Households that prepare several meals in advance
If you keep both meals to eat soon and portions to freeze, work out how much space you need in each compartment separately. The appliance’s total capacity doesn’t tell you how that space is divided.
Who is this choice for?
People who shop for several days at a time
A big shop can put pressure on both your fridge and freezer space. Compare a fridge freezer with an additional freezer, based on which compartment is actually short of space in your home.
Households with an extra room
A cellar, utility room or garage may be suitable for a separate freezer, provided its dimensions and the room temperature meet the installation requirements for your chosen model. You can’t tell whether it’s suitable from the appliance’s format alone.
What should you check before choosing?
Start by identifying whether you’re short of space for fresh food, frozen food or both. Then check that the appliance you’re considering is suitable for its location and the way you store your shopping.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh and frozen capacity | Compare the usable capacity in litres for each compartment, not just the total capacity. Que Choisir specifically recommends distinguishing a small freezer compartment from one suited to storing a large amount of frozen food. | I keep ingredients and meals chilled, but how many portions do I also need to freeze at the same time? |
| Location | Measure the appliance, access route and clearances specified in the manual. If it’s going in an unheated room, check the ambient temperatures the model can handle; Que Choisir highlights the importance of the climate class. | Would an extra freezer fit in my kitchen or spare room without obstructing the door or exceeding the recommended installation conditions? |
| Energy use and noise | Compare appliances with a similar capacity for your needs. The European Commission says the energy label shows information including annual energy consumption, capacity and airborne noise emissions. | If the appliance is going in a living space, I’ll check how noisy it is too, rather than choosing based on the energy rating alone. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers and compartments, and how easy they are to access. Keep an inventory of what you have in stock: ADEME recommends checking before you shop to avoid buying duplicates. | I want to find prepared portions easily and see what’s left before I do another shop. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Looking only at the total capacity
Two appliances with a similar total capacity can have different amounts of space for refrigeration and freezing. A small freezer compartment may not be large enough for portions you freeze regularly, as Que Choisir notes in relation to storing a large amount of frozen food.
Estimate separately how much food you need to keep chilled and how much you need to freeze, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment.
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Choosing a chest freezer without planning where it will go
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether a chest freezer is right for you. You need enough room to install it and open the lid, and the ambient temperature must be within the range specified for the model.
Measure the space and the route to the room, then check the manual for the required clearances and climate class.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
The rating doesn’t tell you how much capacity you need or how noisy the appliance is. The European Commission says the energy label also shows annual energy consumption, storage capacity and airborne noise emissions.
Compare this information across appliances whose format and capacity suit the way you’ll use them.
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Assuming a feature applies to an entire range
Frost-free features and stated ambient temperature ranges from Bosch, Liebherr or Beko apply to specific models or ranges, not all their appliances.
Once you’ve checked the capacity and dimensions, confirm the feature and installation requirements on the product page and in the manual for the model you’re considering.
A few brands to know
These examples from different ranges can help you identify which features to check, but they’re no substitute for looking at the specific model.
Bosch
Bosch offers freestanding fridge freezers, with features that vary by model.
- For the KGN36VLED, Bosch lists 237 l of fridge capacity, 89 l of freezer capacity, NoFrost and 39 dB: compare each specification with your needs.
- These specifications apply to the KGN36VLED and aren’t representative of every Bosch fridge freezer.
Liebherr
Liebherr offers freestanding freezers, with NoFrost or SmartFrost features available on selected models.
- Liebherr says appliances with FrostProtect are designed to work in ambient temperatures as low as -15 °C.
- This temperature range doesn’t apply to the entire range. Before installing a freezer in an unheated room, check the permitted temperatures for your chosen model.
Beko
Beko offers both fridge freezers and chest freezers, with installation requirements that vary by model.
- Beko says chest freezers with Freezer Guard can operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C; for the B5RCNE405HG fridge freezer, the stated limit is -5 °C.
- These temperature limits aren’t interchangeable. Check the ambient temperature range for the exact model, even if you’re installing it in a garage or cellar.
Appliances for these needs on Joybuy
This selection includes fridge freezers for keeping fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance, as well as an upright freezer and a chest freezer to consider if your current fridge has enough room for fresh food.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 4-door fridge freezer, 467 L
For keeping fresh and frozen food in one appliance: stated total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost system and energy rating E. Check how the capacity is divided between the two compartments, as well as the dimensions and clearance needed to open the doors in your chosen location.
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CHiQ JR263LGE, 262 L black fridge freezer
An all-in-one fridge and freezer with stated dimensions of 54 cm wide and 176 cm high, and a Low Frost system. Check the clearance needed to open the door and the installation requirements before deciding where to put it.
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CHiQ JR227LSE, 227 L silver fridge freezer
This fridge freezer has a stated capacity of 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer. Compare the freezer capacity with the number of portions you want to store at the same time. Its stated width is 54 cm; check the height, depth and required clearances too.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L stainless steel upright freezer
A way to add freezer space if your current fridge already meets your needs for fresh food. The model name lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost and energy rating C; check its dimensions, annual energy consumption and the permitted ambient temperatures for your chosen location.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering for extra storage if you have enough room to open a chest freezer from the top. This 291 L model is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes, so it doesn’t provide two separate compartments at the same time. Also check the permitted ambient temperature before installing it in a cellar or garage.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fridge with a small freezer compartment enough for prepared meals?
It could be suitable if you only freeze food occasionally and mainly need fridge space. If you regularly freeze lots of portions or store a large amount of frozen food, Que Choisir recommends looking beyond a small freezer compartment. Compare the freezer capacity of a fridge freezer or a separate appliance instead.
How much fridge space do I need?
Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 l of usable fridge space for one person, then adding 50 l for each additional person. This is a guide to fridge capacity: work out separately how much food and how many portions you want to freeze at the same time.
Can you put a chest freezer in a cellar or garage?
Only if the room temperature falls within the range permitted for your chosen model. Check its climate class and manual: Liebherr and Beko say that some of their relevant ranges can operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C, but this limit doesn’t apply to all their freezers.
How does the energy label help you compare these appliances?
For the household fridges and freezers covered by the scheme, the European energy label shows information including an A to G rating, annual energy consumption, storage capacity and airborne noise emissions, according to the European Commission. Compare these details across models that can meet a similar capacity requirement, rather than looking at the rating alone.
What should you look at besides the capacity in litres?
Check how easy the drawers are to access, how noisy the appliance is, and whether it suits a big shop or the portions you want to freeze. Que Choisir’s test methods also look at factors such as temperature stability, freezing performance and how long food stays frozen during a power cut. These tell you more than the stated capacity alone.