If your current freezer compartment is no longer big enough, choose a chest freezer for bulky items if you have the floor space, or an upright freezer if you often access frozen food and want to organise it in drawers. A large fridge freezer is best if you’re replacing your fridge too: compare the freezer capacity, not the total capacity. In all three cases, check the appliance’s dimensions, the room temperature it’s designed for and its stated power-cut storage time.
If you keep several weeks’ worth of food or store bulky items, start by considering how much you have when your freezer is at its fullest. Net capacity and the space needed to fit the appliance matter just as much as its internal layout.
To find food quickly and keep different types separate, look at how easy it is to access the drawers or baskets. Also consider the space needed to open the door or lid fully.
In a garage, utility room or warm kitchen, the model’s recommended ambient temperature range is crucial. If you’re replacing your fridge too, check the new appliance’s freezer capacity separately.
Consider one : for bulk stocks or bulky items, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind : finding food in the open compartment can take some organising, for example with baskets.
Consider one : if you open your freezer often and want to organise frozen food in drawers.
Bear in mind : the drawers may not be large enough for some bulky packaging.
Consider one : if you also need to replace your fridge and want both functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind : total capacity is split between the fridge and freezer ; it doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare your largest stock with the net freezer capacity in litres. If you freeze large quantities of fresh food, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | If bulk buys and large packs are already taking up all your space, the amount you need to store comes before how you organise it ; around 31 % of consumers would make maximum storage their main priority. |
| Access to food | Check the size and removability of the drawers or baskets, as well as how the door or lid opens. | If you reach for frozen food every day, you’ll want to find it without moving several other items. Easy access and organisation would be the priority for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Location | Measure the route to the installation space and the clearance around it. Check that the room’s possible temperatures fall within the ambient temperature range specified for the model. | In a garage, utility room or warm kitchen, the appliance first needs to fit and operate in the conditions it’s designed for ; around 23 % of consumers would prioritise this compatibility. |
| Power-cut storage time and use | Compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours and, between appliances with similar functions and capacity, their energy consumption in kWh/year and noise level in dB(A). | If you want your stock to stay frozen during a power cut, the stated storage time may matter more than the internal layout. This, energy consumption or noise would be the main priority for around 15 % of consumers. |
Some of that capacity is for fresh food : a large appliance won’t necessarily solve a lack of space for frozen food.
Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in litres with your largest stock, then check whether bulky items will fit in its drawers.
The temperature in a garage, utility room or very warm kitchen may fall outside the ambient conditions specified for a particular model.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures against the climate class or the temperature range explicitly stated for the model you’re considering.
The letter on the energy label doesn’t tell you the freezer capacity, power-cut storage time or noise level. The European Commission says the label also provides information such as energy consumption, capacity and noise emissions.
For appliances with similar functions and capacity, compare their kWh/year, freezer capacity in litres and dB(A) ; check the stated power-cut storage time separately.
The appliance’s dimensions when closed aren’t enough to tell you whether it will fit through to its intended spot or whether the door or lid can open fully.
Measure the delivery route and the installation space, then check the manual for clearance and ventilation requirements. If you’re replacing an appliance, arrange for the retailer to take the old one away when you place your order.
An unplanned collection or move can make installation more complicated.
The range includes freestanding upright freezers, worth considering if you prefer drawer storage.
The range includes chest freezers, some of which are designed for installation in a cold room.
The range includes chest freezers to consider for storing larger quantities, depending on the capacity you need and the space available.
The range of large fridge freezers may suit households that are replacing their fridge too.
These models show three ways to create more room for frozen food : replace your fridge too with a fridge freezer, add a chest freezer or choose a vertical upright freezer. Compare their freezer capacity and installation requirements to find the right fit for your needs.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge rather than adding a separate freezer. The model name indicates a total capacity of 360 l, Total No Frost and an E energy rating ; check the capacity of the freezer compartment separately to make sure it’s big enough for your stock.
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This chest freezer is for households looking to add separate storage, provided there’s enough room to open the lid. The product name indicates a capacity of 291 l, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating. If you plan to use it in a cold room, check the recommended ambient temperature range for this model.
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Worth considering if replacing your fridge is also part of your plans. The model name indicates a total capacity of 467 l, Total No Frost and an E energy rating ; compare the freezer capacity with your largest stock and check the dimensions before choosing where to put it.
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This chest freezer offers separate storage without replacing your fridge, if its capacity suits your stock. The product name indicates a capacity of 197 l, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Check the space needed to open the lid and the recommended ambient temperature range if you plan to install it somewhere unheated.
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This upright freezer is worth considering if you prefer to keep frozen food in drawers. The product name indicates a capacity of 161 l, three freezer drawers, No Frost and a C energy rating. Check that the capacity suits your largest stock, then confirm the dimensions and recommended ambient temperature for the appliance.
Think about everything you store at once when your freezer is at its fullest : bulk buys, prepared meals and bulky items. Then compare your list with the net freezer capacity and the layout of the storage space. With a fridge freezer, don’t confuse freezer capacity with the appliance’s total capacity.
Yes, provided the model’s recommended ambient temperature range covers the temperatures that room may reach. ADEME recommends checking the recommended ambient temperature when choosing a freezer. A feature stated for a specific model doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
It describes how long an appliance can keep food cold without power under specified test conditions ; it isn’t the capacity to freeze fresh food or a universal guarantee of how long food will stay frozen. In its freezer test, Que Choisir measures the time it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C during a simulated power cut. To compare models, check the stated time in hours and the conditions it applies to.