If your fridge freezer compartment is no longer big enough, choose a dedicated freezer to suit your priorities. An upright model makes it easier to organise portions in drawers, while a chest freezer is ideal for storing a larger stock if you have enough floor space. A compact model is better suited as extra storage; when choosing a large fridge freezer, compare the freezer capacity rather than the total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering factors such as the format and capacity, while ADEME advises checking the permitted ambient temperature for the room where it will be installed.
If you freeze meals and regularly take out different portions, being able to find and access them matters just as much as capacity. Bosch Électroménager France’s product information and the MesMenus guide illustrate these needs.
You want to add groceries or large containers to a freezer that’s too small, and can compare usable capacity with the space available. The UFC-Que Choisir guide and Whirlpool France product information explain what to look for.
You need extra capacity, but should check both the appliance’s dimensions and the space where it will go. An under-counter model or a large fridge freezer won’t necessarily offer as much freezer capacity as a dedicated appliance.
Choose this if: you often access different portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Check: the height and depth, and how much room is needed to open the door.
Choose this if: you mainly store a large stock or big containers and have plenty of floor space.
Plan for: organising portions and reaching food at the bottom of the freezer.
Choose this if: you need a compact extra freezer and have a space that fits the model.
Bear in mind: its capacity may be limited if you want to store a large stock.
Choose this if: you also need to replace your fridge and its freezer compartment is large enough for your stock.
Compare: the litres of freezer space separately from the appliance’s total capacity.
If you often access portions, the internal layout can matter as much as capacity. For large food shops, compare usable capacity with the appliance’s dimensions and the space it needs. UFC-Que Choisir highlights factors including format, capacity and ease of access.
| Priority | What to check before buying | Who values it most |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | The layout of drawers or baskets, access to lower levels and the space available to open the appliance. | If I regularly take out different portions, I want to find them without moving all the other food. Around 31% of consumers prioritise easy access to portions. |
| Storage capacity | Usable freezer capacity in litres, external dimensions and access to the lid; don’t confuse total capacity with freezer capacity. | If I store large food shops or bulky containers, I compare the freezer capacity with the amount I plan to store. Around 25% of consumers prioritise having plenty of storage. |
| Space required | Height, width, depth, delivery access and opening space; for a built-in appliance, check the dimensions of the housing. | When space is limited, I want extra freezer capacity without choosing an appliance that won’t fit. Around 19% of consumers prioritise a compact appliance. |
| Energy consumption | The kWh/year figure on the label and the compartment capacities, comparing appliances suited to the same need. | If the appliance runs continuously, I compare its annual energy consumption with a capacity that suits what I store. Around 13% of consumers prioritise running costs. |
| Replacing the fridge | The capacity of the freezer compartment alone and whether you really need to replace the fridge too. | If I’m replacing both appliances, I want to check that the freezer compartment can hold everything I store. Around 12% of consumers prioritise replacing the fridge at the same time. |
Fridge and freezer capacity meet different needs. For the Bosch KGN49AIBT, Bosch gives a capacity of 311 l for the fridge and 129 l for the freezer.
Compare the amount you plan to store with the freezer capacity alone, then check whether you really need to replace the fridge as well.
If the freezer compartment isn’t big enough, you may need to make room for an extra appliance.
The permitted ambient temperature varies by model. The stated range for some appliances doesn’t apply to every freezer from the same brand.
Check the room’s temperature and compare it with the instructions for the exact model. Whirlpool and Liebherr state that some of their chest freezers can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C.
Food at the bottom can be harder to find if you regularly take out small portions.
Look at the internal layout. If you choose a chest freezer, plan how to organise it into sections and check the number and arrangement of the baskets.
A difficult layout can make portions take longer to find and may mean you need suitable storage accessories.
Electrolux’s product information for the LUB3AE88S states that it needs manual defrosting, despite the LowFrost label.
Check the technology and care instructions for the model you’re considering rather than assuming you know what maintenance it needs from its product name.
The GSN58AWCV and KGN49AIBT models illustrate a dedicated upright freezer and a fridge freezer respectively. Their specifications shouldn’t be taken as representative of the whole brand.
The W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer offers a mid-range storage capacity, which you can assess against your available floor space and storage habits.
The LUB3AE88S is an example of an under-counter built-in freezer for extra storage in a suitably sized housing.
The CFd 2505 Plus chest freezer offers high storage capacity, provided you have enough floor space and suitable installation conditions.
The models featured here cover organising portions in an upright freezer, storing food in a chest freezer and replacing both your fridge and freezer. For fridge freezers, compare the freezer capacity separately from the total capacity.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to organise frozen food across several storage compartments.
Stated total capacity: 488 l; freezer compartment: 159 l. The product description lists two drawers and four shelves in the freezer.
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Worth considering if you’d rather organise portions in several compartments than stack them in a chest freezer.
Stated capacity: 161 l; the product description lists three drawers and two trays. The product name states No-Frost and energy rating C.
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Worth considering if you want to replace both appliances with one and the freezer compartment is large enough for what you store.
Stated total capacity: 495 l, including 165 l for the freezer and 330 l for the fridge. The product description lists two drawers in the freezer and No Frost.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want the freezer capacity listed separately.
Stated total capacity: 525 l, split between 333 l for the fridge and 192 l for the freezer. The product name states No Frost and a noise level of 37 dB.
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Worth considering if you store large food shops and have enough floor space for a top-opening appliance.
Stated capacity: 291 l; a removable basket is included. The product description says to leave at least 10 cm of ventilation space around the appliance.
Only if the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the actual temperatures in the room. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN; this doesn’t show that the appliance can operate below 0 °C. Whirlpool states that the W3RHS31DW2 can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, as does Liebherr for the CFd 2505 Plus. Check the instructions for the model you choose, as these conditions don’t apply to every appliance.
Compare the kWh/year figure and compartment capacities, choosing a capacity that suits what you store. The European Commission lists annual energy consumption and the capacities of frozen and unfrozen compartments separately, so total capacity alone isn’t enough to assess freezer storage.
No. Electrolux states that the LUB3AE88S needs manual defrosting, despite the LowFrost label. Check the technology and care instructions for each model rather than assuming you know what maintenance it needs from its product name.
The statutory warranty of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. According to the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance, claims must be brought within two years of the goods being delivered. Any commercial warranty is separate and optional.