For a large stock of frozen food, first choose between the open space of a chest freezer and the compartment-by-compartment access of an upright model. A chest freezer makes it easier to store large containers, while an upright helps you find portions you use regularly. A compact or under-counter model is better suited as an extra freezer when space is limited. If you plan to put the appliance in an unheated cellar or garage, check that the room temperature stays within the range permitted for that exact model.
If you want to keep frozen food or prepared meals for several weeks, set aside a dedicated space. A chest freezer offers open storage for containers of different shapes and sizes; a large upright makes it easier to organise your stock if you dip into it often.
If you prepare meals in advance, easy access to tubs and bags matters just as much as capacity. Drawers in an upright, or baskets in a chest freezer, help you separate different types of food and find the portions you need.
If you’re using a cellar, pantry or garage that gets cold in winter, compare the room temperature with the ambient temperature range allowed for the model. For example, Beko says its HSM27050 can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C. This does not apply to all freezers.
Start with how much you need to store and how much space you have, then check how easy it is to access your food and whether the appliance is suitable for the room where you plan to put it.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and format | Compare usable capacity in litres, external dimensions and the clearance needed to open the door or lid. Que Choisir describes chest freezers with capacities of up to 600 L and upright models generally around 200 L, rising to 400 L for the largest. | “ I want to store several weeks’ worth of groceries or meals without the freezer taking up an awkward amount of space. ” A small model is better suited as an extra freezer if my regular shopping includes large containers. |
| Access to food | Check how many drawers, baskets or compartments there are and how easy they are to remove. With a chest freezer, think about how you’ll reach food stored at the bottom. | “ I take out portions regularly and want to find them without moving everything else. ” If I mainly store large packs, open storage may be more convenient. |
| Where you’ll put it | Compare the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures allowed in the manual with the temperatures in the room. A claim that a freezer can be used in a cold room applies to that particular model, not every appliance from the same brand. | “ The freezer will go in an unheated garage or cellar, so it needs to work at the temperatures that room actually reaches. ” |
| Power cuts and freezing capacity | Check each model’s power-cut storage time in hours and freezing capacity in kg/24 h. A temperature alarm can alert you to a problem, but it does not extend the storage time. | “ I keep a large stock of food and I’m concerned about power cuts. ” If I often add a lot of fresh food at once, freezing capacity is worth checking too. |
| Use and maintenance | Check the energy label and declared annual consumption in kWh for appliances of a similar type and capacity. Separately, check whether the model has a No Frost function and how noisy it is if it will be near a living space. | “ My appliance will run all the time, so I want to compare its energy consumption and maintenance requirements. ” The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how much storage space there is or what cleaning is required. |
A large chest freezer takes up floor space and can make food at the bottom harder to reach. An upright makes it easier to organise your food, but usually has less capacity than a large chest freezer.
Measure the space and the clearance needed to open the appliance, then check that the internal storage suits the packaging you use most often : portions, tubs and large bags.
The temperature in a cellar or garage may fall outside the range allowed for a particular appliance. A claim that a freezer can operate down to −15 °C, such as Beko’s for the HSM27050, applies only to that model.
Take readings in the room over a representative period and compare them with the ambient temperature limits in the manual before you choose.
The size of the freezer doesn’t tell you how long food will stay frozen during a power cut. Product specifications give different storage times for different models : Bosch states 12 h for the GSN58AWEV, while Whirlpool states 41 h for the W3RHS19DW.
Compare the stated storage time in hours for the models you’re considering, and check whether they have a temperature alarm if that would be useful to you.
A power cut that lasts longer than the stated storage time could put a large stock of food at risk.
A large chest freezer needs to fit through doorways and up or down stairs, and there must be enough room to open it once it’s in place.
Check the packed dimensions and access routes in your home, as well as the delivery, installation and old-appliance collection services available with your order.
These examples highlight features to compare on specific models; they don’t describe every appliance from each brand.
A model worth considering for an unheated room : Beko says its HSM27050 chest freezer can operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C.
The W3RHS19DW chest freezer is an example of a convertible model. Whirlpool France states that it has a capacity of 198 L, a power-cut storage time of 41 h and a freezing capacity of 12 kg/24 h.
Bosch offers two formats with different capacities : the 83 L GTV15NWEB under-counter model and the 366 L GSN58AWEV upright.
This selection includes chest freezers in several capacities, an upright and a compact vertical model. If you buy in bulk, compare capacity and storage options first; smaller models are better suited to extra storage.
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With a stated capacity of 291 L, this model can hold a substantial stock of food. Check whether the removable basket is enough to help you organise it. This convertible chest freezer switches between fridge and freezer modes and has an E energy rating, LED lighting and a defrost drain. If you plan to put it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range and compare its power-cut storage time too.
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With a stated capacity of 60 L, this model is better suited as an extra freezer than for storing a large stock of meals and groceries. The product listing states that it has three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check its dimensions and required clearances before planning to put it under a counter; also check its power-cut storage time and ambient temperature range.
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This 161 L upright model is suited to a stock you want to divide between drawers, rather than very large containers. The product listing states that it has three freezer drawers, a No Frost function, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions against the space available, its power-cut storage time and the permitted ambient temperatures. Its stated temperature setting range of −14 °C to −22 °C does not describe the room temperature.
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This 95 L chest freezer is worth considering as an extra freezer, rather than for regular bulk shopping. The product listing states that it has fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and an E energy rating. Check that a top-opening lid suits the space, then check the power-cut storage time and ambient temperature range before putting it in a cold room.
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With a stated capacity of 99 L, this chest freezer is better suited to extra storage than to a large family stock of food. It has a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating. Check how much room you’ll need to open the lid, as well as the model’s power-cut storage time and ambient temperature range.
No : compare the temperatures the garage or cellar actually reaches with the ambient temperature range permitted for the model. Beko and Whirlpool state that certain models can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C: the HSM27050 and W3RHS19DW respectively. This doesn’t apply to other appliances from those brands.
An upright with drawers makes it easier to organise portions you use often. If you choose a chest freezer for its open storage or for large containers, use baskets and a storage system so you can still reach food at the bottom.
Compare each freezer’s stated power-cut storage time in hours : you can’t work it out from the capacity. Bosch states 12 h for the GSN58AWEV upright, while Whirlpool states 41 h for the W3RHS19DW chest freezer. These figures apply to those specific models.
No. A No Frost function means you won’t need to defrost that model manually, but you’ll still need to clean the appliance, check the condition of the door seals and follow the instructions in the manual. Check that the model you choose has this function rather than assuming it comes with every type of freezer.