Households that regularly freeze home-cooked food
If you prepare portions in advance or freeze fresh shopping, look for a capacity that suits the amount you store and compartments that make it easy to separate and date food.
Which type is right for you?
How much you need to store matters, but how often you access your food and the space available will also help you decide.
Households with a utility room, cellar or garage
A chest freezer can hold a large stock of food if you have enough floor space. Before choosing a location, compare the temperatures there throughout the year with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model.
Households with a small kitchen
An upright freezer, an under-counter appliance or the freezer compartment in a fridge-freezer may fit your available space better. Also check that the door can open far enough for you to reach the food and remove the drawers.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with how much you freeze and how much space you have, then check the installation requirements and the model’s features.
Fridge-freezer
Worth considering: if an integrated freezer compartment is enough and you don’t want to install another appliance.
Keep in mind: the space for frozen food needs to suit your shopping; for a built-in model, check the housing dimensions too.
Upright freezer
Worth considering: if you open the appliance often and want to organise portions and meals across several compartments.
Keep in mind: you’ll need enough space to open the door and pull out the drawers.
Chest freezer
Worth considering: if you store bulky bags or items and have enough floor space.
Keep in mind: food at the bottom is harder to reach; baskets can help you organise your supplies.
Under-counter freezer
Worth considering: if fitting the appliance into a small kitchen matters more than storing large quantities.
Keep in mind: for a built-in appliance, check the required housing dimensions, fixing and ventilation.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity with the amount you usually store, then check the number and layout of the drawers or baskets. Make sure you can reach items at the bottom of a chest freezer. | I want to find my portions and shopping without having to move everything else out of the way. |
| Space and installation | Measure the width, depth and height, and allow for the door or lid to open. For a built-in appliance, check the housing dimensions and ventilation requirements. | Every bit of clearance matters in my kitchen; in a utility room, I may be able to set aside more floor space. |
| Room temperature | Compare the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room with the climate class and any stated minimum ambient temperature for the model. A chest freezer isn’t automatically suitable for a cold garage. | If the appliance is going in a cellar or garage, I need to know whether the room stays within its operating range all year round. |
| Power cuts and large loads | Check the stated storage time in hours and how it is measured before comparing two figures. If you freeze a lot of fresh food at once, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | I want to know how long the appliance is expected to keep food cold during a power cut and whether it suits how often I prepare food. |
| Food storage | Check the temperature settings and instructions in the manual. ANSES states that freezing food at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but does not eliminate most microorganisms. | I freeze shopping or prepared food as soon as possible and want to be able to check the temperature setting I use every day. |
| Energy and noise | For appliances with a similar format and capacity, compare the A to G energy rating, stated kWh/year and noise level. The rating alone doesn’t tell you how much food can be stored or cover every usage condition. | If the freezer is near a living area, noise matters to me as much as the energy consumption shown on its product details. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing the capacity before checking the room
An appliance installed outside its stated ambient temperature range may not work as intended, even if it physically fits in a garage.
Check the room temperature during the coldest and warmest periods, then compare it with the specifications for the exact model.
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Assuming a large capacity means easy access
Items at the bottom of a chest freezer are harder to reach, while an upright can be awkward to use if its door or drawers can’t open fully.
Mark out the space needed to open the appliance on a floor plan; for a chest freezer, plan to organise food in baskets and label them.
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Relying on the energy rating alone
Two appliances with the same rating can have different stated annual energy consumption. Capacity and usage conditions also matter when interpreting this figure.
Compare the kWh/year and usable capacity of similar appliances, and consider the noise level if the freezer will be near a living area.
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Thinking freezing makes food safe again
According to ANSES, freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most microorganisms survive.
Freeze food as soon as possible after buying or preparing it, follow the defrosting instructions and don’t refreeze food once it has thawed.
Brands and models to compare
These examples highlight specific formats and features; a feature listed for one model doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole brand.
Beko
The RFNM200T40WN is an example of a 177 L freestanding upright freezer featured by Beko France.
- Its product details list an SN-T climate class and 9 h of storage time during a power cut.
- If you’re installing it in a cold room, check the manual for the ambient temperature range that applies to this model and the required dimensions.
Electrolux
Electrolux France features two built-in freezers in different sizes: the 98 L LUB3AE88S and the 212 L KUN7NE18S.
- Their product details specify housing heights of 880 mm and 1 780 mm respectively.
- Check the full housing dimensions and installation requirements for your chosen model; these two appliances offer different capacities.
Whirlpool
The WHCF2044 featured by Whirlpool France is an example of a 204 L chest freezer with two baskets.
- Its product details state 26 h of storage time during a power cut.
- This figure and the internal layout are specific to the WHCF2044: check the dimensions and whether the room is suitable before choosing a chest freezer.
Liebherr
Liebherr chest freezers are worth considering if access to food and frost management are important to you.
- Liebherr says its StopFrost system reduces frost build-up on some chest freezers; this isn’t the result of an independent test.
- Check that the model you’re considering has this feature and read its defrosting instructions.
Joybuy options for different spaces
This selection includes compact upright freezers, chest freezers and an integrated fridge-freezer. Compare each appliance with the capacity you need and where you plan to install it, rather than assuming one type will suit every household.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
This upright design lets you organise food across several compartments. The title lists three freezer drawers, a reversible door, an alarm and the No Frost function; check the space needed to open the door and the model instructions before installation.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
This compact chest freezer is suitable for extra storage if you can easily access its lid. The title mentions a removable basket and adjustable thermostat; check the permitted room temperature before planning to install it in a cellar or garage.
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COMFEE’ RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
This freestanding model may be worth considering if you want a little extra capacity in a small kitchen. The title lists a reversible door and three drawers, while the description refers to two flap compartments and one drawer: confirm the exact layout and required clearances before buying.
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AEG NSC6M18FES, 249 L integrated fridge-freezer
A fridge-freezer lets you store frozen food without adding a separate freezer, if its freezer compartment is large enough for your usual stock. The title lists TwinTech No Frost; check the freezer capacity separately, along with the housing and ventilation requirements for installation.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This chest freezer offers another capacity option for household storage, provided you have room to open the lid and reach the bottom. The title mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and temperature control; check the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should you aim for when freezing food at home?
ANSES states that freezing food at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most microorganisms survive. Set and check the appliance according to its manual, freeze food as soon as possible after buying or preparing it, and don’t refreeze food once it has thawed.
Can you install a freezer in a garage or cellar?
Yes, as long as the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures fall within the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Check its climate class and any minimum operating temperature listed in the manual; being a chest freezer doesn’t guarantee that it’s suitable for a cold garage.
Chest or upright freezer: which should you choose for home-cooked food?
An upright makes it easier to organise portions if you access them often, provided you have enough room to open the door and remove the drawers. A chest freezer is suitable for storing bulkier items if you have the floor space; use its baskets to keep the food you use most within easy reach.
How should you compare storage time during a power cut?
Check the duration in hours and how it is measured for each appliance. UFC-Que Choisir measures the time it takes for food to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power; don’t assume a manufacturer’s figure is directly comparable without checking the testing method.
Does a LowFrost or No Frost freezer need defrosting?
Follow the instructions for the specific model: LowFrost is designed to reduce frost, but that doesn’t necessarily mean manual defrosting is no longer needed. No Frost refers to a different technology; check the manual to see what maintenance your chosen appliance actually requires.