Choose an upright freezer if you open the appliance frequently and want to organise food in drawers; a chest freezer is better suited to storing large quantities if you have enough floor space. A large fridge freezer may be sufficient for a moderate supply when your fridge also needs replacing, while an under-counter freezer remains a compact additional appliance.
If you buy in bulk through click and collect, delivery or less frequent shopping trips, start with the amount you actually store and how you organise it. In 2023, the Cetelem Observatory reported that almost three quarters of French people wanted to make this occasion more efficient by doing larger shops rather than frequent small ones.
For vegetables, meals and portions prepared in advance, access to food, internal organisation and maintenance matter just as much as the stated capacity. The 2024 CSA survey carried out for UNILET covered 1,004 French people aged 18 and over.
Before installing a chest freezer outside the kitchen, record the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures. Check the operating ranges and climate classes for the specific model.
Start by estimating how much you usually store, then compare this with the available space and how often you need to access the food.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the usable capacity with the bags, portions and meals you need to store. If you freeze homemade preparations, also check for a 4-star compartment and the model’s freezing capacity. | I want to keep vegetables and other frozen foods for several months, with enough room left after doing a large shop. |
| Access and organisation | For frequent access, look at drawers, removable shelves or adaptable sections. In a chest freezer, check which baskets are included and plan to use boxes or labels to organise the open space. | I need to find food easily, rotate my supplies and avoid products being forgotten at the bottom. |
| Refilling after shopping | Check the freezing capacity and fast-freeze function if you regularly add large quantities of unfrozen food. Follow the instructions for use in the manual. | I would like to have ingredients or ready-to-use meals available without relying on frequent top-up shops. |
| Installation location and energy use | Measure the space, ventilation clearances and the door or lid opening. Compare the A to G energy label and annual consumption in kWh between appliances of similar capacity and intended use. | My appliance must suit the chosen room, whether that is a kitchen, pantry, cellar or garage. |
An unheated cellar or garage may fall below the range specified for a standard climate class. The fact that an appliance is a chest freezer does not, by itself, mean that it is suitable for the room.
Measure the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the climate class or the range stated for the model. Operation down to -15 °C only applies to models that explicitly state this capability.
A chest freezer offers a large open space, but food may be less accessible. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise items in drawers, although it requires sufficient height and a suitable delivery route.
List the formats you actually store: bags, portions, meals and bulky products. Then choose the format according to how often you need access, and use bins or labels to organise a chest freezer.
A freezer runs continuously, but its consumption also depends on its capacity, type, location and how it is used. The rating alone does not allow a fair comparison between appliances with very different capacities.
Note the A to G rating and annual consumption in kWh shown on the energy label for appliances of similar capacity and intended use, then check the installation requirements.
A fridge freezer may meet the needs of a moderate supply, but its freezer compartment may be too limited for several weeks’ shopping or numerous prepared meals.
Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with your shopping and meal-preparation needs. If your fridge also needs replacing, consider a large fridge freezer; otherwise, compare it with a dedicated upright or chest freezer.
Worth considering for a large upright freezer organised into sections, when everyday access to food and no manual defrosting are priorities.
Worth considering for a chest freezer installed in a potentially cold room, but only when the specific model states that it has a suitable operating range.
Worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer when storage capacity is the priority and sufficient floor width is available.
This Joybuy selection brings together chest freezers for building up a home supply and an upright freezer designed for more accessible everyday storage.
Image unavailable
A chest freezer for storing large quantities when top-opening access and the required floor space suit your room.
Advertised capacity of 291 L, 4-star rating, removable basket, 5-level digital control and LED lighting.
Advertised dimensions: 1100 × 597 × 872 mm; a ventilation clearance of 10 cm is specified. For a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range.
Image unavailable
An option for an organised home supply, with drawers and shelves suited to frequent access.
Advertised net capacity of 161 L, three drawers, two shelves, No Frost system, Fast Freeze function, LED display and alarm.
Check the external dimensions, climate class, annual consumption and the functions provided for this variant before installation.
Image unavailable
This mid-sized chest freezer is designed for a larger supply than a small supplementary appliance, provided top-opening access suits you.
Advertised capacity of 197 L, 4-star rating, removable basket, 5-level digital control and switchable fridge or freezer mode.
Make sure the appliance is set to freezing mode for frozen food, and check the ambient temperature range and required ventilation clearance.
Image unavailable
A mid-capacity chest freezer for adding extra storage without choosing a particularly large appliance.
Advertised capacity of 141 L, 4-star rating, 7-level thermostat, removable basket and defrost drain.
Its advertised dimensions are 632 × 554 × 848 mm. Check access to the lid, ventilation clearances and compatibility with an unheated room.
Image unavailable
A compact chest freezer to consider as additional storage when you need to keep its footprint small.
Advertised capacity of 99 L, 4-star rating, freezing capacity of 4.5 kg/24 h, adjustable thermostat, removable basket and castors.
Advertised dimensions: 54.5 × 47.6 × 83.5 cm. Manual defrosting is required when the frost exceeds 5 mm; also check ventilation and the room temperature.
Only if the room temperature remains within the range specified for that model. UFC-Que Choisir identifies classes ranging from SN, 10 to 32 °C, to T, 16 to 43 °C; some models state that they can operate down to -15 °C, but this does not apply to every chest freezer.
No. A chest freezer is suitable for large quantities and bulky packaging, but it takes up more floor space and requires the open area to be organised. If you remove food every day or want to separate different categories, an upright freezer with drawers may be more convenient, even with a smaller capacity.
Compare the energy rating on the A to G scale and the annual consumption in kWh shown on the energy label, taking the usable capacity and appliance type into account. The DGCCRF describes this label as a summary sheet for the characteristics of new appliances; a rating alone is not enough to compare a small under-counter freezer with a very large chest freezer.
It prepares the appliance before you add a large quantity of food to be frozen. UFC-Que Choisir states that it is generally activated 24 hours before loading, in accordance with the instructions in the manual; it does not increase the storage capacity.