If you often need to find pre-prepared portions, choose an upright freezer if its drawers suit your containers. A chest freezer is ideal for larger stocks if you have enough floor space and the room is suitable for the model. A fridge freezer is mainly worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and its freezer compartment is big enough for your needs. In every case, check the dimensions, the permitted room temperature, annual energy consumption and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If you regularly freeze meals or ingredients, check whether the drawers and baskets let you separate your containers and find the oldest ones easily. The E.Leclerc Observatory of New Consumer Trends identifies fridge and freezer storage as part of preparing food in advance; the capacity you need will depend on the quantities you use.
For large bags or substantial food stocks, compare the storage space in a chest freezer with its floor space and how easy it is to reach items at the bottom. If you plan to keep it in a pantry, cellar or garage, also check the permitted ambient temperature for the model you’re considering.
A fridge freezer combines both functions in one appliance. However, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the portions you prepare and the food you usually buy, rather than relying on the total capacity shown.
Consider one if: you open the appliance often and want to organise portions in drawers.
Bear in mind: check that the drawers fit your larger dishes and are still easy to reach when the door is open.
Consider one if: you store large quantities or bulky containers and have a suitable place for it.
Bear in mind: reaching items at the bottom takes more organisation, especially if you use baskets and keep an inventory.
Consider one if: you’re replacing your fridge too and the freezer compartment can hold your usual stocks.
Bear in mind: the appliance’s total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Compare the drawers, baskets and open compartments on the exact model. Check that your containers, dishes and bags fit and are easy to reach. | I want to find my portions and use the oldest ones before I forget about them. ADEME recommends checking what you have in stock before shopping to avoid buying duplicates. |
| Capacity and space | Check the capacity available for freezing, then measure the width, depth and height, as well as the space needed to open the door or lid. | My larger containers need to fit without making the rest difficult to reach. If I choose a chest freezer, I can set aside enough floor space for it. |
| Freezing and power cuts | If you add a lot of food at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. Separately compare the stated storage time in hours during a power cut and any alarms included. | After buying in bulk, I want to know how much the model can freeze in a day. If the appliance is kept out of the way, an alarm may also be important to me. |
| Energy and installation | Check the annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label and compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. Check the climate class or the stated ambient temperature range for the model. | The appliance will run all the time, so I want to compare its energy consumption and make sure it’s suitable for the temperature in my room, especially if it isn’t heated. The European Commission says the energy label for domestic refrigeration appliances has used the A to G scale since March 2021. |
A large capacity doesn’t tell you whether food will be easy to find or whether the appliance will fit in your room. The interior layout and the space needed to open it matter too.
Measure the space with the door or lid open, then check that the compartments suit your containers, dishes and larger bags.
The permitted room temperature depends on the model. A feature specified for one model doesn’t apply to an entire range.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with those given in the manual for the appliance you’re considering.
According to ANSES, home freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. It can’t make up for food having been stored incorrectly beforehand.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, label portions with the date, and follow ANSES’s advice on storage and defrosting.
These examples highlight features to compare on specific models; they don’t represent every product range from each brand.
If you’re looking at a high-capacity upright freezer, Bosch’s GSN58AWEV product information lists a net freezer capacity of 366 L.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is an example of a high-capacity option: Liebherr lists a capacity of 497 L and dimensions of 82 × 167 × 71 cm.
The WHFF 6403 W4E is an upright freezer with a stated capacity of 404 L, according to Whirlpool.
For an integrated installation, Electrolux’s product information for the KUN7NE18S lists a net freezer capacity of 212 L.
This selection includes fridge freezers for replacing your main fridge too, chest freezers for storing larger stocks, and an upright freezer for organising portions in drawers. Compare each model’s freezer compartment and installation requirements with the way you plan to use it.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want to organise portions in its freezer compartment.
The model name indicates Total No Frost, an energy rating of E, Wi-Fi and My Zone. The 360 L capacity is for the whole appliance, so compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with your food stocks. Also check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room where you plan to keep it.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge freezer and its freezer space suits the portions you usually store.
The model name indicates a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Its stated ambient temperature range is 16 to 38 °C, so it isn’t suitable for a colder room. The Low Frost compartment needs to be defrosted manually.
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This chest freezer could suit you if you need substantial storage, have enough floor space and can organise access to your food.
The model is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes, with a removable basket, LED lighting and five-level digital controls. Allow for the specified 10 cm ventilation clearance and check its ambient temperature range before installing it in an unheated room.
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This chest freezer is worth considering for a smaller stock, if a top-opening lid suits your space.
Its name indicates a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an adjustable temperature control. The basket only organises part of the compartment, so plan how you’ll find food stored underneath. Also check the lid clearance and permitted ambient temperature.
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Its drawers are worth considering if you want to separate portions and reach them easily in an upright appliance.
The model name lists three freezer drawers, No Frost, an alarm and an energy rating of C. Before choosing a spot for it, check its dimensions, ambient temperature range and the space needed to open the door. Also compare its annual energy consumption in kWh with other upright freezers.
No. According to ANSES, home freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it. When defrosting it, follow the methods recommended by ANSES, such as thawing it in the fridge or cooking it straight away.
No. Compare the room temperature with the climate class and the guidance in the manual for the exact model. For example, Liebherr specifies FrostProtect down to −15 °C for its CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer; this doesn’t apply to other freezers.
Check the annual energy consumption in kWh as well as each appliance’s capacity and type, rather than comparing the energy rating letter alone. The European Commission says the energy label for domestic refrigeration appliances uses an A to G scale. Start by comparing models that offer similar storage capacity.
No. The stated storage time depends on the specific model: Bosch lists 12 h for the GSN58AWEV, while Whirlpool lists 11 h for the WHFF 6403 W4E. Check the figure for the model you’re considering rather than estimating it from the brand or capacity.