Households that freeze food in bulk
If you prepare meals in advance or stock up on larger items, look for enough freezer capacity without overlooking the space the appliance will take up or how easy it is to reach your food.
Who is this choice for?
Households with limited installation space
Whether it’s going in a kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage, check the dimensions, door or lid clearance, and ventilation requirements in the manual. If the room is unheated, also check the ambient temperatures the model is designed to operate in.
Shoppers mindful of energy use and power cuts
A freezer runs continuously, as the ADEME points out. Compare annual energy use in kWh and, if power cuts are a concern, the stated storage time during a power cut for each model.
What should you look for?
First decide whether to add an appliance or replace your fridge freezer. Then check that your chosen capacity will be easy to access and that the appliance can be installed in your home.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Addition or replacement | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately when looking at a fridge freezer. If you only need more freezer space, check how much room you have to add a separate appliance. | Is my fridge still big enough, or do I also need more space for fresh food? |
| Capacity and format | Compare freezer capacity in litres with the appliance’s external dimensions. Consider the floor space needed for a chest freezer, the height of an upright model and the space available for a compact appliance. | I want to store more frozen food without taking up space I need for everyday use. |
| Access to food | Check whether food is accessed from the top or through a door, then look at the number and layout of the baskets, drawers or compartments in the specific model. | If I often need to find small portions, easy-to-navigate storage matters just as much as total capacity. |
| Installation | Measure the route into the room, the space for the appliance and the clearance needed to open it. Check the manual for ventilation requirements and the ambient temperature range allowed by the climate class. | If the appliance is going in a cellar or garage, I need to check that the room is suitable for the model I’m considering. |
| Energy use | Compare kWh/an and capacity for models that meet the same needs, rather than relying on the energy rating letter alone. The European Commission provides this information in EPREL product data. | As this appliance will run continuously, I want to know its annual energy use before choosing its capacity. |
| Storage time during a power cut | Check the hours stated for each model and how they were measured before comparing two figures. UFC-Que Choisir’s test method simulates a power cut and measures how long food stays below −9 °C. | Power cuts are an important consideration for my home, so I want to compare storage times measured on a like-for-like basis. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
-
Choosing based on capacity alone
A chest freezer may be too wide or need more clearance for its lid, while an upright model may be difficult to move into place or install.
Measure the space, the route to the room and the clearance needed to open the appliance before comparing capacities.
-
Putting a freezer in a garage without checking the model
The climate class shows the ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for. Cold-weather suitability stated for one product, such as a Whirlpool model, does not apply to every model.
Compare the room temperature with the range given in the model’s manual and follow its ventilation instructions.
-
Comparing energy rating letters alone
Two appliances with different capacities may not meet the same storage needs. The rating letter alone does not tell you their annual energy use.
Check the model’s energy label for kWh/an as well as its freezer capacity. The European Commission’s EPREL product data also lets you look up this information.
-
Assuming storage time or layout from the format
Storage times during a power cut and internal features vary from model to model. Choosing between a chest and an upright freezer won’t tell you what these will be.
Check the stated storage time, baskets or drawers, and any frost-management features you’re interested in for each appliance.
Which brands should you consider?
These examples can help you identify features to compare; every figure and feature applies to the specific model mentioned.
Liebherr
Worth considering for upright and chest freezers whose product details include capacity and certain frost-management features.
- Liebherr lists a capacity of 277 L, a noise level of 36 dB and NoFrost for the FNe 5207 upright freezer.
- The brand describes StopFrost as a feature that reduces frost on some chest freezers; it isn’t a feature of all its appliances.
Bosch
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding or built-in upright freezer and want to compare storage options.
- Bosch includes features such as NoFrost and the BigBox drawer in its range.
- Check the capacity, dimensions, climate class and installation requirements of the model you choose.
Whirlpool
Worth considering for chest freezers whose product details list capacity or stated storage time, depending on the model.
- Whirlpool states a capacity of 308 L and a storage time of 36 h for the W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer.
- These figures don’t apply to the brand’s other chest freezers. Also check the climate class in the manual for your chosen model.
Electrolux
Worth considering if fitting in with your existing kitchen is more important than choosing a freestanding appliance.
- Electrolux features NoFrost on its KUN7NE18S built-in freezer.
- Before choosing a built-in model, check the required niche dimensions, ventilation and available freezer capacity.
Appliances to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes chest freezers, an upright freezer, a compact upright freezer and a fridge freezer. Compare each format with your available space. For the fridge freezer, make sure you distinguish its total capacity from the space available for frozen food.
Image unavailable
CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
A chest freezer for adding extra freezer space, with a stated capacity of 99 L, a removable basket and a sliding lid. The model name indicates an E energy rating and a 4-star freezer rating. Check the clearance needed to open the lid, as well as kWh/an and storage time during a power cut if these matter to you.
Image unavailable
Haier HTW5618ENMG, 360 L 3-door fridge freezer
Worth considering if you want to replace your fridge freezer rather than add another appliance. Its 360 L refers to the stated total capacity of the fridge freezer, not just its freezer compartment, so check the freezer capacity separately. The model name indicates Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
Image unavailable
COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
A 60 L upright option to measure up if you have limited space. Although this model is listed as freestanding, that alone doesn’t confirm it will fit under a worktop. The door is stated to be reversible and the energy rating is E. Check the exact internal layout, which is described differently across the product information, as well as the installation clearances.
Image unavailable
TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This 140 L chest freezer could meet your need for extra storage if you have room for it and are happy to access food from the top. Its name mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. Also measure the clearance above the appliance.
Image unavailable
Heinrichs, 161 L No Frost upright freezer
Worth considering if you prefer to store frozen food in an upright appliance: the name indicates a capacity of 161 L, drawers and No Frost. The stated energy rating is C. However, compare kWh/an with appliances that have a capacity suited to your needs, and check the dimensions before choosing a space for it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two freezers’ storage times during a power cut?
Check the hours stated for both models, then make sure they were measured in comparable ways. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir simulates a power cut and measures how long food stays below −9 °C. Don’t assume a figure published using a different method describes exactly the same conditions.
Is the energy rating enough to choose between two appliances?
No. Also compare their annual energy use in kWh and their freezer capacities. For models covered by European energy labelling, the product information available in EPREL, the European Commission’s database, includes annual energy use and capacity details.
Can I install a freezer in an unheated cellar or garage?
It depends on the temperatures the model is designed for and the installation requirements in its manual. Bosch explains that the climate class corresponds to the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. Cold-weather suitability stated for another product can’t be assumed to apply to this one.
Should I choose a NoFrost model?
It’s worth considering if frost management matters to you, but it doesn’t replace checking capacity, installation requirements and energy use. Electrolux says NoFrost prevents frost from forming on the model concerned, while Liebherr describes StopFrost as reducing frost on some chest freezers. Check which features are listed for the appliance you choose.