/year, then consider that figure alongside the capacity actually dedicated to freezing. The French Ministry of the Economy says energy labels apply to household refrigeration appliances, including freezers and fridge-freezers.