If the freezer compartment in your fridge-freezer is no longer big enough, choose an upright freezer to find food easily when it’s organised by category, or a chest freezer if you want an open space for bulky items. Before adding another appliance, compare the freezer capacity you actually need with that of a larger fridge-freezer. Then check the space available, the climate class and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If you want to find food quickly and sort it by category, an upright freezer’s drawers and compartments are well suited to the job. Bosch describes this type of storage in its upright freezers; check the layout of each model.
If you store large quantities or bulky containers and have room for the appliance, a chest freezer’s open compartment gives you more flexible storage. Que Choisir also points out the trade-off: items at the bottom are less easy to reach.
If you don’t have room for a large standalone appliance, an under-counter model can provide a modest amount of extra storage. You could also compare the freezer capacity of a larger fridge-freezer with what you actually need, rather than relying on its total capacity.
Start by thinking about how much frozen food you need to store and how often you access it. If space limits you to a small model, or you’re considering replacing your fridge-freezer, compare the freezer capacity with the extra space you need.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Access and storage | Number and layout of drawers or baskets; access to food stored at the bottom. | If I open the freezer often, I want to find food without having to move everything else. Around 36% of shoppers prioritise easy, organised access. |
| Storage capacity | Stated freezer capacity and space for your bulkiest containers. | If I need to store large quantities, I’d rather have space for my biggest containers, even if the storage is less compartmentalised. This is the top priority for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Space and room temperature | Dimensions, clearance needed to open the appliance and the temperature range for its climate class. | If space is limited or the room’s temperature varies significantly, I need an appliance suited to where it will be installed. Around 21% of shoppers put this constraint first. |
| Keeping to a single appliance | Net capacity of a fridge-freezer’s freezer compartment, separate from its total capacity. | If I’d rather not install a second appliance, I need to know whether a fridge-freezer can hold everything I want to store. For around 14% of shoppers, avoiding an extra appliance matters more than any other criterion. |
A fridge-freezer’s total capacity includes the fridge compartment. Whirlpool and Electrolux product specifications show why you should distinguish this figure from the capacity actually set aside for frozen food.
Work out how much you need to store at its fullest, then compare this with the net freezer capacity and storage layout.
The climate class specifies the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. Bosch notes that temperatures outside this range can affect its operation.
Check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room you have in mind, then compare them with the range listed for your chosen model.
If the room isn’t suitable, you may need to find a different place for the appliance.
Upright and chest freezers don’t have a fixed storage time in the event of a power cut. The figures stated for the Electrolux, Whirlpool and Bosch models mentioned here vary from one product to another.
Compare the stated storage time for each appliance you’re considering. Don’t take it as a general rule for how long food will keep after a power cut.
Delivery, installation, removal of your old appliance and extended warranties may not be included on the same terms.
Before choosing a retailer, check which services are included and which are offered separately, as well as the arrangements for each service.
Bosch’s range in France lets you compare upright and under-counter models based on your space and storage needs.
Whirlpool’s French product specifications provide examples of a chest freezer, an upright freezer and a fridge-freezer to compare separately.
Electrolux offers built-in models that let you compare a dedicated freezer with a fridge-freezer if an integrated kitchen design matters to you.
These models illustrate three of the options covered here: an upright freezer with drawers, chest freezers for open storage, and a fridge-freezer if you want to keep to a single appliance. Compare their capacity with what you need to store, then check the installation requirements for each model.
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Worth considering if you prefer to organise food by category in a separate appliance.
The product name indicates a capacity of 161 L, drawers, a No-Frost function and a reversible door hinge.
Before installation, check the dimensions, required clearances, climate class and stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
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Worth considering if you want a chest freezer with a basket to keep some of your food separate.
The product name indicates a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and temperature control.
Check that the floor space it takes up and access to the bottom work for you, then check the model’s climate class and storage time.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer with a stated large capacity that can also be used as a fridge.
The product name indicates a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket and five-level digital temperature control.
For your frozen food, compare the usable capacity in freezer mode, the dimensions, climate class and stated storage time.
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Worth considering if you want a convertible chest freezer with a stated capacity smaller than the AUCMA 291 L model.
The product name indicates a capacity of 197 L, a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, and five-level digital control.
Check the usable capacity in your chosen mode, the space needed to open the lid, the climate class and the stated storage time.
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Worth considering as an alternative to a separate freezer if you’re thinking about replacing your fridge-freezer.
The product name indicates a total capacity of 495 L; this figure alone doesn’t show how much space is set aside for frozen food.
Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with what you actually need to store, and check the climate class and stated storage time.
An upright freezer is a good choice if you often reach for frozen food and want to organise it in drawers. A chest freezer is better if you want an open compartment for storing large quantities. Que Choisir points out that with a chest freezer, you’ll also need to allow for a larger footprint and less direct access to items at the bottom.
Choose a model whose ambient temperature range covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for class SN-T. Check the class shown on the product specification or appliance rating plate, rather than relying on the name of the room alone.
No. Compare the stated storage time for each model. Electrolux states 10 h for the EUN7NE18S, Whirlpool states 11 h for the WHFF6403W4E upright freezer and 26 h for the WHCF2044 chest freezer, while Bosch states 16 h for the GTV15NWEB under-counter model. These figures aren’t general guidance on what happens to food after a power cut.
Yes, if its freezer compartment can hold everything you need to store. Whirlpool states that the WHK 25404 XBR5E has a freezer capacity of 106 L out of 355 L in total, while Electrolux gives the ENV9GB18S a capacity of 62 L out of 250 L in total. So compare the freezer compartment, not just the overall capacity.