A separate freezer is worth considering if your portions regularly fill the freezer compartment in your fridge-freezer, or if you want to keep batch-cooked meals separate from everyday food. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise and access your food frequently; a chest freezer is a good option if you have enough space and are happy to organise items stored further down. If you only need a little extra space, compare the freezer capacity of a fridge-freezer before adding a second appliance.
You need enough freezer space to store portions regularly without filling the freezer compartment in your fridge-freezer. Compare the net capacity allocated to frozen food rather than the appliance’s total capacity.
You store a variety of prepared meals and take them out often. In that case, the interior layout, drawers and baskets matter just as much as the stated capacity.
You’re unsure about adding a second appliance that will run constantly. Measure the space available and compare its stated annual energy consumption with the extra capacity you actually need.
First decide whether the built-in compartment can hold your usual stock, then choose a style to suit the space available and how you access your portions.
Consider one if: you store a variety of portions and access them often; check the layout of the model you choose.
Bear in mind: usable capacity depends on the interior layout and the height available.
Consider one if: you have enough floor space and want to store food that you don’t need to access as often.
Bear in mind: finding portions at the bottom takes good organisation, especially if there are only a few baskets.
Consider one if: you only need a little extra space, or you’re already replacing your fridge and don’t want to install a second appliance.
Bear in mind: the freezer compartment will still need to hold both prepared meals and everyday food; check its individual capacity.
| Criterion | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the net capacity in litres of the freezer compartments and the space needed for your containers. If you freeze lots of meals at once, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | When my prepared portions regularly fill my current compartment, I mainly want usable extra space without having to stack boxes; around 36% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Storage and access | Look at the drawers, baskets and internal dimensions, as well as how easy it is to reach portions stored at the bottom. | If I take out different meals often, I want to identify the oldest ones without having to rearrange everything. Around 29% of consumers put ease of access ahead of other criteria. |
| Ongoing energy use | Compare the kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise level on the energy label for appliances that meet the same needs. | Before adding an appliance that will run all year round, I want to be able to compare its stated energy use; this is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Space and installation | Measure the space available and the clearance needed to open the appliance, then check the required gaps and permitted ambient temperature in the manual. | If there’s no obvious space for a chest or upright freezer, I’d rather check whether a larger built-in compartment would be enough; around 14% of consumers prioritise this installation constraint. |
The European Commission says the energy label includes information such as the energy rating, annual consumption, storage volumes and noise level. These details can help you compare models suited to your space and freezer needs, rather than choosing based on the energy rating alone.
The energy rating alone won’t tell you how much capacity you’ll get or the appliance’s stated annual energy consumption. The European energy label lists these details separately.
Compare kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise levels across models that can hold your usual stock.
Beko and Liebherr state that some chest freezer models can be used at temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Check the permitted ambient temperature, dimensions and ventilation requirements in the manual for the model you’re considering.
A feature that reduces frost doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never need to defrost the appliance manually. How it works and what maintenance is needed will depend on the model.
Read the feature details and care instructions before you choose.
If defrosting is needed, you’ll also need to set aside time and plan what to do with the food in storage.
Extra freezer space won’t make up for freezing food too late. Anses recommends freezing food when you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until its use-by date is approaching.
Label your portions and plan how you’ll use them, following Anses recommendations for freezing and defrosting food at home.
The GSN58AWCV upright freezer is worth considering if you want to look at a layout with drawers and removable elements for portions you access frequently.
The HSM14540 chest freezer is worth considering if you’re looking at horizontal storage, particularly in an unheated room.
The CFd 2505 Plus chest freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for a large-capacity model, and want to check its installation requirements.
These models show three ways to make more room for frozen food: add an upright freezer, install a chest freezer or choose a fridge-freezer. Compare their capacity and layout with your usual stock before settling on a style.
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Worth considering if you want to store portions in a separate freezer with front access.
The product title lists a capacity of 161 l, three freezer drawers, a No Frost function and an energy rating of C. Check the dimensions and energy consumption in kWh/year to make sure it suits your installation.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge and would prefer to keep everything in one appliance.
The title lists a total appliance capacity of 282 l and an energy rating of E. Check the net capacity of the freezer compartment separately: the total capacity doesn’t show how much space is available for your portions.
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Worth considering if you want separate freezer storage and have room to open the lid and organise the contents of a chest freezer.
The title lists a capacity of 99 l, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Check the defrosting instructions and permitted ambient temperature for the space where you plan to install it.
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Worth considering for a little extra freezer space rather than a large stock of prepared meals.
The title lists a capacity of 60 l, a reversible door and an energy rating of E. Check the interior layout before you buy: the title and description show the compartments differently.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer to keep your frozen food separate from the contents of your fridge.
The title lists a capacity of 140 l, a basket, a counterbalanced lid and an energy rating of E. Check the net freezer capacity and make sure there’s enough room to open the lid.
Not necessarily. It’s mainly useful if the built-in compartment is regularly full, or if you want to keep a separate stock of food. If you only need a little extra space, first compare the net freezer capacity of a suitable fridge-freezer with the space a second appliance would take up.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, freezer compartment capacity, noise level and energy rating. The European Commission presents these details together; the rating alone won’t help you make a useful comparison between appliances with different capacities.
Only if the operating conditions for the model you choose are suitable for the temperature in your garage. Beko states a minimum ambient temperature of −15 °C for the HSM14540, while Liebherr says FrostProtect works down to −15 °C for the CFd 2505 Plus. Check the manual for the model you’re considering.
No. It’s a stated appliance feature, not a guarantee for every food or every power cut. Anses notes that home freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. Follow its food safety advice and the appliance instructions.
Take it to a collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in household rubbish. In France, the ministries responsible for the ecological transition provide information about these schemes; ask the retailer or a collection point how to arrange this.