If you mainly need to store bulky items bought in bulk, choose a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. If you regularly take out prepared portions, an upright freezer makes them easier to organise. If you don’t have room for another appliance, compare the freezing capacity of a larger fridge-freezer instead. Whichever option you choose, usable capacity isn’t the only thing to consider: the location, energy use and amount of food you need to freeze at once all matter too.
If you regularly take out meals you’ve prepared in advance, look for storage that makes them easy to find without moving everything else. The layout of the drawers or baskets matters just as much as the advertised capacity.
For bulky packs or larger food shops, check that your containers will actually fit inside the appliance. Que Choisir highlights the generous capacity of chest freezers and the smaller footprint of upright models.
In a utility room, cellar or garage, the room temperature could determine your choice before capacity even comes into it. Check how much it varies and compare it with the model’s specified operating range.
Best for: bulky items and storing larger quantities, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: you’ll need to organise things carefully to reach food at the bottom.
Best for: regularly taking out portions and sorting them into separate drawers.
The trade-off: the drawers may limit the space available for large containers.
Best for: when you don’t have room for a separate appliance and mainly need extra freezer storage.
The trade-off: check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately, rather than relying on the appliance’s total capacity.
For batch cooking and bulk buys, start with your main need, then rule out models that aren’t suitable for the room or for the amount of food you add at once.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for bulk items | Compare the net freezer capacity and the space available for large containers. If you need to freeze a large amount of food at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h too. | When bulk shopping and prepared meals need to fit in the freezer at the same time, I want to store both without cramming the containers in. Around 31% of consumers would put this capacity first. |
| Access to portions | Check the size and layout of the drawers or baskets, as well as how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | If I take meals out several times a week, I want to find each portion without rummaging through the freezer; organisation would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Location | Measure the space needed to open the appliance and compare the room temperature with the climate range for your chosen model. | In a cellar, utility room or garage, I first need to know whether the appliance can cope with the room temperature. This compatibility would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Everyday use and power cuts | When comparing models with similar capacities, look at kWh/year, noise levels and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If the freezer is near living areas or holds a large stock of food, I take noise, energy use and how long it stays cold into account; around 19% of consumers would put these factors first. |
A chest freezer may offer the capacity you need, but it might not fit through a doorway or allow its lid to open fully. Que Choisir notes that chest freezers generally take up more floor space than upright models.
Measure the delivery route, the space where the appliance will go and the room needed to open it. Also check the clearance required in the instruction manual.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for. If the room is colder or warmer than this range, its performance could be affected.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures. If they fall below 10 °C, look for an explicit statement that the model you’re considering can operate at low temperatures.
The open space can fit a range of containers, but food stored underneath other items is harder to reach. If you regularly take out prepared meals, the internal layout may matter more than the maximum capacity.
Plan how you’ll organise your containers in a chest freezer. For an upright model, check that the drawers can hold your portions and bulkier items.
The European Commission uses an A to G scale on the energy labels for refrigeration appliances. However, the letter alone doesn’t tell you how much electricity a model uses over a year or how its storage space is arranged.
Compare kWh/year figures for appliances with a capacity suited to your needs, then check the noise level and stated storage time in the event of a power cut if these factors matter to you.
These brands illustrate features to compare on specific models. This doesn’t mean that other models from the same brands are available or suitable for your needs.
Worth considering if the freezer will be installed in a room where the temperature varies considerably.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an upright freezer to organise portions and ingredients.
Worth considering if you want to compare a chest freezer’s features with your bulk storage needs.
Worth considering when weighing up a chest freezer, upright model or built-in option.
These models include chest freezers and an upright freezer for adding extra freezer storage. Choose based on how much you need to store, how you want to access your portions and how much space you have. Check the installation and freezing specifications for each model.
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Worth considering if you’d rather store bulk items in a chest freezer than sort every portion into drawers.
The title lists a capacity of 291 L, an E energy rating, a removable basket, LED lighting and five-level digital controls.
If you’re planning to keep it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range. Also check the clearance needed to open the lid and the freezing capacity if you often add large quantities at once.
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Worth considering if you’d rather sort portions into an upright freezer than stack them in a chest freezer.
The title lists a capacity of 161 L, three drawers, a No Frost function, an alarm and a C energy rating.
Check the internal dimensions of the storage compartments against your containers. Also check the climate class and freezing capacity to make sure they suit the location and the amount of food you need to freeze.
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Worth considering if you need extra chest freezer storage for smaller quantities.
The title lists a capacity of 99 L, a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating.
Measure the space needed for the lid to open and check the maintenance requirements, climate range and storage time in the event of a power cut to make sure they suit your needs.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a small chest freezer to keep extra portions in freezer mode.
The title lists a capacity of 95 L, switchable fridge and freezer modes, a seven-level thermostat, a removable basket and an E energy rating.
Confirm that the operating mode suits your needs, then check that the appliance is compatible with the room temperature and that you have enough space to open the lid.
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Worth considering if you want extra chest freezer capacity while keeping a few items separate in a basket.
The title lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating.
Before choosing where to put it, check the dimensions and lid clearance, then check the climate class. If you prepare large batches of food, check the freezing capacity too.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperatures in that room. Check the minimum and maximum temperatures before buying. Beko says an SN-T class corresponds to 10 °C–43 °C, and states that only some Freezer Guard models can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C. If the room drops below 10 °C, check the manual for the model you’re considering.
A separate freezer is worth considering if your prepared portions or bulk buys regularly exceed the space you have and you can fit in another appliance. If space is limited or you only need extra capacity occasionally, compare the net freezer capacity and freezing capacity of the fridge-freezers you’re considering. In its tests, Que Choisir distinguishes everyday use from periods of more intensive freezing, such as after a food shop.
Compare annual energy use in kWh, freezer capacity and noise levels across models that meet your needs. The European Commission uses an A to G scale for these appliances, but the rating doesn’t replace comparing the figures and internal layout.
No, No Frost isn’t essential for storing prepared portions. If you want to reduce the maintenance involved in dealing with frost, check whether the model you’ve chosen has this function. Also look at the space in its compartments and how easy they are to access.
Before ordering, ask the retailer about collection arrangements and check that the appliance can be taken to the installation location. In France, the ministries responsible for the ecological transition point out that electrical and electronic equipment may contain components that are hazardous to the environment and must be collected appropriately.