If you need plenty of space for your harvest or bulk buys, start by considering a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and can keep its contents organised. An upright freezer makes it easier to reach individual portions, while a compact model or a large fridge freezer may be enough if you only need a little extra capacity. Before choosing, compare the usable capacity with the space you have, then check the room’s permitted temperature range and the appliance’s annual energy consumption.
If fruit, vegetables or bulk buys quickly fill your current freezer, work out how much extra capacity you need and where a separate appliance could go. With a deep chest freezer, also think about how you’ll reach food stored at the bottom.
If you often take out portions or ingredients, drawers or baskets can make it easier to keep everything organised. Compare their actual size with your containers and dishes, rather than judging by total capacity alone.
In a garage, cellar or pantry, check the temperatures the room can reach. The climate class and any low-temperature operating capability must suit the specific model, as Beko France and Whirlpool France point out in their guides.
Consider it: for large quantities of harvest or bulk packs, if you have a dedicated area of floor space.
Bear in mind: reaching food at the bottom takes careful organisation, and you’ll need space to open the lid.
Consider it: if you regularly take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: drawer sizes can make it harder to store particularly bulky items.
Consider it: for extra storage when space matters more than capacity.
Bear in mind: its smaller capacity may not be enough for a large harvest. Also check that the model is specifically designed for under-counter installation.
Consider it: if you only need limited freezer space and one appliance can meet your everyday refrigeration needs.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is shared with the fridge section, so check the freezer compartment’s usable capacity.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and overall size | Compare usable capacity in litres, the appliance’s dimensions and the space needed to open the door or lid. | When harvests or bulk buys start to pile up, I need enough storage without blocking the room. Around 33% of consumers put capacity first. |
| Access to portions | Check the size of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | If I regularly take out a prepared meal, I want to find the right portion without moving everything else; around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class and the instructions for the exact model. | If the appliance needs to go in a garage or cellar, I need to know whether it can operate at the temperatures in that room. Around 20% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Energy use and reliability | Compare kWh/year figures for appliances of similar capacity, and check the stated power-cut storage time and freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | With a freezer that I regularly replenish, I keep an eye on ongoing energy use and what happens during a power cut; around 20% of consumers prioritise these factors. |
France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control says that the energy label shows annual consumption in kWh. This figure is more useful when comparing appliances of a similar type and capacity. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously.
This wording doesn’t, by itself, tell you which ambient temperatures the appliance can handle. If the room falls outside the specified range, the appliance may not work properly.
Track the room’s temperature throughout the year, then check the instructions for the exact model. If it drops below 10 °C, look for an explicitly stated low-temperature operating capability rather than assuming that the climate class alone guarantees compatibility.
Food stacked at the bottom can be hard to find, even when the capacity seems generous.
Check the depth of the freezer and the clearance needed to open the lid. Keep frequently used items in the baskets and sort the rest by category.
For freezers of different sizes, the letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption for the storage capacity you need.
Look at the kWh/year figure alongside usable capacity, and compare appliances with similar capacities. Assess any extra features separately, based on whether you’ll actually use them.
According to France’s Ministry of Agriculture, a freezer compartment is for temporarily storing food that is already frozen; it isn’t a substitute for a freezer when you regularly need to freeze harvests or prepared meals.
For this kind of use, check that the appliance can freeze food and look at its freezing capacity. The Ministry recommends setting the freezer to -18 °C; also follow defrosting instructions before handling prepared food.
These examples can help you identify features to compare; they don’t apply to every model from a brand.
Worth considering, particularly if installing the appliance in a cold room. Always check the specific model you choose.
Worth considering for chest freezers when baskets and stated power-cut storage time are important to you.
Worth considering if you’re choosing between an upright freezer, a compact built-in under-counter model and a chest freezer.
These models cover two different needs: upright freezers and a small vertical model for finding portions easily, as well as chest freezers with top access. Capacities range from compact extra storage to a more spacious chest freezer. Start by choosing according to how much you need to store and the space available.
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A good option for organising portions in a separate appliance rather than a deep chest freezer.
The product title lists three drawers, two additional compartments, No Frost protection, a reversible door and a C energy rating.
Before placing it in an unheated room, check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range. Also check its kWh/year figure and stated power-cut storage time if these factors are important to your choice.
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Worth considering for harvests or bulk buys that need plenty of storage and a dedicated area of floor space.
The model is listed with fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating.
Plan how you’ll reach food at the bottom. If you’re considering a garage or cellar, check the model’s permitted temperature range rather than relying on wording in the product title.
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For extra portion storage if 60 L meets your needs, rather than for a large harvest.
This freestanding model is listed with three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
If you want to place it under a worktop, check the dimensions, ventilation requirements and door clearance. Its compact size alone doesn’t guarantee that it will fit there.
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For a little extra storage if top access suits your space.
The title lists a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, four-star freezer rating and an E energy rating.
Measure the space needed to open the lid. If you have a large harvest, check whether 99 L will hold the amount you actually want to store.
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For compact extra storage when you want to switch between fridge and freezer modes to suit your needs.
The model is listed with a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating.
Its 95 L capacity may limit how much you can store. Before installing it in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperature as well as how easy it is to access the contents from above.
No, not if you regularly need to freeze fresh food. France’s Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes a freezer compartment, intended for the limited storage of food that is already frozen, from a proper freezer. Check that the appliance can freeze food and look at its freezing capacity before planning to add large quantities.
No. The model’s permitted ambient temperature range must cover the temperatures in the room. Beko France, for example, states that climate class SN-T covers 10 to 43 °C. If the room drops below 10 °C, check that the specific model you’ve chosen is explicitly designed to operate at lower temperatures.
France’s Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting it to -18 °C. Anses explains that freezing at this temperature stops bacteria from multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. Follow food preparation, defrosting and storage precautions.
The annual consumption figure in kWh helps you compare appliances of a similar type and capacity, according to France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Consider it alongside the usable capacity: the figure alone won’t tell you whether the appliance has enough space for your supplies.