For a family’s weekly food shop, start by working out separately how much space you need for fresh food, leftovers and frozen food: total capacity alone isn’t enough to make the right choice. A fridge-freezer combines both functions in one appliance. A separate freezer is worth considering if frozen food makes up most of your stock and you have room for a second appliance. A multi-door model suits households needing plenty of space, provided your kitchen and delivery route can accommodate it. Then compare the dimensions and kWh/year of models that can hold your shopping.
If fresh food, prepared meals and leftovers quickly fill your fridge, start by looking at the usable capacity of the fridge compartment and how its storage is laid out. Que Choisir recommends matching capacity to how often you shop, rather than basing it solely on the size of your household.
If batch cooking or frozen food takes up several drawers, freezer capacity becomes a separate consideration. A separate appliance could be an option if you have an accessible space for it.
A family-sized appliance also needs to fit through the entrances to your home, with enough room to open its doors and drawers. In an open-plan living space, the stated noise level may matter as much as the dimensions. The kWh/year figure is also worth checking for an appliance that runs continuously, as ADEME points out.
Worth considering : if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance, with capacity suited to each.
The trade-off : the freezer compartment needs to hold the amount of frozen food you actually keep, even if the total capacity looks generous.
Worth considering : if frozen food is your main priority and you have space for a second appliance. Que Choisir highlights the usefulness of separate freezers for larger families.
The trade-off : you’ll need space for two appliances and should check the annual energy consumption of each.
Worth considering : if a very large capacity and multiple storage zones suit your shopping needs, and your kitchen is spacious enough for this style.
The trade-off : check the width, depth and route into your kitchen before choosing a model.
To choose the right one, start with the space needed for a week’s shopping, then compare the capacity split against the limitations of your home and the figures on the energy label.
| What to consider | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh food space | Usable fridge capacity and the layout of shelves and drawers for shopping and leftovers. | When prepared meals and fresh food need to last until the next shop, I prioritise an easy-to-organise fridge compartment; around 33 % of shoppers would put this need first. |
| Frozen food storage | Usable freezer capacity and access to the drawers; space for a second appliance if needed. | If I batch cook and regularly fill the freezer, its capacity matters more than the total figure shown; nearly 27 % of shoppers would prioritise this storage space. |
| Space and access | Overall dimensions, delivery route and clearance for doors and drawers. | I need to be able to get the appliance into my home and use its storage without blocking the way; around 20 % of shoppers would make how well it fits into the kitchen their top priority. |
| Energy and noise | Stated kWh/year and noise level, considered alongside the capacity you need on the model’s energy label. | In a kitchen close to the living area, I want to keep an eye on noise and energy use without sacrificing the space I need for food; around 20 % of shoppers would prioritise this balance. |
Two appliances with the same total capacity may offer different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. The compartment you rely on most could end up full first.
Compare the usable capacity of each compartment with the contents of your usual weekly shop.
An appliance’s size, model and features all affect its energy use, as it runs continuously, according to ADEME. The energy rating letter is no substitute for checking the kWh/year figure for the capacity you need.
On the energy label, compare kWh/year with the fridge and freezer capacities of models that meet the same needs.
A large fridge-freezer or multi-door model might fit in your kitchen but be difficult to get through a doorway, along a corridor or through the lift entrance. Once it’s in place, you’ll also need room to open its doors and drawers.
Measure the delivery route and clearance around the appliance, then check the dimensions and installation instructions for the model you’ve chosen.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a trader to a consumer. An additional commercial warranty does not replace it, as the Ministry of the Economy points out.
Before taking out an extended warranty, check its duration, exclusions and what it adds to your legal rights.
Bosch France’s product information lets you compare freestanding fridge-freezers in different sizes, including the KGN33NWDA and KGN493WDA models.
Liebherr’s fridge-freezers come in a range of capacities, so you can compare them based on the space you need for your shopping and the room in your kitchen.
Samsung offers multi-door models that are worth considering if your family shop needs plenty of space and your kitchen can accommodate their size.
These Joybuy models include fridge-freezers, multi-door models and a side-by-side, so you can compare the space for fresh and frozen food with the room available in your kitchen. Whether a separate freezer is right for you will depend on how much frozen food you store and whether you have space for a second appliance.
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Worth considering if your shopping needs call for a large-capacity multi-door model and you’ve checked that it will fit in your kitchen.
Advertised total capacity: 467 L. The product description specifies Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
Check the clearance needed to open the doors and the delivery route.
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This fridge-freezer is suited to households looking to keep fresh and frozen food in one 360 L appliance.
The product description specifies Total No Frost, Wi-Fi, My Zone and an E energy rating.
Check that you have enough space for the appliance and to open its doors.
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With a total capacity of 495 L, it’s worth considering if your family shop needs more space and the size works for your kitchen.
The product description specifies an E energy rating.
Check the delivery route, door clearance and installation requirements for this model’s water and ice dispenser.
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This side-by-side model is worth a look if frozen food takes up a large part of your family’s shopping.
The product description splits its 525 L capacity into 333 L of fridge space and 192 L of freezer space. It also specifies No Frost, 37 dB and an E energy rating.
Before choosing this style, check its full dimensions, door clearance and kWh/year figure.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 60 cm-wide fridge-freezer and its capacity split suits your weekly shop.
The product description specifies 211 L of fridge space, 99 L of freezer space, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
Check the height, depth, stated kWh/year and noise level before comparing it with other models.
Compare their kWh/year figures, taking into account how much space you actually need for fresh and frozen food, rather than relying on the energy rating alone. The European energy label shows annual energy use and storage capacities. ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then check the route into your kitchen and the room needed to open the doors and drawers. Compare these measurements with the dimensions and installation instructions for your chosen model, and remember to allow for its packaging during delivery.
For domestic appliances covered by European energy labelling, check the A to G rating alongside the kWh/year figure, compartment capacities and noise information. These details can help you choose between models that meet the same storage needs; the rating alone doesn’t show annual energy use.
No. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a trader to a consumer, while a commercial warranty may provide additional cover. The Ministry of the Economy recommends keeping these rights separate: check the cover and exclusions of any extended warranty before taking one out.