For groceries and prepared meals that you want to find easily, start by looking at upright freezers. If you need to store larger quantities, compare chest freezers too, provided you have the space and the model is suitable for the room temperature. A compact freezer is better suited to occasional extra storage. A fridge-freezer is only worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge as well and its freezer compartment has enough capacity.
If you prepare meals in advance or regularly freeze leftovers, being able to access and organise individual portions matters just as much as capacity. Check the drawers and how much fresh food the model can freeze per day.
For storing bulk purchases and large packs, compare the net capacity and the floor space required. In a cellar, pantry or garage, also check that the model’s operating temperature range is suitable for the room.
A table-top or under-counter freezer can add extra capacity without taking up space like a full-size appliance. Check that it has enough room for the groceries and portions you actually plan to store.
Consider one if: you want to organise different groceries and meals in easy-to-identify compartments.
The trade-off: check the usable capacity, door clearance and access to the drawers. UFC-Que Choisir notes that upright freezers generally offer less capacity than chest freezers.
Consider one if: you buy in bulk and have enough room for a large freezer with a lid that can open fully.
The trade-off: allow for the floor space it needs and think about how you’ll find food stored at the bottom. If it’s going in an unheated room, check the model’s permitted temperature range.
Consider one if: you need a little extra freezer space but are short on room.
The trade-off: check the net capacity before relying on this size to store several large shops or lots of portions.
Consider one if: you also need to replace your fridge and its freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs.
The trade-off: the appliance’s total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food. Check the capacity of the freezer compartment separately.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare net freezer capacity, then look at the drawer or basket layout. Measure the space needed to open the door or lid. | I want to find my portions without moving all the other food. For large packs, I also want to make the most of the usable space. |
| Electricity | Check the energy rating and kWh/year, comparing appliances of a similar size and capacity. The European Commission’s energy label uses a scale from A to G. | As ADEME points out, a freezer runs continuously, so its annual energy consumption is an important factor in my decision. |
| Installation | Measure the space and clearances specified in the manual. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class or the temperature range stated for the model. | My appliance needs to fit in the intended space and work at the temperatures in that room, particularly if it isn’t heated. |
| Freezing and power cuts | If you’ll be adding fresh food, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. Separately compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours and the conditions under which it was measured. | If I often freeze several meals at once or am concerned about power cuts, I’ll check both of these specifications rather than relying on capacity alone. |
UFC-Que Choisir notes that some chest freezers can hold up to 600 L. But a large freezer won’t suit your needs if it doesn’t fit in the room or if it’s hard to find food stored at the bottom.
Measure the space, the route to it and the clearance needed to open the appliance. If you often use individual portions, check the interior layout too.
The temperature in an unheated room can fall outside the range a model is designed for. Beko states that some chest freezers, including the HSM14540, can operate down to -15 °C. This doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Note the lowest and highest temperatures the room could reach, then check the operating range in the documentation for the exact model.
The energy rating doesn’t replace the annual consumption figure in kWh/year. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously.
Compare kWh/year figures for models of a similar type and capacity, taking into account how much space you need.
Storage space, the amount of fresh food an appliance can freeze in 24 hours and how long it keeps food cold without power are three different things.
If you come home with a large shop or prepare several meals to freeze, check each model’s freezing capacity in kg/24 h and its power-cut storage time in hours.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for an upright freezer to organise meals and groceries by category.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer for larger quantities, particularly if it will be installed in a cold room.
A brand to look at if you’re considering a small freezer or a model with NoFrost.
These two fridge-freezers are worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge as well. Before choosing one for extra grocery or meal storage, check that its freezer compartment has enough capacity for your household. The appliance’s total capacity alone won’t tell you.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want a three-door fridge-freezer. The product title states a capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the net capacity of the freezer compartment separately, and make sure the model is suitable for the room temperature.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge and have a space 54 cm wide for an appliance that’s 176 cm tall. Check that the freezer compartment has enough room for your groceries and meals. The stated ambient temperature range for this model is 16 to 38 °C, so it isn’t suitable for a room that could fall below 16 °C.
Compare the lowest and highest temperatures the room could reach with the operating range given in the manual for the exact model. Don’t assume that the minimum temperature of -15 °C stated by Beko France for some of its chest freezers applies to all appliances.
Check both, then compare the kWh/year figures for freezers of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission sets an energy rating scale from A to G for these appliances, and ADEME points out that they run continuously.
Choose an appliance or compartment suitable for domestic freezing at -18 °C. Anses explains that freezing at this temperature stops bacteria from multiplying but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms, so it doesn’t replace safe food-storage practices.
No. Check the model’s stated power-cut storage time rather than judging by its type. UFC-Que Choisir’s test measures how long food stays below -9 °C during a simulated power cut. Compare results measured under equivalent conditions.