If you’re looking to store prepared meals and bulk buys in a separate freezer, first think about how you access your food and how much space you have: an upright model makes it easy to organise food in drawers, a chest freezer can accommodate bulky items, and an under-counter model is a handy extra. Before choosing a model, check that it will fit through to the room, the clearance it needs and the ambient temperature range it’s designed for. Then compare energy use, noise and power-cut storage time between appliances suited to similar needs.
If you often take out small portions or prepared meals, drawers can make them easier to find without rummaging through a large compartment. The vertical storage described by Beko and showcased in Bosch’s upright range is well worth considering.
For bulk buys or bulky items, compare chest freezers if you have enough width. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll need to think about how to reach food stored at the bottom.
In a fitted kitchen, check the aperture dimensions and ventilation requirements for an under-counter model. For a garage, cellar or other unheated room, compare the room temperature with the operating range specified for the exact model, as Bosch and Beko recommend.
For a separate freezer to store household supplies, choose a format that suits the food you’ll store and how often you’ll need to access it. Then rule out any models that aren’t compatible with the location or room temperature.
Consider it if: you often take out prepared meals and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: check you have enough height and depth, and room to open the door. Make sure the drawers are large enough for your bulky items, too.
Consider it if: you mainly store bulky items or food you access less often, and have a wide enough space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is less accessible, so check you have enough room to open the lid.
Consider it if: you’re looking for extra freezer space in a kitchen with a suitable space for it.
Bear in mind: its capacity needs to suit your storage needs. For an integrated model, the housing and ventilation must meet the requirements in the manual.
| Feature | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to meals | Drawer or basket layout; space for containers and portions. | I often take out prepared meals and want to find each portion without moving everything else. Around 30% of consumers prioritise easy everyday access. |
| Capacity and overall size | Usable capacity, appliance and packaging dimensions, and the route to its final position. | My bulk buys need to fit in the freezer, but it also needs to fit through the doors and into its space. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this balance between storage and available space. |
| Room suitability | Minimum and maximum room temperatures; the climate range, clearances and, where required, housing dimensions specified for the model. | If my freezer is going in an unheated room or housing, I first need to know whether it can operate and be installed there. Around 20% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Energy use, noise and power-cut storage time | Stated annual energy consumption, noise level in dB(A) and stated storage time in the event of a power cut, along with the conditions used for measurement. | I want to reduce energy use or noise, or take power cuts into account when choosing between appliances that suit my storage needs. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these features. |
When comparing energy use or storage time during a power cut, also bear in mind the format and usable capacity: a small additional appliance and a large chest freezer serve different purposes. UFC-Que Choisir’s freezer testing protocol includes energy consumption and how well the appliance maintains its temperature after a power cut.
A cold garage or hot conservatory could fall outside the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for and affect how it works. Bosch and Beko point out that the climate class needs to suit the location where the appliance will be installed.
Check the temperatures the room is likely to reach and compare them with the technical specifications and manual for the exact model. A claim that one particular freezer can operate in certain conditions doesn’t apply to an entire range.
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit through the doors or whether its lid or door will open once it’s in place. An upright model may need plenty of height and depth, while a chest freezer may need a lot of width.
Measure the space, delivery route and doorways, then check the dimensions of the appliance and its packaging, as well as the clearances required in the manual.
A chest freezer can hold bulky items, but finding a meal stored at the bottom is less straightforward than opening a drawer.
If you take out portions every day, compare the layout of an upright model. If you prefer a chest freezer, check its baskets and plan to group food by type.
In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to eligible purchases from a professional seller. Any commercial guarantee offered has separate terms. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between these two protections.
Keep your receipt and the freezer’s product description. Read the terms of any commercial guarantee separately, along with those for the delivery or installation services you choose.
Its upright freezers let you compare vertical storage options, including high-capacity models.
Its chest freezers are worth considering for storing larger quantities, provided there’s enough width in the room.
Its range includes chest, upright and under-counter models. Compare individual models based on the room and capacity you need.
Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. Bosch and Beko explain that the climate class helps you check whether a model is suitable. If the room gets colder than the specified range, look for an explicit suitability claim for the exact model rather than relying on whether it’s a chest or upright freezer.
Measure the final space and the entire route from the delivery point, including doors, corridors and stairs. Then check the packaging dimensions, whether the door or lid can open, and the ventilation clearances required in the model’s manual.
No. You should also compare usable capacity, format, noise and storage time in the event of a power cut, ideally between appliances suited to similar storage needs. UFC-Que Choisir assesses energy consumption and temperature retention as part of its testing protocol. Check the conditions associated with the figures shown for each model.
For an eligible purchase from a professional seller, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies independently of any commercial guarantee, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains. Check the agreed terms for delivery, installation and removal of your old appliance separately, and keep the terms and proof of purchase.