To store a week’s shopping for several people, start by working out how much usable space you need for fresh and frozen food, rather than looking at total capacity alone. A fridge freezer may be suitable if you only need a moderate amount of freezer space. If you buy more frozen food, check the actual capacity of a multi-door fridge freezer or consider a separate freezer. Then check the dimensions, noise level and annual energy consumption of the model you’re considering.
If several days’ worth of fresh food arrives at once, make sure there’s enough room on the shelves without overlooking the space you need for frozen food. Que Choisir advises choosing usable capacity based on the number of people in your household. Use this as a guide and compare it with what you normally buy.
Start by checking the freezer’s usable capacity in litres. Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. The appliance’s total capacity alone won’t tell you how much freezer space you’ll have.
A multi-door fridge freezer or two separate appliances could be an option if their dimensions, delivery route, door clearance and installation clearances suit your home. If you’re choosing two appliances, compare their combined annual energy consumption too.
Choose a format that suits the way you shop, then compare models with capacities that genuinely meet your needs.
Consider this if: one appliance offers enough space for fresh food and a moderate amount of frozen food.
Keep in mind: a large fridge compartment won’t make up for a freezer that’s too small for your shopping.
Consider this if: you want easy access to plenty of fresh food, along with freezer space that suits the amount you store.
Keep in mind: check the width, weight and capacity of each compartment before choosing this format.
Consider this if: you need to choose the amount of space for fresh and frozen food independently.
Keep in mind: you’ll need two suitable spaces, and should compare the appliances’ combined annual energy consumption.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately, in litres. Check that the shelves and drawers are arranged to suit the food you normally buy. | I store several days’ worth of fresh food, but I also want to know how much room will be left for frozen food. |
| Size and noise | Check the exact model’s height, width, depth and weight. Make sure it will fit through the delivery route, that the doors can open fully and that you can meet the specified installation clearances. Check the stated noise level in dB(A). | In a kitchen close to living areas, noise matters just as much as being able to install and open the appliance properly. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the kWh/year of models with the capacity you need, and check their energy labels too. If you’re buying a separate fridge and freezer, add together their stated annual energy consumption. The European Commission lists model-specific information in EPREL. | I want enough capacity for my shopping, but I don’t want to judge energy consumption by the appliance’s size or energy class alone. |
| Food storage and care | Check how to control the temperature and arrange food without overfilling the shelves. Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. | After a big shop, I want to be able to put food away while allowing cold air to circulate and keeping the temperature under control. |
An appliance may offer plenty of room for fresh food but too little for frozen food. Que Choisir reminds shoppers that a small freezer compartment may not be suitable if they eat a lot of frozen food.
Estimate how much fresh and frozen food you store separately, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment.
Measuring the space where the appliance will go isn’t enough: it also needs to fit through the access route, and its doors must be able to open. For example, LG lists its GML844PZ6F as 83.5 cm wide and 116 kg. These figures apply to this model only.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the installation clearances specified for your chosen model.
The energy class doesn’t replace the model’s annual energy consumption figure. If you’re choosing two separate appliances, their combined consumption gives you a better picture of the setup.
Compare the kWh/year on the labels of models that offer the same storage capacity you need. If necessary, check the EPREL entry for the exact model.
A model described as No Frost still needs to be arranged so that air can circulate. Anses advises against overfilling the fridge and recommends keeping its coldest part between 0 and +4 °C.
After a big shop, check the temperature and arrange the food without overfilling the shelves.
The range may be worth exploring if you’re looking for a freestanding fridge freezer to fit a narrower kitchen space. However, check each model rather than assuming the whole range is the same.
Some LG multi-door models are worth considering if you need separate spaces for fresh and frozen food for your weekly shop.
Liebherr offers built-in Side-by-Side solutions made up of separate fridge and freezer units.
This selection includes fridge freezers, multi-door models and a side-by-side fridge freezer, so you can compare different ways to divide up the capacity for a big shop. Check each compartment’s capacity and make sure the model you’re interested in will fit your available space.
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If you shop in bulk, check that the split between fresh and frozen food suits the amount you store.
This four-door model is listed with a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy class. Check its dimensions and the clearances needed for installation too.
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This fridge freezer may suit a week’s shopping if its freezer capacity matches the amount of frozen food you buy.
Listed with a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an E energy class, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Compare the usable capacity of each compartment before choosing.
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If space is limited in your kitchen, compare its capacity with your weekly shop before choosing this format.
Listed as 54 cm wide and 176 cm high, with Low Frost technology. Check that it offers enough freezer space and read the model’s defrosting instructions.
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If your shopping includes lots of frozen food, compare the stated freezer capacity with the space you need.
The model name indicates 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer, with No Frost and a noise level of 37 dB. Check its overall dimensions and kWh/year before opting for this larger model.
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If you shop in bulk, think about how much of the 474 L capacity needs to be taken up by frozen food. The total capacity alone won’t tell you if it’s the right choice.
The product name mentions a three-temperature vegetable drawer and an E energy class. Check the usable capacity of each compartment, the kWh/year and the exact model’s noise level.
No. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Depending on how much frozen food you buy, a fridge freezer may be enough, or you may want to look at the actual capacity of a multi-door model or a separate freezer.
Check the energy class and kWh/year, then compare them with the usable capacity you need. The European Commission also lets you check standardised information for the exact model in EPREL, including the capacity of each compartment.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. Check the temperature regularly and avoid overfilling the appliance, especially after a big shop.
No. Even with a model described as No Frost, check the temperature and leave space for air to circulate around the food. Follow the care instructions for your appliance too.
In France, when a business sells goods to an individual, the seller is required by the legal guarantee of conformity to deliver a product that matches the contract, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Contact the seller and explain how the appliance you received differs from the agreed description.