To store a large amount of frozen food, choose a chest freezer if you buy in bulk and have enough floor space. Go for an upright freezer if you open it often and want easy access to your food. An under-counter model is better as extra storage, while a fridge-freezer is only suitable if its freezer compartment can hold enough for your needs. Before you buy, check the usable capacity, dimensions, room temperature, annual energy consumption and storage time during a power cut.
If you store multipacks of frozen food, home-grown produce or bulky items, compare the capacity of a chest freezer with the easier-to-navigate compartments of an upright model. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the two formats in terms of capacity and layout.
The temperature in the room can help determine which model to choose: its stated operating range should cover the temperatures it will be exposed to.
If you regularly need to find and take out food, an upright freezer with drawers may be more convenient than an open chest, provided it has enough capacity for everything you plan to store.
Start by working out how much freezer space you need and how you want to access your food. Then check whether the appliance is suitable for the room you have in mind, and compare the specifications of each model.
| Criterion | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity for frozen food, then check whether there is room for bulky items and how easy it is to access the drawers or baskets. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some chest freezers hold up to 600 L and some upright models around 400 L: these are capacities for specific models, not every appliance. | I store bulky items: capacity and enough floor space matter. If I often take out small portions, I prefer compartments that are easy to look through. |
| Location | Measure the appliance and allow enough clearance to open the door or lid. Check the room temperature, too. Make sure the ambient temperature range stated for the model is suitable: for example, Beko France gives 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T. | My freezer will go in a cellar, pantry or garage: I need to check that the model can handle the temperatures it will actually be exposed to. |
| Energy use and defrosting | Compare the kWh/year on the energy label for appliances with a similar format and capacity, as well as their defrosting method. The French Ministry of the Economy says the energy label shows annual consumption; the class alone does not tell you this figure. | I want to know the stated energy consumption for each appliance and whether it needs to be defrosted manually. |
| Power cuts | Check the storage time in hours and how it is defined. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Take care when comparing figures based on different methods. | With a large amount of food in storage, I want to know how long the chosen model is said or tested to keep food cold. |
| Combination or extra appliance | For a fridge-freezer, check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, not the total capacity. For a small under-counter model, make sure it can hold the amount you plan to store; UFC-Que Choisir points out that a simple freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. | I’m also replacing my fridge, or I’m just looking for extra freezer space: the freezer compartment needs to suit the amount of food I want to store. |
According to guides from Beko France and Bosch Électroménager France, the ambient temperature must stay within the range specified for the appliance. A room that is too cold or too hot can affect how it works.
Check the temperatures the room reaches throughout the year and compare them with the model specifications. Don’t assume a freezer will work below 0 °C unless the manufacturer explicitly says so.
A large chest freezer can make it harder to reach food at the bottom, while drawers make sorting easier but may not suit bulky items. With a fridge-freezer, the total capacity includes the fridge, too.
Make a list of the food you want to store and how often you’ll take it out. Then compare the freezer’s usable capacity, storage layout and the space needed to open it.
The energy class letter is no substitute for the annual consumption shown on the label, especially when appliances have different capacities.
To compare models with a similar use and capacity, check their kWh/year and their EPREL product information sheet, which you can access using the QR code on the label, according to the European Commission.
Storage time depends on the model and how it is measured. Anses points out that freezing does not destroy most microorganisms and advises against refreezing food once it has thawed.
Check how storage time is defined before buying. During a power cut, keep the door closed as much as possible. If food has thawed, follow Anses’ food storage advice rather than relying only on the time stated for the appliance.
The RFNE448E55W is an example of a large-capacity upright freezer to consider for a cold room.
The GSN58AWEV is an upright freezer to consider if you want easy access to a large freezer capacity at standing height.
The UW8F2DWHBIN2 is an example of an upright freezer whose stated storage time can be included in your comparison.
Electrolux France’s guide can help you distinguish between formats before comparing specific models.
These options include fridge-freezers and standalone upright or chest freezers. If you’re building up a large stock of frozen food, focus on the freezer capacity of each appliance and compare it with the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge as well. Check that the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs, as 360 L refers to the whole appliance. The model name indicates three doors, Total No Frost and an E rating.
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An upright model could be a good choice if you want to separate your food and find it easily. Compare its 161 L capacity with the amount you usually store. The product name mentions No Frost, a C rating and a stainless-steel finish. Check the dimensions and storage time during a power cut to make sure it suits your space.
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If you also need a fridge, check the freezer compartment capacity before choosing this 262 L combination appliance. The model name indicates Low Frost, a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Allow enough clearance for installation.
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This chest freezer offers top-access storage and the model name indicates that it comes with a basket. Check that its 140 L capacity is enough for what you plan to store and that you can fully open its counterbalanced lid. The name also mentions an E rating; compare the kWh/year and storage time for this model, too.
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Compare this 99 L capacity with the amount you usually store before choosing it as an extra chest freezer. The product name mentions a removable basket, a four-star rating and an E rating. Also check how much room you need to open the lid and whether the installation conditions are suitable.
Choose a chest freezer if you store bulky items and have enough floor space; an upright model makes it easier to access food regularly thanks to its compartments. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some chest freezers hold up to 600 L and some upright models around 400 L. Check the capacity and layout of the model you’re considering.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperatures in the room. Beko France gives 10 to 43 °C for class SN-T; the appliance must explicitly state that it can operate in a colder room.
Compare their annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label, ideally for models with similar formats and capacities, rather than looking only at the class letter. The European Commission says you can also use the QR code on the label to access the model’s information in EPREL.
It shows how long the appliance can keep food cold without a power supply, based on test conditions you should check before comparing figures. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C. Check how each stated or tested figure is defined.
Anses advises against refreezing thawed food: freezing does not destroy most microorganisms. After a power cut, consider the condition of the food and follow food storage advice rather than relying only on the freezer’s stated storage time.