For a large stock of meals and frozen food, choose a chest freezer if you have enough space. If you often take out individual portions, the drawers in an upright model make everything easier to reach, as UFC-Que Choisir explains. A compact freezer is better suited to extra storage, while a fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too. Whatever you choose, check the freezer capacity, dimensions, room temperature range, energy consumption and the model’s power-cut storage time.
If you freeze meals prepared in advance or buy in bulk, capacity and space for your containers are especially important. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the large capacity of chest freezers, but you should also consider where you’ll put one and its less compartmentalised storage.
If you want to find a meal quickly or keep different types of food separate, easy access may matter more than a large open space. The drawers and compartments in an upright freezer suit this kind of use, as UFC-Que Choisir and Bosch explain.
In a narrow kitchen or utility room, measure the available space, access routes and ventilation clearances before choosing a capacity. If the appliance will go in a cellar or garage, also check that the room temperature is within the range specified for the model.
Choose one if: you want to store bulk purchases or large containers and have a suitable space for it.
Bear in mind: the open interior takes more organising, so food at the bottom can be harder to find.
Choose one if: you open the appliance often and want to organise portions in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: the compartments can limit space for some larger containers, so check the interior dimensions.
Choose one if: you need extra freezer space and have limited room.
Bear in mind: check that its freezer capacity will really hold the bulk purchases or boxes you plan to store.
Choose one if: you’re also replacing your fridge and want fresh food and frozen food in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the stated total capacity includes the fridge section, so compare the freezer capacity separately with your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Freezer capacity in litres and space for your boxes or bags; for a chest freezer, check whether it has baskets. | I prepare several meals in advance or buy in bulk, so I need enough space without having to reorganise everything whenever I add something. Around 24% of consumers rank this capacity as their top priority. |
| Access to food | The number and size of drawers in an upright freezer, or the storage options in a chest freezer. | When I take out a portion every day, I want to find food without digging beneath other packets. Easy everyday access comes ahead of other considerations for around 29% of consumers. |
| Space and installation | Dimensions, access routes, ventilation clearances and the ambient temperature range specified for the model. | My space is narrow or in a room where the temperature varies, so the appliance must be suitable for installation there according to its manual. For around 24% of consumers, this compatibility is the top priority. |
| Everyday use and power cuts | Annual energy consumption in kWh, noise emissions in dB and stated storage time during a power cut in hours. | If the appliance is near a living area or holds a large amount of food, I want to assess its noise, energy use and how long it will keep food cold during a power cut. Around 23% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
The climate class indicates the ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for. A cellar or garage can fall outside this range at certain times of year, even if there’s enough room to install it.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the information in the manual for the exact model. A suitability claim for certain chest freezers does not apply to every model.
A large open space can hold bulk purchases, but smaller portions stored beneath other food can be harder to find.
If you need frequent access, compare the storage in an upright freezer with drawers against the number of baskets in a chest freezer. If you choose a chest model, plan to organise food by category and date.
Two appliances with different capacities won’t necessarily suit the same needs. The ADEME reminds us that freezers run continuously, so it’s worth looking at annual energy consumption alongside capacity.
Compare kWh/year and dB for models with similar formats and capacities, then check that the capacity you choose suits the amount of food you usually store.
How long an appliance keeps food cold during a power cut depends on the model. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this as a separate criterion in its testing.
Check the model’s documentation for its stated storage time in hours, especially if keeping your food protected during a power cut is important to you.
A brand worth considering for upright freezers, particularly if drawers and the appliance’s layout are important to you.
A brand to consider for chest freezers, especially if you’re thinking of installing one in an unheated room.
A brand worth considering for storage chest freezers or fridge-freezers with an interior layout that suits the way you use them.
A brand to consider for chest freezers if capacity, baskets or stated storage time during a power cut are influencing your decision.
This selection includes chest freezers for extra frozen food storage and fridge-freezers to consider if you also want to replace the appliance you use for fresh food. Compare the freezer capacity and the space you’ll need before choosing.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge but still want frozen food storage in the same appliance.
The title lists a capacity of 333 L and an energy class of C. Compare the capacity of the freezer section separately with the amount of food you want to store, and check how long it will keep food cold during a power cut.
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This chest freezer is worth considering for extra storage rather than large quantities of prepared meals.
The title lists a fridge or freezer mode, a seven-level thermostat and a removable basket. If you plan to install it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted temperature range in the manual, as well as its storage time during a power cut if that’s a concern.
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Worth considering if you’re planning to replace your fridge and add frozen food storage in a single appliance.
The title lists a total capacity of 495 L: check the freezer capacity before comparing it with a chest freezer. Also confirm the door and compartment layout, as the information available for this model describes it differently.
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Worth considering if you want extra space for meals and frozen food without choosing a very large chest freezer.
The title mentions a storage basket, a balanced lid and temperature control. Compare its dimensions with the space you have available; check the energy label for kWh/year and noise levels, and consult the manual for the temperature range and storage time during a power cut.
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Worth considering for extra frozen food storage, if 99 L is enough for your containers and usual shopping.
The title lists a removable basket, adjustable thermostat and sliding lid. Before choosing where to put it, check the annual energy consumption, the room temperature range and the storage time during a power cut for this specific model.
Yes, provided the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the room’s temperature throughout the year. Check the climate class in the product documentation. Some chest freezers are suitable for lower temperatures, but this doesn’t apply to every model.
As well as the energy class, check the annual energy consumption in kWh, storage capacity and noise emissions. According to the European Commission, the energy label for domestic refrigeration appliances has used the A to G scale since 1 March 2021. Compare models with capacities that suit the same needs.
No. Compare the stated storage time for each model rather than assuming it based on the type of freezer. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this separately in its tests. For example, Whirlpool states that the WHM4612 has a storage time of 32 hours, but this figure doesn’t apply to other chest freezers.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies when a professional seller in France sells a new product to an individual. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, you have two years to make a claim if the product is not as described or does not conform to the contract. Any commercial guarantee is additional and does not replace it.