Start by choosing a freezer based on the maximum amount you need to store and how you’ll retrieve portions: a chest freezer gives you an open storage space, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food into compartments. Then check the dimensions, access to food, the room temperature the appliance can handle and, if you freeze large batches, the freezing capacity of the exact model.
If you prepare several meals in advance, easy-to-reach compartments and contents you can identify at a glance could suit your routine. The E.Leclerc Observatory of New Consumer Habits describes storing prepared ingredients in the fridge or freezer to assemble at mealtimes; Bosch states that the GTV15NWEA has three transparent drawers.
If you need to store large packs or keep a substantial supply of food, compare usable capacity with the space taken up by your food and baskets. Que Choisir Ensemble also points out that ease of use matters when choosing between a chest and an upright freezer.
If the appliance needs to fit in a fitted kitchen or a room that isn’t heated much, measure the space and check the installation requirements for the exact model. Temperature guidance and stated extensions from Liebherr apply to specific models, not the entire brand range.
To store prepared portions or bulk purchases, start with the maximum amount you need to keep, then consider how you’ll organise it and where the appliance will go. Shoppers in France choosing a freezer may have different priorities.
Consider one if: you store large packs and have a dedicated area for it.
Bear in mind: how easy it is to reach food at the bottom and the floor space it takes up.
Consider one if: you regularly take out portions stored in separate compartments.
Bear in mind: the appliance’s width and whether your containers will fit in the drawers.
Consider one if: you need extra storage close to your food preparation area.
Bear in mind: the available height and installation instructions; “under-counter” doesn’t necessarily mean built-in.
Consider one if: you also need to replace your fridge and its freezer compartment is large enough for your supplies.
Bear in mind: the total capacity isn’t the same as the freezer capacity alone; avoiding an extra appliance doesn’t prove you’ll save electricity.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Size your storage | Compare the freezer capacity and internal dimensions with your food and containers. | If I buy food in bulk, I want the capacity to suit the largest amount I’m likely to store, without making it difficult to organise the food. Shoppers who prioritise capacity account for around 29% of the needs considered. |
| Access your portions | Check the drawers or baskets, how easy it is to see what’s inside and whether they can be removed. | When I take out one meal at a time, I want to find and retrieve portions without moving all my other food. Shoppers who prioritise easy access to portions account for around 23% of the needs considered. |
| Check where it will go | Measure the appliance and the space needed to open it, then check the temperature range for the exact model. | If space is limited or the room isn’t heated much, the dimensions, door clearance and permitted ambient temperature may determine which type will fit. Shoppers who prioritise installation compatibility account for around 18% of the needs considered. |
| Electricity and maintenance | Compare the stated annual energy consumption and distinguish NoFrost from frost-reduction features. | I want to consider long-term energy use and the time needed to defrost the appliance. Shoppers who prioritise running costs and maintenance account for around 18% of the needs considered. |
| Freezing a new batch | If you’re adding a large batch, compare its weight with the stated freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | After cooking or doing the shopping, I want to know whether the appliance can handle the amount I’m adding at once, without confusing freezing capacity with storage capacity. Shoppers who prioritise freezing new batches account for around 12% of the needs considered. |
Capacity alone doesn’t tell you whether your boxes and bulky food will fit in the storage compartments.
Measure your main containers and check the dimensions of the compartments and the internal layout.
A layout that doesn’t suit your needs could mean buying different containers or reorganising your food.
According to Liebherr, StopFrost reduces how often you need to defrost the appliance, while the FNa 6635 is listed as having NoFrost. These technologies don’t offer the same maintenance benefits.
Check the defrosting system of the exact model rather than relying on the technology’s brand name alone.
If you choose a model that needs manual defrosting, allow time for maintenance and reorganising your food.
A climate class and any low-temperature extension apply to the specific model, not every model from the same brand.
Compare the temperature of the room you have in mind with the limits and documented extensions for the exact appliance.
Stated annual energy consumption is based on standardised conditions; how you use the appliance and your electricity tariff affect what you pay.
Compare the kWh/year of models that suit your needs and work out the cost using your own tariff. Don’t treat a historical cost as a promise.
The FNa 6635 and CFd 2085 are examples of an upright freezer and a chest freezer respectively.
The GTV15NWEA is an example of a compact under-counter freezer.
The RB38C607AS9/EF is an example of a fridge freezer to consider if you also need to replace your fridge.
The models featured include chest freezers in several capacities, as well as a fridge freezer, so you can compare a dedicated freezer with a combined appliance.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer with a basket to help organise your food.
The title lists a capacity of 140 l, a counterbalanced lid and adjustable temperature. It also mentions wheels and dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer with a smaller capacity than the 140 l TCL model featured here.
The title lists a capacity of 98 l, a basket and adjustable temperature. The description mentions a counterbalanced lid and wheels.
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Worth considering if you want a chest freezer that can switch between fridge and freezer modes, and its capacity suits your needs.
The title lists a capacity of 291 l. The description mentions a removable basket, interior light and five-level digital temperature control. Leave at least 10 cm of clearance for ventilation, as instructed.
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Worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge and the stated freezer capacity is enough for your supplies.
The description splits the 525 l capacity into 333 l for the fridge and 192 l for the freezer, and mentions a No Frost system.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a compact chest freezer and want to check whether it can freeze a new batch of food.
The title lists a capacity of 99 l and a removable basket. The specifications state a freezing capacity of 4,5 kg/24 h and that manual defrosting is needed when frost exceeds 5 mm.
No. Choose a freezer based on the food you actually plan to freeze and how much you’ll store at any one time. The 2025 iligo study looks at bulk buying, but doesn’t measure freezer capacity needs.
No. The Bosch GTV15NWEA specifications state that it is freestanding, even though the page describes it as an under-counter model. If you want to fit it into a cabinet, follow the installation instructions for the model in question.
No. Check the climate class and any low-temperature extensions for the exact model. For the documented CFd 2085, the SN-T range is +10 °C to +43 °C; Liebherr separately states that FrostProtect allows this model to operate down to −15 °C. This extension doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Check the energy label and product information for the exact model being sold. The A to G scale was introduced in 2021; European Regulation 2019/2016 sets out the energy labelling requirements for refrigerating appliances. The old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings aren’t directly comparable with the current scale.
No. The stated storage time during a power cut is a food-preservation feature, not a guarantee of compensation. The Liebherr CFd 2085 specifications state 50 h; check the terms of any food-loss guarantee separately.