To supplement your fridge’s freezer compartment, choose a chest freezer if you want plenty of storage, an upright freezer if you often need to find specific foods, or a table-top freezer if space is limited. In every case, check the dimensions, room temperature and installation instructions for the model before you buy.
If you buy in bulk, batch-cook or store bulky items, usable capacity and how you organise your food matter particularly. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this type of use, alongside the considerations specific to each format.
If you open your freezer often, drawers or compartments can make it easier to organise food by category. The exact layout depends on the model.
If you’re adding a freezer to a small kitchen, check the floor space it will take up, the room to move around it and how far the door opens. Then weigh these up against the capacity you need.
Choose this if: you have a dedicated space and store bulk purchases or bulky food.
Bear in mind: it takes up a lot of floor space, and food stored at the bottom is less easy to reach, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Choose this if: you check your stock often and want to separate different types of food in drawers.
Bear in mind: the compartments may limit the size of the items you can store, so check them against your needs.
Choose this if: you’re looking for a compact extra freezer rather than a large storage space.
Bear in mind: check the capacity carefully against your storage habits. For example, Beko offers a 95 L table-top model.
| Factor | What to check | Relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity, the size of the food you want to store and how the baskets are arranged. | If I freeze large shops or bulky meals, I want to store them without relying on lots of small compartments; around 31% of consumers put storage capacity first. |
| Access to food | Layout of the drawers, baskets and removable parts. | When I take frozen food out often, I’d rather be able to find a category without moving everything else; around 31% of consumers prioritise this easy access. |
| Size | Appliance dimensions, available clearance and how far the door or lid opens. | In a small kitchen, I need extra storage without obstructing movement; around 23% of consumers prioritise the space an appliance takes up. |
| Room temperature | Minimum and maximum ambient temperatures, climate class and the model’s operating range. | If the temperature in my cellar or garage varies, I need an appliance designed for those conditions; around 15% of consumers prioritise whether the appliance is suitable for the room above all other factors. |
A large capacity won’t help if the appliance won’t fit through to its intended spot or the lid can’t open properly. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers are commonly 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep.
Measure the space, access route and clearance needed to open the lid, then check the manual for the clearances required for that model.
The recommended ambient temperature varies by appliance. Bosch explains that a room that’s too cold or too hot can affect how it works.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class or operating range stated for the exact model.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most microorganisms survive.
Freeze food as soon as you buy it or after preparing it, rather than waiting until it’s nearly past its use-by date. Follow Anses’ advice on defrosting, too.
Energy use matters for an appliance that runs all the time, but it doesn’t tell you how easy it is to organise, how noisy it is or how long it will keep food frozen during a power cut.
When comparing similar formats and capacities, look at the energy label, stated annual energy consumption, noise level and interior layout.
A brand worth considering for freestanding upright freezers with vertical storage, depending on the model’s features.
A brand to compare if you’re considering either a chest freezer or a large-capacity upright model.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a small table-top freezer or comparing chest freezers for different locations.
Yes, as long as the model’s operating range covers the room’s actual temperatures. Compare its limits with the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures. For example, Whirlpool states that the WHM2112 can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to other chest freezers.
Drawers are a good choice if you want to separate food and find it easily. The open space in a chest freezer is better suited to storing bulky items in larger quantities. In either case, check the actual drawer or basket layout of the model you’re considering.
Don’t wait until food is nearly past its use-by date before freezing it. Anses recommends freezing it as soon as you buy or prepare it, and reminds us that freezing doesn’t destroy most microorganisms.
Compare the stated annual energy consumption, noise level, usable capacity and interior layout of appliances that meet the same needs. The energy label helps you compare energy use, but it isn’t enough to judge how practical a freezer will be day to day.
No. The type of cooling depends on the model, not just its format. Check the product details and manual to find out about defrosting and maintenance requirements.