For storing large quantities, opt for a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and don’t need to access the bottom of your stock often. If you regularly take out portions and want to find them quickly, an upright freezer may suit you better. A compact model works for smaller stocks, while a fridge-freezer is mainly useful if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance. In every case, compare usable capacity, the space it takes up, the permitted room temperature and the stated power-cut storage time.
If you freeze several meals in advance and often take out individual portions, drawers or adjustable sections can make it easier to keep everything organised. Check that your containers fit in the compartments and that the usable capacity is enough for your stock.
If you buy in bulk or store large containers, a chest freezer’s open space could be a good fit. You’ll also need enough floor space and a plan for finding food stored underneath other items. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this trade-off between capacity and accessibility.
A table-top or under-counter freezer can supplement your existing appliances if you don’t need to store much. If you also need to buy a fridge, it’s worth considering a fridge-freezer. Compare the space set aside for frozen food, not just the total capacity.
For batch-cooked meals or frozen food stocks, a chest freezer is best suited to storing items in an open space, while an upright makes it easier to separate portions you reach for often. A table-top or under-counter model takes up less room but holds less; a fridge-freezer makes most sense if you also need a fridge.
Worth considering: for large stocks or bulky containers, if you have enough room to open the lid.
Bear in mind: the top-opening design makes food at the bottom less easy to reach.
Worth considering: if you sort portions by meal and take them out frequently.
Bear in mind: drawers and shelves can limit the space available for some larger dishes.
Worth considering: when space is limited and you only need to store a modest amount of frozen food.
Bear in mind: check the usable capacity before relying on it for a regular, substantial stock.
Worth considering: if you also need to buy an appliance for keeping fresh food.
Bear in mind: only part of its total capacity is dedicated to frozen food.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Usable capacity in litres and the space actually available for your containers; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you add a lot of fresh food at once. | If I batch-cook lots of meals or buy in bulk, I want to store my larger containers without disrupting the rest of my stock. Around 31% of consumers put capacity first. |
| Access to portions | The layout and dimensions of the drawers, baskets or shelves, and whether the interior can be rearranged. | If I take out a meal several times a week, I want to find the right portion without moving everything else. Easy access and storage come first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Installation | The appliance’s dimensions, access routes and required clearance; the permitted room temperature for the intended location. | If I have a narrow kitchen or an unheated room, I first need to know whether the appliance can be installed and operate there. This is a priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Power-cut storage time and ongoing use | The stated storage time in the event of a power cut, any alarm features and annual energy consumption in kWh, compared between appliances of similar format and capacity. | If I keep a large stock permanently, I want to know how long the appliance is expected to keep it frozen during a power cut and how much energy it uses. Around 15% of consumers say this is their main concern. |
A large chest freezer may be awkward if you take out portions every day. Conversely, the compartments in an upright freezer may make it harder to store a large dish.
Measure your usual containers and check them against the interior layout, the appliance’s dimensions and the way it opens.
The permitted room temperature range depends on the model. Beko says some of its chest freezers can operate in temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to its entire range or to other appliances.
Check the climate class or temperature range in the manual for the exact model, then compare it with the temperatures in your chosen location.
A technology that limits frost doesn’t determine how easy it is to organise portions or remove the need for other maintenance.
Check the cooling system, maintenance instructions and interior layout. Label and date your portions whatever system you choose.
According to Anses, at −18 °C domestic freezing stops bacteria from multiplying but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. It’s therefore important to maintain the cold chain.
Prepare portions that suit your meals and follow Anses guidance on defrosting and eating them.
Beko offers chest freezers designed for storing larger stocks.
The brand offers chest freezers, as well as table-top and under-counter models.
Its upright freezers include models designed to separate food into compartments.
The range includes upright freezers designed for storing food stocks.
These models include a compact upright for extra portions, a 161-litre upright with separate compartments, and three chest freezers ranging from 95 to 140 litres for modest stocks. If you need to store much larger quantities or want a combined appliance, use the same capacity and installation criteria before choosing another model.
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Worth considering for extra portions if 60 litres is enough for you; this capacity limits the space available for larger stocks.
The product title states that it has an adjustable temperature, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the compartment layout before buying, along with the stated power-cut storage time and the permitted room temperature for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you’d rather separate portions into compartments than stack them in a chest freezer.
The product title mentions No Frost, an LED display, a reversible door hinge, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, interior layout and stated power-cut storage time to see whether it suits your installation.
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Worth considering for a modest stock if you have enough room to access the freezer from above; 95 litres may not be enough for large quantities stored regularly.
The product title states that it can be switched between fridge and freezer modes, and mentions a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating. If you plan to install it in an unheated room, check the model’s permitted room temperature range.
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This model could work as an extra freezer if 99 litres meets your needs and there’s enough clearance to open the lid.
The product title states that it has a four-star rating, an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Check the power-cut storage time and permitted room temperature range before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for a modest stock if a top-opening design suits the way you store and take out food.
The product title mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating. Check that the lid can open fully where you plan to put it, then compare the stated storage time during a power cut and freezing capacity for the model.
Choose based on how often you take out portions and how much you need to store. A chest freezer offers open space for larger stocks, while the compartments in an upright make it easier to organise meals you reach for often. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these two formats; whichever you choose, check that the usable capacity and interior can accommodate your containers.
Only if the model’s permitted room temperature range covers the temperatures in your garage. Some appliances are rated by their manufacturers for temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to every freezer. Check the manual for the model you’re considering.
The stated storage time helps you assess how long a freezer can keep food frozen during a power cut. Freezing capacity, expressed in kg/24 h, is useful if you add a lot of fresh food at once. Test conditions matter: for example, UFC-Que Choisir measures during its tests how long food stays below −9 °C after a simulated power cut.
Check their stated annual energy consumption in kWh and their energy ratings, then compare models of a similar format and capacity. Check interior space and the permitted room temperature range separately: an energy rating doesn’t tell you about these practical considerations.
No. According to Anses, domestic freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. Defrost portions using its recommended methods and eat defrosted food promptly.