If you’re reaching for portions and leftovers every day, an upright freezer with drawers makes them easier to organise. For larger stocks, a chest freezer can be a good fit if you have enough floor space and can keep its contents organised. A fridge freezer may be enough if you’re replacing your fridge too and its freezer compartment can genuinely hold everything you need. In every case, check the freezer capacity, location and room temperature before choosing.
If you store portions and leftovers, you’ll want to find them without having to move everything else. Drawers and ease of organisation are just as important as capacity; Que Choisir includes these factors in its assessment of how easy freezers are to use.
If you shop ahead or prepare food in bulk, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity and the space available for larger containers. If you regularly add food to freeze, check the stated freezing capacity for each model too.
A compact freezer, fridge freezer and chest freezer each come with different requirements for height, floor space and clearance for the door or lid. If you’re placing it in a garage or cold utility room, check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range too: this isn’t determined by its type alone.
First decide whether a fridge freezer’s compartment is large enough for your needs. If you need a dedicated freezer, then weigh up ease of everyday access, capacity and the space you have available.
Best if: you often separate portions and leftovers and want to reach them in a drawer.
Bear in mind: check the available height and door clearance; Que Choisir distinguishes this type from very large-capacity chest freezers.
Best if: you store large quantities and have a suitable area of floor space.
Bear in mind: baskets or containers can help keep food accessible when it’s stored underneath other items.
Best if: you don’t need much freezer space and can’t fit an upright or chest freezer.
Bear in mind: check that your containers will fit inside and that installing it under a worktop is permitted by the model’s instructions.
Best if: you’re replacing your fridge too and the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs.
Bear in mind: the fridge freezer’s total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food; compare the freezer compartment separately.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to meals | Drawer layout and access to food you use often. | If I freeze portions and leftovers throughout the week, I want to find them without rummaging through everything else. Around 31% of consumers would put easy everyday access first. |
| Storage capacity | Net freezer compartment capacity and room for larger containers. | If I shop ahead or prepare several meals at once, I need enough space for everything without making it difficult to organise. Capacity would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Location | Dimensions, door or lid clearance, and permitted ambient temperature range. | In a narrow kitchen or an unheated room, I need to be able to install and use the appliance under the conditions specified for that model. Around 25% of consumers would put this compatibility ahead of other criteria. |
| Everyday use | Stated energy consumption, noise in dB and stated power-cut storage time. | If the appliance is near living areas or holds food I want to keep safe, I also consider its noise level and how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut, without overlooking its energy consumption. These practical considerations would be a priority for around 19% of consumers. |
Its open space can hold a large stock, but food at the bottom can be difficult to find and you’ll need room to open the lid. Que Choisir also distinguishes the floor space required by a chest freezer from that of an upright model.
Measure the space with the lid open and plan how you’ll separate the food. If you mainly take out portions every day, compare the access offered by an upright freezer with drawers too.
The climate class and the appliance’s own specifications determine the ambient temperatures it is designed to operate in. A model’s stated suitability for a particular location doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Compare the room temperature, including its coldest and warmest periods, with the range stated on the product information or in the instructions for the model you’re considering.
The label helps you compare energy consumption, as the European Your Europe portal explains, but it doesn’t tell you how much room there is for food or cover every practical consideration.
For appliances that meet the same needs, also compare net capacity, dimensions, noise level and stated power-cut storage time.
Replacing a freezer means arranging for it to be collected or taken to an appropriate recycling facility. In France, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes a ‘one-for-one’ take-back service, subject to buying an appliance of the same type.
Before ordering, confirm the take-back arrangements with the seller, along with access to your home and any delivery or installation services you need.
A brand worth considering if you’re looking for an upright freezer with separate storage compartments: Beko describes its BRFNE157E20W as a freestanding 177 L freezer with four drawers and a flap compartment.
A brand worth considering if you’re comparing chest and upright freezers. Whirlpool includes the WHM4612 in its chest freezer range.
A brand worth considering for a compact model or an upright freezer: Liebherr describes the Fd 1404 Pure as a 107 L table-top model and the FNe 4204 Pure as a 160 L upright freezer.
These models illustrate the options covered here: a chest freezer for a larger stock, an upright or compact freezer to keep food separate, and two fridge freezers if you’re replacing your fridge too. Before choosing a fridge freezer, compare the space actually available for frozen food.
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Worth considering if you stock up on groceries or prepare food in bulk and have enough room for a chest freezer. The product title lists convertible fridge/freezer operation, an E energy rating, LED lighting, a removable basket and five-level digital controls. Check the required ventilation and the permitted ambient temperature for the room where you plan to put it.
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Worth considering if you want to keep portions organised separately in an upright freezer. The product title mentions drawers, No Frost, an alarm, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Before choosing a location, check its dimensions, annual energy consumption and permitted ambient temperature range.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and your frozen stock will fit in its dedicated freezer compartment. The product title gives a total capacity of 282 L and an E energy rating. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately, along with its stated power-cut storage time if this is a concern for you.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing a built-in fridge while keeping a freezer compartment. The product title lists a total capacity of 249 L, TwinTech No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the capacity of the freezer compartment, the built-in installation requirements and the ventilation needed for the cabinet.
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Worth considering if you need a little extra freezer space and have limited room. The product title lists a capacity of 60 L, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the exact interior layout, the clearance needed around the appliance and the requirements for any under-worktop installation.
Yes, if its freezer compartment can hold your portions and groceries for as long as you need them, particularly if you’re already replacing your fridge. If you have a large stock, compare the capacity of this compartment with that of a dedicated freezer rather than relying on the fridge freezer’s total capacity; Que Choisir also recommends taking into account how much frozen food you eat.
Yes, provided the actual room temperature stays within the range permitted for the model. Que Choisir highlights the SN, N and ST climate classes; check the product information or rating plate, as a model’s suitability for very cold rooms doesn’t apply to every other freezer.
Check their energy labels and stated energy consumption, comparing appliances with similar storage capacity and intended use. The European Your Europe portal explains how to use the label for comparison; also check net capacity, noise level and power-cut storage time, which aren’t covered by the rating alone.
If you’re buying an appliance of the same type in France, ask the seller how they arrange the ‘one-for-one’ take-back service described by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. Before ordering, confirm the collection arrangements, including whether your old appliance needs to be collected from your home.