If you access your food stores regularly, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to sort and reach your food. For large packs, a chest freezer offers a compartment with fewer restrictions from drawers, but items at the bottom are harder to reach, as Darty points out. If space is limited, consider a compact model. And if you’re replacing your fridge too, check that a large fridge-freezer really offers the freezer capacity you need.
If you keep vegetables, meals and portions separate, consider an upright freezer with drawers so you can reach each category from the front. Then check the model’s usable capacity and layout: drawers can make it harder to store larger items.
A chest freezer is worth considering if you have enough floor space. Darty points out that its compartment can hold large items, but those at the bottom are harder to reach, so plan an arrangement that suits the way you use it.
Compare the room temperature with the permitted range for the specific appliance. Bosch and Beko state that climate class SN-T corresponds to 10–43 °C, so this alone does not establish that a freezer will work in a colder room.
Start by considering how much you need to store and how you access your food, then check that your chosen model is suitable for where you plan to put it.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Access to food | Compare drawers and baskets, and consider how easy it is to reach items at the bottom. Darty notes that access is less straightforward in a chest freezer. | I access several categories regularly: drawers could help me keep them separate. If I choose a chest freezer, I’ll plan to use baskets and rotate my stock. |
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable freezer capacity, overall dimensions and the space needed to open the door or lid. For a fridge-freezer, distinguish between the total capacity and the freezer capacity. | I need more storage than my current freezer compartment offers, without overcrowding the room. A compact appliance may be enough for a small increase; for large batches, I’ll also consider how much space the food itself takes up. |
| Installation location | Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures and the model’s climate range. Bosch and Beko state that SN-T corresponds to 10–43 °C; the appliance must be specifically declared suitable for temperatures below 10 °C. | For an unheated garage or cellar, I won’t assume that a chest freezer is suitable for the temperatures in that room just because it’s a chest model. |
| Power cuts and alerts | Check the stated storage time during a power cut and whether the appliance has a temperature or door alarm. Que Choisir assesses temperature retention separately in a simulated power cut. | If I’m concerned about a power cut or a door being left open, I’ll compare these features on specific models rather than relying on the type of freezer alone. |
| Energy use | Check the A–G energy class, annual consumption in kWh and usable capacity on the energy label and product details. Compare appliances in a similar category and with a similar capacity. | I want to understand how much the appliance that will stay plugged in all the time uses, without assuming that a chest or upright freezer uses less energy just because of its shape. |
The climate class describes a range of ambient temperatures: Bosch and Beko give 10–43 °C for SN-T. A feature advertised for certain appliances designed for cold spaces does not apply to every model from the brand.
Check the room temperature and the permitted range, along with any specific suitability claims, in the documentation for the exact model.
According to Darty, the compartment can hold large items, but those at the bottom are harder to reach. Capacity alone won’t tell you how easily you’ll be able to find the items you use regularly.
Check which baskets are available and plan to organise food by category. If you often open several compartments, compare an upright freezer with drawers too.
Annual consumption in kWh should be considered alongside usable capacity and the appliance category when comparing models.
Use the energy label and product details to compare appliances with similar capacities and intended uses.
Anses explains that bacterial growth stops at −18 °C, but most micro-organisms survive freezing.
Continue to follow food storage and defrosting guidance. Having a large freezer doesn’t replace these precautions.
The GSN58AWEV is an example of a high-capacity upright freezer: Bosch lists a capacity of 366 L, an E energy rating, No Frost and 12 hours’ storage time in the event of a power cut.
For the B5RFNE315G, Beko lists a capacity of 286 L, five drawers, a D energy rating, 34 dB(A) and climate class SN-T.
The Whirlpool models featured cover a range of needs: the 198 L W3RHS19DW chest freezer and the WHK26404XP7E fridge-freezer, with 106 L of freezer capacity out of 355 L in total.
These options include chest freezers, an upright freezer and a fridge-freezer. The fridge-freezer is mainly worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too. For standalone appliances, choose between drawer access and an open compartment based on what you need to store.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too, but check that the freezer section has enough capacity for your needs. The product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. This is not a standalone freezer.
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This standalone chest freezer is worth considering if you’d prefer an open compartment to drawers. Its title lists a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check how easy it will be to reach the food you store at the bottom.
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Front access may suit you if you organise your food by category. The title lists drawers, No Frost, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions and permitted ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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Worth comparing if an extra 95 L of storage would meet your needs. The title describes an appliance that switches between fridge and freezer modes, with a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating. Check the installation requirements before considering it for an unheated room.
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This chest freezer may be worth considering for extra storage if 99 L is enough for you. Its title lists a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat, a four-star freezer rating and an E energy rating. Plan how you’ll organise food beneath the basket and check the model’s installation temperature range.
Only if the temperature range specified for the model covers the conditions in your garage. Bosch and Beko state that climate class SN-T corresponds to 10–43 °C, so it doesn’t prove that the appliance is suitable for temperatures below 10 °C. Check the appliance documentation and any special features stated for that model.
Compare the stated storage time for each specific model and check whether it has a temperature alarm. In its test protocol, Que Choisir assesses how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. The type or capacity of a freezer is no substitute for this information.
Check the A–G energy class, annual consumption in kWh and usable capacity, then compare appliances in a similar category and with similar capacities. The European Commission and the Your Europe portal state that relevant refrigeration appliances are covered by energy labelling, which must also be displayed when sold online.
No. Anses states that bacterial growth stops at −18 °C, but most micro-organisms survive. So continue to follow food storage and defrosting guidance.