If you often need to find pre-prepared portions, choose an upright freezer with drawers; for bulk shopping or bulky food, consider a chest freezer instead, provided you have room to position it and open the lid. A larger fridge freezer meets a different need: giving you more space for fresh food too. In all three cases, compare the net freezer capacity and the dimensions of the exact model before you choose.
If you store lots of small containers and take them out often, drawers can make it easier to find what you need without moving the rest of your food. UFC-Que Choisir and Beko highlight this organised access as a key difference from the wide-open space of a chest freezer.
If you store multipacks or bulky food between shops, it’s worth considering a chest freezer. You’ll also need enough floor space for it, and to be able to reach items stored at the bottom.
If your fridge is also running out of room, replacing your fridge freezer may be more practical than adding a separate freezer. Make sure you check the net capacity of both compartments and the dimensions of the new appliance.
Consider it: if you regularly need to find portions in drawers and have room for a tall appliance.
Bear in mind: very bulky food may be harder to fit than in the open compartment of a chest freezer.
Consider it: if you want to store bulk shopping or bulky items in a large, open space.
Bear in mind: it takes up more floor space, and items at the bottom are less easy to reach.
Consider it: if you’re short of space for both fresh and frozen food in your current appliance.
Bear in mind: assess the freezer compartment separately; the overall size of the appliance doesn’t tell you how much frozen food it will hold.
| Factor | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare the net freezer capacity with the appliance’s dimensions, the clearance needed to open it and the route to its final position. | When my shopping already fills the freezer, I want more storage space without blocking the way through the room; around 33% of consumers rank this need as a priority. |
| Access to portions | Check the layout of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach the lower sections. | When I often take out a prepared portion, I want to find it without emptying the other compartments. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Room for installation and power cuts | Compare the room temperature with the climate class and the instructions; check the model’s power-cut storage time in hours. | In a cellar, garage or room where the temperature varies, I need to know whether the model is suitable for that location; a large stock of food also makes the storage time important. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these factors. |
| Energy use and maintenance | For appliances with similar capacities, compare their kWh/year, energy rating and the freezer compartment’s defrosting method. | If the appliance runs all the time in my home, its energy use and defrosting requirements affect my choice; around 17% of consumers prioritise these aspects. |
The right net capacity isn’t enough if the appliance won’t fit through the entrances in your home, or if its door or lid can’t open fully.
Measure the space, delivery route and clearance needed before comparing models. Bosch’s large fridge freezers can be at least 70 cm wide and up to 80 cm deep.
Whether an appliance is suitable for a cold room depends on the model, not just its shape. If the ambient temperature is outside the recommended range, it may affect how the appliance works.
Compare the usual temperature in your garage or cellar with the climate class and the instructions for the model you’re considering.
This time varies by appliance. Bosch states 13 h for the GSN58AWCV, while Beko states 36 h for the CF200EWN; these specifications apply to two individual models and aren’t a ranking of the brands.
If you keep a large stock of food or are concerned about power cuts, compare the stated storage time in hours for the models you’re considering.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the stated annual energy use or whether the capacity meets your needs. Appliances with different capacities may not be suitable for the same use.
Compare kWh/year and net capacity across models that suit your storage needs, then check whether the freezer compartment needs manual defrosting.
Worth considering for an upright freezer with drawers or a larger fridge freezer.
A range that lets you compare the layout of an upright freezer with the open storage of a chest freezer.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a chest freezer for a cellar or garage.
Upright and chest freezers to consider, depending on the space you have and how you want to store your food.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an upright freezer with several storage spaces.
No: its open compartment can hold bulky food, but it takes up more floor space and items at the bottom are harder to reach. If you often take out small portions, compare the layout of an upright freezer with drawers too.
No: the permitted temperature depends on the model. Check its climate class and instructions against the usual temperature in your garage; choosing a chest freezer doesn’t guarantee that it’s suitable.
It lets you compare how long an appliance can keep food cold without power under defined test conditions. Check the figure in hours for each model: as part of its testing protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long food stays below −9 °C, among other things.
Look at the energy rating alongside the annual consumption in kWh and the net capacity. ADEME recommends using the energy label; when choosing, compare appliances with a capacity that meets the same need rather than looking at the rating alone.
No: this feature relates to frost build-up, not all aspects of appliance maintenance. Check that it’s fitted to the freezer compartment you’ve chosen, and follow the instructions for cleaning and routine checks.