When freezing a harvest or bulk buys, start by considering the net capacity you need, the space available and how often you’ll access the food. A chest freezer suits large quantities if you have room to open the lid and organise the contents; an upright freezer makes sorting and accessing food easier with its drawers. A compact model or fridge freezer will only be enough if its freezer capacity meets your needs. Whatever the format, check that the specified temperature range is suitable for the room where you plan to install it.
If your allotment, garden or bulk buys exceed the capacity of your fridge’s freezer compartment, compare the appliances’ net freezer capacities. Choosing between a chest and an upright freezer also depends on your floor space and how you access your food.
When you freeze portions, prepared dishes and several types of fruit or vegetables, storage matters just as much as capacity. An upright freezer’s drawers or a chest freezer’s baskets can help you organise your food, but they offer different ways to access it.
In an unheated room or somewhere that can get very hot, check the lowest and highest temperatures the room may reach. They must remain within the operating range specified for the model you choose: a chest or upright format alone doesn’t guarantee that it’s suitable for the room.
The amount of food you need to freeze determines the capacity to look for first. The format should then suit the space available and the way you use your frozen food.
Consider it: for large harvests or bulk buys, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: it opens from the top, and food stored at the bottom is less easy to reach.
Consider it: if you take food out often and want to sort it into drawers.
Bear in mind: its height and door clearance must suit the space and the route through your home.
Consider it: if you only have a small amount of extra food to store and a compact appliance will do.
Bear in mind: its capacity may not be enough for a harvest or several large batches.
Consider it: if you’re also replacing your fridge and its freezer compartment can hold your supplies.
Bear in mind: the total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food.
For anyone looking to preserve harvests or large quantities of food, each of the priorities below relates to a key purchase need. Check the specifications for the model you choose rather than assuming what it can do based on its format alone.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Net freezer capacity in litres; dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance. | When a harvest comes in all at once, I want to fit all my containers in without blocking the way through the room. Around 31% of consumers would put this need for capacity and available space first. |
| Access and storage | Drawers or baskets included; whether components can be removed to make room for larger containers. | If I take out portions regularly, I want to find them without having to move most of the food around. Access and organisation would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Room temperature | The ambient temperature range for the exact model; installation and ventilation instructions. | To install my freezer in a cellar or garage, I need to know whether it can operate at the temperatures that room reaches. This compatibility would come before other criteria for around 25% of consumers. |
| Power cuts and energy use | Stated storage time in the event of a power cut; annual energy consumption in kWh for comparable capacities. | If I’m concerned about a power cut or the appliance will be running all year, I look at its storage time and energy consumption before choosing between models. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise these factors. |
In a fridge freezer, only part of the total capacity is available for frozen food. Electrolux’s product information for the KNS3SE18S lists a total capacity of 249 L, including a 70 L freezer compartment.
Estimate how much space you need based on your containers, then compare it with the net capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model, not its shape. Bosch says that a room that is too cold or too hot can affect how an appliance works. Guidance stating temperatures as low as -15 °C for some models doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Check the lowest and highest temperatures in the room, then compare them with the range in the instructions for the model you’re considering.
A chest freezer needs space above the lid, while an upright freezer needs enough room for its door to open. If you use food stored at the bottom of a chest freezer often, consider how easy it will be to reach.
Measure the route into your home and the space where the appliance will go, then allow for the clearance specified in the instructions. Check the baskets or drawers against the containers you usually use.
Freezers with different capacities may not meet the same needs. The energy label includes information such as annual consumption in kWh, as the Department for the Economy points out.
Compare consumption between models with similar capacities and uses, while also considering capacity, storage time during a power cut and suitability for the room.
These examples can help you identify which specifications to compare. A feature found on one model won’t necessarily be available on other appliances from the same brand.
A model to consider if you’re looking for a chest freezer for a large stock of food.
A brand to consider if you’re comparing a NoFrost upright freezer with chest freezers designed for different installation locations.
Chest and upright freezers to compare when capacity and storage organisation are key to your decision.
A model to consider if you want to organise food of different sizes in an upright freezer.
Chest freezers to consider, taking into account the climate class and the level of maintenance you prefer.
A spacious 308 L chest freezer with three baskets and a stated storage time of 36 hours, suited to keeping larger quantities of food.
A 160 L upright freezer with NoFrost, measuring 59.7 cm wide. Its stated operating range extends to ambient temperatures as low as -15 °C.
With 276 L of capacity, four drawers and a width of 60 cm, this upright freezer offers practical storage for a larger stock of frozen food.
Removable drawers and shelves, a large Big Box drawer and an open-door alarm help you organise food of different sizes.
Yes, as long as the temperatures in the room remain within the range specified for the model you choose. Electrolux advises following the operating ambient temperature stated for the appliance. Check the rating plate and instructions, even if another model from the same brand is described as suitable for a cold room.
Compare their stated annual energy consumption in kWh, ideally for models with similar capacities and uses. The Department for the Economy notes that this figure appears on the energy label. It doesn’t replace checking that the net capacity is enough for your food.
Yes, if the net capacity of its freezer compartment is enough for your harvests or usual bulk buys. For example, Electrolux lists a total capacity of 249 L for the KNS3SE18S, but only 70 L of freezer capacity. Compare the capacity of the relevant compartment, not the whole appliance.
No. Choose this feature if frost management matters to you, but don’t make it your main consideration when it comes to capacity. Liebherr describes the NoFrost feature on its FNe 4204 as a way to avoid manual defrosting. Also check the capacity, energy consumption and installation temperature range of the model you choose.