If your fridge-freezer no longer has enough space, consider a chest freezer for a large stock-up and where you have enough floor space, or an upright freezer if you want to find food easily in drawers. A larger-capacity fridge-freezer keeps both functions in the kitchen, but compare its freezer capacity with that of a dedicated appliance. In every case, check the dimensions and the permitted ambient temperature range for the model.
If you buy in bulk or store bulky food, a chest freezer is worth comparing with upright models. Measure the cellar, utility room or garage you have in mind, too, and check that its temperature is suitable for the model.
If you want to find portions quickly and keep different types of food separate, an upright freezer with drawers offers vertical storage. However, check the space in front of the door and the size of the compartments.
If the temperature varies in your garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range for the model you are considering before choosing between a chest and an upright freezer. Climate class depends on the model, not its format.
To increase your frozen food storage, start by considering how much space you have and how often you need to access your food.
Worth considering : if you buy bulky items and have clear floor space.
Bear in mind : food at the bottom of the freezer takes more effort to reach.
Worth considering : if you often take food out and want to organise it in drawers.
Bear in mind : compartments can limit space for bulky packaging.
Worth considering : if you would rather keep your fridge and freezer in the kitchen than add another appliance.
Bear in mind : its total capacity is not the same as its freezer capacity alone.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres with the space you can actually use for your packaging, and consider how easy it is to reach everything in a chest freezer. | When bulk buys and bulky food already fill my current compartment, I mainly want dedicated storage ; around 37 % of consumers would make capacity their priority. |
| Access and organisation | Check how the door opens, how the drawers come out and whether the storage can be adjusted to fit larger containers. | If I take frozen food out every day, I want to find it without rummaging through a deep chest ; organised access would be a priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Space in your home | Measure the appliance, the route it will take during delivery and the clearance needed to open it ; for a fridge-freezer, check its freezer capacity separately. | In a kitchen where a second appliance would get in the way, I want to combine both functions ; around 18 % of consumers would prioritise a smaller footprint. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room temperature with the ambient temperature range stated in the manual for the exact model. | For a cellar or garage where temperatures vary, I need to be able to install the appliance in the conditions it is designed for ; around 18 % of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
If the appliance is near a living area, compare its stated noise level in dB(A), too. For a large stock of food, check the stated storage time during a power cut and annual energy consumption in kWh. Don’t assume these figures based on the format alone.
Its capacity may suit your storage needs, but it might take up too much floor space. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide notes that chest freezers are commonly 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep.
Measure the space and the delivery route, then allow enough clearance to lift the lid and reach the bottom.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the appliance. Whirlpool says the climate class tells you about the conditions in which it can be installed, so a product description mentioning a garage is not enough.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range given in the manual for the exact model you have chosen.
An energy rating letter does not tell you everything about freezer capacity, noise or access to food.
Check the kWh/year consumption, net capacity in litres, dB(A) level and dimensions on the label or product page, and look separately at storage time during a power cut.
Drawers help you organise food, but a compartment may be too small for some bulky packaging.
Compare the drawer sizes and how easily they come out, as well as the options for adjusting the storage, with the products you plan to keep inside.
Freestanding upright models to consider if you want vertical storage with model-specific specifications.
Domestic chest freezers to compare for separate storage, particularly if the appliance will be kept in a cool room.
Upright models to consider if frost-free cooling and the type of installation are important to you.
Built-in models to compare when you want your appliance to fit into your kitchen.
This Joybuy selection includes chest freezers for separate storage, an upright model for vertical storage and a fridge-freezer that combines refrigeration and freezing. Compare their capacity and installation requirements with the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you want a chest freezer for your family’s supplies. The product description lists a capacity of 291 L, convertible fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and a defrost drain.
Before installing it in a cellar or garage, confirm the permitted ambient temperature range ; if it matters for your food, check the storage time during a power cut, too.
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Consider this for separate storage if 197 L suits your needs. According to the product description, this convertible chest freezer has a removable basket, a five-level digital control and a defrost drain.
Confirm that freezer mode is suitable for your needs, and check the permitted ambient temperature range and storage time during a power cut.
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Worth considering if you want an extra 140 L of domestic freezer storage. The product description mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid and temperature control.
If you plan to keep it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range ; also compare the noise level and storage time during a power cut if these features matter to you.
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Worth considering if you prefer to organise your frozen food in an upright freezer. The product description lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, a reversible door hinge, an alarm and a temperature setting from −14 to −22 °C.
This internal temperature setting does not specify the permitted ambient temperature : check this, along with the external dimensions and storage time during a power cut, before choosing where to put it.
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Consider this if you want to combine refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. The product description lists a total capacity of 467 L, four doors and No Frost technology.
The 467 L figure is not the capacity of the freezer compartment alone : compare its capacity with the amount of storage you need. Measure the space, too, and check the ambient temperature range specified for this model.
Compare how the space is organised, then check the dimensions and the clearance needed to open the appliance in your room. Also look at annual energy consumption in kWh, noise level in dB(A) and stated storage time during a power cut : two models with similar capacities can still differ in these respects.
No. First check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model. Whirlpool says the climate class is one of the details to check ; a model’s stated suitability for temperatures down to −15 °C does not apply to all other models.
No. No Frost does not mean you can ignore the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. Clean the interior and seals as directed in the manual, and check the defrosting or drainage instructions for the model you have chosen.
Check the energy label and model information sheet to compare annual energy consumption, capacity and noise level. The European Commission also describes EPREL as a public tool giving access to key information about the products listed there.