If your harvest or bulk-buying stock is more than your current freezer can hold, a dedicated appliance could be a good option. Start by thinking about how much you need to store and how you want to access your food. A chest freezer is suitable for bulky items if you have room to open it and can keep its contents organised. An upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to grab portions, while a compact model or fridge-freezer is only suitable if its freezer compartment can hold enough for your needs. Then check the permitted ambient temperature, annual energy consumption and storage time during a power cut for the exact model you’re considering. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously.
You want to freeze large quantities, sometimes in big containers, and could fit an appliance in a pantry or another suitable room. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide also points out that ease of use is an important factor when choosing a freezer.
You prepare meals in advance or want to find small bags without having to move all your frozen food around. How your food is organised and how easy it is to access can matter just as much as the available capacity.
You need to consider the floor space it takes up, the clearance needed to open it and the temperature of the room where you plan to install it. Check these conditions for the specific model you’re considering.
If you’re storing a harvest or bulk buys, first check how much usable freezer space you’ll actually need, then consider how you’ll access your food and the conditions in the room where you plan to install the appliance.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Freezer compartment capacity, separate from the total capacity of a fridge-freezer; the size of your containers and freezing capacity if you’re storing fresh food. | If I’m freezing a harvest or bulk buys, I want to be able to store my maximum stock without confusing total capacity with freezer capacity. Around 36 % of consumers prioritise usable capacity. |
| Access and storage | How drawers are organised and handled if you regularly take out portions; baskets and access to the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I regularly take out portions, I want to find them without moving all my frozen food around. Around 29 % of consumers prioritise access and food organisation. |
| Installation | Dimensions, clearance needed to open the appliance, and the minimum and maximum room temperatures permitted for the model. | If the appliance needs to go in a pantry or garage, I need to check that it can be installed and run in the conditions in that space. Around 21 % of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Electricity and power cuts | Annual consumption in kWh and the storage time during a power cut stated for the specific model; ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. | If continuous energy use or power cuts are important to me, I compare the details for each model rather than relying on a single feature. Around 14 % of consumers prioritise running costs or storage time during a power cut. |
Fridge and freezer capacity serve two different needs. A large appliance may offer less freezer space than you expect.
Check the freezer compartment capacity separately and compare it with the maximum amount of food you want to store.
The minimum permitted temperature varies between models, and an appliance may not be suitable for the temperatures your outbuilding could reach.
Check the room temperature and compare it with the range given in the exact model’s product information and manual.
A feature described as reducing frost doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never need to defrost the appliance manually.
Check whether the documentation describes frost reduction or a No Frost function, then read the care instructions.
Defrosting can take time and may mean moving your food temporarily.
Documented models range from the HSM35050 chest freezer to the FSE1174N upright freezer.
The GSN36VWEP is an example of a freestanding upright freezer with drawers for organising portions.
The brand offers examples of a large-capacity chest freezer and a compact table-top freezer.
Documented models include the freestanding UW8 F2D WHBI N 2 upright freezer and the WHK 25404 XBR5E fridge-freezer.
This selection includes chest freezers and a freestanding upright freezer, as well as fridge-freezers for households that also need more fridge space.
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A chest freezer for storing bulk buys at home, if you have enough space and can organise the contents so you can reach food at the bottom.
Stated capacity: 291 l; four-star compartment; five-level digital temperature control; removable basket and defrost drain. Energy rating E.
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This chest freezer could suit a household stock of bulk buys if its capacity and top access work for your available space.
Stated capacity: 197 l; four-star compartment; removable basket and defrost drain. Energy rating E.
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An upright freezer with drawers and shelves to help you organise portions and access them more easily. If you’re freezing fresh food, check the model’s freezing capacity and star rating in the documentation.
Stated capacity: 161 l; three drawers and two shelves; Fast Freeze function. Energy rating C.
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A fridge-freezer to consider if you also need more fridge space. For frozen food storage, focus on the freezer capacity rather than the total capacity.
Stated total capacity: 525 l, including 333 l for the fridge and 192 l for the freezer; No Frost function and drawers. Energy rating E.
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This fridge-freezer could suit you if you need both a fridge and freezer space. Check the freezer compartment separately to see whether it can hold the amount of food you want to store.
Stated total capacity: 444 l, including 276 l for the fridge and 168 l for the freezer; stated width of 83 cm; No Frost function and drawers. Energy rating E.
No. Not all compartments are designed to freeze fresh food. The Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes between a freezer compartment, intended for temporarily storing food that has already been frozen, and a four-star compartment, which can freeze fresh food. Check the star rating, freezing capacity and model manual before putting your harvest in it.
Only if the temperatures the garage may reach are within the range permitted for the model and its installation requirements are met. Beko states that the HSM35050 chest freezer has a minimum ambient temperature of −15 °C, compared with 5 °C for the FSE1174N upright freezer. So the format alone doesn’t tell you whether a freezer is suitable for a cold garage.
No. The storage time stated for a model doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether each food item is still safe after a power cut. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends not refreezing food that has thawed because of the risk of bacterial growth.
A claim that frost is reduced doesn’t mean the appliance has a No Frost function. Liebherr describes SmartFrost and StopFrost as reducing the need to defrost the CFd 2505 Plus. Check the model manual for the maintenance required, and don’t confuse these features with the absence of manual defrosting claimed for some No Frost appliances.
Compare the annual consumption in kWh shown on the energy label with each model’s freezer capacity; ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously. In France, when a consumer buys a product from a trader, the legal guarantee of conformity applies against the seller under the conditions set out by law, according to the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. A commercial guarantee doesn’t replace it.
Yes, for appliances covered by the European regulation on energy labelling for refrigerating appliances. Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 applies in particular to mains-powered appliances with a volume greater than 10 l and less than or equal to 1 500 l, subject to the exclusions set out in the regulation. This information requirement doesn’t set a universal minimum energy rating for buyers.