If you want to access pre-prepared portions regularly, choose an upright freezer with drawers that fit your containers. For bulk buys you’ll access less often, consider a chest freezer if you have the floor space. A large fridge freezer may be enough if you want just one appliance, as long as its freezer compartment can really hold your food stocks. In every case, start by considering the food you’ll store at the same time and the space available, rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
If you regularly take out pre-prepared meals, being able to see your containers and access the drawers matters just as much as overall capacity. Check that your containers fit in the compartments, and remember to date them.
A chest freezer can be a good option for bulky packs in a pantry, cellar or garage. Measure the floor space, plan how you’ll reach food at the bottom and check that the model can operate at the room’s temperature.
A large-capacity fridge freezer is worth considering if you need to store both fresh food and frozen supplies. Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment—not the appliance’s total capacity—with the portions and shopping you plan to store.
Start by thinking about how often you’ll need to find a portion, then consider how much food you’ll store at once. Different types of freezer suit these needs in different ways.
Consider it: if you want to sort portions into drawers and access them regularly.
The trade-off: compartment sizes may limit the containers you can fit, even if the overall capacity seems sufficient.
Consider it: for bulky shopping or batch-cooked food, if you have a dedicated space on the floor.
The trade-off: you’ll need to organise the freezer so you don’t lose track of food at the bottom.
Consider it: if you need one appliance for fresh food and extra frozen supplies.
The trade-off: the appliance’s total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is available for freezing.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the food you’ll store at once with the available capacity. Measure the space, allowing for the clearance needed to open the door or lid. | When space is tight, I want to store my portions without installing an appliance that’s too bulky. Around 33% of consumers may consider getting this balance right a priority. |
| Access to portions | Check that your containers fit the drawers or baskets; use labels and rotate your stock. | For weekday meals, I want to find a portion without moving everything else. Around 25% of consumers may prioritise easy access. |
| Food stocks and outbuildings | Consider how much space you need for large packs. If the room is unheated, compare its minimum temperature with the lowest temperature the model can operate in. | If I store bulk buys in a cellar or garage, I want an appliance that’s suitable for the space and keeps my supplies easy to find. Around 25% of consumers may prioritise this. |
| Energy and maintenance | Check the model’s energy label and annual energy consumption. Also look at how it defrosts and its stated power-cut safety time. | As an appliance runs all the time, I want to consider its maintenance needs and how well it protects my food stocks. This may be the main concern for around 17% of consumers. |
Food at the bottom of a large freezer can be harder to find. ADEME recommends checking what you already have before shopping; keeping a list of your frozen supplies can also help you avoid buying duplicates.
Before choosing a capacity, gather the containers and packs you’d store at the same time. If you take out portions every day, compare the access offered by drawers with that of a chest freezer fitted with baskets.
The minimum ambient temperature a freezer can operate in varies by model. Beko and Liebherr state that certain specific models can be used down to -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all their freezers.
Check the lowest temperature the room reaches in winter, then compare it with the specifications and instructions for the model you’re considering.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. It won’t undo the effects of incorrect storage beforehand.
Freeze prepared food and shopping promptly, date your portions and follow the food storage instructions.
Two appliances with a similar capacity may differ in energy consumption, defrosting system and how long they can keep food cold during a power cut. UFC-Que Choisir includes the ability to maintain a low temperature during a power cut in its testing protocol.
Compare these features for the exact models you’re considering, as well as the noise level if the appliance will be near a living area.
Manual defrosting also takes time and planning, as you’ll need to move the food while you clean the appliance.
Worth considering for an upright freezer designed to keep portions organised and accommodate containers in different sizes.
Worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer in a suitable location, such as an outbuilding.
Worth considering for chest freezers suited to bulk shopping, particularly if you’ll keep the appliance in an unheated room.
Worth considering for a drawer-style upright freezer if the internal layout and frost management are important to you.
These models include an upright freezer for organising portions, two fridge freezers for keeping fresh food and frozen supplies together, and two chest freezers for larger stocks. Before choosing, compare the freezer capacity, how easy it is to access the food and the requirements of your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you want to organise portions in a dedicated freezer rather than store them in a large chest.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance.
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Worth considering if you want one appliance for fresh food and frozen supplies, and have enough space for its four-door design.
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Worth considering for bulky packs if you have enough floor space and can organise access to food at the bottom of the freezer.
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Worth considering for chest-freezer storage if your containers fit in the available space and you can find food stored beneath the basket.
It’s better to freeze it as soon as you buy or prepare it rather than waiting until the use-by date, in line with Anses advice. Freezing at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but won’t correct a problem with storage beforehand.
Anses advises against refreezing food once it has thawed. Defrost it in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly by cooking or reheating it, then eat it promptly.
You can take it to a suitable collection point or check whether the retailer offers a take-back service. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition also mentions donating it to a social and solidarity economy organisation; the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme applies when buying an appliance of the same type.