To increase your food storage significantly, choose between a chest freezer, which has room for large packs, and an upright freezer, whose drawers make it easier to access food frequently. An under-counter model is better suited to providing extra capacity; if you also need to replace your fridge, compare the freezer capacity of a large fridge-freezer with that of a dedicated appliance. In all cases, the dimensions, room temperature and power-cut storage time can influence your choice.
If you have a dedicated space, a chest freezer can hold bulky supplies. Remember to allow for its floor space, the lid opening and access to food stored at the bottom. UFC-Que Choisir compares chest freezers in particular by capacity and the space they take up.
An upright freezer lets you organise food in drawers or compartments and reach it from the front. Check that the door can open fully and that the drawers can be removed in the space you have available.
In a small kitchen, it’s worth comparing an under-counter model with the capacity you need. If you’re placing it in a cellar, garage or another unheated room, also check the ambient temperature range permitted for the specific model.
First decide whether you need extra freezer space or are also planning to replace your fridge. Then compare the different formats with the space available and the way you’ll use your food stocks.
Consider it: if you want to build up a large stock, especially of bulky packs, and have dedicated floor space.
Bear in mind: it’s generally a wider appliance, and food stored at the bottom can be harder to reach, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Consider it: if you want to organise your supplies in drawers that are easy to access from the front.
Bear in mind: the compartments may limit space for some larger packs.
Consider it: for extra freezer space when installation space is limited.
Bear in mind: it’s less suited to storing large quantities; UFC-Que Choisir puts this format at between 30 and 100 litres.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and would prefer to combine both functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: its total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is available for frozen food. Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with the amount you plan to store.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the usable freezer capacity, external dimensions and clearance needed to open the appliance. | If my aim is to store much more than my fridge-freezer compartment can hold, capacity matters more than ease of access. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Access to food supplies | Check the interior layout and the space needed to open the door or remove drawers. | If I often take food from my freezer, I want to find it without rummaging around at the bottom of the appliance; this would be the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the model. | If I’m installing it in an unheated cellar or garage, I need to know whether the appliance is suitable for the room temperature. Around 23% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Dedicated appliance or combination | Compare freezer capacity, kWh/year, noise levels and storage time during a power cut; decide whether you also need to replace the fridge. | If I’m already replacing my fridge, I want to check whether a larger fridge-freezer would be enough before adding another appliance that runs continuously. Around 15% of consumers would prioritise this choice. |
A spacious chest freezer also takes up more floor space, and food stored at the very bottom can be harder to reach. An upright freezer’s drawers make it easier to organise food, but may not accommodate larger packs.
Measure the space and clearance needed to open the appliance, then choose according to your main priority: storing a lot or accessing food frequently.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. The fact that it’s a chest or upright freezer doesn’t establish whether it’s suitable for an unheated room.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures against the model specifications. If the appliance has a feature designed for cold rooms, confirm that it’s available on the model you’ve chosen.
According to ADEME, a freezer runs continuously. Looking at the energy rating letter alone tells you neither its annual consumption nor how much storage capacity it offers.
Compare the kWh/year shown on the EU energy label, as well as usable capacity and noise levels, across appliances that meet your needs.
Storage time during a power cut varies by model and matters more when you’re building up a large stock. If you’re replacing an appliance, it’s also worth arranging for the old one to be taken away.
Check the storage time in the model documentation. ADEME says that when replacing an old refrigeration appliance, you can hand it over to the retailer or delivery team when your new appliance is delivered.
The range includes freestanding and integrated freezers, including upright models with flexible interior layouts.
Its range of freestanding freezers includes compact models and large upright freezers.
The range includes upright models and small freezers to consider based on the capacity you need and where you plan to install them.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. EU regulations define a climate class by the ambient temperatures an appliance is designed for. The model details or its EPREL product information sheet can help you check this range. Don’t assume a chest freezer is more suitable than an upright freezer for an unheated room.
Compare the energy rating, kWh/year, storage capacity and noise emissions. According to the European Commission, this information is shown on the label. Looking at it all together helps you avoid choosing on the basis of the rating letter alone when capacities differ.
It indicates the stated length of time food will remain frozen during a power cut, under the conditions used for testing. Check this figure for each model: Bosch lists 14 hours for the GSN54EWCV, while Beko lists 9 hours for the B1RFNE314W.
No. No Frost relates to ice build-up, not the storage capacity your household needs or whether the appliance is suitable for the room. Also compare the interior layout, storage time during a power cut and ambient temperature range of each model.
Arrange for it to be taken away when you choose delivery for your new appliance. ADEME says an old refrigeration appliance can be handed over to the retailer or delivery team when it’s replaced. Check the practical arrangements available with your purchase.