Households that cook in batches
If you prepare several portions at once, think about how often you’ll need to find them. An upright freezer’s compartments and a chest freezer’s open space are organised in very different ways.
Who are these options for?
Households that buy food in bulk
A chest freezer can be a good choice for storing bulk purchases or large items, as long as you have enough floor space and can easily reach food at the bottom.
Households with an unheated room
If you’re planning to use a garage, cellar or pantry, compare the temperatures it actually reaches throughout the year with the operating range stated for the model you’ve chosen.
What should you compare?
Start with the food you want to store and how often you’ll need to access it. Then check that the style you’re considering suits the room and the specifications of the exact model.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare usable freezer capacity, then consider how the drawers, baskets or open space will accommodate your food. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the lid or pull out the drawers. | I want to find portions easily without moving all my frozen food around. For bulky items, I may prefer open storage that I can organise myself. |
| Location | Measure the appliance, the route to the room and the clearances specified in the manual. Beko explains that a climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed to operate in. Compare this with the temperatures in your chosen location. | If my freezer is going in an unheated garage or pantry, I’ll check the temperature range specified for that model rather than assuming that a chest freezer will automatically be suitable. |
| Energy use and power cuts | Compare the stated energy consumption in kWh/year for appliances with similar capacities and uses. Separately check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut and whether the model has any alerts. | I want to factor in the fact that an appliance runs continuously, as the ADEME points out. If the room isn’t checked often, storage time and alerts are also important considerations. |
| Extra storage or replacement | For a fridge freezer, distinguish between the freezer capacity and the total capacity. For an under-counter model, check the space available and the installation requirements in the manual. | Is my fridge still big enough? If so, a separate freezer could give me the extra space I need. If both compartments are too small, I’ll also compare the capacities of new fridge freezers. |
What should you watch out for?
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Choosing a freezer based on capacity alone
A large chest freezer has room for bulky items, but frequently used portions may be harder to find at the bottom.
Make a list of the food you usually store. Compare an upright freezer’s drawers with a chest freezer’s baskets and open space, taking into account how often you’ll need to reach for each item.
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Assuming any freezer will work in a garage
The ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for depends on the model. If the room falls outside this range, the freezer may not work as expected.
Check the room’s seasonal temperatures and look up the climate class or any specific feature explicitly stated for the model you’re considering.
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Relying on the energy rating alone
The ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. The rating letter doesn’t replace the stated annual energy consumption or a comparison with appliances of similar capacity.
Check the kWh/year, usable capacity and defrosting type on the specification sheets for the appliances you’re considering.
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Forgetting about power cuts and alerts
The stated storage time and any alerts are particularly useful to check if the appliance will be installed in a room that isn’t monitored often.
Check the specification sheet or manual for the exact model to find out how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut and what alerts it offers.
A guide to some of the brands
These examples illustrate different styles. The features described apply to the ranges or models mentioned, not to every appliance from each brand.
Beko
Beko’s chest freezer range may appeal if you’re looking for plenty of storage or plan to install your appliance in an unheated room.
- Beko offers high-capacity chest freezers and lists its Freezer Guard feature on selected models.
- Check the capacity and temperature range of the exact model. This feature isn’t available on every Beko freezer.
Bosch
The Bosch GSV36VWEV upright freezer is an example of a model suited to households that regularly take out individual portions.
- Bosch lists a capacity of 249 l, a Big Box compartment and a stated storage time of 11 h for this model.
- Compare its capacity, layout and energy consumption with those of other upright freezers you’re considering.
Liebherr
The Liebherr SUFNc 375i Prime is an example of an under-counter built-in freezer for a modest amount of extra storage.
- Liebherr lists a capacity of 80 l and a niche size of 86 to 92 × 60 × 56 cm for this model.
- Check the full built-in installation requirements in the manual. A capacity of 80 l won’t meet the same needs as a large, separate freezer.
Samsung
The Samsung RL38C600CWW fridge freezer is a useful point of comparison if you’re thinking about replacing your current appliance.
- Samsung lists a total capacity of 390 l, a width of 595 mm and a C energy rating for this model.
- The total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is reserved for frozen food. Check the freezer compartment separately, along with the access route to its intended location.
Options available on Joybuy
These options include a fridge freezer to consider as a replacement, an upright freezer for organising portions and chest freezers in different capacities to add extra storage. Before checking the specifications of the model you’re interested in, make sure its style suits the way you’ll use it.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 360 l three-door fridge freezer
Worth considering if you’d rather replace your fridge freezer than add a separate appliance. The model name indicates a total capacity of 360 l, Total No Frost technology and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity separately, along with the dimensions and installation requirements.
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Heinrich´s, 161 l upright freezer
Its upright design makes it easy to organise portions in separate compartments. The product name lists three drawers, No Frost, an alarm and a C energy rating. Before choosing a location, check the dimensions, annual energy consumption and storage time in the event of a power cut.
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AUCMA, 291 l convertible chest freezer
This chest freezer can store a larger quantity of food if you have enough floor space. The product name lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Organise food at the bottom carefully, and check the ambient temperature range if you plan to put the appliance in a garage.
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AUCMA, 95 l convertible chest freezer
This model is better suited to compact extra storage than to keeping a large reserve of food. Its name lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and an E energy rating. Check the stated storage time during a power cut and make sure the appliance is suitable for the room temperature.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 l chest freezer
This chest freezer gives you extra storage separate from your fridge freezer, provided you have enough room to open the lid. The product name lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Also compare its annual energy consumption and storage time, and check the temperature range for its intended location.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chest or upright freezer better for storing prepared meals?
An upright freezer usually makes it easier to take out portions regularly, thanks to its compartments. A chest freezer offers more flexibility for bulky items, but you’ll need to organise access to food at the bottom. Que Choisir recommends checking that the drawers and food are easy to handle in the appliance you choose.
How do you choose a freezer for a garage or cellar?
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the operating range stated for the exact model. As Beko explains, this range depends on the appliance’s climate class, so don’t assume a standard freezer will be suitable for an unheated room.
How do you compare the energy consumption of two freezers?
Check their stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year and their usable capacity. Where possible, compare models designed for the same purpose. The ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously, so its energy rating alone doesn’t give you the full picture of its energy use.
Why check the storage time in the event of a power cut?
The stated storage time helps you compare how long an appliance can keep food frozen under the conditions specified by the manufacturer. Que Choisir notes that this information isn’t always included in product descriptions. Check the specification sheet or manual, especially if the appliance won’t be monitored often.