A separate freezer is worth considering if your current compartment is still full despite better stock organisation, and you have a suitable place for one. If you often take out prepared portions, look at an upright model with drawers; for bulky food, compare chest freezers and the floor space they need. If you only run short of space occasionally, reorganising your shopping or choosing a larger fridge freezer when you replace your current one may be enough.
If you regularly freeze meals, capacity isn’t the only thing to consider: think about how easy it will be to find each portion, too. Drawers keep meals separate, while a chest freezer needs an organised layout.
Buying in bulk or storing bulky food may justify having a separate freezer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some chest freezers have a capacity of up to 600 L. However, check how much space you really need, how much room you have and the temperature of the room where you plan to put it.
If your current compartment only overflows from time to time, start by checking what’s in it and reviewing your shopping. If you’re already replacing your fridge, compare the freezer capacity of fridge freezers, too. A small tabletop or under-counter freezer may be enough for occasional extra storage.
First, take stock of everything you need to keep in the freezer at the same time. Then compare the available formats with the space you have and how you like to access your food.
| Priority | What to check | To suit my needs |
|---|---|---|
| How much space you need | Keep a note for several weeks of what fills your current compartment. Then compare the freezer capacity of the models you’re considering, rather than just their external dimensions. | If my prepared meals and shopping consistently fill the freezer, it’s worth comparing separate appliances. If I only run short of space occasionally, I can first review my meal plans and existing stock, as ADEME recommends when planning what to buy. |
| Format and access | For an upright freezer, check the layout and dimensions of the drawers. For a chest freezer, look at the baskets, how the lid opens and how much floor space it needs. | I often take out a particular portion, so easy-to-access compartments matter as much as capacity. If I mainly store large containers, a chest freezer may suit me better, as long as I can reach what’s at the bottom. |
| Extra freezer or replacement | Compare the usable capacity and dimensions of a tabletop or under-counter model. If you also need to replace your fridge, check the new fridge freezer’s freezer capacity separately. | If I only need a little extra room, I may not need a large appliance. If I’m also short on space for fresh food, I can consider a larger fridge freezer before adding a second appliance. |
| Where you’ll install it | Measure the space and allow enough clearance to open the door or lid. Check the room temperature in summer and winter against the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. | A garage or cellar would give me more space, but I need to check that the model will work at the temperatures in that room. ADEME recommends checking the appliance’s climate class. |
| Energy use and noise | On the energy label, compare freezer capacity, kWh/year and noise levels across models of a similar format and capacity. The European Commission states that the label scale runs from A to G; EPREL lets you check the declared specifications. | If I add an appliance that will run continuously, its annual energy consumption matters. If it’s near a living area, I’ll also check its noise level rather than looking only at its energy rating. |
| Power cuts and maintenance | Check the stated storage time during a power cut for each model. Also check whether it has any alarms and how it manages frost. | If I’m keeping a lot of food, I want to know the stated storage time for that particular appliance. If I want to reduce manual defrosting, I’ll compare the functions actually offered and won’t confuse them with power-cut storage time. |
A chest freezer can hold a lot, but it takes up more floor space than an upright model. A large freezer that’s rarely used won’t solve the problem of duplicate shopping or food being forgotten.
Make a list of the portions and shopping you store at the same time, then measure the space before choosing a capacity.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. Whirlpool says the WHM2112 can withstand outdoor temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Compare the room’s usual temperatures with the range specified in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Two appliances with the same energy rating can have different capacities and declared annual energy consumption. The European Commission also includes noise levels on the energy label.
Compare kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise levels across models of a similar format and capacity. Check the model’s declared specifications in EPREL.
Food that’s difficult to reach can make it harder to take out portions regularly. Baskets, drawers and frost-management features vary between models.
Check the storage layout, maintenance requirements and power-cut storage time in the specifications for the exact model, especially if you plan to keep a lot of food in it.
These models illustrate features to compare for the format you’re looking for. They don’t necessarily reflect the specifications of every appliance from that brand.
Bosch freestanding and built-in upright freezers may suit households that want to store portions in separate compartments.
Liebherr chest freezers offer a point of comparison if you’re looking for a well-style freezer with baskets.
Whirlpool chest freezers are worth considering if you’re planning to install one outside the kitchen, as long as you check the permitted ambient temperature.
Electrolux built-in appliances offer models to consider if your kitchen makes it difficult to add a freestanding freezer.
This selection includes chest freezers in several capacities and an upright model for storing portions in separate compartments. If you only need a little extra storage, compare these with a larger fridge freezer or better organisation of your existing stock.
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Worth considering if your shopping or meal prep calls for a large freezer compartment. The product name lists a fridge or freezer mode, an E energy rating, five-level digital control, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Before installing it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range. If it matters for your food stock, also check the power-cut storage time.
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This chest freezer gives you another capacity to compare with the amount of food you store at one time. The product name lists a fridge or freezer mode, an E energy rating, five-level digital control, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Check the dimensions, permitted ambient temperature and power-cut storage time for this exact model.
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This capacity is worth comparing with your regular need for extra storage before you choose a larger chest freezer. The product name lists a fridge or freezer mode, an E energy rating, a seven-level thermostat, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Check the clearance needed to open it, the ambient temperature range and the stated power-cut storage time for this model.
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This capacity may be enough for the extra food that genuinely won’t fit in your current freezer. The product name lists a fridge or freezer mode, an E energy rating, a seven-level thermostat, a removable basket and a defrost drain. Before choosing a place for it, check its dimensions, permitted ambient temperature and power-cut storage time.
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An upright model is worth considering if you often take out portions and want to keep them in separate compartments. The product name lists three freezer drawers, No Frost protection, a reversible door hinge, an alarm and a C energy rating. Compare its annual energy consumption on the energy label, and check the permitted ambient temperature and power-cut storage time.
For several weeks, keep track of the portions, bulk shopping and bulky items that won’t fit in your current compartment. If you only run short of space occasionally, start by reviewing your stock and planning your shopping. If it’s an ongoing problem, compare a separate appliance with the freezer capacity of a larger fridge freezer, taking the space available into account.
An upright freezer with drawers generally makes it easier to keep portions separate and take them out regularly. A chest freezer has an open compartment that you can organise with baskets or by food category, making it easier to find items at the bottom. Check the layout of the specific model.
Only if the model’s specified ambient temperature range matches the room’s temperatures in both winter and summer. ADEME recommends checking the climate class. Check the manual for the model you’re considering rather than assuming that every chest freezer is suitable.
Compare their declared energy consumption in kWh/year with their freezer capacity, ideally between appliances of a similar format and capacity. The European energy label also shows a rating from A to G and the noise level. You can check the model’s declared specifications in the EPREL database.
It tells you how long the freezer is stated to keep food frozen during a power cut. This is particularly important if you store a lot of food. The figure varies by model, so check its product information or manual, and don’t assume another model will have the same storage time.