For bulk shopping, a chest freezer is a good choice if you need plenty of storage space and have enough floor space. An upright freezer makes frequently used food easier to reach. A fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too, provided its freezer compartment has enough capacity. Whichever you choose, check the space available, usable capacity, annual energy consumption and the stated power-cut storage time for the model you’re considering.
If you’re planning to store a large amount of food and have enough floor space, a chest freezer offers open storage. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the generous capacity of this format; also check that you’ll be able to find food stored at the bottom easily.
If you regularly take out portions or meals, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to organise your food by category. Check their capacity and how much room you’ll need to open them, too.
A fridge-freezer stores fresh and frozen food in one appliance. Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with the amount you usually store: the fridge-freezer’s total capacity won’t tell you this.
Worth considering: for bulk shopping and storing larger quantities, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: with open storage, you’ll need to organise food so that items at the bottom remain easy to reach.
Worth considering: if you access your frozen food often and want to organise it in drawers.
Check: drawer dimensions and how far they open, as these can make it harder to store larger packs.
Worth considering: if you’re replacing your fridge too and the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs.
Check: the capacity of the freezer compartment, rather than the appliance’s total capacity.
Start by estimating how much space you need for your food stocks, then consider how easy the food is to access and whether the appliance will fit in the space available.
| What to consider | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the usable capacity in litres for frozen food, not the total capacity of a fridge-freezer. Estimate how much space your bulk shopping and its packaging will take up. | I want to store my usual supplies without choosing an appliance that’s too large for my home. |
| Access and storage | Look at the drawers, baskets or open storage space. Check how far the drawers and lid open in the space where you plan to put the appliance. | If I often take out frozen food, I want to find it without having to move everything else. |
| Space | Measure the appliance, the route to its intended location and the clearance it needs. If you’re putting it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model. | I have a specific space and need to be able to install and use the appliance without blocking access. |
| Storage time during a power cut | Check the stated time in hours and the conditions it applies to. Don’t assume a manufacturer’s figure is the same as a result measured using an independent test protocol, such as the one described by UFC-Que Choisir. | If I’ve built up food stocks over several weeks, I want to see how each model explains how long it can keep food cold. |
| Energy and noise | Check the annual energy consumption in kWh, energy rating, noise level and capacity of the exact model. The European Commission says these details are available in EPREL for relevant products. | I want to compare appliances with similar uses and capacities, rather than relying on the energy rating letter alone. |
A large chest freezer may offer plenty of space, but that doesn’t mean food at the bottom will be easy to reach. It may also take up more floor space than you have available.
Measure the route and the space where it will go, then choose between open storage and drawers based on how often you access your food stocks.
The permitted ambient temperature range depends on the model, whether it’s a chest or upright freezer.
Compare the temperature in your room with the installation conditions specified for the appliance you’re considering.
The energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption in kWh, the capacity or the noise level.
Check the label and EPREL product information for the exact model, then compare appliances of a similar type and capacity.
A time stated by a manufacturer and a result from an independent test may not reflect the same conditions. UFC-Que Choisir specifies the temperature threshold used in its own power-cut test protocol.
Check the time in hours and how it was measured before comparing it with another model.
These models illustrate the three formats; their features don’t apply to every appliance made by each brand.
The FNe 4605 Pure NoFrost is a freestanding upright freezer. Liebherr lists a total capacity of 199 l and dimensions of 145.5 × 59.7 × 67.5 cm for this model.
The HSM27050 is an example of a chest freezer: Beko France lists a net capacity of 284 l and a storage time of 41 h for this model during a power cut.
Two fridge-freezers show why it’s important to distinguish between total capacity and freezer capacity: Bosch France lists 126 l of freezer capacity for the KGV58VLEAS and 199 l for the KFD96APEA.
This selection includes fridge-freezers for households replacing their fridge, as well as an upright and a chest freezer for separate food storage. Compare the capacity for frozen food, not just the total capacity shown in a fridge-freezer’s name.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too; the stated 467 L is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer. The product name specifies Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity and dimensions of the model before deciding whether it suits your needs.
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This fridge-freezer may be worth considering if you’re also planning to replace your fridge. The 360 L in the name refers to the stated capacity of the whole appliance; check the freezer capacity separately. The product is listed with Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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Worth considering if you want separate storage with drawers to organise your frozen food. The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, three freezer drawers and No Frost. Check the dimensions, storage time during a power cut and annual energy consumption for the exact model.
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If you’re replacing your fridge too, check carefully how much of this fridge-freezer’s capacity is actually for frozen food: the stated 262 L is for the whole appliance. The product name specifies Low Frost, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm; allow for the clearance needed for installation, too.
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Worth considering if open storage suits the amount of food you want to store and the space available. The product name lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check how easy it is to reach the bottom, the stated storage time during a power cut and the annual energy consumption for the exact model.
Check the energy rating alongside the annual energy consumption in kWh, then look at the capacity, noise level and dimensions of the exact model. The European Commission says the label’s QR code links to its EPREL product information for relevant products; the rating alone won’t tell you whether the freezer meets your storage needs.
Yes, if the permitted ambient temperature range for the model you choose covers the conditions in that room. Check the range in the instruction manual before you buy: whether it’s a chest or upright freezer isn’t enough to determine if it’s suitable.
First, check the conditions under which each time was measured. In its test protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long food stays below -9 °C during a simulated power cut; take care not to treat this result as directly equivalent to a figure stated by a manufacturer.
Yes, when a private individual buys the appliance from a professional seller in France. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that this compulsory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods; it is separate from any commercial guarantee offered by the seller or brand.