To store more frozen food in a utility room, first check that the room’s temperature falls within the operating range of the model you’re considering. Then choose a chest freezer if capacity and floor space are your priorities, an upright model if you access your food frequently, or a compact freezer if space is limited. A larger fridge freezer is also worth considering if you’re already replacing your main appliance and its freezer compartment will provide enough extra storage.
If you freeze home-grown produce, prepared meals or bulk buys, a chest freezer could provide the extra capacity you need, provided you have enough floor space. UFC-Que Choisir particularly associates this format with homes that have a cellar or utility room. Make sure the room’s temperature is within the limits of the model you choose.
If you open your freezer often, the drawers or shelves in an upright model can make it easier to organise and access your food. Check the layout of the specific model rather than choosing based on capacity alone.
For extra storage in a small utility room or under a worktop, an under-counter model could be a good option if its capacity is sufficient. Check its dimensions, door clearance and temperature range before deciding where to put it.
Measure the temperature in your utility room before comparing formats. The right capacity won’t be enough if the appliance can’t operate in the room.
Consider it: if you need plenty of storage and have enough floor space in your utility room.
Bear in mind: reaching food at the bottom takes more organisation than storing it in drawers.
Consider it: if you want to organise your food and access it frequently from the front.
Bear in mind: check that the compartments can accommodate your bulkiest packaging.
Consider it: if you need extra storage but have limited space.
Bear in mind: it offers less storage than a large upright or chest freezer.
Consider it: if you’re already replacing your main fridge and the stated freezer capacity will meet your needs.
Bear in mind: this won’t give you a separate storage appliance in the utility room.
| Criterion | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | Compare the lowest and highest temperatures recorded in the room with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Also check the installation requirements in the manual. | If my utility room gets cold in winter, I want to be sure the appliance will work at the temperatures recorded. This compatibility would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Capacity and space taken up | Compare the net capacity in litres with the appliance’s dimensions. Remember to allow for the route into the utility room and the space needed to open the door. | When storing bulk buys, I want extra capacity without blocking the way. Around 29% of consumers would put this balance between capacity and footprint first. |
| Access to food | Check the baskets, drawers or shelves, as well as the access height and which way the door opens. | If I open the freezer often, I want to find food without rummaging at the bottom. Access and organisation would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Maintenance and power cuts | Compare the cooling system, stated annual energy consumption in kWh, noise level in dB(A) and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If I keep a large stock of food, I want to plan for defrosting and know how long it is expected to stay frozen in a power cut. Around 14% of consumers would put these factors ahead of the others. |
A chest freezer isn’t automatically suitable for an unheated room. Minimum and maximum ambient temperatures vary between models; UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the climate class into account.
Check the room’s lowest and highest temperatures, then compare them with the operating range and installation instructions for the exact appliance.
Extra capacity is less convenient if food at the bottom is hard to reach or the compartments don’t suit your packaging.
Check the size of the baskets or drawers, which parts can be removed and how easily you can reach the food you store most often.
Less manual defrosting isn’t the only factor to consider. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some No Frost appliances can be noisier than models with static cooling.
Compare the cooling system with the stated noise level and energy consumption of each model you’re considering.
The stated duration varies from one model to another and is particularly important if you plan to keep a large stock of food.
Check the storage time listed for the model before choosing, rather than trying to estimate it from its capacity.
Worth considering for a chest freezer in an unheated room, provided the chosen model has a suitable operating range.
Worth considering for an upright freezer with front access, provided the model is suitable for the temperature in your utility room.
Worth considering when space is limited and you only need a modest amount of extra storage.
Worth considering if you want to compare upright and chest freezers for extra household storage.
No. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with those permitted for the specific model. Liebherr states that some chest freezers with FrostProtect can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, while Beko gives a minimum of 5 °C for the FSE1174N. So neither the format nor the brand alone is enough to make your decision.
A chest freezer is worth considering if you have enough floor space and need plenty of storage. An upright model may be a better fit if you want to access food organised in drawers frequently. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can hold up to 600 L; however, compare the capacity and layout of models that are suitable for the temperatures in your utility room.
No. No Frost means you don’t need to manually defrost the freezer compartment, but UFC-Que Choisir notes that some appliances with this feature can be noisier than models with static cooling. Also check the noise level and maintenance instructions for the model you choose.
When you buy a new appliance of the same type, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition’s FAQ states that the old one can be taken back under the ‘one-for-one’ scheme. Ask the retailer how to arrange this, particularly if the freezer is bulky.