If you often reach for prepared meals, choose an upright freezer with organised storage; for a larger stockpile, consider a chest freezer, bearing in mind how easy it is to reach items at the bottom. A compact model suits a smaller reserve in a tight space, while a fridge freezer makes most sense if you’re replacing your fridge too. In every case, check the usable freezer capacity, the space needed to open the appliance and the ambient temperature range it’s designed for.
If you regularly open the freezer to grab prepared meals, drawers can help you keep containers and bags separate. An upright freezer, or a fridge freezer with enough freezer space for your needs, could be worth considering. Que Choisir highlights how important it is to be able to access food in the compartments.
For bulk shopping or large packs, a chest freezer offers a spacious storage compartment. You’ll also need to allow for its floor space and organise it so you can reach items at the bottom.
If your current freezer compartment is no longer big enough, compare a compact appliance with a larger fridge freezer. The latter makes most sense if you need to replace your fridge as well; measure the space before you choose.
Consider it if: you often take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: compartments offer less flexibility than an open chest for bulky containers.
Consider it if: you’re building up a large stockpile or storing big packs.
Bear in mind: the top-opening lid and depth mean you’ll need to plan how to reach items at the bottom.
Consider it if: you want a small extra supply without giving up much space to a second appliance.
Bear in mind: the available capacity may not be enough for a large stockpile.
Consider it if: you also need to replace your fridge and want both functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the appliance’s total capacity isn’t the same as the capacity of its freezer compartment alone.
To choose a freezer for meals and groceries, start with the need that matters most to your household, then check the specifications of the exact appliance you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Access to meals | Drawer layout and space for your containers and dishes. | If I regularly take out prepared portions, I want to find them without rummaging through the whole freezer. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this organised access. |
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity, floor dimensions and chest freezer baskets. | For bulk shopping and large packs, my main priority is having room for my stock. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Size | Dimensions excluding packaging, access through your home and clearance for opening and ventilation. | In a home where space is limited, I need to be able to install and open the appliance without blocking the room. Around 20% of consumers prioritise a compact design. |
| Replacing the fridge | Usable capacity of the freezer compartment alone and the fridge freezer’s dimensions. | If I also need to replace my fridge, I’m looking to combine both functions in one space. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
An open chest freezer and an upright model with drawers don’t offer the same access to food. Que Choisir recommends checking that you can remove food from the compartments and that the drawers are easy to use.
Compare the usable capacity with the size of your portions, containers and larger dishes, then check the baskets or drawers on the model you’re considering.
The climate class defines the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed to operate in, as set out in the European energy labelling regulation. A claim that certain models can operate in colder conditions doesn’t apply to every chest freezer.
Compare the possible temperatures in your garage, cellar or utility room with the range specified for the exact model.
A freezer runs continuously, as ADEME points out. The energy class alone doesn’t tell you the appliance’s annual energy consumption or usable capacity.
For appliances with enough room for your stock, compare the stated kWh/year, usable capacity and noise level.
The total capacity of a fridge freezer includes the fridge compartment too. For example, Whirlpool France lists 106 L of freezer capacity in its WHK25404XBR5E, out of 355 L in total; these figures apply to this specific model.
Before replacing a fridge with a fridge freezer, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity alone with the amount you usually store.
Bosch’s French range includes freestanding upright freezers and under-counter models to consider if you want compartmentalised storage.
Liebherr chest freezers are worth considering if you need extra storage and are thinking of installing the appliance in a cool room.
The French models reviewed include chest freezers and fridge freezers. Compare them based on whether you’re adding extra storage or replacing your fridge too.
These Joybuy appliances illustrate four different uses: organising meals in an upright freezer, adding extra storage with a chest freezer, installing a small upright model or replacing your fridge as well with a fridge freezer. Compare their freezer capacity with the amount you usually store, and check the installation requirements for each model.
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Worth considering if you want to organise portions in a dedicated freezer. The product name lists drawers, No Frost and an energy rating of C; check that the drawers can open fully in the space you have.
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An option for adding extra storage with a 99 L chest freezer. The product name mentions a removable basket and an energy rating of E; allow enough space to open the lid and reach food inside the compartment.
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Worth considering if you want a separate 140 L stockpile and need a basket for smaller items. The product name lists a counterbalanced lid and an energy rating of E; check how much space you’ll need around the freezer.
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Compare this model if a small separate freezer is enough for your meals and groceries. The product name lists three drawers, a reversible door and an energy rating of E; measure the space and check the clearance required.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge as well, rather than adding a dedicated freezer. The stated 467 L capacity is for the whole appliance; the product name lists four doors, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check the freezer compartment capacity separately, along with the installation dimensions.
Yes, as long as the ambient temperature range the model is designed for covers the temperatures in the room. Check the possible temperatures in the space and compare them with the climate class or the range explicitly stated for the appliance; a cold-weather rating for a different model isn’t enough.
Compare the kWh/year stated for each model, taking into account the usable capacity you need. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously; the energy class alone doesn’t tell you the annual consumption of a specific model.
An upright freezer is worth prioritising if you need to find separate portions in drawers regularly. A chest freezer suits a larger stockpile, as long as you plan how to reach food stored underneath other items.
No: it depends on how much freezer capacity you need and whether you also have to replace your fridge. Compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment, not the fridge freezer’s total capacity, with the amount of meals and groceries you store.
Ask the retailer, your local council or a collection point about taking away electrical and electronic equipment. The government departments responsible for the environment explain that this equipment is handled through a dedicated scheme that allows its materials to be recycled.