If you regularly buy large quantities of food or batch-cook, choose a chest freezer if you prioritise space for bulky containers and plenty of storage, or an upright freezer if you open it often and want to organise food in drawers. An under-counter model is better suited to extra storage; a fridge freezer may be enough if you’re replacing your fridge too and its freezer compartment has the capacity you need. In every case, check the available space, room temperature and specifications of the exact model.
If you freeze batch-cooked meals or large packs of food, start by working out how much you need to store after your biggest shop. Check that your containers will fit inside the appliance and remain easy to reach.
If you often take out portions or separate different types of food, the layout of the drawers or baskets matters just as much as the stated capacity. With a chest freezer, think carefully about how easy it is to reach food at the bottom.
Whether you’re placing it in a small kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage, measure the available space and the delivery route. If the room isn’t heated, check the ambient temperature range the model is designed to operate in.
First decide whether you need to store large quantities or want frequent access to smaller portions. Then compare models that suit your needs with the space and room you have available.
Consider one: for storing bulk buys or bulky containers when you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: without baskets or designated areas to keep things organised, finding food at the bottom may mean moving other items around.
Consider one: if you often take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: check that your larger containers will fit in the compartments and that the appliance is not too tall for the room.
Consider one: for extra storage in a small kitchen if you only need to freeze limited quantities.
Bear in mind: check its capacity against the size of your biggest shops before relying on it as your main freezer.
Consider one: if you’re also replacing your fridge and don’t need a separate freezer.
Bear in mind: focus on the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, not the total capacity of the appliance.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the usable freezer capacity with the size of your biggest shops and check there’s room for larger containers. | After a big shop or a batch-cooking session, I want to put everything away without filling the appliance to the brim. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this storage capacity. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers in an upright freezer or the baskets in a chest freezer, and consider how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | When I often take out portions, I want to find them without moving the rest of the stock. Easy access is the main priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance, the space and the delivery route; if the room isn’t heated, check the permitted ambient temperature. | If my only available space is narrow or in a cold room, the appliance needs to fit there and operate under the conditions it’s designed for. Around 23% of consumers prioritise how well the appliance suits the room. |
| Continuous use and power cuts | Compare kWh/year for appliances of a similar size and check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | As the appliance runs all the time, I want to consider its energy consumption; if power cuts are a concern, its storage time matters too. For around 23% of consumers, these factors come before other criteria. |
Two appliances with a suitable capacity can be very different to use: drawers make it easier to sort food, while an open chest gives you more flexibility for bulky items.
Once you’ve worked out how much capacity you need, check the interior layout, the appliance dimensions and how easily you can reach the food.
Whether it can operate in a cold room depends on the model. Beko states that the HSM46740 can operate at ambient temperatures as low as -15 °C, and Liebherr gives the same limit for the CFe 1870 Pure. This doesn’t apply to every chest freezer.
Compare the temperature in your room with the operating range given in the documentation for the model you’re considering.
The letter alone doesn’t tell you how much energy two appliances with different capacities use. As a freezer runs continuously, it’s worth checking its annual energy consumption too.
Compare kWh/year for models of a similar size and capacity, then choose the capacity you actually need.
UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks at how well an appliance freezes newly added food and how long it keeps food frozen without power. These are separate considerations from storage capacity.
If you often add a lot of food at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. If power cuts are a concern, compare the stated storage time for each model separately.
Bosch upright and under-counter models are worth considering if you want organised storage and clearly documented dimensions.
Its chest freezers may appeal to households looking for open storage for bulk buys.
Liebherr chest freezers are worth considering if storage capacity and installation conditions are your top priorities.
This selection includes chest freezers in a range of capacities and an upright model with drawers. For bulk shopping, compare their capacity and layout with the space you have available; the most compact models are better suited to extra storage.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want plenty of capacity for bulk shopping or batch cooking and have enough room for a chest freezer with a top-opening lid.
The product name lists two modes, fridge and freezer, an energy rating of E, LED lighting, a five-level digital control, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Before installing it in a cold room, check its ambient temperature range. Also check its freezing capacity and storage time if these matter to you.
Image unavailable
This chest freezer is worth considering if 197 L of storage meets your regular needs and you’d prefer not to go for the 291 L model.
The product is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes, with an energy rating of E, a five-level digital control, a removable basket and a defrost drain. If you’re putting it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperatures. Also check its freezing capacity and storage time to see how well it suits your needs.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you want a chest freezer for more modest storage needs. Make sure 141 L is enough for your biggest shops.
The product name mentions fridge and freezer modes, an energy rating of E, a seven-level thermostat, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Check that the operating conditions suit your room, along with the freezing capacity and storage time your household needs.
Image unavailable
With a stated capacity of 99 L, this model is better suited to extra storage than to large bulk shops.
The product name lists an energy rating of E, an adjustable thermostat, a removable metal basket and a sliding lid. Before choosing it, check that its capacity suits your containers and look at its annual energy consumption, storage time and permitted ambient temperatures for your chosen location.
Image unavailable
This upright freezer is worth considering if you’d rather organise portions in drawers than stack them in a chest freezer.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, No-Frost technology, an LED display, an alarm, a reversible door and an energy rating of C. Before buying, measure the delivery route and the space, then check the annual energy consumption, freezing capacity, storage time and ambient temperature range.
Yes, as long as the model’s intended ambient temperature range covers the conditions in that room. Beko and Liebherr state that the HSM46740 and CFe 1870 Pure respectively can operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C. Check the instructions for any other model rather than assuming this limit applies to all chest freezers.
Compare its dimensions with the space available and check the whole delivery route, including doorways. Then consult the model’s instructions for installation requirements: the capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much space you need.
Look at the annual energy consumption in kWh alongside the freezer capacity. To compare two appliances intended for the same use, look at models with similar capacities rather than relying on the energy rating letter alone.
It could meet your needs if you’re also replacing your fridge and its freezer compartment alone has enough room for your shopping and batch-cooked food. Check the capacity of that compartment, not the total capacity stated for both functions.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new goods sold by a trader to a consumer; according to the French Ministry of the Economy, you have two years to claim under it. Any commercial warranty is separate and does not replace this legal protection.