To make room for portions and bulk shopping, choose according to how much you need to store and how often you’ll access it. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise food in compartments, while a chest freezer gives you more freedom to store large packs, as long as you have enough space for it. A large fridge freezer is mainly worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too. If so, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity, the climate class and annual energy consumption.
If you cook ahead and regularly take out individual containers, make sure the contents are easy to see and reach. An online survey published by UFC-Que Choisir in 2014 listed home-cooked food among the items respondents said they stored. This older finding does not reflect current shopping habits.
If you store multipacks or large packages, compare their shape and volume with the space available for a chest freezer. ADEME recommends checking what you already have in stock before shopping again to avoid buying the same things twice.
If you want a new appliance that combines refrigeration and freezing, look at the freezer capacity separately from the total capacity. The total volume does not tell you how much room there is for frozen food.
Start by estimating how much food you’ll need to store at once, then choose a format based on how you want to access it and how much space you have. Upright freezers, chest freezers and large fridge freezers suit different needs, so there’s no one-size-fits-all option.
Consider this if: you often take out portions and want to sort them into easy-to-reach compartments.
Check: the internal dimensions of the drawers, as they may limit the size of the containers you can use.
Consider this if: you store multipacks or bulky packages and have enough floor space.
Check: how easy it is to reach food at the bottom, whether the lid can open fully and the room temperature.
Consider this if: you also need to replace or upgrade your fridge.
Check: the actual capacity of the freezer compartment. A large total capacity doesn’t necessarily mean a large freezer capacity.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Finding portions easily | Drawer dimensions and number, whether drawers can be removed, usable capacity. | If I often take out portions, I want to store them and find them without rummaging through everything. Around 38% of consumers prioritise easy access to portions they use regularly. |
| Storing large packs | Usable capacity, floor space, lid clearance and whether there are baskets. | If I buy in bulk or store large packages, I want to fit them in without being restricted by fixed drawers. Around 37% of consumers prioritise having room for bulky items. |
| Replacing the fridge | Freezer capacity alone, appliance dimensions and whether you really need to replace the fridge. | If I’m also replacing my fridge, I’m looking for a single appliance with enough room for my frozen food. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this all-in-one option. |
| Installation and energy use | Dimensions, climate class, energy consumption in kWh/year and stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If the installation space or ongoing running costs are important to my choice, I check the dimensions, temperature conditions and energy consumption. Around 12% of consumers put installation and running costs first. |
The Whirlpool WHK2 6494 X6E has a stated total capacity of 490 l, including 150 l for the freezer. So the total capacity alone isn’t enough to tell you how much room there is for frozen food.
Before replacing a fridge that still meets your needs, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with the amount of food you expect to store.
An open compartment can hold bulky packs, but floor space and access to food at the bottom also matter if you’ll use it often.
Measure the space available and check the lid clearance. Look at the baskets and consider how you’ll reach smaller portions.
The appliance’s climate class specifies the ambient temperatures it’s designed for. A claim that one particular model is suitable for a cold room does not automatically apply to other models.
Compare the room temperature with the conditions listed on the product page and in the manual for the exact model.
Liebherr describes SmartFrost on the CFd 2085 as reducing frost build-up. Bosch says the No Frost feature on the GSN36VWEP avoids manual defrosting. These claims apply to the specific models mentioned.
Check the technology and care instructions for the exact appliance rather than relying on the technology’s name alone.
Depending on the technology used in the model you choose, manual maintenance may still be needed.
Upright freezers may suit you if you want to organise portions and access them regularly. The GSN36VWEP is one example in this range.
Chest freezers may be worth considering for bulky items if you have enough floor space and can easily reach the bottom. The CFd 2085 Plus is one model with documented features.
A large fridge freezer may be worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge. The WHK2 6494 X6E is an example of this type of option.
This selection includes chest freezers for making more room for bulk shopping, as well as fridge freezers for households replacing their fridge too.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want a separate freezer compartment to organise portions.
Total capacity: 544 l; freezer: 197 l, with four glass shelves and two drawers. The product details list Total No Frost, an energy rating of D and 254 kWh/year.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to organise food you’ll take out of the freezer regularly.
Freezer capacity: 125 l, with three drawers and a quick-access drawer. The product details list Total No Frost, a freezing capacity of 10 kg/24 h and 271 kWh/year.
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Worth considering if you want to add a chest freezer and keep some of your food separate in the baskets.
The title lists a capacity of 150 l and two removable baskets. The description mentions six temperature settings, a fast-freeze function and integrated wheels.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately.
Total capacity: 444 l, including 168 l for the freezer and 276 l for the fridge. The product details list a width of 83 cm, No Frost, an energy rating of E, climate class SN/N/ST and a noise level of 40 dB.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer to add more freezing space and store some of the contents in a basket.
The title lists a capacity of 140 l and a storage basket. The description gives dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm and mentions a counterbalanced lid and mechanical temperature control.
Make a list of the containers and bulk packs you want to store at the same time, then compare their dimensions with the freezer’s usable capacity. Household size alone isn’t enough to determine the right capacity in litres: how often you take food out and whether you buy bulky items also matter.
Yes, if the garage temperature stays within the limits specified for the model you choose. Liebherr states that FrostProtect works down to −15 °C on the CFd 2085; this feature doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
No. Bosch says that No Frost on the GSN36VWEP avoids manual defrosting, while Liebherr describes SmartFrost on the CFd 2085 as reducing frost build-up. Check the technology on the exact model and follow its manual.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh/year of the models that meet your needs. To estimate your costs, multiply this figure by the price per kWh in your electricity tariff. Actual consumption can vary depending on how and where you use the appliance. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to an individual. Among other things, the seller is responsible if the product doesn’t match its description. Keep the model details, the description in your contract and proof of purchase so you can exercise this right with the seller.