Families who freeze food in bulk
If you batch-cook meals or buy frozen food in bulk, consider the freezer capacity and how much floor space a chest freezer would take up.
Who is each option suited to?
Households that often dip into their food stocks
If you want to find portions, vegetables and ready meals quickly, see how an upright freezer divides food between its drawers and shelves.
Households replacing their main appliance
If you’d rather not add a second appliance, compare the freezer compartment capacity of a large fridge freezer with the amount you want to store.
What sets the different formats apart?
Chest freezer
Consider one: for large batches or bulky food, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is less easy to reach; baskets can help you organise your supplies.
Upright freezer
Consider one: if you want to sort and find portions you use throughout the week.
Bear in mind: drawers offer less flexibility for some large packages than an open space.
Fridge freezer
Consider one: if you’re already replacing your fridge and its freezer compartment can hold your supplies.
Bear in mind: the stated total capacity includes the fridge section too, so it doesn’t represent your frozen food storage space.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare freezer capacities in litres, then measure the appliance and the route into the room. | When batch-cooked meals and bulk buys start to pile up, I want enough storage without finding out it won’t fit through to its intended spot; around 42% of shoppers concerned would make capacity their priority. |
| Access and organisation | Look at the layout of the drawers, baskets or shelves, and the model’s defrosting system. | If I take out portions several times a week, I want to find them without rummaging through all my supplies. Easy access and organisation would be priorities for around 33% of shoppers concerned. |
| All-in-one appliance | For a fridge freezer, check the freezer compartment capacity separately; also compare annual energy consumption and noise levels for similar uses. | When replacing my fridge, I’d rather avoid adding a second appliance, as long as I can still store my frozen food; around 25% of shoppers concerned would favour this option. |
To compare two models that suit your space, the energy label shows details including storage volumes, annual energy consumption and noise emissions, according to the European Commission. ADEME also recommends checking that the climate class is suitable for the room temperature.
What to look out for
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Choosing capacity without measuring access
A chest freezer may offer the storage you need but still be too bulky for the doorway, stairs or available space.
Measure the delivery route, the appliance dimensions outside its packaging, and the space needed to open the lid or door.
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Putting a freezer in a room that’s too cold or too warm
The temperature in a cellar or garage may fall outside the ambient range specified for the model. A model’s suitability for a cold room doesn’t apply to every appliance.
Record the room temperature in winter and summer, then compare it with the range given in the documentation for your chosen model, as ADEME recommends.
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Confusing total capacity with freezer capacity
The total capacity of a fridge freezer includes the fridge section, so it isn’t enough on its own to tell you how much space is available for frozen meals.
Check the freezer compartment capacity on the energy label and compare it with your usual supplies.
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Forgetting about defrosting and power cuts
Both affect maintenance and how you manage a power cut. They vary from one model to another.
Check the defrosting system and the model’s stated power-cut safe-storage time. For a manual-defrost appliance, Que Choisir recommends defrosting when the ice reaches 3 mm.
Brands to explore
Bosch
The Bosch range includes freestanding and built-in upright freezers.
- Some Bosch models feature No Frost, easy-access areas and removable fittings.
- Check the layout and features on the product page for the model you’re considering: they aren’t found across the entire range.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool offers chest and upright freezers, giving you two formats to consider based on the capacity you need and how you like to organise food.
- Product pages let you compare details including capacity, dimensions and storage features.
- Check these details for the specific appliance, as well as the installation requirements for your chosen room.
Liebherr
The Liebherr range includes chest freezers, some of which are designed for unheated rooms.
- Liebherr states that FrostProtect works down to −15 °C on selected models, including the CFd 2505 Plus chest freezer.
- This temperature range doesn’t apply to the whole range; also check the chest freezer’s dimensions and the documentation for your chosen model.
Appliances to suit your needs
These Joybuy appliances illustrate three options for family food storage: a chest freezer for a separate stock of frozen food, an upright freezer for vertical storage, and fridge freezers to consider when replacing your main appliance. For each model, compare its freezer capacity with your supplies and check that your room meets the installation requirements.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering if you want a separate space for bulk buys and have enough room for a chest freezer.
Fridge or freezer mode, removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital control and E energy rating.
Before installing it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range. If you plan to freeze large quantities, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h and the usable capacity in freezer mode.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L white upright freezer
Consider this if you’d rather organise portions in an upright freezer than stack them in a chest freezer.
Three freezer drawers, No Frost, an alarm, a reversible door and C energy rating.
Check the dimensions, annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range before deciding where to put it.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 467 L four-door fridge freezer
Worth considering if you’re replacing your main fridge and want refrigeration and freezing in one appliance.
Stated total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and E energy rating.
Don’t confuse this total capacity with the space available for frozen food: check the freezer compartment capacity separately, along with the permitted ambient temperature range.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 360 L three-door fridge freezer
Consider this when replacing your main appliance, if the freezer compartment can hold your usual supplies.
Stated total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, Wi-Fi and E energy rating.
Check the freezer capacity rather than the total capacity, and make sure the ambient temperature range is suitable for the room.
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AUCMA, 95 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering for a small amount of extra storage, rather than for large family-sized batches.
Stated capacity of 95 L, fridge and freezer modes, removable basket, seven-level thermostat and E energy rating.
If you plan to use it as a freezer, check the usable capacity in that mode and the permitted ambient temperature range for your chosen location.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a freezer in a cellar, pantry or garage?
Yes, if the permitted ambient temperature range for the model covers the temperatures the room actually reaches in both winter and summer. ADEME recommends checking the climate class. For a particularly cold room, check the model documentation for any specific suitability rather than assuming it’s suitable just because it’s a chest freezer.
What should I compare on a fridge freezer’s energy label?
First, compare the freezer compartment capacity with your storage needs, then compare annual energy consumption and noise levels between appliances used in a similar way. According to the European Commission, the label for refrigeration appliances also shows their rating on the A to G scale; a fridge freezer’s total capacity isn’t the same as its freezer capacity alone.
Does a No Frost upright freezer mean I won’t have to defrost it manually?
No Frost is designed to prevent the need for manual defrosting, but make sure it’s listed on the product page for the specific upright freezer you’re considering. If you choose a manual-defrost model, Que Choisir recommends defrosting when the layer of ice reaches 3 mm, as it increases energy consumption.
How can I compare the energy consumption of two freezers?
Check their annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label, taking each appliance’s freezer capacity and usage into account. Also make sure each one can operate within the temperature range of the intended room: an energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how much storage is available or what the installation requirements are.