If you often take out individual portions, an upright freezer with drawers makes them easier to organise, provided its compartments fit your containers. For larger stock-ups, a chest freezer may be suitable if you have enough floor space and can organise access from above. Consider a fridge freezer if you also need to replace your fridge, while an under-counter model depends on the space available and how much freezer capacity you need. Que Choisir points out that ease of use matters just as much as capacity.
If you freeze meals in individual portions and take them out often, the drawer layout and container sizes matter just as much as the stated capacity. Bosch product information and the criteria outlined by Que Choisir show why it’s worth checking how easy it is to reach each compartment.
If you freeze large quantities and have enough floor space, a chest freezer could suit your needs. Also think about how you’ll organise the food and find items at the bottom. Que Choisir also discusses ease of use as an important consideration.
If the appliance needs to fit into a recess or share space with a fridge, compare the freezer capacity with the dimensions needed for installation. Electrolux and Liebherr product information shows why it’s important to distinguish freezer capacity from total capacity.
Consider it if: you often take out portions and want to store them in drawers or baskets.
Check: the door clearance and internal dimensions against the size of your containers.
Consider it if: you store large quantities and have enough floor space.
Allow for: a way to organise food so you can reach items at the bottom, as well as enough room to open the lid.
Consider it if: you also need to replace your fridge and the freezer compartment is large enough for your portions.
Check: the freezer capacity separately from the capacity of the whole appliance.
Consider it if: you have a suitable recess and a smaller storage capacity will meet your needs.
Check: the dimensions of the recess and the installation instructions for the exact model.
To choose between these formats, start with how you store and take out your portions. Then check the freezer capacity, available space and installation requirements.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who prioritises it most |
|---|---|---|
| Finding your portions | Number and dimensions of drawers or baskets; access to compartments and whether they can be removed. | If I take out different containers often, I want to store and find them easily. Around 31% of consumers prioritise easy access to portions. |
| Storing prepared meals | Freezer compartment capacity; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you freeze a large batch. | If I prepare large quantities, I check that the freezer compartment can hold my supplies. Around 25% of consumers prioritise capacity. |
| Fitting the appliance | Appliance or recess dimensions, clearance for opening and ventilation instructions in the manual for the exact model. | If there’s little space in my kitchen or utility room, I measure the space and clearances before choosing a format. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the space it takes up. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Annual energy consumption in kWh and defrosting method; the European Commission says the label includes information such as energy consumption and capacity. | If I want to plan for day-to-day use, I compare the stated energy consumption and the maintenance involved. Around 19% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
The fridge section cannot store frozen portions. For the Electrolux ENT6ME19S4, the manufacturer lists 207 l of fridge capacity and 62 l of freezer capacity, giving a total of 269 l.
Compare the freezer compartment alone with your containers and the amount you plan to store.
Access from above and storing food at the bottom may take more organisation than front-access drawers, as Que Choisir points out when discussing ease of use.
Plan how you’ll organise your portions and measure the space needed to open the lid.
You’ll also need enough floor space and a way to reach food stored at the bottom.
The Beko HSM29540 product information specifies manual defrosting. Installation requirements, including those for air circulation, vary by model.
Check the defrosting method, dimensions and clearances in the documentation for the exact appliance.
Manual defrosting adds a maintenance task, and an unsuitable recess or location can also make installation more difficult.
The examples below relate to specific models. Their features don’t apply to every model from the same brand.
Worth considering for a freestanding upright freezer with baskets for organising portions.
The HSM29540 chest freezer is worth considering if you’re building up stocks or freezing food in batches.
The SUFNd 365i is an example of a built-in under-counter freezer for a compatible recess.
The built-in ENT6ME19S4 fridge freezer is worth considering if you’re also buying a fridge.
The WHM31112 2 is an example of a chest freezer to consider in relation to the space you have available.
This selection includes fridge freezers, upright freezers and a chest freezer. To compare how much room they offer for portions, check the freezer capacity of each model rather than relying on the total capacity of a fridge freezer.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge; the 544 l capacity is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer.
No Frost; water dispenser.
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Worth considering if you prefer an upright freezer with separate compartments for different foods.
Stated capacity: 161 l; three freezer drawers; energy rating C.
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Worth considering if you also need a fridge; check the freezer compartment capacity before deciding how much room it offers for your portions.
Total No Frost; energy rating E.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a compact upright freezer and its capacity is enough for your portions.
Stated capacity: 60 l; three drawers; energy rating E; reversible door.
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Worth considering for building up stocks if you have enough floor space and can organise access to food at the bottom.
Stated capacity: 291 l; convertible between fridge and freezer modes; energy rating E; removable basket.
No. Compare the freezer compartment capacity separately. For the Electrolux ENT6ME19S4, Electrolux lists 62 l of freezer capacity out of a total of 269 l; the fridge section can’t be used for frozen portions.
It can be, if you organise the contents and can reach food at the bottom. Que Choisir highlights ease of use as an important factor when choosing a freezer. Also check how much room you need to open the lid.
Only if the room’s ambient temperature stays within the permitted range for the exact model. Check the product information and manual for ventilation clearances and the space needed to open the appliance.
ANSES recommends planning to freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until the use-by date is approaching. Follow the recommendations for the food in question; this guide is not a substitute for them.
Check the kWh/year figure on the energy label and the model’s defrosting method. The European Commission says that the label for fridges and freezers includes information such as annual energy consumption and capacity. Actual energy use also depends on how and where you use the appliance.