For weekly shops, leftovers and a few prepared portions, a fridge freezer combines refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. If you regularly stock up on frozen food or do more batch cooking, a dedicated freezer may be a better choice; ADEME reminds us that these appliances run continuously, while UFC-Que Choisir highlights the greater floor space required by a chest freezer.
You need to store fresh food, leftovers and a moderate amount of frozen meals. Finding the right balance between fridge and freezer capacity is therefore essential, according to Anses and UFC-Que Choisir guides.
When long-term frozen storage regularly exceeds the capacity of a fridge freezer, it is worth considering a dedicated freezer. An upright freezer offers easy access through drawers, while a chest freezer focuses primarily on capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Before choosing, measure the available space, floor area and clearance needed for the doors or lid to open. The climate class must also match the temperature of the room where the appliance will be installed.
Start by dividing your needs between fresh and frozen food, then check the installation requirements, internal layout and energy consumption of the models you are comparing.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Divide the usable capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer litres separately. For the fridge compartment, UFC-Que Choisir uses 100 to 150 L for one person as a guide, followed by 50 L for each additional person. | I want fresh shopping and frozen portions to have an appropriate amount of space, without paying for capacity I will hardly use. |
| Keep food visible | Check the number of drawers, shelves, crispers and compartments. A chest freezer offers one large open space; plan to use baskets or boxes to organise larger quantities. | I want to find leftovers and prepared meals quickly so I can manage my stock more effectively. |
| Keep food cold | Check temperature stability, zone layout and defrosting instructions. Anses recommends 4 °C in the coldest area and advises against overfilling the fridge. | Adding new shopping and opening the door should not make everyday storage or cleaning more difficult. |
| Limit continuous energy use | Compare the energy class and annual consumption of appliances with similar types and capacities. Make sure any additional features match your actual needs. | I am looking for capacity that suits my habits, because fridges and freezers run continuously, as ADEME points out. |
An appliance may seem spacious while offering too little room for frozen meals, or it may have a large freezer that remains barely used.
Make a note of a typical week’s shopping, leftovers and portions to freeze, then compare the usable litres and layout of each zone.
A chest freezer can offer plenty of capacity, but it needs more floor space and its installation depends on the room temperature.
Measure the available space and lid clearance, then check the climate class and manufacturer’s instructions in the manual.
Manual defrosting may still be necessary when the exact model does not include a No Frost system.
Check the product specification and manual for the model you choose to find out which maintenance tasks apply.
Fridges and freezers run 24 hours a day; ADEME states that a larger size and unnecessary extra features can increase electricity consumption.
Compare the energy class and annual consumption of similar models, then choose only the capacity and features that suit your habits.
In France, Bosch offers fridge freezers, freezers and wide models, including ranges with options such as No Frost and XXL capacity.
Whirlpool sells both standard fridges and fridge freezers, in freestanding or integrated formats, including some models equipped with No Frost.
Beko offers fridges featuring technologies such as HarvestFresh and NeoFrost Dual Cooling, which the brand associates with fruit and vegetable storage and the separation of cooling environments.
Joybuy options for organising shopping, leftovers and prepared meals, mainly focusing on fridge freezers and a complementary upright freezer.
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An option for keeping fresh shopping and frozen portions separate in one appliance.
193 L fridge capacity and 89 L freezer capacity, with three freezer drawers, adjustable shelves, NoFrost, MultiAirflow, energy class E and stated consumption of 228 kWh/year.
Check the climate class for the intended room; 89 L of freezer space may be limiting for large stocks of frozen food.
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This fridge freezer is suitable for regular shopping with a moderate amount of food to freeze.
187 L fridge capacity and 75 L freezer capacity, four shelves including three adjustable ones, a salad crisper, three freezer drawers, energy class E and stated consumption of 215 kWh/year.
The Low Frost system requires manual defrosting once or twice a year, according to the product information. Its stated ambient temperature range is 16 to 38 °C.
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An option to consider when the freezer compartment needs to hold more prepared meals.
Stated capacities of 211 L for the fridge and 99 L for the freezer, Full Frost-Free system, electronic controls, Quick-Freeze function, reversible door and 60 cm width.
Check the full dimensions, climate class, annual consumption and internal layout before installation.
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This model is designed for households needing substantial separate capacity for fresh and frozen food.
Stated capacities of 330 L for the fridge and 165 L for the freezer, with Twin Cooling Plus, No Frost, LED lighting, Wi-Fi, water and ice dispenser, energy class E and stated consumption of 301 kWh/year.
At 81.7 cm wide and 71.5 cm deep, it requires considerable space. Also check the dispenser requirements and the freezer’s storage layout.
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A supplementary freezer for a household that already has a fridge for fresh food.
161 L capacity, three drawers, two shelves, No Frost, Multi Flow, Fast Freeze function, LED display, alarm, reversible door and energy class C.
This standalone freezer does not replace a fridge. Check its dimensions, climate class and annual consumption before planning where to install it.
Start by separating food that needs to stay chilled for a few days from food that needs to be frozen. A fridge freezer is suitable when both uses are regular but moderate; if frozen food, prepared meals or bulk purchases often exceed the freezer compartment’s capacity, compare it with adding a dedicated freezer and check the usable capacity of each zone.
Choose an upright freezer if easy access to portions, boxes and drawers is your priority. A chest freezer is better suited when your main requirement is a very large capacity and a suitable room is available; if so, plan a system for organising the inside. In both cases, check the storage time in the event of a power cut and the climate class.
For models where the manufacturer confirms No Frost technology, it is presented as limiting frost and reducing the need for manual defrosting. This feature is not available on every fridge or freezer: consult the technical specification and manual for the exact model.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the space needed to open and use the doors, drawers or lid. For a chest freezer, the floor area it occupies is particularly important; in a cellar, utility room or garage, check the manual to confirm that the climate class allows for the temperatures in that room.