To store a large shop or plenty of batch-cooked meals, start by thinking about how much you need to freeze and how you want to access your food. A chest freezer offers a large open space, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food into compartments. A fridge-freezer means you won’t need another appliance, provided its freezer compartment is big enough. In all three cases, compare the dimensions, annual energy consumption in kWh and how long food stays frozen during a power cut on the specific models you’re considering.
If you freeze several portions or meals, think about how easy it will be to find each container. Drawers can help you keep meals separate; with a chest freezer, plan how to organise the baskets and boxes you use so everything is easy to find.
If you buy in bulk, choose large packs or stock up for the family, compare the usable freezer capacity rather than the total capacity shown for a fridge-freezer. UFC-Que Choisir describes chest freezers as a format that can offer particularly generous capacity, provided you have enough space for one.
If there’s no room for another appliance, first check whether a fridge-freezer’s freezer compartment can hold your batch-cooked meals and shopping. If you still need a separate appliance, measure the space where it will go and make sure there’s room to open the door or lid.
Choose the format before considering the features: decide whether you mainly need extra storage, easy access to individual portions or a single appliance.
Choose this if: you need open storage space for large packs or lots of batch-cooked meals, and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the contents into baskets or zones to find things easily, and there must be enough room to open the lid fully.
Choose this if: you often take out different meals or portions and want to organise them in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: compartments make sorting easier, but their shape may limit how you store bulky containers. Check the layout of the model you’re considering.
Choose this if: you want to keep just one appliance and its freezer compartment can hold the amount you plan to store.
Bear in mind: “large capacity” may refer to the appliance as a whole. For extra freezer storage, only the capacity of the freezer compartment matters.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres and check that your larger containers will fit in the available space. | If I freeze lots of meals or shop in bulk, I want to be able to store everything without making the back of my freezer hard to reach. Around 42% of consumers make capacity their top priority. |
| Access to food | Check the layout of the drawers, baskets or compartments and the space needed to use them. | If I regularly take out different portions, I want to find the right container without moving everything else. For around 33% of consumers, organisation and easy access come before other criteria. |
| Space and performance | Measure the space available and compare the annual energy consumption in kWh, noise level and running time in hours during a power cut for the models you’re considering. | If I don’t have room for a second appliance, I need to check what my fridge-freezer can hold without overlooking how it will work day to day. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this compromise. |
According to the European Commission, the energy label shows information including the energy rating, annual consumption, capacity and noise level. The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you what two appliances with different capacities can offer for your storage needs.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh and freezer capacity of models suited to a similar quantity of food. If the appliance will be near a living area, check the noise level too.
A chest freezer takes up floor space, and its contents are stored in one open compartment. Without room to lift the lid or a way to organise the contents, food at the bottom can be difficult to reach.
Measure the space where it will go, the clearance above the lid and the route to the installation area. Also think about how you’ll use the baskets and boxes.
The permitted ambient temperature range depends on the appliance. Beko France says the HSM14540 chest freezer will operate down to −15 °C, but this does not apply to other freezers.
Before installing a freezer in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperatures and the instructions for the specific model.
How long a freezer stays cold during a power cut varies from model to model. Beko France states 9 h for the 177 L RFNM200T40WN upright freezer and 23 h for the 205 L HSM14540 chest freezer. These figures don’t apply to all upright and chest freezers.
If performance during power cuts matters to you, compare the stated running time in hours for the models you’re considering and check separately whether they have an alarm.
Beko offers both chest and upright freezers. Its product information for the French market shows why it’s worth comparing specific models rather than choosing by brand alone.
A Bosch upright freezer’s layout may appeal if you want to separate portions and make room for larger containers.
A large Whirlpool upright freezer may be worth considering if you need several drawers and have enough room to install it.
Haier offers both upright and chest freezers. When comparing them, start with the freezer capacity you need and the constraints of the room.
These models show three ways to meet your needs: add an upright freezer to organise meals into compartments, choose a chest freezer for open storage or stick with one appliance and choose a fridge-freezer. Before choosing a fridge-freezer, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment rather than its total capacity.
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If you want to organise portions in a dedicated freezer, this model offers a stated capacity of 161 L and compartmentalised storage.
The product information lists No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy rating. If running time during a power cut, annual energy consumption in kWh or installation in a cold room are important to you, check these details before choosing.
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If you want to keep just one appliance, check whether its 74 L freezer compartment is big enough for your batch-cooked meals and shopping.
This model has a 153 L fridge compartment, is 54 cm wide and features Low Frost, a reversible door and an E energy rating. If they matter to you, compare the annual energy consumption in kWh and running time during a power cut too.
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If you need extra freezer space but are short on room, this model has a stated capacity of 60 L. Check that it’s big enough for the amount you want to store.
The product name lists three internal storage compartments, a reversible door and an E energy rating. If your installation location requires it, check the running time during a power cut, annual energy consumption in kWh and permitted ambient temperatures.
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If you want to build up a stock of frozen food in a chest freezer, this model offers a stated capacity of 140 L and includes a basket to keep some of the contents separate.
The product name specifies a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Measure the space needed to open the lid, and check the annual energy consumption in kWh, running time during a power cut and permitted ambient temperatures for your installation.
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If you want to freeze some of your batch-cooked meals without adding a second appliance, consider its stated 71 L freezer compartment.
The product name lists 182 L of fridge capacity and 71 L of freezer capacity. It also specifies No Frost, large freezer drawers and a noise level of 39 dB. If you’re comparing this fridge-freezer with a separate freezer, check the annual energy consumption in kWh and running time during a power cut too.
Yes. According to the European Commission, it lets you compare information about different models, including their energy rating, annual consumption, capacity and noise level. For your frozen food storage, compare the capacity of the freezer compartments and the annual energy consumption in kWh, rather than looking at the energy rating or the fridge-freezer’s total capacity on its own.
No. Capacity alone isn’t enough if you need to find different portions every day. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can offer very generous capacity. Also compare the floor space they need and how easy it is to reach the contents with the drawers in an upright freezer.
Compare the stated running time in hours for each model rather than assuming it depends on the format. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this by measuring how the temperature changes when the power is off, so check the conditions specified for each model when comparing manufacturers’ figures.
No. Check the permitted ambient temperature range for the model and the room where you plan to install it. Some appliances, such as the HSM14540 chest freezer according to Beko France, are stated to operate down to −15 °C. This doesn’t apply to all freezers.