To store more ready meals and larger shops, start by considering the space available and how often you need to find what you’re looking for. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer suits larger quantities if you’re happy with top access. A small freezer offers more limited extra capacity. If you also need space for fresh food, compare the actual freezing capacity of a fridge freezer. Whatever the style, check the dimensions, energy consumption and recommended ambient temperature range for the model.
If you store meals in portions and regularly add to your shop, compare both the available capacity and how easy it is to find each dish. Que Choisir’s freezer testing, for example, takes account of freezing food after a shop and how it can be stored.
Floor width alone won’t help you choose between styles. Allow space in front of an upright freezer or above a chest freezer so you can open it and reach the food. Que Choisir’s guide distinguishes between upright freezers, which are more compact, and chest freezers.
The room temperature is an important consideration, whatever the freezer style. Check that the model’s operating range covers the temperatures it will experience throughout the year. Features designed for unheated spaces are only available on certain models, as Beko and Liebherr specify for the relevant ranges.
Consider this if: you often take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: compartments limit the space available for bulky food. Check that the drawers can open where you plan to put the freezer.
Consider this if: you prioritise bulk buys and larger items, and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you access it from the top, so food at the bottom may take more organising.
Consider this if: you only need a little extra space for frozen food.
Bear in mind: it may not have enough capacity for a big shop. Don’t assume a compact model can be installed under a worktop.
Consider this if: you also need extra storage for fresh food.
Bear in mind: its total capacity includes the fridge section, so compare the freezer compartment’s capacity separately.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity for your shop | Compare the freezer capacity in litres and the freezing capacity in kg/24 h, then measure the space and clearance needed to open it. | If I need to fit several dishes and bulk buys in after shopping, I want enough capacity for the amount of food I need to store. Around 36% of consumers would put this need for capacity first. |
| Access and organisation | Check the drawers or baskets and make sure you can reach food at the bottom of the appliance. | If I often take out a portion, I want to find it without moving the rest of the food. Easy access would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Where you’ll install it | Note the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures and compare them with the model’s recommended range. | If I’m installing the appliance in a garage, cellar or warm room, I need to choose a model that suits the temperatures there. Around 21% of consumers would make this compatibility their priority. |
| Everyday running | Check the kWh/year and dB figures. Also compare each model’s stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | In a living space, noise and energy consumption matter to me. If power cuts are a concern, I’ll also check the storage time. This would be the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Capacity doesn’t guarantee that food will be easy to find or that the appliance will fit in the room. A chest freezer opens from the top; an upright freezer needs enough space for its door to open and its drawers to slide out.
Measure the space and clearances, then check access to baskets, drawers and the lower sections before choosing between two capacities.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. A feature advertised by Beko or Liebherr for unheated spaces applies only to the relevant models, not every freezer from those brands.
Check the room temperature in both cold and warm seasons, then compare it with the instructions for the model you’re considering.
The rating doesn’t replace checking the kWh/year, capacity and noise level. The energy label described by the European Commission lets you check these details for the appliance in question.
Compare the kWh/year and dB figures for appliances with enough freezer capacity for your needs, taking into account where you plan to install them.
Freezing capacity tells you how much new food the appliance can freeze; storage time refers to how long it can keep food cold during a power cut. These are two separate considerations when you’re storing a large shop.
Check both figures for the exact model in its product information sheet or instructions, rather than assuming one tells you the other.
The range includes chest and upright freezers to consider based on the capacity you need and where you plan to install one.
Its chest freezers may suit households with a suitable space in a garage or cellar.
Its upright freezers and fridge freezers let you compare frozen-food storage separately from the option of an all-in-one appliance.
Its built-in appliances are worth considering if you need to fit a new appliance into an existing kitchen.
These appliances show three ways to meet your needs: add an upright freezer, choose a chest freezer or combine refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. Compare the capacity for frozen food and the installation requirements for each model. A small freezer or fridge freezer may not provide the large storage capacity you need.
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Worth considering if you’d rather organise portions in drawers than store them in one large compartment.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, three freezer drawers, a reversible door, No Frost and an energy rating of C. Measure the space needed to open the door and compare the kWh/year, noise level, storage time and ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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Worth comparing if you need a little extra storage, rather than a large reserve for after a big shop.
The product name lists three drawers, a reversible door and an energy rating of E. Check the dimensions and clearances specified in the instructions before installing it, especially under a worktop.
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Worth considering if you prefer a top-opening compartment for adding frozen food, but check whether 99 L is enough for your shop.
The product name lists a removable basket, sliding lid and an energy rating of E. Allow space to open the lid and check the instructions for defrosting and installation requirements.
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Consider this if you want more storage for fresh and frozen food in one appliance, rather than adding a separate freezer.
The stated 495 L capacity is for the whole appliance, which has an energy rating of E. Check the freezer compartment capacity before comparing it with an upright or chest freezer, then measure the space needed to open the doors.
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Worth considering if you need to fit an appliance that combines refrigeration and freezing into your kitchen.
The product name lists a total capacity of 249 L, TwinTech No Frost and an energy rating of E. Compare the freezer capacity with the amount of extra storage you need, and check the housing, ventilation and door requirements in the instructions.
Yes, if the model is designed to operate at all the ambient temperatures your garage experiences. Bosch, for example, specifies different ranges for different climate classes. Certain models with features advertised by Beko or Liebherr are designed for lower temperatures. Check the instructions for the model rather than relying on whether it’s a chest or upright freezer.
Check the kWh/year, compartment capacities and noise emissions, as well as the A to G rating. The European Commission sets out this information on the label for cooling appliances. When choosing, focus on comparing freezers with enough capacity for the same amount of food.
Freezing capacity refers to how much new food the appliance can freeze over a given period; storage time describes how long it can keep food cold without a power supply. In its testing, Que Choisir measures storage time as the time taken for the temperature to rise from -17 °C to -9 °C during a simulated power cut.
No. Check the defrosting system on the exact model and follow the instructions for cleaning and ventilation. No Frost doesn’t remove the need for these checks.