For home-grown produce or bulk buys, choose a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and can organise food stored at the bottom. An upright freezer makes it easier to reach individual portions thanks to its drawers, while a compact or under-counter model is better suited to extra storage. Before choosing, compare the capacity and dimensions with the amount you plan to store, then check the permitted room temperature, annual energy consumption and power-cut storage time.
If you freeze large quantities at certain times of year, a chest freezer gives you a dedicated space for your harvest and bulk purchases. Que Choisir describes chest freezers with capacities of up to 600 litres : be sure to check how much floor space you have and how easily you can reach food stored at the bottom.
If you regularly take out a meal or need to find a particular portion, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easy to sort food by category. Check that you’ll be able to open and remove the drawers once the appliance is in place.
A compact or under-counter freezer can provide extra storage in a small kitchen. Que Choisir puts the capacity of these models at between 30 and 100 litres : compare this with the amount you plan to freeze before making one your main appliance.
Start by choosing a format that suits the amount you need to store and how often you’ll access it. Then check that the specific model is suitable for the room and for year-round use.
Worth considering : for a harvest or large bulk buys, if you have enough floor space; Que Choisir describes chest freezers with capacities of up to 600 litres.
Keep in mind : you’ll need baskets, storage zones or an inventory to find food stored at the bottom.
Worth considering : if you regularly take out individual portions and want to organise your harvest, meals and bulk buys in drawers.
Keep in mind : check the available height and the space needed to open the door and remove the drawers.
Worth considering : as an extra freezer or for a smaller space; Que Choisir gives these models a capacity of 30 to 100 litres.
Keep in mind : this capacity may be too limited for a whole harvest or large bulk buys that need to be stored at the same time.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare the capacity in litres with the amount you need to store. Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the delivery route and the clearance needed for the lid or drawers. | A harvest arrives all at once: I want to be able to store it without blocking access to food that’s already in the freezer. |
| Where you’ll install it | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Follow the instructions on ventilation and clearance, too. | My appliance will be in a cellar or garage: I need to make sure the model is designed for the temperatures the room actually reaches. |
| Energy use | Check the stated consumption in kWh/year and compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission says the energy label for domestic fridges and freezers uses a scale from A to G ; you can find model details in the EPREL database. | As the freezer runs all year round, I’d rather look at its annual consumption than just its energy rating. |
| Power cuts and everyday use | Check the stated storage time during a power cut for each model, as well as the internal layout, any alarm and the defrosting method. These features don’t replace checking the storage time. | I want to find my portions easily and know how long the food is expected to stay frozen if the power goes off. |
A large, open space can hold food in a range of sizes, but items stored deep inside are harder to find and use in the right order.
Set aside areas by category or date, use removable baskets and leave enough room to open the lid fully.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. Beko says some chest freezers with Freezer Guard are designed to operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C ; this doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Check the temperatures the room reaches throughout the year and compare them with the climate class and instructions for the model you’re considering.
The rating doesn’t tell you the annual consumption in kWh : to assess that figure, you also need to consider the appliance type and capacity.
Compare the kWh/year for models of a similar format and capacity, then check the details for the specific model in EPREL, the European Commission’s database.
Defrosting, an alarm and a freezing setting each serve a different purpose. Their presence alone doesn’t tell you how long food is expected to stay frozen during a power cut.
Check the model’s storage time, installation requirements and instructions separately, then choose an internal layout that suits how often you’ll access the food.
These brands offer examples of features to compare on a specific model; they don’t necessarily reflect the models available on Joybuy.
Worth considering for a chest freezer in an unheated room, provided the specific model clearly states a suitable ambient temperature range.
Worth considering for a chest freezer if the capacity, basket layout and installation requirements suit your household.
Worth considering for an upright freezer if keeping food separate and accessing drawers regularly matter more to you than the open space of a chest freezer.
These options include chest freezers in a range of capacities for home-grown produce or bulk buys, plus an upright model for more regular access to individual portions. Compare their capacity with the amount you plan to store and check the installation requirements for each model.
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Designed for storing home-grown produce or large bulk buys, this chest freezer has a stated capacity of 291 L, a removable basket and LED lighting. Its description lists fridge and freezer modes, plus a five-level digital control. Check the space needed to open the lid, the permitted ambient temperature and the storage time during a power cut.
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This 197 L chest freezer could help you keep bulk buys and prepared portions separate from the food in your everyday freezer, if its capacity suits the amount you plan to store. Its description lists a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, and a five-level digital control. Organise food stored at the bottom, and check the ambient temperature range and stated storage time.
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For regular access to individual portions, this 161 L upright freezer has drawers, according to its product description, which also lists No Frost, an LED display and an alarm. Check the dimensions and clearance needed to remove the drawers, then compare the model’s annual consumption, ambient temperature range and storage time.
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Compare this 141 L chest freezer with the amount of bulk-bought or home-grown food you need to store; its capacity may be restrictive if you need to freeze everything at once. Its description lists a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, and a seven-level thermostat. Check the space available, the permitted ambient temperature and the storage time during a power cut.
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With a stated capacity of 140 L, this chest freezer is worth considering for extra storage rather than assuming it will hold a large harvest. Its description lists a basket, a counterbalanced lid and a temperature control. Measure the space needed to open it and check the annual consumption, permitted ambient temperature and storage time for this model.
Yes, as long as the temperatures the room actually reaches stay within the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Compare the room’s temperature extremes with the model’s climate class and instructions : some chest freezers, including selected Beko models, are designed for unheated spaces, but you shouldn’t assume this applies to other models.
Check the annual consumption in kWh as well as the energy rating, then compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission says the energy label for domestic fridges and freezers uses a scale from A to G ; you can find details of a specific model in the EPREL database.
Compare the stated time for each model and check the temperature conditions it refers to. In its test procedure, Que Choisir measures how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut : a figure based on a different criterion isn’t directly comparable.
Not necessarily : Que Choisir gives these models a capacity of 30 to 100 litres. They’re mainly worth considering for extra storage or a smaller space; estimate how much food you’ll need to freeze at once before choosing one as your main freezer.
Keep the freezer closed as much as possible and check its stated storage time and instructions. Anses points out that keeping food at a low temperature slows the growth of micro-organisms : don’t judge the condition of your food by the stated storage time alone, without taking the actual power-cut conditions into account.