If your fridge freezer compartment is no longer big enough, choose an extra freezer based on what you need to store and how often you’ll need to get to it. A chest freezer is ideal for bulky items, while an upright model makes it easier to organise food and access it regularly. A table-top freezer is better suited to a smaller reserve when space is limited. If you’re replacing your fridge as well, compare the usable freezer capacity of a large fridge-freezer with that of a separate appliance before deciding.
Bulk buys, home-cooked meals and bulky food items all need space and the right storage. If you have room for an extra appliance, consider the shape of the interior as well as its capacity. Gitem recommends a chest freezer for bulky food.
If you want to find portions, vegetables or meals organised by category easily, access matters just as much as capacity. An upright freezer with drawers could suit this purpose, provided your usual packaging fits inside.
If your kitchen can’t accommodate a chest freezer, measure the available space and compare the usable storage you’d get from a table-top, under-counter or slim upright model. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the appliance and the ambient temperature range allowed in the intended location.
Start by choosing a format that suits the way you store food: a chest freezer holds bulky items, while an upright model keeps food within easy reach. A table-top freezer or a large fridge-freezer will only meet your needs as an extra freezer in certain circumstances. Then check the capacity, installation requirements and specifications of the exact model.
Worth considering: for storing bulky items, if you have enough floor space and room to open the lid.
Bear in mind: top access means you’ll need to organise the baskets and food at the bottom.
Worth considering: if you open the appliance frequently and want to separate food in drawers.
Bear in mind: very large packages can be difficult to fit into the compartments.
Worth considering: if a small amount of extra storage is enough and there’s no room for a larger appliance.
Bear in mind: a compact model may not provide enough storage for larger needs.
Worth considering: if you’re also replacing your fridge and the new model’s freezer compartment can hold your supplies.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee as much freezer space as a separate freezer.
| Factor | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and bulky items | Compare the usable freezer capacity and the space actually available for your packaging, including baskets. | If I freeze bulk buys or bulky home-cooked meals, I want to store everything without splitting it between small compartments. Around 36% of consumers would put this storage capacity at the top of their list. |
| Everyday access | Check the layout of the drawers or baskets and how much room they leave for your usual packaging. | When I take out portions every day, I’d rather find food quickly than rummage around at the bottom of the freezer. For around 29% of consumers, easy access and organisation would come first. |
| Space and installation | Measure the space, access routes and clearance needed to open the appliance. If the room is cold, check the permitted ambient temperature range. | When space is limited at home, I need to leave enough room to move around and open the appliance. Installation would be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Power cuts and energy use | Compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours, whether there’s an alarm and the kWh/year for models with similar capacities and intended uses. | If I’m storing a lot of food, I want to take account of power cuts and long-term energy use. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise these two aspects of using a freezer. |
When comparing specific models, ADEME recommends checking the energy label. The product information can also help you compare annual energy use with freezer capacity. The power-cut storage time, dimensions and installation requirements should suit the exact appliance you choose, not just its format.
Two freezers with similar capacities can offer very different storage and access. A chest freezer can hold bulky food, while the drawers in an upright model make it easier to separate smaller portions.
Note the dimensions of your usual packaging, then compare them with the model’s usable capacity and interior layout.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. Beko says some of its models with Freezer Guard can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Check the climate class, the ambient temperature range and the installation instructions for the appliance you’re considering.
Installing an appliance outside its specified operating conditions could affect its performance and the safe storage of food.
The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how much food each appliance can hold or how much energy it uses each year. For a specific model, check its kWh/year consumption and capacity among the other specifications.
Compare the kWh/year figures for models with similar capacities and intended uses, using their energy labels and product information.
If your freezer holds a lot of food, its stated storage time during a power cut and any temperature alarm could influence your choice. Gitem recommends comparing these features across models.
Before choosing between two models, check their stated storage time in hours and whether they have an alarm.
Beko France offers a range of chest freezers, including models designed for large capacities and some appliances with Freezer Guard.
Liebherr France offers upright, built-in and table-top freezers, with capacities and features varying by model.
These models show two ways to add extra freezer storage: chest freezers with top access and an upright model that separates food into drawers. First choose the capacity and access style that suit your household, then check the installation requirements for the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering for bulky items if you have enough space for a chest freezer with a top-opening lid.
The product name lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, LED lighting, a five-level digital control and an energy rating of E. It also offers convertible fridge and freezer modes: check which setting is right for your needs.
Before installing it in a cold room, check the permitted ambient temperature range. Also compare its stated storage time during a power cut.
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Worth considering if you want to organise food and access your extra supplies regularly, rather than store very bulky items.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, No-Frost, an alarm, a reversible door and an energy rating of C. Check the exact layout of the compartments and make sure there’s enough room for your packaging.
Measure the space and check the dimensions, kWh/year, storage time during a power cut and ambient temperature range for this model before installing it.
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Worth considering if you need a chest freezer and 140 L is enough for your supplies. Check the capacity against the amount of food you usually freeze.
The product name lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, an adjustable temperature control and an energy rating of E. Leave enough clearance to open the lid fully.
To compare it with other models, check its kWh/year, storage time during a power cut and permitted ambient temperature range.
Yes, if you’re already replacing your fridge and the new model’s net freezer capacity is enough for your supplies. Que Choisir presents large-capacity fridge-freezers as an alternative to separate freezers, but the fridge-freezer’s total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room is available for frozen food.
No. Check the permitted ambient temperature for the model you choose and follow the instructions in its manual. Beko says some of its appliances with Freezer Guard can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Compare the energy rating, annual consumption in kWh and freezer capacity of models that suit your needs. In France, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition says freezers are among the appliances that must carry an energy label. Also check the product information for the exact model to confirm its dimensions.
In France, it applies when a professional sells an appliance to an individual and it isn’t as described or doesn’t meet the use normally expected of it. The Ministry of the Economy distinguishes this compulsory legal guarantee from any commercial guarantees offered by the seller. If a problem arises, keep your purchase details and describe the fault clearly to the seller.
No. Liebherr describes NoFrost as a feature that eliminates the need to defrost models equipped with it, but cleaning, ventilation and other maintenance tasks still need to be carried out in accordance with the appliance manual.