Start by choosing according to how often you need to find portions and the space available: a drawer-style upright freezer is ideal for meals you access frequently, while a chest freezer is better suited to bulky quantities that you can inventory regularly. If duplicates and forgotten food are the main issue, begin by organising your stock, menus and shopping; an additional appliance runs continuously and will not, on its own, solve overstocking.
If you cook several portions, prioritise drawer-based organisation, labelling and a capacity that matches your preparation routine. The Anses recommends freezing food as soon as possible after buying or preparing it.
A chest freezer can meet the need to store bulky packaging or larger quantities, provided you have enough floor space and can keep track of the contents by category or with an inventory.
Your difficulty may be more about stock management than a lack of freezer space. ADEME recommends checking what you already have before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
Start by measuring your actual storage needs, then compare access to the contents, installation requirements and energy data between appliances of similar size and capacity.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid overstocking | Take an inventory of your existing frozen food, plan your menus and compare the usable capacity with the quantities you actually prepare. | I want to know whether an additional appliance is necessary or whether better visibility of my stock and shopping needs is enough. |
| Access to portions | Compare the actual number of drawers, bins, baskets and removable sections. Do not assume anything about the internal layout from the upright or chest format alone. | I need to find a specific portion without moving the entire stock, especially when I use the freezer several times a week. |
| Ongoing energy use | Check the kWh/year, usable capacity, noise level and A to G energy rating on the energy label. economie.gouv.fr explains that the label helps you compare the appliances covered. | I want to compare appliances with a similar capacity before adding equipment that will remain switched on all year round. |
| Food storage | Check that the appliance can maintain -18 °C, along with features suited to your needs, such as an alarm or freezing capacity for large batches. | I want to store prepared food without assuming that freezing removes the risks associated with incorrect defrosting or refreezing. |
Extra space can lead to more forgotten food if no stock rotation or inventory system is put in place, while also adding an appliance that runs continuously.
For a few weeks, make a note of the food you throw away, check the contents of your existing freezer and plan your menus. Only add an appliance if the lack of capacity persists.
The rating does not replace checking annual consumption, usable capacity and noise levels. Appliances of different sizes cannot be compared by the letter alone.
Compare appliances of similar size and capacity by checking the stated kWh/year, dimensions, freezer volume and noise level.
Some chest freezers are supplied without drawers; without categories, labels or an inventory, food placed at the bottom may be harder to see.
Assign zones or baskets to each category, date your portions and keep food that needs using first within easy reach. If you look for portions every day, compare upright freezers with drawers too.
The Anses explains that at -18 °C, freezing stops bacterial growth but does not destroy most micro-organisms.
Freeze food early, respect the use-by date, defrost it using the methods recommended by the Anses, eat it soon after defrosting and do not refreeze defrosted food.
Worth considering for a freestanding upright freezer when organisation with bins, shelves and dedicated zones matters as much as capacity.
Worth considering if you are looking for a chest freezer or large freezing capacity with a dedicated floor-standing installation.
Worth considering when replacing your main appliance and looking at an integrated fridge freezer with moderate freezer capacity.
These Joybuy options include upright freezers, a compact chest freezer and fridge freezers, so you can choose according to the capacity you need, ease of access to portions and whether you may need to replace your main appliance.
Image unavailable
An option to consider for keeping frequently accessed portions separate in an upright freezer.
The product details list 161 L, three drawers, two bins, a Fast Freeze function, a range of -14 °C to -22 °C, an alarm and a reversible door.
Check the energy label, installation dimensions and exact number of drawers and bins before buying.
Image unavailable
This option is suitable if you are replacing your main appliance while retaining a moderate amount of freezer space.
The product details state 187 L of fridge space, 75 L of freezer space, three transparent drawers, 215 kWh/year, 39 dB and a reversible door.
Defrosting is manual, and the product details state an installation ambient temperature between 16 °C and 38 °C.
Image unavailable
A compact standalone option for a limited additional reserve and separate portions.
The product details list 60 L, three compartments, a reversible door, a three-level thermostat, a temperature as low as -24 °C and a freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h.
Its 60 L capacity may be limited for several weeks of prepared meals; check the energy label before comparing it with other models.
Image unavailable
This compact chest freezer could suit you if you have a floor space available and keep track of its contents.
The product details list 99 L, one removable wire basket, an adjustable thermostat, a sliding lid, castors, 39 dB and a freezing capacity of 4.5 kg/24 h.
Only one basket is listed: plan an inventory and use labels for items stored at the bottom, then check the energy label.
Image unavailable
Worth considering as a replacement for the main appliance in a small household that needs a small reserve of portions.
The product details state 120 L of fridge space, 50 L of freezer space, three freezer drawers, removable shelves, an adjustable thermostat and 40 dB.
The 50 L freezer capacity may be insufficient for large batches; check the dimensions, installation requirements and kWh/year before buying.
For household freezing, the Anses states that -18 °C stops bacterial growth. This temperature does not destroy most micro-organisms: preferably freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than at the end of its use-by date.
No. The Anses recommends defrosting food in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly through cooking or reheating, then eating the defrosted food promptly without refreezing it.
At a minimum, compare the A to G rating, annual consumption in kWh, the capacity of the freezer compartments and the noise level. economie.gouv.fr explains that the energy label helps consumers compare the household appliances covered.
No. ADEME recommends checking your stock first, planning your menus and making a shopping list to avoid duplicates. An additional appliance can help you store prepared meals or genuine larger quantities, but it does not replace an inventory.
According to economie.gouv.fr, the legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. The seller must supply goods that conform to the contract.