Start by choosing according to the available space and how you access your food: an upright freezer makes it easier to sort portions thanks to its drawers, while a chest freezer prioritises capacity and storage for bulky items. An under-counter model is mainly useful as an extra freezer; a large-capacity fridge freezer only replaces a separate appliance if its freezer compartment genuinely covers your stock.
If you regularly freeze meals, sauces or portions, prioritise an organisation system that makes them easy to find. The drawers in an upright freezer help you separate different categories before focusing on maximum capacity.
For family-size packs, bulky bags or substantial reserves, a chest freezer offers a more flexible open compartment. However, make sure you have enough floor space and check that the temperature in your utility room, cellar or garage is suitable for the model.
A top-mount or under-counter model can provide extra freezer space without taking over the room. Nevertheless, compare its capacity with the actual quantity of portions and provisions you want to store.
Start by assessing your usual stock and the space available, then check the installation conditions and usage data for your chosen model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the usable capacity in litres with your boxes, bags and bulky food. Also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you add a lot of food at once. | I want to increase my storage without buying an appliance that is too large or too small for my portions and provisions. |
| Access and storage | Check the number and dimensions of the drawers, or whether a chest freezer includes baskets. Make sure the drawers open fully and that your containers fit inside. | I want to quickly find the portions I use most often without losing food stored at the bottom. |
| Room temperature | Record the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room. The climate class must cover this range; a low-temperature function is only relevant for models that explicitly state they have one. | My appliance must be able to operate in a kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage, depending on the actual conditions in the room. |
| Use and maintenance | Compare annual consumption in kWh, the stated noise level, cooling system and defrosting requirements between appliances of similar capacity and format. | I want to consider electricity use, noise and maintenance time, not just the space the appliance takes up. |
The open compartment of a chest freezer accommodates a range of formats, but food placed at the bottom is less easy to retrieve. Without an organised storage system, older portions can easily be forgotten.
Keep the top baskets for the food you use most often, create sections by category and label portions with their date.
The climate class corresponds to a range of ambient temperatures. In a room that is too cold or too hot, performance and energy consumption may no longer match the expected use.
Before buying, check the room’s seasonal temperature extremes and choose a model whose climate class or stated low-temperature function covers this range.
The range includes chest freezers, upright freezers and large-capacity fridge freezers, making it possible to compare a dedicated freezer with a combination appliance.
A brand worth considering for a domestic chest freezer, particularly when installation in an unheated room is part of your plans.
The brand is worth comparing when the temperature in a garage, cellar or utility room is a deciding factor.
The range allows you to consider both upright freezers designed for everyday organisation and large-capacity fridge freezers.
These Joybuy options include upright freezers, chest freezers and a compact model for adding storage space for prepared meals and provisions at home.
Image unavailable
An upright format for separating portions and provisions you retrieve frequently.
161 L, three drawers, two compartments, No Frost function, freezing down to -22 °C, alarm and reversible door. Check the dimensions, clearance and climate class before installing it outside a heated kitchen.
Image unavailable
A large open compartment for a substantial stock of provisions or bulky containers.
291 L, removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital control, stated consumption of 226 kWh/year and dimensions of 1100 × 597 × 872 mm. Allow 10 cm for ventilation and organise the contents using bins or labels; check the climate class before using it in a garage.
Image unavailable
A practical compromise for building up a household reserve without the footprint of a very large chest freezer.
197 L, removable basket, five-level digital control, stated consumption of 197 kWh/year and dimensions of 816 × 554 × 848 mm. Leave 10 cm for ventilation; storage relies mainly on the compartment and basket, with manual defrosting.
Image unavailable
An extra freezer for a household that does not need to store very large batches.
141 L, removable basket, seven-level mechanical thermostat, stated consumption of 179 kWh/year and dimensions of 632 × 554 × 848 mm. The chest freezer requires careful organisation of portions and manual defrosting; check the room’s temperature range.
Image unavailable
A compact solution for keeping a few portions separate in a small kitchen or under a worktop.
60 L, three storage zones, reversible door, adjustable feet, dimensions of 44,5 × 47,5 × 84,5 cm and a stated freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h. Its capacity is suitable as an extra freezer rather than for substantial stocks; check the climate class according to the location.
No. Check the climate class in the technical specifications and compare it with the actual minimum and maximum temperatures in the room. Beko France states that an SN-T class is designed for 10 to 43 °C; if the room can fall below 10 °C, choose only a model whose manufacturer explicitly declares it suitable for low temperatures.
According to Que Choisir, a 4-star compartment is suitable for freezing food from room temperature down to -18 °C and for storing frozen food. If you freeze a lot of prepared food at once, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h and the instructions for the fast-freezing function.
No. Compare the rating from A to G and, above all, the annual consumption in kWh between appliances with comparable capacities and formats. The DGCCRF states that the energy label helps compare the characteristics of new appliances; also include noise, cooling system and defrosting in your comparison.
Yes, but only if the usable capacity of its freezer compartment covers your actual stock. This solution makes sense if you are also replacing the fridge and have enough space available: Bosch states that some XXL formats are at least 70 cm wide and up to 80 cm deep.