Start by choosing a fridge with enough fridge space for your dishes and containers without overfilling it, then look at how you can monitor the temperature. A display or alarm can help, but it can’t replace checking the coldest point: Anses recommends keeping it between 0 °C and +4 °C.
You’ll need to store containers and dishes while keeping your meals easy to reach. Check the fridge capacity and the space available on the shelves, rather than looking only at the advertised total capacity.
If you store perishable homemade meals, a clear temperature setting, thermometer or alarm can make monitoring easier. Anses recommends keeping these meals in the coldest part of the fridge and checking its temperature.
A table-top fridge can be a good option if space is limited and you prepare small quantities. However, make sure your containers fit without having to cram the food in.
Start by checking how much room you’ll actually have for chilled meals, then look at how you can monitor the coldest part of the fridge and check the appliance’s dimensions. Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge, so cold air can circulate.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity of the fridge compartment and the shelf height available for your containers. | When I have several meals to chill, I want to store my dishes without stacking them so high that they’re hard to reach or block air circulation. Around 45 % of consumers make storage space their top priority. |
| Temperature monitoring | Check the temperature controls, thermometer or alarm, then measure the temperature at the coldest point once the fridge is installed. | When storing perishable meals, I want to spot temperature changes rather than rely on the appliance display alone. This is the top priority for around 33 % of consumers. |
| Size | Measure the space available and check that the door can open fully. For a built-in fridge, check the dimensions of the housing. | If my kitchen is short on space, the fridge needs to fit the space available while leaving enough room for my meals. Around 22 % of consumers prioritise installation requirements. |
The temperature shown on the display doesn’t, by itself, tell you what temperature has been reached where you store perishable food. Anses recommends keeping the coldest point between 0 °C and +4 °C.
Once the fridge is installed and normally stocked, use a thermometer to check this point.
With a fridge-freezer, the total capacity includes the freezer, so it doesn’t tell you how much room there is for chilled meals.
Compare the usable capacity of the fridge compartment and check how much room your dishes will take up on the shelves.
Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge, so cold air can circulate. Tightly packed containers also make your meals harder to reach.
Make sure there’s enough room to arrange your containers without blocking airflow. A table-top fridge won’t be suitable if you already have to cram your dishes into it.
A fridge with plenty of space inside may not fit where you plan to put it. Whirlpool gives the dimensions of the WHMLF 6442 FXP4 as 59,7 × 186,5 × 70,9 cm; Electrolux specifies a housing size of 1894 × 560 × 550 mm for the ENT6ME19S4.
Measure the space, the access route needed for delivery and the clearance required for the door. For a built-in fridge, compare the housing dimensions with those of the exact model.
These model examples let you compare specific styles and features. Always check the specifications of the model you’re thinking of buying.
An example of a single-door fridge, giving you plenty of interior space for food that needs to stay chilled.
Fridge-freezers to consider if you also need a freezer, while keeping an eye on the space available for fresh meals.
An example of a built-in fridge-freezer to consider when your kitchen units determine which appliance will fit.
Two-door fridges to consider if you’re looking for separate spaces for fresh and frozen food.
An example of a table-top fridge for a small kitchen and a limited number of meals to store.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest point in your fridge between 0 °C and +4 °C. Check the temperature regularly and store perishable homemade meals in this part of the fridge, particularly those made with animal products.
No. These features can help you keep track, but they don’t replace measuring the temperature at the coldest point in your own conditions of use. Check it once the fridge is installed and avoid packing containers so tightly that they block airflow.
Anses advises against putting hot food in the fridge, as it can raise the temperature inside and cause condensation. It also recommends refrigerating food within two hours.
Don’t overfill the fridge, and leave room for air to circulate, as Anses recommends. Store perishable meals in the coldest part and keep opened food covered in suitable containers.
No. The energy rating doesn’t tell you how much room there is for your dishes or how the interior is laid out. If you’re buying in France, compare the annual energy consumption shown on the label, then check the usable fridge capacity and shelf dimensions separately.