If your fridge freezer has enough room for your shopping and prepared portions, you don’t need a separate appliance. Otherwise, choose an upright freezer to organise portions in drawers, a chest freezer for bulky food if you have enough floor space, or a small freezer for extra capacity. If you also need to replace your fridge, first compare the freezer capacity of a fridge freezer with your usual stock. Que Choisir highlights the differences in capacity and footprint between freezer types. Before deciding, check the dimensions and installation requirements of the specific model.
If you freeze several meals or ingredients separately, the drawers in an upright freezer can help you organise them and find what you need. Be sure to check that the usable drawer space suits the containers you normally use.
A chest freezer can hold bulky packs in an open interior. Que Choisir describes this type as generally offering more capacity than an upright freezer. You’ll also need enough floor space and a way to organise access to food at the bottom.
A table-top or under-counter freezer is worth considering if your existing compartment is a little short on space. Its more limited capacity makes it less suitable for a large stock, so measure the space before choosing.
Start by working out what you actually freeze and how much space you have. Then compare how easy it is to reach your food and the features of the models that can be installed in your home.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Compare the usable freezer capacity with your usual stock. If you often add a lot of fresh food at once, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. For a fridge freezer, look at the capacity of the freezer compartment, not just that of the whole appliance. | Does everything I buy and prepare already fit in my fridge freezer, or do I regularly need extra space? |
| Storage | Check the number and size of the drawers in an upright freezer, or the baskets and open space in a chest freezer. Make sure food will still be easy to reach when the appliance is full. | I want to find separate portions quickly. For bulky packs, I might prefer an open space, provided I have a system for organising it. |
| Location | Measure the appliance and the access routes, and allow enough room to open the door, drawers or lid. If you plan to put it in a cellar or garage, check that the model’s permitted ambient temperature range is suitable for the room. | A large chest freezer could hold my stock, but do I have enough clear floor space, and can I reach the contents without blocking the way? |
| Energy use | Compare the annual energy consumption shown on the energy label for models with a similar capacity and design. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. | If I only need extra capacity, I want to avoid choosing an appliance that is permanently much larger than my stock requires. |
A large interior can hold bulky food, but a chest freezer takes up more floor space, and portions stored at the bottom may be harder to find.
Measure the space, access routes and lid clearance. If you’re storing lots of small portions, plan to use baskets or another suitable organising system.
More capacity doesn’t replace keeping track of the food you already have. ADEME recommends checking your stocks before making a shopping list to avoid buying duplicates.
Keep track of what you freeze and what you genuinely run out of space for over a few weeks before deciding how much capacity you need.
The permitted ambient temperature range varies by model, so an unheated room won’t necessarily be suitable for every freezer.
Compare the room’s temperatures with the range specified in the manual for the model you’re considering.
Appliances with different capacities won’t necessarily suit the same needs. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously, making its annual energy consumption an important factor in your choice.
Check the energy label and usable capacity of each model, then compare appliances designed for a similar amount of food.
These examples from each brand’s range show different types and features to compare; they don’t represent every model from each brand.
Bosch offers upright freezers, as well as models designed to fit under a worktop for more modest storage needs.
Liebherr offers chest freezers worth considering if you’re looking for an open interior.
Beko offers both upright and chest freezers. Check the installation requirements for each model individually.
These models offer several ways to add freezer capacity: a fridge freezer, chest freezers, and small or medium-sized upright freezers. Compare their capacity with your stocks, then check that the layout and location suit your household.
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Worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge. Compare the freezer space with your usual stock, and don’t mistake the appliance’s total 360 L capacity for the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
The model name indicates three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the manual for the clearance required for installation.
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This compact chest freezer is an option for extra capacity if you prefer an open interior. Check that the lid can open fully in the space you have in mind.
The model name indicates an adjustable thermostat, a removable wire basket, a sliding lid and an E energy rating. Check the model’s energy label and ambient temperature range to complete your comparison.
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This type of freezer can add capacity to an existing freezer compartment in a small space. Measure the available space and check that the door can open fully.
The model name indicates a reversible door, adjustable temperature and an E energy rating. Check the exact interior layout before planning how to store your portions.
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This chest freezer is designed for larger stocks, provided you have enough floor space and can easily access it from above.
The model name indicates fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a five-level digital control and an E energy rating. If you plan to install it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range for this model.
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Consider this upright model if you’d rather keep your food separate than store it in the large open space of a chest freezer.
The model name mentions drawers, No Frost, an LED display, a reversible door hinge and a C energy rating. Check its dimensions and interior layout before deciding where to put it.
No. Adding an appliance doesn’t guarantee better food management. ADEME recommends checking your stocks before shopping to avoid buying duplicates. Choose a dedicated freezer if your current capacity or access to food doesn’t suit your habits.
Look at each model’s annual energy consumption and capacity, as well as its energy rating. When comparing two options for the same amount of food, choose models with similar capacities and designs rather than comparing only the rating. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously.
Yes, as long as the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the temperatures in the room. Check the manual: for example, Beko lists a minimum operating temperature of −15 °C for the HSM14540, but this doesn’t apply to other freezers.