Start by working out how much space you need for fresh food and frozen portions, rather than choosing the largest total capacity. A fridge-freezer handles both in one appliance; a separate freezer is a better choice if frozen storage is your priority and you have room for an extra appliance. If you mainly buy fresh food and shop often, a fridge on its own may be enough.
If you shop for several days at a time and freeze some of your meals, compare the available litres in each compartment. The total capacity alone won’t tell you how much space is set aside for each use.
If you cook in batches or regularly store food for freezing, check the dedicated capacity, how easy the drawers are to access and the appliance’s annual energy consumption.
To increase storage without taking over your kitchen, compare the dimensions, door opening and interior layout with the space you actually have available.
Worth considering if: you mainly buy fresh food to eat over the next few days.
Bear in mind: without a suitable freezer, you won’t have space to store frozen portions.
Worth considering if: you regularly store both fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the space allocated to the freezer reduces the room available for fresh food, so check the two capacities separately.
Worth considering if: you already have a suitable fridge and storing frozen portions is your main priority.
Bear in mind: this appliance takes up extra space and runs continuously.
| Consideration | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh and frozen storage | Compare the litres in each compartment with your usual shopping and portions. Don’t rely on the total capacity alone. | I keep fresh food for several days and freeze meals too, so I need enough room in both areas. Around 31% of shoppers would make this balance a priority. |
| Frozen food storage | Check the dedicated capacity, access to the drawers and whether the appliance can keep food at −18 °C. | When I prepare several meals in advance, I want to store my frozen portions without cramming them in. This would be the priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Continuous energy use | Compare kWh/year for appliances of the same type and with a similar usable capacity. | I don’t want to run a large capacity all the time if I rarely use it. Around 25% of shoppers would choose a size suited to their needs for this reason. |
| Size and access | Measure the space and delivery route; check the door clearance and access to the storage compartments. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to be able to install the appliance and open its doors without difficulty. For around 19% of shoppers, ease of access would come first. |
Two fridge-freezers with a similar total capacity may offer different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. You could find there’s not enough room for your pre-prepared portions, even if the appliance looks spacious.
Make a note of what you keep chilled and what you freeze during a typical week, then compare the stated capacity of each compartment.
ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, and that unnecessary capacity or features can increase energy consumption.
Choose a storage capacity that suits your usual needs and compare the kWh/year of models with a similar usable capacity.
No Frost deals with frost build-up; it doesn’t, by itself, determine how food is stored.
Check the temperatures: Anses recommends 0 to 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge and specifies −18 °C for storing frozen food.
Extra storage also requires space, easy access to the compartments and another appliance that runs continuously.
Before choosing a model, measure the delivery route and the space needed to open its door. Also compare its dimensions, noise level and kWh/year.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding fridge-freezer with separate capacities listed for the fridge and freezer compartments.
Worth considering if you’re comparing fridge-freezers with separate compartments and storage features that vary by model.
Worth considering if you want to compare different types of fridges and fridge-freezers, as well as some freezers.
This separate freezer is for households that already have a fridge and need more space for frozen portions.
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For extra frozen food storage alongside an existing fridge.
The product name states a capacity of 161 L. It also has three freezer drawers, a reversible door, a stated temperature range of −14 °C to −22 °C and energy class C.
Check the dimensions against the space you have, compare the kWh/year to assess energy use, and make sure the temperature can be set to −18 °C for storage.
Anses recommends a temperature of 0 to 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Check it, particularly when the appliance is very full or opened frequently.
Aim for −18 °C when storing frozen food, as recommended by Anses. Freezing does not destroy most germs, so make sure you also follow good hygiene practices when preparing and defrosting food.
No. No Frost can reduce frost build-up on models that have it, but it doesn’t replace having enough space for your portions, easy-to-access storage and the right storage temperatures.