If your main issue is a lack of space for prepared meals and frozen food, a separate freezer is the most direct solution. Choose an upright model if you often need to find neatly organised portions, or a chest freezer if capacity matters most and you have room to install it. A large fridge freezer is worth considering if you also need more fridge space; compare its freezer capacity, not just its total capacity.
If you regularly store food in containers or bags, the drawers in an upright freezer can help you organise everything and find a portion without rummaging through a chest. Just check that the drawers are large enough for your containers.
A separate appliance can hold more than the freezer compartment in a fridge freezer. Que Choisir highlights the benefits of conventional freezers for larger families and notes that chest freezers can hold up to 600 L; the usable capacity will depend on the model you choose.
A chest freezer could be a good option if you have enough floor space. Before choosing an appliance for an unheated room, compare the actual temperatures the room reaches with the freezer’s stated operating range.
First decide whether you only need more space for frozen food, or whether you also need more room for fresh food. Then compare the storage options, location and specifications of the exact model.
Choose this if: you often take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: make sure there’s enough room to open the door and access the drawers once the appliance is in place.
Choose this if: you store large quantities or bulky containers and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the food at the bottom of the freezer so it stays easy to reach.
Consider this if: you’re short of space for both fresh and frozen food.
Check: a large total capacity doesn’t necessarily mean a large freezer compartment.
| Priority | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare freezer capacity in litres, the appliance dimensions and the clearance needed to open it. For a fridge freezer, check the freezer capacity separately: Whirlpool lists 79 L of freezer space out of 300 L total for the WHC20D011B1 FR. | ‘I want to store more meals without choosing an appliance that blocks the way or won’t fit in the space available.’ |
| Access to food | Check the number and layout of the drawers or baskets, and how easy it is to see and take out your containers. Que Choisir recommends considering ease of access as well as capacity. | ‘For portions I use every week, I’d rather be able to find what I need quickly.’ |
| Where you’ll install it | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the operating temperature range specified for the model. If you’re comparing models with similar capacities, also check their annual energy consumption and energy rating. | ‘If I’m putting the appliance in my garage or cellar, it needs to be suitable for the temperatures in that room.’ |
| Temperature and power cuts | Check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut, and whether the appliance has an alarm or fast-freeze function. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses factors including temperature stability, storage time and freezing performance when food is added. | ‘I sometimes add several portions to freeze and want to know how I’ll spot a temperature problem.’ |
A large chest freezer may be difficult to get to its intended spot or open in a cluttered room.
Measure the space available, the route for delivery and the clearance required in the model’s instructions.
A freezer’s operating temperature range may not cover the temperatures in a garage, cellar or warm kitchen.
Check the room’s seasonal temperatures and compare them with the climate class and specifications for the exact model.
Meals stored beneath other food will be harder to find day to day.
Group portions in baskets or boxes, date the containers and keep frequently used food somewhere easy to reach. If easy access is a priority, consider an upright freezer instead.
Anses explains that at -18 °C, freezing at home stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. The French Ministry of Agriculture warns against refreezing food once it has thawed.
Follow food storage instructions and avoid refreezing food that has thawed.
A brand to consider for chest freezers, particularly if you’re planning to install one in a room where the temperature fluctuates.
Compare the range depending on whether you’re looking for a separate upright freezer or a fridge freezer that also gives you more fridge space.
A model to consider if you’re looking for a large chest freezer for an unheated room.
These two upright freezers suit different needs: 161 L for extra meal storage, or 60 L for a smaller top-up. If you’d prefer a chest freezer or also need more fridge space, compare those options separately before choosing.
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With a capacity of 161 L, this model can hold more portions than a small supplementary freezer. Check that it’s suitable for the amount of food you want to store. The product title lists No-Frost protection, a C energy rating, a reversible door and an alarm function. If you plan to install it in an unheated room, check the ambient temperature range specified for this model.
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At 60 L, this model is better suited to extra storage than to holding a large stock of prepared meals. The product title lists three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check that its capacity suits the meals you want to store, and check the permitted ambient temperature range if you plan to install it in a cellar or garage.
Yes, as long as the model’s operating temperature range covers the temperatures in the room. Compare the room’s seasonal temperatures with the product specifications. For example, Liebherr says the CFe 2500 Pure can be installed in an unheated room where temperatures fall as low as -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to every chest freezer.
Check access to the drawers or baskets, the dimensions and clearance needed to open the appliance, as well as its climate class, energy consumption and storage time during a power cut. Que Choisir’s test protocol also considers temperature stability, freezing performance when food is added, noise and ease of use.
Avoid refreezing food once it has thawed. The French Ministry of Agriculture explains that thawing and then refreezing food encourages bacteria to multiply, particularly if it has been left to thaw at room temperature for a long time.
Use a suitable take-back, reuse or collection service for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it in general waste. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition describes a collection and treatment scheme for household appliances of this kind.