For large stocks of meals and groceries, start by considering the space available and how you want to access your food. A chest freezer has an open compartment but takes up more floor space, while an upright model makes it easier to organise food into separate compartments. An under-counter freezer is suitable for extra storage; a fridge-freezer could save you from needing a second appliance if you’re also replacing your fridge and its freezer compartment is big enough. If you’re keeping it in an unheated room, always check the ambient temperature range specified for the model.
If you prepare meals in advance or do a big food shop, compare the usable freezer capacity with the floor space the appliance will take up. Also consider how easy it is to access your food and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If you regularly need to find a meal or a bag of food without moving everything else, look at the layout of the drawers and storage compartments. Check their dimensions if you use large dishes or containers.
If you have a narrow kitchen or need an under-counter appliance, measure the available space, door opening and clearances specified in the manual. If you’re considering a fridge-freezer, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone, not its total capacity.
Start with a simple question: are you looking for plenty of storage, easy access to meals, an appliance that fits in a small kitchen, or a replacement for your fridge?
Consider it: for storing large quantities if you have a dedicated area of floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the open compartment to find food at the bottom. Depending on the model, a chest freezer takes up more floor space than an upright freezer, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Consider it: if you open your freezer often and want to keep meals and groceries separate in different compartments.
Bear in mind: drawers make food easier to find, but offer less flexibility than an open compartment for bulky items.
Consider it: for extra storage when the space under your worktop determines your choice.
Bear in mind: check that its freezer capacity is enough for all the meals and groceries you want to store at once.
Consider it: if you’re also replacing your fridge and would rather install just one appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee a large freezer compartment. Check how much of the stated capacity is for the freezer.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Net freezer capacity and external dimensions; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you’ll be adding a lot of food at once. | If I prepare several meals or bring home a big food shop, I want to be able to store everything without running out of room. Around 27% of consumers put capacity at the top of their list. |
| Access to food | Layout of drawers or baskets, and room for bulky dishes. | If I often take out a frozen meal, I’d rather find it without having to move all my other food. This layout is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Kitchen space | Width, height, depth, door opening and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual. | If space is limited in my kitchen, I first need to find an appliance that fits properly. For around 20% of consumers, the space it takes up comes before other considerations. |
| Energy use and power cuts | Annual energy consumption in kWh/year and the stated storage time in hours for the model; compare appliances with similar capacities and formats. | I want to factor in an appliance that runs continuously and know how long it’s designed to keep food frozen during a power cut. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these two considerations. |
| Unheated room | Ambient temperature range and installation conditions specified for the exact model. | The temperature can vary in my garage, cellar or utility room, so I need an appliance designed for that space. This compatibility is the top consideration for around 13% of consumers. |
A chest freezer can hold a large stock of food, but make sure its footprint and the space needed to open the lid suit your room. UFC-Que Choisir notes that chest freezers take up more floor space than upright models.
Measure the space, allow room to open the lid and check the route the appliance will take when it’s delivered.
The format alone doesn’t determine the ambient temperatures an appliance can handle. For example, Beko specifies a range of 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T, while the ability to operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C, stated for some models, applies only to those specific models.
Note the room’s temperatures and compare them with the range specified in the product details or manual for the appliance you’re considering.
According to ADEME, a freezer runs continuously. The energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you how much appliances with different capacities or formats will use.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh/year of models with similar capacities, then consider whether their storage capacity and power-cut performance meet your needs.
With a fridge-freezer, total capacity includes the fridge compartment too. For example, Whirlpool gives the WHC20D021B2 a total capacity of 300 l, of which 79 l is for the freezer.
Work out how many meals and how much shopping you need to store at once, then compare that with the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
These examples show different configurations. The specifications apply to the models mentioned, not to every appliance from each brand.
The GSN58AWCV is an upright model to consider if you prefer compartmentalised storage and have plenty of room.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is an example of a large-capacity option for households with enough room for it.
Some Beko upright freezers with Freezer Guard are worth considering for installation in a room that isn’t well heated.
The built-in WHC20D021B2 is worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and are looking at a fridge-freezer.
These appliances suit two different needs: adding an upright freezer for household food stocks, or replacing your fridge with a fridge-freezer. Before choosing, compare the freezer capacity you need for each option.
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A dedicated freezer for keeping meals and groceries separate, rather than storing everything in an open compartment.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, a No Frost system, an alarm and a reversible door. Before installing it in a cellar or garage, check the ambient temperature range in the manual. Also check how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut.
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Worth considering for extra storage if 60 L is enough for all the meals and groceries you want to keep at once.
The product name lists a reversible door and adjustable temperature settings. If you plan to put it under a worktop, check its dimensions and ventilation clearances. Also check the ambient temperature range and power-cut storage time stated for the model.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to integrate the new appliance into your kitchen.
The 249 L stated in the product name is the capacity of the fridge-freezer, not just its freezer space. Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with the amount of food you need to store, and check the dimensions of the space required for installation.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your main fridge rather than adding a separate freezer.
The stated 495 L capacity is for the appliance as a whole. Check the capacity and layout of the freezer compartment separately, then measure the space needed to install and open this large appliance.
No. The room temperature needs to stay within the range specified for the model you choose. Check the manual or product details for this range. The ability to operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C, stated by Beko for the RFNE448E45W and by Liebherr for the CFe 2500 Pure, doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment with the amount of meals and groceries you want to store at once. For example, Whirlpool gives the WHC20D021B2 a total capacity of 300 l, but its freezer compartment holds 79 l.
It helps you compare models if keeping food frozen during a power cut matters to your household. Check the stated time in hours and how it’s defined for each appliance. In its test procedure, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from -17 °C to -9 °C without power. This test result doesn’t remove the need to check the condition of your food after a real power cut.