If you dip into your frozen food regularly, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to separate and access your food. If you have a suitable space and want to store large quantities, a chest freezer could work well, provided you also organise the food at the bottom. If the freezer compartment in your fridge-freezer already meets your needs, organising it more effectively may be enough, without adding another appliance. In every case, compare the usable freezer capacity and check the dimensions, installation requirements and energy label for the specific model.
If you regularly take out portions, vegetables or ready meals, an upright freezer with drawers can help you separate food into categories and find what you need. Check that the layout and capacity suit the food you plan to store.
A chest freezer is worth considering if you have enough space and want to store large quantities. Plan to use baskets or labelled containers: getting to food at the bottom takes a little more organisation.
Start by looking at the freezer compartment in your current fridge-freezer. If it can hold your food reserves and is still easy to organise, a better layout may meet your needs without a second appliance.
First consider how much food you need to store and how often you access it. Then check that the type of appliance you have in mind will fit the space available.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Access and storage | Compare the drawers or compartments in an upright freezer with the baskets in a chest freezer. Check where you can put frequently used items and bulky packs. | I take out portions frequently and want to find them without having to move all my frozen food around. |
| Freezer capacity | For a fridge-freezer, check the litres for the freezer compartment only, not the total capacity. Compare this figure with the amount you store at any one time. | My bulk buys or ready meals need to fit in a space I can still keep organised. |
| Location | Measure the height, width and depth, then check the manual for door clearance and ventilation requirements. If the room is unheated, check the ambient temperature range the model can operate in. | I plan to put the appliance in a kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage. It needs to suit the actual conditions in that room. |
| Energy and noise | ADEME recommends checking the energy label. Compare the energy rating, stated consumption in kWh/year and noise level of models with similar capacity. | If the appliance will be near a living area, noise matters as much to me as capacity. |
| Food storage | Check the type of compartment, temperature settings and storage guidance for the model. According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. | I want to store my food reserves in line with the appliance’s intended conditions, without treating freezing as a substitute for good food-handling practices. |
| Additional appliance | Before buying an upright or chest freezer, check whether your existing freezer compartment will still be enough once you have organised your food. When choosing a new fridge-freezer, also consider how its capacity is split between refrigeration and freezing. | I only need extra storage occasionally, so I’d first like to see whether a clearer layout would free up enough space. |
This figure includes both the fridge and freezer compartments. For example, the EPREL product information for the Thomson THD318NFSL lists a total capacity of 334 l, including 77 l for the freezer compartment.
Compare the capacity available for frozen food separately, and check how it is divided up.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the appliance. A model that is specified to operate down to −15 °C does not mean that others can do the same.
Before choosing where to put it, check the temperature range, climate class and required clearances in the manual.
A large capacity does not automatically make food under other packs easy to see.
Keep frequently used items in the baskets, label your containers and put older food within easy reach.
Anses explains that freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. You still need to take care when storing and defrosting food.
Freeze food soon after buying or preparing it, and follow the relevant storage and defrosting instructions.
The details below apply to the models mentioned, not every appliance made by each brand.
Beko France’s product information lets you compare an upright freezer with drawers and a chest freezer with a basket.
The WHM46122FR chest freezer featured by Whirlpool France is an example of an option for storing large quantities.
The GSN58AWEV upright freezer from Bosch Électroménager France is worth considering if you want plenty of storage, organised into accessible sections.
The FNe 4605 Pure NoFrost and FNXa 522i upright freezers offer two different capacities to consider, depending on how much you need to store.
This selection from Joybuy includes chest freezers, upright freezers and a fridge-freezer. Compare the capacity available for frozen food, the layout and the installation requirements to find the right fit for the food you want to store.
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This chest freezer is suited to storing food you can organise around a removable basket. Its title lists LED lighting, a five-level digital control and an E energy rating. If you plan to install it in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperature range.
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An upright design is worth considering if you want to organise your food reserves rather than stack them in a chest freezer. The title mentions No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy rating, but the stated number of drawers is inconsistent, so check the exact layout. Also measure the space and check the manual for the required clearances.
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This 141 L chest freezer could suit you if your food reserves fit into a more compact space and a removable basket is enough to organise frequently used items. The title lists a seven-level thermostat, an E energy rating and a switchable fridge or freezer mode. If you’re storing frozen food, make sure freezer mode is selected.
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Consider this fridge-freezer if you need a fridge as well as a freezer, rather than a standalone freezer. The 467 L listed in its title refers to the total capacity, so check the freezer compartment capacity separately before comparing it with an upright or chest freezer. The title mentions Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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Compare this 60 L model with the size of your food reserves if you’re looking for a compact upright freezer. Its title lists a reversible door and an E energy rating. The descriptions of its internal storage differ, so check the exact layout, dimensions and installation requirements before deciding where to put it.
Start by comparing models with a similar capacity to suit your needs. ADEME recommends checking the energy label: look at the energy rating, kWh/year, compartment capacity and noise level for the specific model, rather than relying on the rating letter alone.
Yes, provided the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the conditions in your garage and you install it according to the manual, including the ventilation clearances. Some models are designed to operate in temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this does not apply to all freezers.
The type of freezer alone does not tell you whether it will keep your food better. Check the specifications and usage conditions for the model you choose. Anses reminds consumers that freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but does not destroy most micro-organisms.
The French Ministry of the Economy states that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Before ordering, check the freezer’s installation requirements in its manual, as well as any installation services the seller may offer.