Households that regularly stock up
If you buy multipacks of frozen food or prepare meals in advance, start with the amount you want to store at the same time to work out the freezer capacity you need.
Who is this choice for?
Households that access food frequently
If you take out a frozen meal or ingredient almost every day, drawers or compartments can make it easier to keep everything organised. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between chest and upright models in particular, based on how they’re used and how easy they are to access.
Households placing the appliance outside the kitchen
For a cellar, pantry or garage, compare the temperatures the room actually reaches with the operating range specified for the model. ADEME recommends taking the ambient temperature into account when choosing an appliance.
What sets the appliances apart?
Your choice of style depends as much on how often you access your food as on how much you need to store. UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at freezer capacity, dimensions and installation conditions.
Upright freezer
Consider one if: you open the appliance often and want to organise food in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: the door and the appliance’s dimensions need to suit the space you have available.
Chest freezer
Consider one if: you stock up in larger quantities and have room for a top-opening appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise food carefully to make items at the bottom easy to find.
Larger fridge-freezer
Consider one if: you only occasionally have extra frozen food, or need to replace your fridge as well.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is available for frozen food.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount you need to store | Compare the net freezer capacity with the largest amount you expect to have after shopping, then measure the space available. | After a big shop, I want to store all my frozen food at once without regularly running out of room. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need for capacity. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers or compartments in an upright freezer, or the baskets and access to the bottom of a chest freezer. | When I often take out a frozen meal or ingredient, I want to find it without moving my other food. Around 29% of consumers would put easy access first. |
| Installation and use | Check the model’s ambient temperature range and compare the annual energy consumption of appliances with a similar capacity and design. | For a room that isn’t heated much, I want to choose an appliance that’s suitable for the location and know how much energy it uses. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise these installation and usage requirements. |
| Occasional extra frozen food | Check whether your current compartment regularly fills up. If you’re also replacing your fridge, look at the net freezer capacity of the fridge-freezer you’re considering. | If I only run out of freezer space from time to time, I want to know whether a larger fridge-freezer would meet my needs without adding another appliance. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this question. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based only on the number of litres
Usable capacity doesn’t guarantee that the appliance will fit in its intended space, or that its door or lid will open easily.
Measure the space and delivery route, check the clearance requirements in the manual and compare the net capacity with the largest amount you plan to store.
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Assuming any chest freezer is suitable for a garage
ADEME says the recommended ambient temperature is one of the factors to consider when choosing an appliance. A feature advertised for certain models, such as FrostProtect on Liebherr models, doesn’t apply to all chest freezers.
Check the room’s temperatures and the operating range for the exact model you’re considering.
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Comparing only the energy label rating
The annual energy consumption is also shown on the label, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. The rating alone isn’t enough: compare appliances with a similar capacity and design.
Check the annual energy consumption and capacity of each model. The QR code on the label can take you to its EPREL product record in the European Commission’s database.
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Filling a large chest freezer without organising your food
Food at the bottom of a chest freezer can be harder to find, especially if you often need to access different items.
Use baskets, organise food into categories and make dates easy to see, then rotate your stocks. If easy access is a priority, compare an upright freezer with drawers too.
Brands to consider, model by model
Bosch
The range includes freestanding upright freezers designed to help you organise your food stocks.
- Bosch says the GSN54EWCV has removable Vario Zone drawers and shelves, as well as a Big Box compartment for larger items.
- These features apply to the model mentioned. Check the features, capacity, dimensions and energy label of the model you choose.
Liebherr
The brand offers chest freezers, including models with features designed for certain cold rooms.
- Liebherr says FrostProtect on certain chest freezers makes them suitable for ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C.
- This manufacturer’s claim doesn’t apply to every model. Check the documentation for the chest freezer you’re considering against the temperature in your room.
Beko
The range includes upright freezers with different storage and maintenance features, depending on the model.
- Beko lists features including frost-free cooling, fast freezing and a reversible door on its RFNM200T40WN model.
- Check the features of the exact model and compare its annual energy consumption on the label, rather than assuming that frost-free cooling means it uses less energy.
Joybuy products for different needs
These models illustrate the three options covered here: an upright freezer for organised food stocks, chest freezers with different capacities, and a fridge-freezer to consider if you’re replacing your fridge as well. Compare the freezer capacity of each appliance before choosing.
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Heinrich´s 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
For organised food stocks in a separate appliance, this model has a stated capacity of 161 L and comes with drawers. The product title mentions No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Check its dimensions and ambient temperature range to make sure it’s suitable for your chosen location.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1 multi-door fridge-freezer, 495 L, black
Worth considering if you want to replace your fridge rather than add a separate freezer. The stated 495 L capacity is for the whole appliance. Check the net capacity of its freezer compartment, as well as its dimensions and ambient temperature range. The product title gives it an E energy rating.
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AUCMA 291 L convertible chest freezer
For stocking up in a top-opening chest freezer, this model has a stated capacity of 291 L, a removable basket and switchable fridge and freezer modes. It has an E energy rating. Organise food at the bottom so it’s easy to reach, and check the ambient temperature range before installing it in a garage.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR chest freezer, 140 L
For extra dedicated freezer space, this chest freezer has a stated capacity of 140 L, a storage basket and a counterbalanced lid. The product title gives it an E energy rating. Measure the space needed to open the lid, and check the model’s annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range.
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AUCMA 95 L convertible chest freezer
For extra frozen food that you want to keep in a separate chest freezer, this model has a stated capacity of 95 L, a removable basket and switchable fridge and freezer modes. The product title mentions a seven-setting thermostat and an E energy rating. Check that its storage features and ambient temperature range suit your needs.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do I need before I should consider a separate freezer?
Choosing a freezer isn’t simply a matter of litres per person. Compare the net capacity available after your biggest shops with the space you regularly run short of, then consider the room you have available and how often you need to access your food.
Can you put any freezer in a garage or cellar?
No. Suitability depends on the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model, not just whether it’s a chest or upright freezer. ADEME recommends checking the temperature range for the room and comparing it with the temperatures your space actually reaches.
How do you compare the energy consumption of two freezers?
Compare the annual energy consumption shown on the energy label, taking the capacity and type of appliance into account. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this figure. The QR code on the label may also take you to the product record in the European Commission’s EPREL database.
Does a No Frost freezer need no maintenance at all?
No. No Frost fan-assisted cooling, featured on some Beko models, helps prevent ice from building up, but it doesn’t replace cleaning or organising your food. Check that the model you choose has this feature and follow the maintenance instructions in its manual.