If meal prep and bulk buys regularly take up more space than your freezer has to offer, start by thinking about how much you need to freeze and how often you need to access it. A chest freezer suits large stocks, while an upright model makes it easier to organise food in drawers. A fridge-freezer is a better choice if you also need to replace your fridge, provided its freezer compartment is large enough. In every case, check the installation space and the model’s annual energy consumption.
If you regularly prepare meals in portions, being able to keep containers separate and find the one you need matters just as much as capacity. An upright freezer with drawers can make food easier to access. If you’re considering a fridge-freezer, check the capacity of its freezer compartment alone.
A chest freezer can hold a large stock if you have enough floor space. Before placing it in a utility room, garage or cellar, check that the lid can open fully and that the model is suitable for the ambient temperature in that space.
A fridge-freezer combines refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. This avoids adding a second appliance, but you’ll need to check that the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your maximum stock of portions and frozen food.
Start with a practical question: how much food needs to be frozen at once, and how often do you need to access it? Then make sure the format you choose can be delivered, installed and used in the space you have in mind.
Choose one if: you store large batches and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is less easy to reach, and the lid needs room to open fully. UFC-Que Choisir reports that some chest freezers have a capacity of up to 600 l; this does not apply to every model.
Choose one if: you regularly take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: capacity varies by model, so check the specifications; you’ll need to allow room for the door to open as well as for the appliance itself.
Choose one if: you’re also replacing your fridge and can’t easily fit in a second appliance.
Bear in mind: the total capacity includes the fridge section. Only the capacity of the freezer compartment tells you how much room there is for frozen food.
Keep yours if: you only freeze small amounts from time to time and you don’t regularly run out of space.
Its limitation: if meal prep and bulk buys are already competing for space, check the capacity before relying on this compartment to store a larger stock.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer capacity in litres with your maximum stock, then measure the space needed for a chest or upright freezer. | When I need to fit both bulk shopping and home-cooked meals in the freezer, I first look for enough space so I don’t have to choose what to take out. Around 29% of consumers prioritise capacity. |
| Access to portions | Look at the drawers or baskets and consider how easy it is to reach food stored at the bottom. | If I take out portions several times a week, I want to keep them separate and find what I need without moving the whole stock. Around 36% of consumers put everyday organisation first. |
| Available space | Measure access routes, the appliance dimensions and how far the door or lid opens. With a fridge-freezer, distinguish the freezer capacity from the total capacity. | In a small kitchen where the fridge also needs replacing, I want enough capacity without adding a second appliance. Space is the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Use and installation | Compare kWh/year for appliances with similar capacities and check the manual for the permitted ambient temperature in the intended location. | If the appliance will run all year in a garage or near a living area, I want to keep its energy use under control and make sure the location is suitable. Around 14% of consumers put these usage conditions first. |
As ADEME points out, a freezer runs continuously, so it’s worth comparing the kWh/year figures for appliances with similar capacities. If you’re planning to put yours in an unheated garage or cellar, whether it’s suitable for the ambient temperature depends on the specific model, not just its format.
An appliance may fit in its designated spot but still not make it through a doorway, or there may not be enough clearance to open the lid. Large chest freezers in particular need enough floor space.
Measure the appliance, the narrowest part of the access route and the space needed to open it. Also check the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
Liebherr and Beko state that some models can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C. This does not apply to all their appliances or to other models of the same format.
Check the minimum permitted ambient temperature on the product page or in the manual for the model you plan to install.
As ADEME points out, a freezer runs continuously. Its energy rating alone is not enough to assess the consumption of an appliance that suits your storage needs.
Compare the kWh/year figures on the energy labels of appliances with similar capacities, then choose a size that matches what you actually store.
Part of a fridge-freezer’s total capacity is taken up by the fridge section. Its freezer compartment may not be large enough for both prepared portions and bulk buys.
Work out how much you need to store when your stock is at its largest, then compare it with the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
Liebherr’s range includes upright and chest freezers in a variety of capacities.
Beko offers upright and chest freezers, with features that vary from model to model.
Whirlpool’s fridge-freezer range is worth considering if you need to replace your fridge too.
These appliances give you a chance to compare three of the options covered above: adding a chest freezer for extra storage, choosing an upright model to organise portions, or replacing your fridge with a fridge-freezer. Compare their capacity with your maximum stock and check the installation requirements for the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you want extra freezer space for prepared meals and bulk buys, provided the chest freezer fits in the space you have planned for it.
Listed capacity: 291 l. The product title mentions fridge-freezer conversion, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating.
Allow enough space to open the lid and check the permitted ambient temperature in the manual before installing the appliance in a cold location.
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Consider this freestanding appliance for keeping smaller stocks of portions separate. Compare its 60 l capacity with the amount you buy in bulk.
The product title lists three drawers, a reversible door, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating.
Before installing it in a cold room, check the permitted ambient temperature. Also check the kWh/year figure to compare its energy consumption.
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Worth considering if you’d rather store portions in an upright freezer than a chest freezer, with a listed capacity of 161 l.
The product title mentions drawers, No Frost technology, an alarm, a reversible door and a C energy rating.
Check the dimensions before delivery, compare energy consumption using the kWh/year figure, and check the permitted ambient temperature range if the appliance will be kept in a cold location.
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Worth considering if you need to replace your fridge without adding a second appliance. Check that the freezer compartment offers enough space for your needs.
The product title lists 227 l in total, split between a 153 l fridge and a 74 l freezer. It also mentions a width of 54 cm, a reversible door, Low Frost and an E energy rating.
If you regularly buy food in bulk, compare the 74 l capacity with your maximum stock. Check the kWh/year figure and the model’s installation requirements.
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Consider this model for an extra 140 l of storage if a chest freezer with top access suits the space you have available.
The product title lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating.
Measure the space needed to open the lid. If you’re expecting large deliveries or planning to keep it in a cold location, check the kWh/year figure, freezing capacity and permitted ambient temperature.
No. The permitted ambient temperature varies by model. Liebherr and Beko state that some models can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; check the temperature range on the product page or in the manual for the appliance you’re considering.
Measure the appliance, the space where it will go and the entire delivery route, including doors, corridors and stairs. Then check how far the door or lid opens and the clearances required in the installation manual.
Compare the annual consumption in kWh on the energy label, ideally between models with similar capacities and intended uses. The energy rating is another useful guide, but it doesn’t replace the kWh/year figure or working out how much capacity you need.
No. No Frost alone doesn’t determine whether your portions and bulk buys will fit in the appliance. Check the capacity, internal layout and installation requirements first. If you’re considering a model that needs manual defrosting, factor that upkeep into your decision.