A dedicated freezer is worth considering if prepared meals or bulk buys regularly overflow the freezer compartment in your fridge freezer. A chest freezer offers more room for bulky items, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise your food and access it frequently. If you also need to replace your fridge freezer, first compare the freezer capacity of a larger model. Before buying, check the available space, annual energy consumption and the ambient temperature range permitted for the model you choose, especially if you plan to keep it in a garage or a cold utility room.
If you batch-cook or buy in bulk, work out how much freezer space you need and how much room your largest containers will take up. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of a separate freezer when a fridge freezer’s compartment becomes too small for a household’s food stocks.
If you regularly take out portions or prepared meals, being able to separate and find them matters just as much as capacity. The drawers in an upright freezer can make it easier to stay organised, provided your containers fit inside.
If the appliance will be kept somewhere unheated, check the room’s temperatures against the permitted ambient temperature range for the specific model. The chest or upright format alone does not determine whether it is suitable.
First decide whether you need separate freezer storage or might replace your fridge freezer. For a dedicated appliance, UFC-Que Choisir highlights factors such as capacity and access to food; check the dimensions and installation requirements for each model afterwards.
Consider it: for large food stocks or bulky containers, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: food stacked at the bottom can be harder to find.
Consider it: if you want to separate portions and access food frequently, making better use of available height.
The trade-off: drawer sizes may limit how easily you can store large dishes.
Consider it: if you only need a small amount of extra space and have a suitable spot under your worktop.
The trade-off: its capacity will not meet the same needs as a chest freezer for storing large quantities.
Compare it: if you also need to replace your fridge and want more space in both compartments.
The trade-off: check the freezer capacity separately: a larger fridge freezer does not guarantee enough room for your food stocks.
| Factor | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Food storage capacity | Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in litres and the space needed for your largest containers. | When prepared meals and bulk buys regularly overflow, I want to store them without overcrowding my fridge freezer. Around 31% of consumers put this need for extra capacity first. |
| Access and storage | Look at the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | If I often pick out a portion, I need to find my food stocks quickly instead of moving items stacked on top of each other. Around 25% of consumers put this need to stay organised first. |
| Available space | Measure the appliance, delivery route and door opening, and allow for the clearances required for ventilation. | If my kitchen has little spare space, I need an extra appliance that fits in its intended spot without getting in the way. A small footprint is the priority for around 19% of consumers. |
| Installation and power cuts | Compare the model’s ambient temperature range with the room’s temperatures; check its stated storage time during a power cut if this is a concern. | In an unheated garage, I need to know whether the appliance is suitable for the room’s temperatures; storage time during a power cut also matters to me. Around 25% of consumers put these conditions of use first. |
When comparing appliances of a similar type and capacity, also check their annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label. An energy rating or capacity in litres on its own tells you nothing about how easy it is to access food or whether the appliance is suitable for your chosen location.
In a large chest freezer, small portions can end up buried under other food. This can become inconvenient if you open the appliance every day.
Make a list of the types of food you actually store: choose drawers for portions you use frequently, or plan to use baskets and labels if you opt for a chest freezer.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the specific model. For example, Liebherr gives a range of +10 °C to +32 °C for climate class SN; only certain models are stated to work at lower temperatures.
Note the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then check the manual for the permitted range and any specific suitability claims for the model you are considering.
More space does not remove the need to keep track of what you have already stored. ADEME recommends checking your food stocks before you go shopping.
Make sure the lack of capacity is a regular problem, then date and organise your food so you can use what you already have.
Without keeping track, it is still possible to buy duplicates or forget about food.
Two appliances with the same capacity can offer different levels of access to food, while energy consumption does not tell you whether an appliance is suitable for its location.
First compare formats that suit the way you use your freezer, then check their capacity, annual energy consumption, stated storage time during a power cut and installation requirements.
These ranges let you explore different formats and features; specifications quoted for one model do not apply to every appliance from the same brand.
Beko offers upright, chest and compact freezers, so you can compare different ways to add storage.
The French range includes chest, upright and built-in models.
Liebherr provides useful information when considering installation in a cellar or garage.
The brand’s compact or built-in models may be worth comparing if fitting the appliance into your kitchen is a priority.
These appliances are designed to add a separate freezer: chest freezers for food stocks, an upright model for compartmentalised storage and a small vertical model for limited extra capacity. If you are considering replacing your fridge freezer instead, compare its freezer compartment separately.
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Worth considering if you want a separate storage space and have enough floor room.
Advertised capacity of 140 L, storage basket, counterbalanced lid and E energy rating.
Check how easy it is to reach food at the bottom, as well as the annual energy consumption, storage time during a power cut and ambient temperature range for your installation.
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Worth considering if you would rather separate food in an upright freezer than stack it in a chest freezer.
Advertised capacity of 161 L, drawers, No Frost system and C energy rating.
Check the dimensions before choosing where to put it, as well as the annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range if you plan to install it in a cold room.
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Worth considering for extra storage if you have room for a chest freezer.
Advertised capacity of 99 L, removable basket, four-star rating and E energy rating.
Food stored in a chest freezer is stacked, so you will need to reach down to find it; also check the defrosting requirements and ambient temperature range for the room you have in mind.
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Worth considering if a separate 98 L freezer suits the quantities you usually store.
The title lists a storage basket, counterbalanced lid and E energy rating.
Allow enough space to open the lid and check the dimensions, annual energy consumption and storage time during a power cut before choosing this model.
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Worth considering for a small amount of extra space rather than large food stocks.
Advertised capacity of 60 L, reversible door and E energy rating.
Check the interior layout before assuming it has three drawers: the title and detailed description show different configurations. Also confirm the required clearances if you plan to install it under a worktop.
It gives you an ambient temperature range to check, but that range needs to cover the temperatures your garage actually reaches. For example, Liebherr states that class SN covers +10 °C to +32 °C; if the room gets colder, look for an explicit low-temperature suitability claim for the specific model.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh, energy rating and freezer capacity of appliances with similar formats and capacities. Then check the model’s product information for its dimensions, stated storage time during a power cut and installation requirements: the label alone cannot determine whether a chest or upright freezer is right for you.
In France, an old freezer should be disposed of through the waste electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists collection points and recycling centres, among other options; also ask the retailer about collection services before delivery.