Households that freeze food in bulk
You batch-cook or shop in bulk and want dedicated freezer space without replacing your fridge just yet.
Who is this decision for?
People who often use frozen portions
You want to find a bag or container quickly. Easy access and organisation matter more to you than the stated capacity alone.
Households considering a location outside the kitchen
If you’re thinking of putting your freezer in a cellar, pantry or garage, check the room’s temperatures against the declared ambient temperature range for the exact appliance.
How do the options compare?
Upright freezer
Consider it: if you often take out portions and prefer to organise them in drawers. It generally takes up less floor space than a chest freezer, according to Que Choisir and Whirlpool.
Bear in mind: check that its compartments can accommodate bulky packaging too. A vertical design doesn’t guarantee a particular capacity or lower energy use.
Chest freezer
Consider it: if you’re building up a large supply of groceries or home-cooked food and have enough space to open the lid.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is less easy to reach. Plan how you’ll organise it and check which baskets come with the model.
Fridge-freezer
Consider it: if you also need to replace your main fridge and its freezer compartment meets your additional storage needs.
Bear in mind: the fridge-freezer’s total capacity includes the fridge section. Compare the freezer capacity separately.
To make more room for frozen food, start by considering how much space you need and how you like to access your food. Then check where each appliance will go and compare its features.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare freezer capacity in litres and the dimensions, remembering to allow room to open the appliance. For a fridge-freezer, use the capacity of the freezer compartment, not the whole appliance. | If you freeze large batches or shop in bulk, your priority is a freezer that can genuinely hold that food. Around 29% of consumers put capacity first. |
| Access and organisation | Look at the drawers and shelves in an upright freezer, or the baskets and access to the bottom of a chest freezer. | If you often take out portions, you’ll want to find them without moving everything else. Around 29% of consumers put access and organisation ahead of other factors. |
| Location | Compare the room’s possible temperature extremes with the declared ambient temperature range for the exact model, especially if it’s going in a garage or cellar. | If the appliance will be kept outside the kitchen, it needs to work in the conditions in that room. Location suitability is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Use and maintenance | Compare kWh/year for appliances with similar functions and capacities, then check defrosting requirements, noise levels and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | With an extra appliance, you may be particularly keen to keep electricity use and maintenance under control, while also considering power cuts. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming any freezer is suitable for a garage
The permitted ambient temperature varies by model. For example, an appliance listing in the European Commission’s EPREL database states a minimum temperature of 10 °C. Beko says that some of its models with the relevant feature can operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C, but this does not apply to its entire range.
Check the lowest and highest temperatures the room may reach, and make sure they fall within the declared range for the appliance you choose.
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Comparing a fridge-freezer’s total capacity with a freezer’s
Total capacity includes the fridge compartments too, so it doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food.
Compare the fridge-freezer’s freezer compartment capacity with the capacity of the standalone freezer.
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Choosing a large chest freezer without planning how to organise it
Food at the bottom of a deep freezer can be difficult to reach if you open it often.
Decide how you’ll separate frequently used portions from the rest of your supplies, and check which baskets are actually included with the model.
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Choosing based on frost prevention alone
No Frost and other frost-reducing features are relevant to maintenance, but they don’t tell you the capacity, energy use or suitability for a cold room.
For each model, also compare freezer capacity in litres, dimensions, kWh/year and the declared ambient temperature range.
Brands to compare
Beko
Beko offers chest and upright freezers, including some models designed for unheated rooms.
- The brand positions its chest freezers as a solution for bulk shopping. For the RFNE448E55W, it states that the appliance can operate at ambient temperatures as low as -15 °C.
- This suitability and the frost-management features vary by model, so check the specifications of the one you’re considering.
Liebherr
Liebherr offers chest freezers with different capacities and frost-management features to compare from model to model.
- Liebherr lists a capacity of 497 l and FrostProtect -15 °C for its CFe 2500 Pure. The brand describes SmartFrost as a technology that reduces frost build-up on equipped models.
- These features don’t apply to every chest freezer in its range. Check the dimensions and defrosting method of the model you choose too.
Bosch
Some Bosch upright freezers combine flexible storage with frost-management features.
- For the GSN58AWCV, Bosch describes removable drawers and shelves, as well as a Big Box compartment for bulky items.
- These features alone don’t tell you the usable capacity, energy use or suitability of the model you choose for a garage.
Whirlpool
The range includes upright and chest freezers to compare according to the space available and how you like to organise food.
- For the WHFF 6403 W4E upright freezer, Whirlpool lists a capacity of 404 l, six drawers and annual energy use of 292 kWh.
- These figures apply to this model only. They don’t represent every Whirlpool freezer or its performance in your room.
Freezers for extra storage
These upright and chest freezers offer a range of capacities to consider without replacing your main fridge. First choose the format and capacity that suit your food, then check each model is right for its intended location.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
Worth considering if you want to organise portions in a separate freezer. The title lists three drawers, No Frost protection, an energy rating of C and a reversible door.
Check the dimensions, energy use in kWh/year and ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
This format is worth considering for a small amount of extra freezer space rather than bulk shopping. The title lists three drawers, adjustable temperature, a reversible door and an energy rating of E.
Compare its 60 L capacity with your needs, and check the kWh/year and ambient temperature range if you’re installing it outside the kitchen.
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AUCMA, 95 L convertible chest freezer
For 95 L of separate storage, this chest freezer is listed with a convertible fridge-freezer mode, a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and an energy rating of E.
Before planning to install it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range for this model. A mention of garage use alone isn’t enough to confirm it’s suitable.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
If you want a chest freezer with a separate space for smaller portions, this model is listed with a removable metal basket. Its title specifies 4-star freezing, an adjustable thermostat and an energy rating of E.
Check the defrosting method, kWh/year and ambient temperature range before installing it.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This 140 L chest freezer is worth considering if you need more space than the smaller models featured here. The title lists a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an energy rating of E.
Confirm what’s included, particularly whether a basket is supplied, and check the energy use in kWh/year and the ambient temperature range suitable for your room.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a freezer for a garage or cellar?
Choose a model only if its declared ambient temperature range covers the temperatures your room may reach. Specifications vary: an appliance listing in the European Commission’s EPREL database gives a range of 10 to 43 °C, while Beko says a model with Freezer Guard can operate at temperatures as low as -15 °C. Always check the specifications for the exact model.
Does a chest freezer always use less energy than an upright freezer?
No. You can’t tell from the format alone. Compare the annual energy use in kWh of appliances with similar functions and capacities, then consider where they’ll be placed. Que Choisir, for example, measures the energy use of the appliances it tests at 25 °C and 32 °C.
Do No Frost and SmartFrost both eliminate the need to defrost?
Don’t assume they’re equivalent. Bosch describes No Frost as removing the need to defrost equipped models, while Liebherr says SmartFrost significantly reduces frost build-up. Check the features and maintenance instructions for the model you’re considering.
What should I do with my old freezer?
Look into local take-back or collection schemes for electrical and electronic equipment rather than putting it out with household rubbish. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition points out that this equipment contains components that need to be handled appropriately and can also be recycled.