If you want to access home-cooked portions regularly, an upright freezer with compartments that suit your containers is likely to be the best choice. Consider a chest freezer for larger stocks if you have enough floor space and a plan for organising it. A fridge-freezer may be enough for a few portions, provided its freezer capacity meets your needs. Whatever the format, check where it will go, its energy consumption and food storage requirements.
If you regularly prepare meals, sauces or individual portions, you’ll want to find a container without having to move everything else out of the way. An upright freezer with compartments can make it easier to keep things organised. Check that the drawers fit the containers you usually use.
A chest freezer offers open storage space for bulk buys, family meals or large items. However, you’ll need enough floor space and a system for finding food stored at the bottom.
If you can’t fit another appliance and only freeze a few portions, consider the freezer compartment in a fridge-freezer. It’s the freezer capacity, not the total capacity of the appliance, that tells you whether it will be big enough.
Start with the containers you need to store and how often you’ll access them, then check the available space and the appliance’s features.
Consider it : if you want to organise different portions and regularly find a particular container.
Bear in mind : the drawers limit the space available for larger containers.
Consider it : for large quantities or food that doesn’t fit easily into drawers.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to set aside floor space and organise access to food stored further down.
Consider it : for a few portions, when there isn’t room for a separate appliance.
Bear in mind : only part of its total capacity is for frozen food.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Compartment layout and depth; space for your containers and whether the drawers open fully. | If I often reach for a particular portion among several prepared meals, I want to find it without disrupting everything else. Easy access and organisation are the main priority for around 40 % of consumers. |
| Storage capacity | Freezer capacity in litres and space for the shape of your containers, rather than the total capacity of a fridge-freezer. | To store bulk buys or family meals, I need room for bulky containers. Around 30 % of consumers prioritise storage capacity. |
| Available space | Dimensions, clearance for the doors or lid, and the permitted room temperature for the intended location. | In a narrow kitchen, I can only choose an appliance that remains practical once installed. Available space at home comes before other criteria for around 20 % of consumers. |
| Food storage and everyday use | Annual energy consumption, noise, stated power-cut storage time and features that suit your needs. | If keeping food safely and energy use are my main concerns, I compare these features before choosing a format. This is the priority for around 10 % of consumers. |
For the appliances covered, the European energy label includes information such as annual energy consumption, compartment capacity and noise levels, according to the European Commission. Compare the figures for the models you’re considering : the energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you everything about how an appliance will suit your needs.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, and follow safe defrosting advice. A larger freezer doesn’t replace these practices.
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether the lid will open properly or whether you’ll be able to reach portions stored at the bottom. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a chest freezer takes up more floor space than an upright model.
Measure the space, the access needed for delivery and the clearance required to open the lid. If you’re storing food prepared on different dates, plan how you’ll organise the containers too.
The total capacity of a fridge-freezer includes the fridge compartment, so it doesn’t show how much space is available for frozen food.
Check the freezer compartment capacity separately. To compare energy use between models of similar capacity, also check their annual kWh figures on the energy label.
The permitted room temperature depends on the specific model. A model advertised as suitable for a cold room doesn’t mean other freezers from the same brand are too.
Before installing a freezer in a cellar or garage, check the permitted room-temperature range and the conditions in the manual for that exact model.
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in freezers, with different storage options depending on the model.
Beko’s range includes chest freezers for different storage needs.
Liebherr offers NoFrost upright freezers in different sizes, both freestanding and built-in.
These Joybuy appliances show three ways to store home-cooked food : a freezer compartment built into a fridge-freezer, a dedicated upright freezer or a small chest freezer. To choose, start with the freezer capacity you need and the space you actually have available.
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Worth considering if you’d rather have a fridge-freezer than install a separate appliance. The 467 L in the product name refers to the whole appliance : check the freezer capacity separately to make sure it meets your needs. Four-door model with Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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Consider this if you want a dedicated appliance with drawers to keep different foods separate. The model name indicates a capacity of 161 L, No Frost protection, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Its stated temperature range is −14 to −22 °C : check the setting that’s right for you, as well as the appliance dimensions.
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Another option to consider if you want to store a few home-cooked meals in a fridge-freezer. The 360 L refers to the stated total capacity, not just the freezer compartment : check the freezer capacity before choosing. Three-door model with Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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Worth comparing if you’re after a small dedicated chest freezer rather than a large storage space. The model offers a 99 L capacity, a removable wire basket and an adjustable thermostat. Check that you have enough room to open the lid, and plan how to organise things if you’re storing different types of food.
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Worth considering if you need a small-capacity dedicated appliance for a few portions. The model name indicates a 60 L capacity, three drawers, a reversible door and an adjustable thermostat. If you prepare lots of meals or store large containers, check that the capacity and drawer layout will be enough.
No. Anses states that freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. Freeze meals as soon as they’re ready to store, and follow safe defrosting advice.
Anses recommends defrosting food in the fridge, using the defrost setting on a microwave, or quickly by cooking or reheating it. It advises eating defrosted food promptly, within a maximum of three days, and not refreezing it.
For domestic refrigeration appliances covered by European energy labelling, the European Commission lists an A to G rating, annual energy consumption, compartment capacity and noise levels. For your portions, compare freezer capacity. For appliances of similar capacity, also compare their annual kWh figures rather than looking at the rating letter alone.
The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, or returned to a retailer. Don’t leave them out with your general waste.