For portions prepared in advance, start by choosing according to the amount of frozen storage you genuinely need and how often you need to access it. An upright freezer makes everyday organisation easier, a chest freezer prioritises capacity but takes up more floor space, while a fridge freezer or existing compartment is only suitable if its separate freezer capacity genuinely covers your stock.
If you prepare individual or family-sized portions, prioritise suitable freezer capacity, drawers or baskets, and access that lets you find boxes without moving the entire stock. UFC-Que Choisir particularly highlights capacity and ease of use.
Measure the available width, depth and height before choosing. According to UFC-Que Choisir, chest freezers generally take up more floor space, while a fridge freezer avoids installing two appliances side by side.
A refrigeration appliance operates continuously. Compare kWh/year, noise level and storage time at a similar capacity: the EU energy label displays this information for applicable appliances.
Start with the usable capacity you need for your boxes, then check the organisation, location and continuous-use data for the model you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity and storage | Compare the capacity of the freezer compartments in litres, separately from the total capacity. Look at the drawers, baskets or compartments, as well as the dimensions and door-opening direction. | I want the portions, reserves and new additions to fit without losing access to boxes already in storage. |
| Adding new portions | Compare the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. Check the stated storage time and whether a fast-freezing function is available for the model. | After a meal-preparation session, I need to be able to add several portions without disrupting the existing stock. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare kWh/year between appliances with similar capacities and uses. Also check the energy rating, noise level in dB and noise class. | In an open-plan kitchen or small home, I am looking for an appliance whose noise and energy consumption remain suitable for continuous operation. |
| Installation in the room | Check the climate class or ambient temperature range. Measure the available space, ventilation clearances and access needed for delivery. | For a utility room, garage or narrow kitchen, I want to confirm that the model can be installed in the room’s actual conditions. |
In a fridge freezer, the fridge and freezer have separate capacities. A high total capacity can therefore conceal a freezer space that is too small for the portions you plan to store.
List the number and format of your boxes for one week, then compare them with the freezer capacity in litres and the drawers or baskets shown on the model’s product sheet.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. A function advertised for one specific appliance does not automatically apply to every chest freezer.
Compare the climate class and the model’s instructions with the minimum and maximum temperatures measured in the room before installation.
The freezer runs continuously, and appliances do not offer the same capacity or functions. A single letter is not enough to compare how they perform at an equivalent capacity.
Compare kWh/year, freezer capacity, noise and storage time between appliances of similar formats. ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances operate continuously.
Refrigeration appliances require an appropriate waste-treatment route. Collection, repair or disposal through a WEEE route can also affect how you organise the replacement.
Before ordering, find out whether your old appliance can be collected and check whether it can be repaired. ADEME states that an appliance can be handed to the retailer or delivery driver when it is replaced, or taken to a suitable recycling centre.
A useful benchmark for comparing a large-capacity upright freezer with a fridge featuring an integrated freezer compartment.
A brand worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer or installation in a cool room, subject to the conditions of the chosen model.
A useful benchmark for assessing the compromise of an integrated fridge freezer when both functions are being replaced at the same time.
A useful benchmark for compact freestanding chest freezers when the footprint needs to remain limited in a kitchen or flat.
These Joybuy options include fridge freezers, compact upright freezers and a chest freezer, allowing you to compare prepared-portion storage according to the space available and your preferred organisation.
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For a compact kitchen and replacing the fridge and freezer at the same time, its separate 75 l freezer capacity and three drawers make organised storage easier without needing a second appliance.
Width 54 cm, height 176 cm, 3.5 kg/24 h, stated storage time of 10 h, 215 kWh/year and 39 dB. The stated ambient range is 16 to 38 °C, so this model is not suitable for an unheated outbuilding.
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Its three drawers and two shelves are suitable for portions you need to access regularly in dedicated storage separate from the fridge.
No Frost, LED display, alarm, reversible door and Fast Freeze function stated down to -22 °C. Check the dimensions, kWh/year, noise, freezing capacity and storage time for this variant before buying.
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This compact format can provide additional storage for small portions in a kitchen or small indoor space.
Dimensions 44.5 × 47.5 × 84.5 cm, three storage levels, reversible door and stated freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h. Its 60 l capacity may be limited for several days of family-sized portions.
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This 140 l chest freezer is worth considering for a stock of portions or bulky containers when floor space is available.
Stated dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm, basket included, balanced lid, wheels and adjustable feet. With only one stated basket, keep an inventory so you can find portions stored at the bottom.
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This fridge freezer may suit a narrow kitchen when you are replacing just one appliance and 74 l of separate freezer capacity is enough for your stock.
Width 54 cm, 153 l fridge capacity, 74 l freezer capacity, Low Frost, reversible door and stated noise level of 39 dB. Check the number of drawers, kWh/year, storage time and climate range before installation.
Start with the freezer-compartment capacity in litres rather than the total capacity. Add the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you are adding many portions at once, then check storage time, kWh/year, noise and dimensions. The European Commission states that the energy label includes annual energy consumption, storage capacities and airborne noise emissions, among other information.
Yes, but only if the separately stated freezer capacity covers your actual stock of portions, with room for new additions. A fridge freezer avoids the footprint of two appliances, but its freezer capacity can be considerably lower than that of an upright or chest freezer: the Electrolux LNG7TE18S4, for example, offers 62 l of freezer capacity compared with 334 l for the Bosch GSN36AICM.
Only if the climate class and the model’s instructions cover the room’s actual temperatures. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this point; Liebherr states compatibility down to -15 °C through FrostProtect for the CFe 1870, a feature specific to this model and function.
Appliances covered by the European energy-labelling regulation carry a label ranging from A to G. It shows annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and airborne noise emissions, among other details; the QR code can provide access to additional information about the model.
Use a suitable disposal route rather than ordinary bulky-waste collection. ADEME states that a refrigeration appliance can be handed to the retailer or delivery driver when it is replaced, taken to the WEEE area of a recycling centre, repaired or directed towards reuse depending on its condition.