To store a large harvest or several batches of home-cooked meals, first choose between the capacity of a chest freezer and the drawer access of an upright model. A small freezer or fridge-freezer is a better fit if you have less to store. In every case, check the space available and the permitted ambient temperature range for the model before installing it.
If you store lots of fruit, vegetables or prepared food at once, dedicated capacity matters more than easy access to each container. However, a chest freezer needs plenty of floor space and some organisation. UFC-Que Choisir highlights its large capacity as a key feature of this style.
If you regularly take out a portion or meal, drawers and clearly separated categories can make it easier to find what you need. An upright freezer may be worth comparing with a chest freezer, although you should also check that it has enough capacity for your batches.
Whether you’re looking at a cellar, garage or small home, start by measuring the space and checking the room temperature. Make sure the specific model is suitable for use in a cold room; don’t assume it is based on its design.
For homegrown harvests and home-cooked meals, work out what matters most to you: how much you need to freeze, access to portions, where you’ll install the appliance or how much space it takes up. A chest freezer is a good choice if you need plenty of capacity, while an upright model makes it easier to organise your food. A small appliance or fridge-freezer means accepting less freezer space.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for large quantities | Compare usable capacity and external dimensions. If you’ll be adding lots of fresh food at once, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | If I’m freezing a harvest or several batches on the same day, I want to avoid running out of space before I’ve portioned everything up. Around 36% of consumers in this group would make capacity their top priority. |
| Access and organisation | Look at the drawers or baskets, how they’re arranged and how much space you need to open the door or lid. | If I take out a portion often, I’d rather find the right category straight away than search through everything. Around 29% of consumers in this group would prioritise this kind of organised access. |
| Suitable for your room | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified in the model’s instructions. Also check the required clearances. | If the only space I have is an unheated cellar or garage, I need to be able to install the appliance there under the conditions specified for it. Around 21% of consumers in this group would make suitability for their room their top priority. |
| Space required | Measure the space and the route to it, then compare usable freezer capacity. For appliances of the same type and similar capacity, also check the kWh/year figure on the energy label. | If I don’t have room for a large dedicated appliance, I’m looking for extra freezer space that will fit in my home, even if that means limiting how much I store. Around 14% of consumers in this group would put a compact design first. |
A large chest freezer may meet your storage needs, but it could be difficult to get through a doorway or open in its final position.
Measure the route to the room, the available floor space, the clearance needed to open the lid fully and any clearances specified in the instructions.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for. For example, Beko specifies a range of 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T; this does not confirm that it can be used below 10 °C.
Check the room temperature throughout the year and look up the permitted range for the exact model. Some models are designed to work at low temperatures, but this doesn’t apply across an entire brand’s range.
If you keep an entire harvest in one appliance, its stated storage time during a power cut becomes an important factor. Consider the conditions under which this figure was measured.
Compare this figure across the models you’re considering and check whether they have a temperature alarm. During a power cut, avoid opening the appliance unnecessarily.
Containers that are hard to identify make it more difficult to rotate your stock. The Anses also points out that freezing does not destroy most micro-organisms.
Label containers with their contents and the date, keep different categories separate and freeze prepared food before it reaches the end of its storage life.
These brands offer models worth comparing for the styles and features discussed here. The specifications mentioned apply to the named models or ranges, not every freezer from each brand.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a chest freezer for an unheated room and want a model that specifically features Freezer Guard.
Its chest and upright freezers let you compare horizontal storage with vertical storage in drawers.
Worth comparing among chest freezers if defrosting and installation in a cold room are important to you.
A fridge-freezer could be an option if you’re already replacing your fridge and only need some extra freezer space.
This selection includes chest freezers with different capacities, an upright model and a fridge-freezer that combines refrigeration and freezing. If you have a large harvest, compare the actual space available for frozen food rather than the total capacity of a fridge-freezer.
Image unavailable
This 291 L chest freezer is suited to households looking to set aside dedicated space for harvests or several batches of food.
The product title lists a convertible fridge-freezer function, a removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital controls and a defrost drain.
If you’re installing it in a cellar or garage, confirm the permitted ambient temperature range. If you’ll be storing a large amount of food, also compare its stated storage time during a power cut.
Image unavailable
This fridge-freezer is worth considering if you want refrigeration and freezing in one appliance, and your frozen food storage needs can be met by its dedicated freezer compartment.
The product title lists a total capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. The total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for freezing, so check the freezer compartment’s capacity before planning what to store.
Also check the appliance’s dimensions and the ambient temperature range specified for the space where you plan to put it.
Image unavailable
This 161 L upright freezer is suited to people who prefer to organise portions and prepared meals in drawers rather than a chest freezer.
The product title lists No Frost, an LED display, a reversible door hinge and an alarm. It gives an adjustable temperature of -14 °C to -22 °C; this should not be confused with the permitted ambient temperature in the room.
Check its dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time during a power cut against your installation requirements and the amount you plan to store.
Image unavailable
This 99 L chest freezer is a good option if you’re looking for extra storage, provided it has enough room for the portions or smaller harvests you plan to freeze.
The product title lists a removable metal basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid, four-star freezing and an E energy rating.
If you’re planning to freeze a large harvest, compare capacities first. Also check the ambient temperature range and storage time during a power cut for your chosen location.
Image unavailable
This 140 L chest freezer gives you dedicated storage without having to go straight for a very large model.
The product title lists a basket, counterbalanced lid, adjustable temperature, adjustable feet and an E energy rating.
If you’re freezing large quantities at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. Also check the appliance’s storage time during a power cut and its ambient temperature range.
No. The model’s specified ambient temperature range must cover the temperature in the room. Beko gives a range of 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T, while Beko and Whirlpool state that certain specific models can operate down to -15 °C. Always check the instructions for the appliance you choose.
The Anses uses -18 °C as the benchmark for home freezing and explains that freezing stops bacteria from multiplying without destroying most micro-organisms. Freeze prepared food promptly rather than waiting until the end of its use-by date, and never refreeze food once it has thawed.
No. Start by choosing a suitable capacity and a layout that makes it easy to find your food. No Frost is a feature you can compare based on your maintenance preferences. UFC-Que Choisir also considers temperature stability, freezing performance and ease of use in its freezer tests.
Compare their annual consumption in kWh when the appliances are a similar size and capacity, rather than looking at the energy rating alone. The Ministry of the Economy describes the energy label as a summary of an appliance’s characteristics, helping you consider its consumption in the context of the model you’re looking at.