For substantial extra storage in a cellar or a spacious utility room, consider a chest freezer. If you often need to access different portions, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to organise your food. A freestanding or under-counter model is better suited to occasional extra storage, while a large fridge freezer is mainly worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge. Whatever you choose, measure the space and check that the room temperature, ventilation requirements and power-cut storage time are suitable for the specific model.
A chest freezer can hold a family’s supplies if you have enough floor space and don’t mind searching beneath the food stored on top. Before planning to install one in a cellar, compare the room temperature with the range permitted for your chosen model: a chest design alone doesn’t guarantee that it’s suitable for cold conditions.
An upright freezer with drawers lets you separate ready meals, packets and other supplies. If you also need to replace your main fridge, consider the freezer capacity of a fridge freezer too: its total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food.
A small freezer can provide extra capacity without taking up as much room as a large upright or chest freezer. Measure the alcove, then check the clearances specified in the manual and the space needed to open the door. This style offers less room for building up a large stock of food.
Start with the room where the appliance will go, then compare the capacity you need with how you’ll fill and use the freezer.
| What to consider | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space and style | Measure the route into the room and the space where the freezer will go. Allow for the door or lid to open fully, as well as the clearances specified in the manual. | If I want to build up a supply in a spacious utility room, I could consider a chest freezer. If I only have space under a worktop, I’d look for a compact appliance instead. |
| Room temperature | Check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room, then compare them with the climate class or ambient temperature range stated for the model. Tolerance down to −15 °C only applies to models that explicitly specify it. | My cellar or garage might get cold, so I need to check the model before installing it there. In an online questionnaire published by Que Choisir in 2014, 77 % of the nearly 1 500 respondents said they didn’t know that climate classes existed; this result doesn’t represent all French households today. |
| Capacity and use | Compare the usable capacity in litres with the amount of food you plan to store. If you freeze several fresh foods at once, also check the star rating and freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | I want to know whether I need space for a large family supply or just a little extra storage. If I’m replacing my fridge too, I’ll check the freezer compartment capacity of a fridge freezer separately. |
| Storage and maintenance | Check the number and dimensions of the drawers, baskets or compartments. Look at the defrosting function specified for the model and make sure you can access it easily for cleaning. | If I often open the appliance to take out a portion, drawers could help me find food more easily. With a chest freezer, I need to be able to reach the items at the bottom. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time in hours using the same definition, and check whether the freezer has any temperature alarms. According to Que Choisir, simulating a power cut is one of the tests used to assess how long food stays frozen. | If the appliance is in a room I don’t visit often or contains a large stock of food, I want to be able to spot a rise in temperature and know how long the model is stated to keep food frozen. |
An unheated cellar may fall outside the ambient temperature range specified for the appliance. Bosch, for example, gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN; some Beko models state that they can operate down to −15 °C, but that doesn’t automatically apply to the rest of the range.
Check the room’s lowest and highest temperatures, then consult the rating plate, the model’s product information and the ventilation clearances in its manual.
A chest freezer needs floor space, and items at the bottom can be harder to reach. An upright freezer organises food in drawers, but its height, depth and door clearance must suit the space available.
Measure the route to the room and the space around the appliance. Then compare the baskets and drawers with the boxes and packets you actually use.
A compartment designed to store already-frozen food for a short time isn’t suitable for the same uses as an appliance that can freeze home-cooked food.
If you plan to freeze fresh food regularly, check that the compartment or appliance has a 4-star rating and look at its freezing specifications.
The stated storage time varies from model to model. An alarm can alert you to a problem, but it doesn’t replace checking the food after a power cut.
Compare the stated storage times using the same definition, and check for an alarm if the freezer will be installed away from the rooms you use every day.
These brands offer examples of styles and features to consider; a feature listed for one model won’t necessarily be available across the whole range.
Whirlpool’s French product information lets you compare a chest freezer, an upright freezer and a fridge freezer, depending on the storage you need.
Bosch provides information on under-counter and upright models, as well as the temperature ranges associated with climate classes.
Beko markets some of its freezers as suitable for installation in an unheated room.
These options include chest freezers for extra storage, compact or drawer-style freezers, and a fridge freezer to consider if you’re replacing your fridge too. If you’re choosing a model for an unheated cellar or utility room, check its ambient temperature range first.
Image unavailable
A 99 L chest freezer to consider for a compact extra supply rather than a large family stock. The product listing mentions an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket, a sliding lid and an E energy rating. Before installing it in a cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature, required clearances and storage time in the event of a power cut.
Image unavailable
This capacity is better suited to a little extra storage than a large family supply. The product listing mentions drawers, a reversible door, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating. If you plan to put it under a worktop or in an unheated room, check the clearances and the model’s ambient temperature range; also check its storage time in the event of a power cut.
Image unavailable
This upright freezer may suit a household that would rather organise supplies in drawers than rummage through a chest freezer. The product listing mentions No Frost, an alarm, an LED display and a C energy rating. If you regularly freeze fresh food, check its star rating and freezing capacity; also check the dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time before deciding where to put it.
Image unavailable
This fridge freezer is mainly suited to households looking to replace their fridge too: its stated 360 L capacity is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer. The product listing mentions Total No Frost, Wi-Fi, My Zone and an E energy rating. Compare the freezer capacity separately with the amount you plan to store, and check the manual for the permitted ambient temperatures in your chosen location.
Image unavailable
This chest freezer offers a stated capacity of 140 L for extra supplies, provided you have enough room to open the lid. The product listing mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating. If you plan to freeze fresh food or install it in an unheated room, check the star rating, freezing capacity and the model’s ambient temperature range; also check its storage time in the event of a power cut.
Yes, provided the actual cellar temperatures stay within the range permitted for that specific model and you can follow the ventilation clearances in its manual. Bosch, for example, gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN, while Beko states that some models can operate down to −15 °C. Always check the specifications for the appliance you’re considering.
The Ministry of Agriculture recommends −18 °C as a guide for a domestic freezer. Follow the appliance instructions and check its temperature, particularly after a fault or power cut.
No. Don’t confuse storing already-frozen food in an ice box with freezing fresh food. To freeze your own meals, look for an appliance or compartment with a 4-star rating and check its freezing specifications.
The Ministry of Agriculture advises against refreezing food that has defrosted. After a power cut, check the condition of the food rather than relying solely on the freezer’s stated storage time.