Households that batch-cook and freeze meals
If you regularly take portions from your freezer, look at how the drawers, baskets or compartments let you separate meals and reach food without having to move everything else.
Who is each option suited to?
Families with a pantry, garage or utility room
A large upright or chest freezer could fit well here, as long as you measure the appliance, allow for the space needed to open it and check the ambient temperature permitted for the model.
Households replacing their fridge as well
A fridge freezer is worth considering if its freezer compartment is large enough for the amount you plan to store. Its total capacity also includes the fridge, so check both capacities separately.
What should you compare?
Upright freezer
Consider it: if you take meals out often and want to organise them across several drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: measure its height and depth, as well as the space needed in front of the door. Its capacity and power-cut storage time depend on the model.
Chest freezer
Consider it: if you have enough floor space for a large store that you access less often.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise food to reach items at the bottom, and the lid must have room to open.
Tabletop or under-counter model
Consider it: if space is limited and your frozen food is an additional supply rather than your main stock.
Bear in mind: check that the usable capacity can accommodate your portions and larger items before choosing this format.
Fridge freezer
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and would prefer to install just one appliance.
Bear in mind: check the capacity of the freezer compartment, which is separate from the total capacity shown for the fridge freezer.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable freezer capacity in litres, then look at the drawers, baskets or adjustable zones. For a fridge freezer, distinguish the freezer capacity from the total capacity. | I want to store meals and frozen food at the same time, while keeping the portions I use most often easy to find. |
| Installation | Measure the height, width and depth, check delivery access and allow enough clearance for the door or lid. Make sure the room temperature falls within the range permitted for the model. | If it’s going in an unheated garage or pantry, I need to check that it’s suitable for the temperature in that room, rather than assuming this from the fact that it’s a chest freezer. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the kWh/year and dB(A) on the energy label or product specification. Compare appliances suited to a similar storage need rather than looking at their energy rating alone. | If the appliance will be near a living area, noise matters to me too. I also want to be able to assess its annual energy consumption. |
| Power cuts and adding food | Compare the power-cut storage time in hours, check whether an alarm is included, and look at the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you’ll be adding a large amount of unfrozen food. | I keep a large supply, so I want to know the model’s stated power-cut storage time and whether it alerts me to a rise in temperature. |
| Maintenance | Check whether the model has No Frost or another feature to limit frost build-up, and read the maintenance instructions in its manual. | If I want to reduce the maintenance involved in dealing with frost, I’ll compare the system listed for each specific appliance. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on capacity alone
Capacity doesn’t tell you how easy it will be to reach your food or whether the appliance will fit where you want to install it. For a fridge freezer, the total capacity includes the fridge section.
Check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, the dimensions and the type of opening. For a chest freezer, also think about how you’ll organise food stored at the bottom.
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Assuming a chest freezer will suit any garage
The permitted ambient temperature varies by model. For example, Liebherr states that its CFe 1870 chest freezer has FrostProtect down to −15 °C; this feature isn’t available on every chest freezer.
Compare the temperatures in your room with the limits stated in the product specification and manual for the appliance you’re considering.
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Assuming power-cut storage time from the format
According to UFC-Que Choisir, this figure describes how long food stays frozen during a power cut. Check the stated figure for each model, regardless of its capacity.
If you’re concerned about power cuts, compare the stated storage times in hours and check whether the appliance has a temperature alarm.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
Annual energy consumption and capacity answer two different questions. In its test protocol published in 2025, UFC-Que Choisir measures freezer energy consumption at 25 °C and 32 °C, among other things. Ambient temperature is one of the conditions to consider.
Compare the kWh/year and usable capacity of models suited to your storage needs, then check that they’re suitable for their planned location.
Notable brands and models
Bosch
The GSN58AWEV is an example of an upright freezer worth considering when organisation is important for storing a large supply.
- Bosch states that this model has 366 l of freezer capacity and a power-cut storage time of 12 h.
- Its stated dimensions of 191 × 70 × 78 cm mean you’ll need to check the available space. These figures don’t apply to every Bosch upright freezer.
Whirlpool
The brand offers chest freezers to consider for family food storage, but check the internal layout and installation requirements of your chosen model.
- Whirlpool’s product specification lists a capacity of 437 l and a power-cut storage time of 32 h for the WHM46122FR chest freezer.
- These specifications don’t apply to the brand’s other chest freezers. Also measure the space needed to open the lid.
Liebherr
Its product specifications let you assess whether a chest freezer is suitable for a cold room separately from the freezer capacity of a fridge freezer.
- Liebherr states that the CFe 1870 chest freezer has a capacity of 281 l and FrostProtect down to −15 °C.
- This suitability applies to this model only. The 522 l stated for the CBNste 8872 fridge freezer is its total capacity, not the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
Electrolux
The EUN7NE18S is a useful point of comparison if you need a built-in freezer.
- Electrolux lists a freezer capacity of 212 l, energy consumption of 236 kWh/year and a power-cut storage time of 10 h for this model.
- Before choosing a built-in appliance, check the dimensions of the housing space and the installation instructions in the manual.
Options available on Joybuy
These options show three ways to store frozen food: a fridge freezer if you also need to replace your fridge, a chest freezer and an upright freezer. Compare their freezer capacities and installation requirements to find the right fit for your needs.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 3-door fridge freezer, 360 L
Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge: the stated 360 L is the total capacity, not the capacity of the freezer alone. The model name lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check separately that the freezer capacity meets your storage needs and that the appliance is suitable for the ambient temperature at its planned location.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest freezer
This chest freezer, listed at 291 L, can be used as either a freezer or a fridge; check which mode suits the food you plan to store. It has a top-opening lid and a removable basket. Allow enough room to open the lid and consider how you’ll reach food at the bottom. Also check the permitted ambient temperature range and power-cut storage time if these matter for your location.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L No Frost upright freezer
Worth considering if you want to organise portions in an upright freezer: the product name lists three drawers, No Frost technology, a reversible door hinge and an alarm. Check that 161 L is enough for your supply, along with the dimensions, permitted ambient temperature and power-cut storage time required for your installation.
Frequently asked questions
What should you measure before choosing a chest freezer?
Measure the available width, depth and height, the route into the room and the space needed to open the lid. Then check the clearances required in the manual for your chosen model: its capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much floor space it needs.
Can a chest freezer go in an unheated garage?
Only if the temperature in the garage stays within the range permitted for your chosen model. For example, the European EPREL database lists a temperature range of 10 to 43 °C for the Gorenje FH25EAW, while Liebherr states that the CFe 1870 has FrostProtect down to −15 °C. Don’t assume that suitability for one model applies to another.
How do you compare the energy consumption of two freezers?
Check their annual energy consumption in kWh/year, then compare it with their usable capacity and the type of storage you need. The energy rating alone isn’t enough, especially if the two appliances offer different freezer capacities.