If you regularly reach for individual portions, opt for an upright freezer with drawers. For a larger stock, consider a chest freezer if you have the floor space. An under-counter model or the freezer compartment in a fridge-freezer may be enough for a smaller supply. Whatever you choose, compare the usable capacity with the size of your containers, then check the available space, annual energy consumption and installation requirements for the specific model.
If you cook several meals in advance, easy-to-browse compartments make it simpler to find a portion without moving everything else. Think about how much space your containers will take up in the drawers.
If you want to store lots of meals, compare the usable capacity with the size of your containers. If the appliance will go in a utility room, cellar or garage, also check the permitted ambient temperature for the model you choose.
When the available space determines the format, measure the area and check how far the door or lid can open. Then make sure the remaining capacity will suit your stock of portions.
Choose a format based on how often you take out a portion and how much you want to store. Then compare the features of models that will actually fit in your space.
Worth considering: if you want to keep portions separate and reach them regularly using drawers.
Bear in mind: maximum capacity may be lower than with a chest freezer; check that the door can open fully and the drawers are easy to handle.
Worth considering: for a large supply, if you have a dedicated area of floor space.
Bear in mind: portions at the bottom need to be organised in baskets or by category, and you’ll need clear access from above.
Worth considering: when space is limited and you only need to store a moderate number of portions.
Bear in mind: fitting it into the available space limits its capacity; check the recess dimensions and ventilation requirements.
Worth considering: if a few portions will fit in the freezer compartment of the appliance you use every day.
Bear in mind: freezer space is generally more limited than in a dedicated freezer; check its net capacity and drawers.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Number of drawers and how easy they are to use; space for your containers. | If I often take out just one meal, I want to find it without moving everything else. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise easy everyday access. |
| Storage capacity | Net capacity in litres and container sizes; freezing capacity if you add several batches at once. | If I prepare large quantities of family meals, I need enough room to store them without awkward stacking. Around 29% of consumers would put capacity first. |
| Space and installation | Dimensions, door or lid clearance, and the permitted ambient temperature range. | In a narrow kitchen or an unheated room, the first priority is making sure the appliance can be installed and used there. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this compatibility. |
| Continuous use and food storage | Annual energy consumption in kWh, storage time during a power cut and care instructions. | When an appliance runs all the time, I want to check its energy consumption and the conditions for storing my meals. Around 14% of consumers would make this their top criterion. |
A chest freezer and an upright freezer with similar capacities don’t offer the same access to your portions. A large open space may be less convenient day to day if it’s difficult to reach containers at the bottom.
Measure the space, allow for the appliance to open fully and think about where the containers you actually use will go.
The permitted ambient temperature range varies by model. A feature advertised for a model designed for a cold room won’t necessarily apply to the whole range.
Before installing a freezer in a cellar or garage, check the climate class, operating range and instructions for the exact model.
ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. The energy efficiency rating doesn’t replace the annual energy consumption figure for each model.
Compare the kWh/year figures on the labels of appliances whose format and capacity suit your needs.
According to ANSES, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. So the type of appliance you choose doesn’t remove the need to follow safe preparation and defrosting guidelines.
Label meals with the date, follow ANSES’s recommended defrosting methods and don’t refreeze food once it has been defrosted.
Upright models to consider if drawers and installation in a cold room are important to you.
Chest freezers to consider for a large supply, particularly if the space you have in mind is unheated.
Upright models to consider if you’d like to compare vertical storage with the features of a high-capacity appliance.
Built-in models to consider when kitchen dimensions matter more than building up a large supply.
This selection includes an upright freezer with drawers for easy access to portions, plus chest freezers in a range of capacities for storing meals. Compare their layout and where you could place them before deciding how much capacity you need.
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Worth considering if you’d like to keep portions separate and reach for them regularly in an upright freezer.
The product name lists three drawers, No Frost protection, an alarm, a reversible-hinge door and energy efficiency class C.
Check that 161 L is enough for your containers, and check the annual energy consumption and permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
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Its capacity may suit a household building up a supply of meals, provided there’s space for a freezer that opens from the top.
The product is listed with a removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital controls and energy efficiency class E. It offers fridge and freezer modes.
Plan how to organise portions underneath the basket, and check the permitted ambient temperature before installing it in an unheated room.
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Worth considering if you want to store prepared meals in a chest freezer with less capacity than the 291 L AUCMA model featured here.
The product lists a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, five-level temperature control, a defrost drain and energy efficiency class E.
Check that you can reach your containers under the basket and that the ambient temperature range is suitable for your chosen room.
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This capacity may suit a smaller supply of portions if you prefer the top access of a chest freezer.
The product name lists a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, a seven-level thermostat, a defrost drain and energy efficiency class E.
The basket doesn’t divide the whole interior, so think about how you’ll store portions at the bottom and check the permitted ambient temperature.
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Worth considering for extra portions rather than a large family-sized supply.
The product is listed with a removable wire basket, sliding lid, adjustable thermostat and energy efficiency class E.
Allow for access to food underneath the basket, and check the annual energy consumption and permitted ambient temperature before choosing where to put it.
Yes, but a freezer doesn’t replace food hygiene rules. ANSES states that at −18 °C, bacteria stop multiplying, although most micro-organisms aren’t destroyed. It recommends defrosting food in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly by cooking or reheating. Food that has been defrosted shouldn’t be refrozen.
Compare the energy efficiency class and annual energy consumption in kWh for the exact model, taking into account the capacity you need. For the domestic refrigeration appliances covered in France, the DGCCRF states that this information appears on the energy label, including for online sales.
Yes, if the model’s permitted ambient temperature range allows it. Beko and Liebherr state that certain models can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all their freezers. Check the instructions and climate class for the appliance you’re considering.
It helps you compare how long a model keeps food cold without a power supply, according to the stated test conditions. UFC-Que Choisir measures the time it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C as part of its testing. Check the figure and the conditions it applies to for the model you plan to install.