To increase your frozen food storage, choose an upright freezer if you often reach for a variety of foods and have more height than width to spare; its drawers make it easier to keep everything organised. A chest freezer suits bulky packages and larger quantities, provided you have room for it and can organise access to items at the bottom. If you don’t have space for a large standalone appliance, consider a compact freezer or the freezer capacity of a fridge-freezer. In every case, compare energy consumption, how long food stays frozen during a power cut and the permitted ambient temperature for the specific model.
The amount you want to store isn’t the only thing to consider: how often you access your food and where you plan to install the appliance matter too.
If you buy in bulk or freeze prepared meals, estimate the capacity you’ll need, allowing for your bulkiest packaging. A chest freezer can hold a good-sized stock in one large compartment, as long as you have a plan for finding items at the bottom.
If you need to separate lots of different food types, the drawers in an upright freezer give you easy front access. In a chest freezer, check the number and layout of the baskets, and keep the items you use most within easy reach.
Before choosing an appliance for an unheated room, compare the room’s seasonal temperatures with the operating range specified for the exact model. The climate class alone doesn’t remove the need to check this range.
Start with the freezer capacity you need and the space available, then compare the appliances that can genuinely be installed there.
| Criteria | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare freezer capacity in litres, then check the dimensions and clearance requirements in the manual. For a chest freezer, also allow for the lid to open and for access from above. | I want to increase my food stocks without blocking the way or choosing an appliance that’s too wide for the room. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers in an upright freezer, or the number and layout of baskets in a chest freezer. Consider how you’ll reach items right at the bottom. | If I open the freezer often to take out small amounts, I’d prefer to be able to separate foods and find them quickly. |
| Energy consumption and noise | Look at the energy efficiency class, kWh/year, capacity and noise emissions in dB together. According to the European Commission, the label on household freezers includes this information; the A to G rating doesn’t replace the annual energy consumption figure. | I want to compare the electricity used by appliances suited to the amount I need to store. Noise matters more if the freezer is near a living area. |
| Room temperature | Check the climate class and the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures permitted for the model. Compare these with the conditions you can actually expect in the room, especially if it’s unheated. | My garage or cellar could be cold in winter, so I’ll only choose an appliance whose operating range covers the temperatures in that space. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time in hours on the product specifications for each specific model; don’t infer it from the format or capacity. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses how well freezers maintain their temperature during a simulated power cut as part of its testing. | If power cuts are a concern where I live, I want to compare this figure before choosing an appliance. |
| Compact or combined appliance | For a compact freezer, check that its capacity is enough for your shopping. For a fridge-freezer, distinguish the capacity of the freezer compartment from the total capacity: Whirlpool’s product information for the built-in WHC18T574P fridge-freezer gives a freezer capacity of 68 L. | I can’t fit a large standalone appliance, or I also need to replace my fridge. In that case, I’ll check the space available for frozen food rather than looking only at the total capacity. |
Its large compartment can hold bulky items, but packages at the bottom are less easy to reach than food in the drawers of an upright freezer.
List the types of packaging you store and check the baskets, compartment depth and space needed to open the lid. If you take out different types of food every day, compare an upright freezer too.
The climate class relates to ambient temperature conditions. The specifications for one model don’t automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
Work out the likely temperatures in the room throughout the year and compare them with the manual for the model you’re considering, including its minimum and maximum limits.
Two freezers with different capacities won’t meet the same needs. The European Commission explains that the label also gives information about energy consumption, capacity and noise.
First decide on the capacity and location you need, then compare the energy class, kWh/year and dB ratings of suitable appliances.
Manufacturers’ specifications show that this time varies by model: Beko states 9 h for its BRFNE157E20W upright freezer, while Whirlpool states 11 h for its WHFF6403W4E upright freezer. These figures aren’t a general rule for upright or chest freezers.
If storage time during a power cut is important to you, compare the stated figure for every appliance you’re considering. Don’t treat it as guidance on whether food is safe to eat after a power cut.
These ranges give you examples of formats and features to compare; a feature mentioned for one model doesn’t apply to every appliance from that brand.
Beko offers upright, chest and compact freezers, giving you different ways to organise your food stocks.
Whirlpool’s range includes chest and upright freezers, as well as fridge-freezers, so you can compare adding a separate appliance with replacing a combined one.
Electrolux offers examples to consider when you need a built-in appliance, whether you’re looking for a separate freezer or a fridge-freezer.
These options include chest freezers for extra storage and upright models to help organise your food, including a compact option for additional capacity. Compare their capacity with the space you have available. If you’re considering an unheated room or are concerned about power cuts, check the operating conditions and storage time during a power cut for the model you choose.
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If you want a small, separate freezer for extra storage, this 95 L chest model opens from the top and includes a removable basket. Its product title describes a convertible fridge-freezer function and an energy efficiency class of E. If you plan to install it in an unheated garage, check the model’s ambient temperature range. Also compare its storage time during a power cut if this matters to you.
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For keeping food organised in an upright freezer, this model offers a stated capacity of 161 L, three drawers and a No Frost function. It’s listed as energy efficiency class C, with a temperature setting range of -14 °C to -22 °C. This setting range doesn’t describe the ambient temperature permitted in the room. Check the dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time during a power cut before deciding where to put it.
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This 60 L model is better suited to providing extra capacity than to stocking up on a large scale. Its product title mentions a reversible door, freestanding installation and an energy efficiency class of E. Check how much space you’ll need to install it, and the permitted ambient temperature conditions if you’re considering an unheated room.
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If you want extra storage in a chest freezer, this 99 L model includes a removable metal basket that can help keep smaller items near the opening. Its product title states an energy efficiency class of E. Allow for access from above and plan how you’ll store food underneath the basket. Check the permitted ambient temperature if the appliance is going in an unheated room.
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This 140 L chest freezer offers another capacity option for creating a separate food store. Its product title mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an energy efficiency class of E. Check that there’s enough room to open the lid, and compare the operating conditions and storage time during a power cut if these factors will influence your choice.
Yes, if the ambient temperature range stated for the model covers the temperatures you can expect in the garage. Compare the minimum and maximum limits in the manual with the conditions in the room. Beko explains that a climate class defines an operating range, and some manufacturers’ specifications mention suitability for particularly cold conditions that doesn’t apply to every model.
Compare the energy efficiency class, annual consumption in kWh, capacity and noise emissions rather than looking at the rating alone. The European Commission says the label for household fridges and freezers uses an A to G scale and shows this information. Choose appliances with a capacity and format that suit your needs.
No. Compare the stated storage time for each model rather than assuming it based on the format. For example, Whirlpool states 32 h for its WHM4612 chest freezer, while Beko states 9 h for its BRFNE157E20W upright freezer. These figures don’t indicate how long all chest or upright freezers will keep food frozen.
Ask the retailer how to have your old appliance taken away when you buy a new one. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition’s FAQ dated 17 January 2023 describes a “one-for-one” take-back service, subject to buying an appliance of the same type. Check the practical arrangements before delivery or collection.