If you regularly reach for portions and prepared meals, an upright freezer with drawers makes them easy to access. For bulky supplies that you need less often, consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. A compact model can provide extra capacity, while a larger fridge freezer means you won’t need another appliance — provided its freezer compartment is genuinely big enough. In every case, compare the usable capacity, possible installation locations, stated power-cut storage time and energy consumption of the specific model.
Your choice depends as much on how often you take out a meal as on how much you need to store. UFC-Que Choisir notes, in particular, that upright freezers are more compact, while chest freezers can offer considerably more capacity.
If you regularly take out meals, portions and ingredients, first check whether the drawers are easy to open, remove and clean. Clearly labelled compartments can help you find food without rummaging through the whole freezer.
For groceries and plenty of meals prepared in advance, check that the capacity suits the containers you normally use. If the appliance will go in a cellar or utility room, also check the floor space, climate class and stated power-cut storage time.
When your fridge-freezer compartment is no longer big enough, compare the space available with the extra capacity you need. A small upright freezer or a fridge freezer with a larger freezer compartment could save you the space a chest freezer would take up.
If you need to store more meals and groceries than your current fridge freezer can hold, start by working out the maximum amount you’ll store, then consider how often you need to access it. The installation location and the appliance’s features will help you decide between an upright, chest or compact freezer, or a larger fridge freezer.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the freezer capacity with the maximum amount you’ll store, the size of your containers and the appliance’s external dimensions. With a fridge freezer, make sure you distinguish the freezer capacity from the total capacity. | If my groceries and meals no longer fit comfortably in my fridge freezer, I first look for enough space without making the food difficult to reach. Around 31% of consumers are said to prioritise capacity. |
| Access to meals | Check the height of the compartments and how easy it is to handle the drawers or baskets with the containers you use. | If I take out prepared portions several times a week, I want to be able to find and remove them easily. For around 25% of consumers, easy regular access is said to be the main priority. |
| Installation location | Measure the floor space or under-counter area, delivery access and the clearance needed to open the door or lid. For an outbuilding, check its temperature against the range specified for the model. | I have limited space, or the appliance needs to fit in a cellar or pantry, so the available installation space determines the format. This is said to be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Everyday use | Check the stated storage time during a power cut, the energy label, annual energy consumption and the care instructions for each model. | If I’m storing a large amount of food, I want to know how long it will keep during a power cut and how much energy the appliance uses when running continuously. Around 19% of consumers are said to prioritise these factors. |
These factors alone won’t point to one clear winner. An upright freezer generally makes portions easier to access, while a chest freezer has more room for bulky containers — but you’ll need to be able to reach food stored at the bottom. A compact model takes up less space but offers less capacity. If you’re thinking of replacing your main appliance instead, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the amount you need to store.
In its freezer tests, UFC-Que Choisir assesses ease of use, temperature stability and freezing performance separately. For comparisons between specific models, the energy label explained by the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) provides additional information on how they perform in use.
A large chest freezer may be awkward if you need to find portions every day. Conversely, the compartments in an upright freezer may not suit your largest containers. The litre capacity alone doesn’t tell you how easy it is to reach the food.
Estimate the maximum amount you’ll store and measure your usual containers. Then decide whether you mainly need accessible drawers or an open storage compartment.
The room temperature may fall outside the ambient temperature range specified for the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the climate class when choosing where to install it.
Compare the room temperature with the range listed in the product details and manual for the model you’re considering, rather than assuming every chest freezer is suitable for a garage.
Two appliances with similar capacities may differ in how well they suit your maintenance or running requirements. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir looks separately at performance during a power cut, temperature stability, ease of use and noise.
Compare the stated storage time using the method specified, annual energy consumption on the energy label, noise level and defrosting instructions for the models you’ve shortlisted.
A spacious freezer doesn’t remove the need to take care when storing cooked meals. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting the freezer to −18 °C and not leaving prepared meals to cool on the worktop for too long.
Organise and date your portions, and follow the relevant food storage guidance rather than relying solely on the appliance’s capacity.
These ranges give you a basis for comparing formats and features. Specifications vary between models and don’t necessarily apply to the products listed below.
Depending on the model, Liebherr’s range includes chest and upright freezers with technologies designed to reduce frost build-up.
Bosch offers upright freezers and under-counter models, among other options, to suit different spaces.
Haier offers upright and chest freezers, making it possible to compare the two ways of accessing your stored food.
Whirlpool offers upright freezers. The specifications for the WHFF 6403 W4E list a capacity of 404 L and six drawers or baskets.
These Joybuy models let you compare upright freezers for easy access to portions, two chest freezers for extra storage and a fridge freezer if you’re considering replacing your main appliance. Before choosing, compare the capacity devoted to freezing — not the total capacity.
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Worth considering if you want to store portions in a separate upright freezer rather than a chest freezer.
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Consider this as an extra freezer if you have limited space and only a small amount to freeze.
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Compare it with a small upright model if you prefer to access your extra storage from above.
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Worth considering if you need more capacity for extra food and have enough floor space for a larger chest freezer.
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Consider this if you’d rather replace your main appliance than add a separate freezer.
The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your freezer to −18 °C. Check the appliance setting and also follow the storage guidance for the food you put inside.
Don’t leave cooked meals to cool on the worktop for too long — this is one of the precautions highlighted by the Ministry of Agriculture. Divide them into suitable containers and follow the relevant storage guidance for each food.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the room temperature and you can follow the installation instructions in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the climate class, so check it for the specific model before choosing where to put it.
A new freezer bought from a professional seller is covered by the statutory guarantee of conformity. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) states that this lasts for two years. Any commercial guarantee offered is additional and does not replace this legal protection.