To store more prepared meals and groceries, start by considering how much you need to store, how often you’ll take out portions and how much space you have. A chest freezer is suited to storing larger quantities, while an upright model makes it easier to organise and access your food. An under-counter freezer is better for a modest amount of extra storage; a larger fridge-freezer only makes sense if you also want to replace your fridge. Next, check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, whether the model can cope with the room temperature and its annual energy consumption.
If you store food in containers and often take out a prepared meal, the drawers in an upright freezer or the well-organised compartment of a fridge-freezer can make it easier to find what you need. Check that the drawers are big enough for your containers.
If you freeze batches of food or large dishes and have enough floor space, consider a chest freezer. Use baskets or an organising system to make it easy to find food stored at the bottom.
If you only need a little extra freezer space, an under-counter model may be suitable when your storage needs are modest. Measure the space and compare usable capacity before choosing this type.
Consider it: if you want to store a large amount and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food stored at the bottom needs more organisation to keep it easy to reach.
Consider it: if you want to separate portions and find them easily in drawers.
Bear in mind: drawer sizes may limit how you store larger containers.
Consider it: for extra storage in a small space.
Bear in mind: its capacity needs to suit the portions you want to store; it won’t offer the same storage space as a large, dedicated freezer.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your main fridge.
Bear in mind: some of the total capacity is reserved for refrigeration, so it won’t increase your freezer capacity.
Once you’ve chosen a type, compare models based on your main priority, then check the other criteria that could make an appliance unsuitable for your home or the way you plan to use it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Number and size of drawers or baskets; space for your containers. | If I often take out a prepared meal, I want to find it without digging through other food. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise easy everyday access. |
| Storage capacity | Net freezer capacity; space for batches and large containers. | If I freeze large grocery hauls, I need to store the packets without stacking everything on top of each other. Capacity would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Location | Dimensions and clearance needed; room temperature and the model’s operating range. | If the appliance is going in a garage or a cramped space, I need to make sure it will fit and work at the temperatures it will be exposed to. This compatibility would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Continuous use and power cuts | Energy consumption in kWh/year; stated storage time during a power cut. | As the appliance runs constantly, I want to know how much energy it uses and how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise these questions. |
Total capacity includes the fridge compartment too. Whirlpool, for example, states that its WHK 22373 X6EA fridge-freezer has a 118 L freezer compartment, which is separate from the appliance’s total capacity.
Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with the portions and containers you want to store.
An unheated or very hot room may fall outside the ambient temperatures the model is designed for. The climate class alone doesn’t guarantee that it will work below its minimum temperature.
Check the room temperature throughout the year, then look at the climate class and any operating range expressly stated for the appliance.
A freezer runs continuously, as ADEME points out, but you should check each model’s annual energy consumption and stated storage time during a power cut individually.
Compare the kWh/year on the energy label, then check each model’s product information for its stated storage time and noise level.
A large chest or upright freezer needs to fit through doorways and reach its intended location. You’ll also need enough room to open the lid or door fully once it’s in place.
Measure the access route, the space available and the clearances specified in the instructions before you order. If you’re replacing an appliance, arrange for the seller to take away the old one too.
Beko offers upright and under-counter freezers: two types to consider depending on how much space you have and how often you need to access your food.
Whirlpool offers chest and upright freezers as well as fridge-freezers, so you can weigh up adding extra storage separately from replacing your fridge.
Liebherr offers a range of chest freezers designed for storing large quantities of food.
These two fridge-freezers are options if you’re replacing your main appliance. If you want to keep your fridge and add a separate freezer, compare chest, upright and under-counter models instead.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and would prefer a fridge-freezer to a separate freezer.
The product name indicates a total capacity of 360 L, three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. To check how much space it offers for prepared meals, look up the capacity of the freezer compartment separately.
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Worth considering if replacing your main fridge is part of your plans and you want to store your groceries in a fridge-freezer.
The product name indicates a total capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating and Smart Inverter. This is the total capacity, not the freezer space alone, so check the freezer compartment capacity and the dimensions before choosing.
Choose a model whose operating range covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. UFC-Que Choisir gives the following temperature ranges for climate classes: SN from 10 to 32 °C, N from 16 to 32 °C, ST from 16 to 38 °C and T from 16 to 43 °C. If the room drops below 10 °C, check that the model’s minimum operating temperature is expressly stated; an SN rating alone isn’t enough.
No. The type alone doesn’t tell you how much energy a specific model uses. Compare the kWh/year shown on the energy labels, taking into account the capacity you need too. UFC-Que Choisir measures the energy consumption of the appliances it tests at different ambient temperatures, highlighting why it’s important to compare like with like.
Use baskets and an organising system so you can find food without emptying the freezer. If you often take out small portions, compare an upright freezer with drawers too: easy everyday access may matter more to you than extra storage capacity.
Check the cooling system and defrosting instructions in the model’s manual. Manufacturers offer features such as No Frost or, on Liebherr models, StopFrost to help limit ice build-up. These features vary by appliance and don’t replace the need to compare capacity and annual energy consumption.