If your current freezer compartment is no longer big enough, start by choosing a format that suits the space you have and the way you access your food. A chest freezer is ideal when you need plenty of capacity, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food in compartments. A small under-counter model is better for extra storage. If you also need to replace your fridge, compare the freezer capacity of a larger fridge freezer before adding a second appliance. Then check the dimensions, the room temperature range the appliance can handle, its power-cut storage time and the information on the energy label.
If your big food shops or batch-cooked meals are overflowing from your fridge freezer, start by working out how much usable capacity you need, then check the floor space available. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a chest freezer generally takes up more floor space than an upright model.
If you want to keep food separate and find it quickly, compare the drawers in an upright freezer with the open compartment of a chest freezer. Also make sure you can open and remove the drawers where you plan to put the appliance.
In a small kitchen, beneath a worktop or in an unheated room, measure the appliance and the clearance it needs. If you’re putting it in a cellar or garage, also check that the model’s ambient temperature range covers the room’s temperatures.
If you need more freezer space for the family, choose the right format before comparing features. Extra capacity is only useful if you have room for the appliance and can easily get to your food.
Consider it: if you need to store a lot of food for the family and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: the open compartment may need to be organised into zones so you can find food stored at the bottom.
Consider it: if you often reach for frozen food and want to organise it in drawers.
Bear in mind: it may offer less capacity than the largest chest freezers. Make sure you can open and remove the drawers at home.
Consider it: for extra storage when space is limited and you need a compact appliance.
Bear in mind: its limited capacity may not be enough for a large family food shop.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and one appliance could meet your needs.
Bear in mind: for this decision, only the freezer compartment capacity matters, not the total capacity of the fridge freezer.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the net capacity in litres and the external dimensions. For a fridge freezer, check the capacity of the freezer compartment separately. | When my big food shops no longer fit in my current appliance, I’m looking first and foremost for extra capacity I can genuinely use. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this need for more space. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers or baskets, whether they can be removed and how easy it is to reach the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I regularly reach for frozen food, I want to organise it and find it without emptying the appliance. Easy access comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as access routes and the clearance needed to open the door or lid. | In a narrow kitchen, the appliance must leave enough room to move around and open it. Space is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Operating conditions | Check the ambient temperature range, stated storage time during a power cut, kWh/year and noise level in dB. | If I’m installing the appliance in an unheated room or need to protect a large stock of food during a power cut, I must choose a model suited to those conditions. Around 19% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
A large chest freezer can be difficult to fit or open in the space available. UFC-Que Choisir says that a chest freezer generally takes up more floor space than an upright model.
Measure the space, access routes and lid clearance before comparing capacities.
The ambient temperature range an appliance can handle depends on the model. A feature advertised for certain appliances designed for cold rooms won’t necessarily be available across an entire range.
Check the usual temperatures in your cellar, garage or utility room, then compare them with the instructions for the model you’re considering.
The European Commission says the energy label also shows annual energy consumption, storage volume and noise level. The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you everything you need to know when choosing an appliance.
Compare the kWh/year figure with the net freezer capacity your household needs.
Capacity alone doesn’t tell you how long an appliance will keep food frozen without power. UFC-Que Choisir’s test measures how long it takes for the internal temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C.
If you plan to store a large amount of food, compare the stated storage times and check how they are measured.
Beko’s range in France includes upright and chest freezers, with features that vary by model.
Liebherr’s chest freezer range includes models with StopFrost or FrostProtect, depending on the model.
Whirlpool’s chest freezer range in France includes several capacities, with features that vary by model.
The range shown by Electrolux in France includes built-in freezers in various heights.
Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures in the room, then check the range in the user manual. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of the climate class. Beko says that only some Freezer Guard models are suitable for temperatures as low as −15 °C.
Compare the energy rating, kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise level in dB. The European Commission says this information is shown on the label. For a fridge freezer, make sure you check the freezer compartment capacity rather than just the total capacity.
It’s a time measured under set temperature conditions, not a guarantee that applies to every situation. In its test, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Check the figure and how it’s defined when comparing models.
No. No Frost is designed to limit frost build-up, but you’ll still need to clean the interior, seals and accessories according to the instructions. Electrolux describes the feature as reducing moisture and frost, not removing the need for all maintenance.