For storing large batches or bulky packs, consider a chest freezer first if you have enough floor space. If you often need to find smaller portions, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to keep things organised. In either case, check the capacity, dimensions and permitted ambient temperature range of the exact model. A larger fridge freezer is only worth considering if you were already planning to replace your main appliance.
If you freeze meals in batches, home-grown produce or large packs, a chest freezer is worth considering. Its open interior can accommodate bulky items, provided you have enough floor space and a suitable spot for the model you choose.
If you want to separate portions and find them without rummaging through a chest, consider an upright freezer with drawers. Check that its compartments can hold the packs you usually buy and that its capacity meets your needs.
For a garage, cellar or cold utility room, the style alone won’t tell you whether the appliance is suitable. Compare the room’s likely temperatures with the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model.
Start with what you store and how often you need to access it. The space you have in mind may rule out a model, whatever its style.
Consider it: for large stocks or bulky packs, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom takes more effort to organise and find.
Consider it: if you want to organise food by category and often take out small amounts.
Bear in mind: drawers can limit the space available for some larger items.
Consider it: only if you’re already planning to replace your main appliance rather than add a dedicated freezer.
Bear in mind: assess its freezer capacity separately from its total capacity.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable storage | Compare the stated capacity in litres with the internal dimensions you need for your packs. | If I’m storing large shops or big dishes, I need to be able to fit the sizes I actually use. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this need for capacity and space for larger items. |
| Access to food | Check the layout of the drawers or baskets and the space needed to open the appliance. | If I regularly take out small portions, I want to find them without moving the rest of my food. Around 31% of consumers prioritise easy access and organisation. |
| Room and power cuts | Compare the room’s temperatures with the permitted ambient range, and check the stated storage time during a power cut. | In an unheated room, I need to know whether the model can operate there; if power cuts are a concern, its storage time matters too. Around 23% of consumers put one of these needs first. |
| Everyday use | Compare kWh/year and defrosting instructions for the models you’re considering. | As the appliance runs continuously, I consider its energy consumption and how much time maintenance will take. These factors are a priority for around 15% of consumers. |
A chest freezer may suit bulky packs, but its lid needs room to open and the appliance must fit through to its installation spot. UFC-Que Choisir points out that this style takes up more floor space than an upright freezer.
Measure the space, delivery route and clearance above the lid, then compare these with the dimensions of the model you’ve chosen.
Whether an appliance can operate in an unheated room depends on the model. Beko and Liebherr state that some models with a dedicated function can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all chest freezers.
Check the lowest and highest temperatures the room may reach, then confirm the permitted ambient temperature range on the exact model’s product information.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you whether an appliance has enough capacity for your household or what its stated annual energy consumption is.
Compare kWh/year for models with similar capacities and intended uses, and consider noise levels if the appliance will be near a living area.
Drawers can get in the way of bulky packs, while a chest freezer means you’ll need to keep track of food at the bottom. If defrosting is required, you’ll need to move the food temporarily.
Choose a layout that suits the packs you use and check the care instructions in the manual. Electrolux advises against using sharp objects to remove ice.
Worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer if you have enough floor space.
Worth considering for an upright freezer if organising food in drawers is important for everyday use.
Worth considering for a chest freezer in an unheated room, subject to the conditions stated for the model.
These models include chest freezers for storing large quantities and upright freezers for organising portions. Choose according to the packs you use, the space available and the installation conditions for each model.
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Worth considering for storing large quantities of food in a top-opening chest. The product title lists a removable basket, LED light, five-level temperature control and a defrost drain.
The appliance is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes: check that freezer mode suits your needs. Before installing it in a cold room, confirm the permitted ambient temperature range; also check the stated storage time if power cuts are a concern.
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Worth considering if you want to separate your food rather than stack it in a chest freezer. The product title lists three drawers, a reversible hinged door, an alarm and a No Frost function.
The stated range of −14 °C to −22 °C refers to the appliance’s temperature, not the permitted ambient temperature in the room. Check this separately, along with the dimensions, kWh/year and storage time during a power cut.
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Worth considering for extra storage for small portions if 60 l is enough for your needs. The product title lists storage compartments, adjustable temperature and a reversible door.
Measure your packs before choosing this capacity for larger stocks. If you plan to keep it in an unheated room or energy consumption is a particular concern, check the permitted ambient temperature range, kWh/year and storage time during a power cut.
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Worth considering if you prefer a chest freezer for 99 l of extra storage. The product title lists a removable wire basket and an adjustable thermostat.
Allow for access to food beneath the basket and enough clearance to open the lid. Check the manual for defrosting instructions, and confirm the permitted ambient temperature range, kWh/year and storage time before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering if you want to add a 140 l chest freezer to your household storage. The product title lists a storage basket, counterbalanced lid and adjustable temperature control.
Check that your packs will fit in the chest and that the lid can open where you plan to put it. Also check the permitted ambient temperature range, kWh/year and storage time during a power cut, according to your priorities.
Start by comparing the stated capacity in litres, external dimensions and annual energy consumption in kWh for the exact model. Noise levels in dB(A) matter if the appliance will be near a living area; also check its storage time during a power cut if this could affect your decision.
Yes, if the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the temperatures the garage actually reaches. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the climate class into account. A feature offered on some appliances, such as FrostProtect on Liebherr models or Freezer Guard on Beko models, shouldn’t be assumed to apply to every model from those brands.
No, the stated storage time varies by model and the conditions under which it was measured. Whirlpool states 11 hours for the WHFF 6403 W4E and 24 hours for the UW8 F2D WHBI N 2. Check the details for the appliance you’re considering rather than applying either figure to another model.
No, No Frost doesn’t replace the care instructions in the manual. If defrosting is required, follow the manufacturer’s instructions; Electrolux specifically advises against using sharp objects to remove ice.