A fridge freezer is a good choice if you mainly store fresh food and its freezer compartment has room for your usual portions. If batch-cooked meals or groceries regularly outgrow that space, consider a dedicated freezer. An upright makes portions easy to access, while a chest freezer offers more room for larger stocks, but takes up more floor space and needs careful organisation. For a small reserve, an under-counter model could also work, once you’ve checked its capacity and dimensions.
The amount you need to freeze isn’t the only thing to consider. Think about how often you’ll need to find a portion, too, as well as the space available at home.
If you regularly store containers and bags of food, compare freezer capacity and ease of access. A fridge freezer may be enough for a few portions; drawers in a dedicated freezer make it easier to organise a larger stock.
If you buy in bulk or choose large packs, compare your usual stock with the capacity of a dedicated appliance. A chest freezer is worth considering if you have enough floor space and a suitable location for the model’s temperature requirements.
If you’re looking for extra storage, compare the freezer compartment in a fridge freezer with that of a small under-counter appliance. Usable capacity, dimensions and installation clearances matter more than how compact it looks.
First, decide whether chilled storage is still your main priority or whether you need a separate stock of frozen food. The UFC-Que Choisir guide highlights the difference between uprights, which offer easier access, and chest freezers, which take up more floor space.
Consider it: if you want to keep everyday meals chilled, with some extra freezer space.
Limitation: the freezer compartment may feel too small when batch cooking or doing a big shop.
Consider it: if you want to organise portions and access them regularly using drawers.
Limitation: check that the compartments can also accommodate your larger containers.
Consider it: for bulky groceries, if you have room for access from above.
Limitation: finding food at the bottom takes regular organisation, and you’ll need room to open the lid.
Consider it: as a small reserve if available height is your main constraint.
Limitation: check its freezer capacity before relying on it as a replacement for a larger dedicated appliance.
| Criteria | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Compare fridge and freezer capacities separately. Allow room for your usual portions, shopping and bulky containers. | I mainly keep meals chilled, but do my frozen groceries sometimes build up until the compartment is full? |
| Storage | Check the number and size of drawers or baskets, how easy it is to reach food at the bottom, and whether there’s room for larger dishes. | Being able to find a portion quickly matters more to me than storing very large packs. |
| Location | Measure the appliance, the route into the room and the clearances it needs. For a cellar or garage, check the ambient temperature range permitted by the manufacturer. | I’d like to install the appliance outside the kitchen, so its actual location needs to be suitable for the model I choose. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated power-cut storage time for each model rather than assuming it depends on the format. Also check whether it has a temperature alarm. | If my freezer is away from the main living areas, I want to be alerted to a rise in temperature. |
| Electricity use | Check annual energy consumption in kWh/year alongside capacity and appliance type. The European Commission’s EPREL database includes this information for registered models. | I’m looking for a capacity that suits my stock, rather than comparing energy labels in isolation for appliances of different sizes. |
A chest freezer has room for large containers, but food at the bottom is harder to find and the appliance takes up more floor space.
If you often open the freezer to take out just one portion, compare the access offered by an upright’s drawers. For a chest freezer, allow for baskets and measure the clearance needed to open the lid.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. A stated suitability for some appliances doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Check the manual for the climate class and any specific low-temperature suitability, then compare these with the conditions in your garage, cellar or utility room.
An energy rating on its own tells you neither how much space is available nor the annual energy consumption of the appliance you’re considering.
Compare the kWh/year shown on the label and EPREL listing for appliances of a similar type and capacity, taking into account the amount of food you actually want to store.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive.
Follow food storage advice and maintain the cold chain. Having a large freezer doesn’t remove the need to rotate your supplies.
These models are examples of configurations to compare; their features don’t apply to every appliance from the same brand.
Bosch offers fridge freezers and upright freezers to consider if you’re deciding between everyday chilled storage and vertical storage for frozen food.
Whirlpool’s documented models offer two different storage options to compare: a chest freezer with baskets and an upright with drawers.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is worth considering if you need to store large packs and have enough floor space.
This selection includes fridge freezers that combine chilled and frozen storage, as well as upright freezers for keeping a separate stock. It also features a compact model intended for under-counter installation. Compare their capacities with the amount of food you usually store and check the installation requirements for each model.
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A separate freezer reserve could be a good option if your portions no longer fit in a fridge freezer. The model name indicates a capacity of 161 L, No Frost protection and an energy rating of C. Check its dimensions and installation requirements for your intended location.
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This four-door fridge freezer combines chilled and frozen storage in one appliance. Its name indicates a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Compare the freezer capacity separately with your usual portions and measure the space available.
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This compact freezer could provide extra storage if 60 L is enough for your needs. Its name mentions three drawers, a reversible door and an energy rating of E. If you plan to install it under a worktop, check the dimensions, clearances and installation instructions.
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If kitchen width is a consideration, this fridge freezer is listed as 54 cm wide, with 153 L of fridge capacity and 74 L of freezer capacity. Its name indicates Low Frost, a reversible door and an energy rating of E. Compare the 74 L capacity with the number of portions you usually keep.
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This fridge freezer with a bottom freezer is worth considering if you need chilled storage and freezer space in one appliance. Its name indicates a total capacity of 282 L and an energy rating of E. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity before choosing it for regular batch cooking.
Anses states that freezing food at home at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. Also follow the storage instructions for each type of food and maintain the cold chain.
Yes, as long as the room temperature stays within the range permitted for your chosen model. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking its climate class. Whirlpool and Liebherr state that the W3RHS31DW2 and CFe 2500 Pure models respectively are suitable down to -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to their other appliances.
Check the annual energy consumption in kWh/year alongside the capacity and intended use of each appliance, rather than comparing energy ratings alone. ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously. The European Commission’s EPREL database includes the declared capacities and energy consumption of registered models.
No. To work out how much space you’ll have for portions, check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately from the fridge’s. Bosch, for example, lists the KGN36VXCT as having 218 L of fridge capacity and 103 L of freezer capacity. It’s the latter figure you should compare with the amount of frozen food you keep.