Households buying frozen food in bulk
If you shop less often or buy food in bulk, think about how much space your provisions and bulky items will take up. Capacity alone isn’t everything: consider how you’ll find what you’re looking for, too.
Which format is right for you?
Households with a utility room, cellar or garage
A separate appliance can free up space in the kitchen. Before deciding where to put it, compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range permitted for the model.
Households with limited kitchen space
An upright freezer or fridge freezer can meet your needs without taking up as much floor space as a chest freezer. Remember to measure the room needed to open the door and access the compartments.
What should you compare before choosing?
Start by working out how much freezer space you need, then check that your chosen format can be installed and used in the room you have in mind.
Upright freezer
Worth considering: if you open the appliance often and want to organise different foods in drawers.
Bear in mind: leave enough space in front of the door to open the drawers and reach items at the back.
Chest freezer
Worth considering: if you store large quantities or bulky packaging and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: items at the bottom may be harder to find.
Fridge freezer
Worth considering: if you’d rather have just one appliance and its freezer compartment meets your needs.
Bear in mind: the stated total capacity includes the fridge compartment, too.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare usable freezer capacity, drawers or baskets, and space for bulky items. Also measure the opening and the route for delivery. | I shop less often, so I need space for bulk buys without losing track of what’s already in the freezer. |
| Installation location | Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures and consult the climate class or ambient temperature range for the exact model. Check its dimensions against the space available. | For a cellar, utility room or garage, I want to know whether the appliance will work at the temperatures the room actually reaches. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare kWh/year figures for appliances of a similar type and capacity. Check the energy rating and noise level, especially if it’s near a living area. | The appliance will be running all the time, so I want to consider its energy use and, if it’s near the living room, how noisy it is. |
| Power cuts and maintenance | Check the stated storage time during a power cut, any alarms and how the model is defrosted. | If the freezer isn’t checked often, an alarm could help me spot a door left open. I also want to know what maintenance it needs. |
Which mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing based on capacity alone
A fridge freezer’s total capacity includes the fridge compartment. Even a spacious chest freezer takes up more floor space and can make food at the bottom harder to reach.
Compare the capacity set aside for frozen food, then measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed to open the door or lid.
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Assuming a freezer will work in an unheated room
Choosing a chest or upright freezer doesn’t guarantee it’ll be suitable for a cold cellar or garage: the operating temperature range depends on the model.
Check the room’s temperatures and the climate class in the manual or product information. For a very cold space, look for an explicit statement that the appliance can operate at low temperatures.
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Comparing only the energy rating
According to ADEME, a freezer runs continuously. Its energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how its annual energy use compares with its capacity.
Compare the kWh/year figures for appliances of a similar type and capacity, then consider noise and any other features that matter for your installation.
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Confusing capacity with storage time during a power cut
The available capacity doesn’t tell you how long a model will stay cold without power. A door-open alarm addresses a different risk.
If the appliance is away from your living areas or isn’t checked often, compare the stated storage times and check which alarms the model actually has.
A few leading brands and models
These examples show why it’s important to compare the specifications of the exact model, rather than assuming they apply to an entire brand.
Beko
The range includes both upright and chest freezers. Beko lists a capacity of 404 L and a storage time of 11 hours for its RFNE448E35W upright model.
- Different formats let you compare vertical storage with a chest freezer.
- Capacity, storage time and installation requirements need to be checked for each model.
Bosch
Bosch offers both freestanding and integrated upright freezers. Its product information lists a capacity of 290 L and a storage time of 14 hours for the GSN51AWDV, compared with 212 L and 8 hours for the integrated GIN81VEE0.
- These two models let you compare freestanding and integrated installation.
- The capacity and storage time of one model don’t apply to the other; an integrated model also needs to fit its housing.
Electrolux
The brand offers dedicated freezers and fridge freezers. Electrolux lists a capacity of 98 L for the built-in LUB3AE88S freezer and a freezer capacity of 62 L for the LNG7TE18S4 fridge freezer.
- The product information distinguishes the freezer capacity by appliance type.
- A built-in model needs to fit its housing, and these capacities may not meet your needs if you want to store a lot.
Liebherr
For the CFd 2085 Plus chest freezer, Liebherr lists a FrostProtect function designed for ambient temperatures as low as -15 °C.
- This makes the specific model worth considering for a cold room.
- Don’t assume the same temperature range applies to other Liebherr freezers: check their individual documentation.
Joybuy options by freezer type
This selection includes two fridge freezers if you’d prefer a single appliance, a separate upright freezer and two chest freezers with different capacities.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 3-door fridge freezer, 360 L
Worth considering if you want to keep your fridge and freezer in one appliance. The 360 L refers to the total capacity, not the space for frozen food, so check the freezer capacity against what you need to store. The product title lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
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CHiQ JR263LGE, 262 L fridge freezer, black
This fridge freezer could save you from needing a separate freezer if its freezer compartment is big enough for your shopping. The product title lists a width of 54 cm, a height of 176 cm, a 70/30 split and Low Frost. Check the capacity reserved for frozen food and the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
Its upright design is a good option if you want separate freezer storage with easy access to your provisions. The product title lists three freezer drawers, No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time during a power cut to make sure it suits your installation.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This chest freezer gives you separate freezer space without the need for a very large model. The product title lists a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. Measure the floor space it needs and allow room to open the lid; check the ambient temperature range if the room isn’t heated.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
This chest freezer offers a more modest amount of separate freezer space: compare its 99 L capacity with the amount you want to store between shops. The product title lists a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid and an E energy rating. Check how much room you’ll need to open it and the permitted ambient temperature.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how much freezer space I need?
Start with the amount of frozen food you keep between shops, then factor in any bulk buys and bulky packaging you plan to store. For a fridge freezer, compare the capacity of the freezer compartment rather than the appliance’s total capacity.
Can you install a freezer in a garage or cellar?
Yes, as long as the room’s actual temperatures stay within the range permitted for your chosen model. Check its climate class and manual. For example, Liebherr states that its CFd 2085 Plus chest freezer is suitable for temperatures as low as -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to other models.
What should I compare on the energy label?
First compare annual energy use in kWh for appliances of a similar type and capacity, then check the energy rating and noise level. The European Commission states that the energy label for household fridges and freezers has used an A to G scale since 1 March 2021.
Why check the storage time during a power cut?
It tells you how long the appliance can keep food cold without power, regardless of its capacity. Compare the stated storage time for the models you’re considering, especially if the appliance is out of the way or won’t be checked often. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses this in its freezer testing process.