If your current freezer compartment can no longer hold all the meals and food you want to store at once, compare a dedicated freezer with a new fridge-freezer. An upright makes it easier to reach portions stored in drawers; a chest freezer suits bulky supplies if you have enough room. If you only need a little extra capacity, check the freezer compartment volume of a fridge-freezer first, not its total volume.
If you freeze portions for the week and take them out regularly, consider how well the food can be organised and kept within easy reach. Europe 1 describes preparing meals for the week at the weekend; an upright’s drawers can help you separate these portions.
For bags, family-sized packs or bulky food, a chest freezer is worth considering if you have a suitable room. Its top-opening lid and open interior mean you’ll need to plan how to organise items at the bottom, as well as allow enough space for the lid.
If you can’t easily fit a second appliance, compare the freezer capacity of a large fridge-freezer with that of an upright. Also measure the space, check that doors or drawers can open fully, and allow for the clearances specified in the manual.
First decide whether your food supplies justify a separate appliance, then choose a format that makes your food easy to reach and fits the room you have in mind. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between high-capacity chest freezers and uprights, which take up less floor space. For a fridge-freezer, compare the freezer compartment volume alone with the capacity you need.
Consider it if: you often take out portioned meals and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: the door must be able to open and all drawers must be accessible where you plan to put it.
Consider it if: you store bulky items in quantity and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: its open interior has fewer fixed dividers; baskets or an inventory can help you find items at the bottom.
Consider it if: you only need a moderate amount of extra freezer space or you’re replacing your fridge too.
Bear in mind: its total volume includes the fridge, so it doesn’t represent the space available for frozen food.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Extra capacity | Compare the litres available for freezing with the amount you want to store at once. For a fridge-freezer, exclude the fridge compartment volume. | When prepared meals and bulk buys fill up my current compartment, I’m mainly looking for enough extra capacity; around 31 % of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers or baskets, and how easy it is to reach items at the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I often take out portions, I want to find them without having to move all the other food. Easy access and organisation would be the main priority for around 31 % of consumers. |
| Location | Measure the route in, opening space and clearances specified in the manual; check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range if it’s going in a cellar or garage. | With a narrow kitchen or an unheated utility room, I need to be able to install and use the appliance in the conditions it’s designed for; this would be the main priority for around 23 % of consumers. |
| Use and maintenance | Check the kWh/year, noise level and stated power-cut storage time for the exact model; also check how it defrosts. | For an appliance that runs all the time, I mainly want to compare its energy consumption and maintenance requirements. Around 15 % of consumers would make these their priority. |
A chest freezer can take up a lot of floor space. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers are commonly 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep; you’ll also need to consider the lid, ventilation and delivery route.
Measure the space, access route and clearance for the lid, then allow for the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model.
The room temperature must stay within the range permitted for the appliance. Whether a model can operate in a cold room depends on the exact model: Beko states this for its B1RFNE314W and Liebherr for its CFe 2500 Pure down to −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to their other models.
Check the room temperature and compare it with the climate class and guidance in the product details or manual for the exact model.
Its open interior can hold bulky items, but portions stored beneath other food are harder to find than in an upright’s front-access drawers.
If you regularly take out meals, compare an upright with drawers or plan to use baskets and organise the chest freezer by category.
Two appliances won’t necessarily offer the same freezer capacity. The letter on the energy label doesn’t replace checking each model’s annual energy consumption.
Compare kWh/year with capacity, then check the noise level, stated power-cut storage time and defrosting type separately.
These range and model examples can help you identify features to compare; a feature listed for one model won’t necessarily be available across the whole brand.
Worth considering for an upright if access to food and floor space are key factors in your choice.
Worth comparing for an upright intended for a cold room, provided your chosen model allows for that room’s ambient temperature.
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a chest freezer for a large stock of food and have enough room for it.
Worth considering for a high-capacity upright if you want to organise your food in drawers.
These models let you compare chest freezers and an upright dedicated to freezing with two fridge-freezers. For the fridge-freezers, the total volume shown in the product name isn’t the same as the volume of the freezer compartment alone.
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Worth comparing if you want a separate appliance for storing a large supply of food. The product title lists a capacity of 291 L, a convertible fridge-freezer mode, a removable basket, LED lighting and a defrost drain. The basket isn’t a substitute for the drawers of an upright; if you’re planning to put it in a cellar or garage, check the ambient temperature range permitted for this model.
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Worth comparing if you’re also replacing your fridge and would rather not have a separate freezer. The product title lists a total capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. To see whether it has enough room for your frozen meals, check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, along with the installation clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if you want a dedicated appliance with drawers to keep food separate. The product title lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost protection, three freezer drawers, a C energy rating and a stainless steel finish. Compare the capacity with your supplies and check the dimensions, energy consumption in kWh/year and permitted ambient temperature before choosing where to put it.
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Worth comparing if you’re also choosing a new fridge and the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs. The product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the litres available for freezing separately, along with the ventilation clearances for this model.
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Worth considering if you want extra dedicated freezer capacity, but don’t need as much as the AUCMA chest freezer featured here. The product title lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Measure the space needed to open the lid, and check the kWh/year and ambient temperature range if you plan to put it in another room.
Yes, if its freezer compartment alone can hold all the meals and food you want to store at once. If you’re already replacing your fridge or only need a little extra storage, compare this capacity before adding a second appliance; don’t rely on the fridge-freezer’s total volume.
Only if the permitted ambient temperature range for your chosen model covers the room’s actual temperatures. Check its climate class and any specific low-temperature operating guidance in the product details or manual: a claim made for one model doesn’t automatically apply to others.
Check the kWh/year for each model and compare it with its freezer capacity. The energy label also gives an energy rating, but the letter alone tells you neither how much space is available nor the appliances’ annual energy consumption.
This figure helps you compare how long each model is stated to keep food cold during a power cut, under the conditions used for the measurement. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this by measuring how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut; check the figure for the model you’re considering rather than inferring it from its type.