For frozen food you reach for every day, an upright freezer makes it easier to organise items in compartments. For bulky items you access less often, a chest freezer is worth considering if you have enough floor space. A large fridge freezer is better suited to households that need extra fridge and freezer space in one appliance: compare the litres allocated to frozen food, not just the total capacity. Whichever type you choose, check the dimensions, stated storage time during a power cut and the temperature range suitable for the room.
How often you take food out and the size of the items you need to store matter just as much as the stated capacity.
If you need to find portions and prepared meals quickly, the drawers or compartments in an upright freezer make it easier to keep everything organised. Check that its freezer capacity is also large enough for your reserves.
For large items or supplies you access less often, a chest freezer gives you more flexibility when arranging food. However, you’ll need to allow for its floor space and organise the contents so you can reach items at the bottom.
A large fridge freezer gives you more room for both chilled and frozen food in one appliance. If frozen storage is your priority, check the capacity of the freezer compartment separately.
First work out how much space you need for frozen food and how you’ll access it. Then check that the appliance suits its location and the way you’ll use it.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the capacity in litres of the freezer compartment alone, then look at the internal layout. Also measure the height, width and depth, as well as the delivery access route. | I freeze large quantities of meals and ingredients, so I need enough space for the containers and batches I actually plan to store. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers or compartments in an upright freezer and the baskets in a chest freezer. Consider how you’ll reach items stored at the bottom. | If I take portions out every day, I want to find them without having to move all my other food. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time in hours for each model. If you often add large quantities of fresh food, also check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | If I’m storing a large amount of food, I’ll pay attention to how long the appliance is stated to keep food frozen during a power cut. |
| Installation room | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the operating range of the specific model. European regulations define a climate class according to the ambient temperatures the appliance is designed to operate in. | My garage or utility room can get cold in winter, so I need to check the appliance is suitable before installing a freezer there. |
| Electricity use | Check the annual consumption in kWh alongside the energy rating and usable capacity. Compare models with capacities suited to the same storage needs. | I’d rather assess the electricity use of an appliance that suits my storage needs than choose based on its energy rating alone. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. |
In a fridge freezer, some of the capacity is reserved for fresh food. A chest freezer may offer plenty of capacity, but it also needs floor space and a suitable way to organise its contents.
Before choosing a type, compare the capacity allocated to frozen food, the external dimensions and the internal layout.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. A stated ability to operate down to -15 °C applies to specific models, not all chest freezers.
Check the room’s temperatures throughout the year and compare them with the product details or instructions for the model you’re considering.
The stated storage time varies from one appliance to another. For example, Bosch gives a figure of 13 h for the GSN58AWCV upright freezer; this figure doesn’t apply to other models.
If you store a large amount of food, compare this figure for the appliances you’re considering, as well as their capacity and dimensions.
ADEME notes that an appliance’s size and features can affect the electricity it uses, particularly as it runs continuously.
Check the kWh/year figure alongside the freezer capacity, and choose a size that suits your habits.
These examples highlight features of specific models; they don’t represent every model in each brand’s range.
The brand offers upright freezers and fridge freezers, among other options. Compare them according to how you need the capacity to be divided.
Its chest freezers are worth considering when you need to store a large amount of food and have plenty of floor space.
The CFe 2080 Pure chest freezer is one example worth looking at if you need an appliance for an unheated room.
This selection includes fridge freezers for extra fresh-food storage, an upright freezer for keeping a separate supply organised, and two chest freezers with different capacities. Compare their freezer capacity with the amount you plan to store: a fridge freezer’s total capacity doesn’t represent its freezer compartment alone.
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Worth considering if you want more space for fresh food while still having a freezer compartment in the same appliance. The model name gives a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check the capacity allocated to frozen food separately before choosing.
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An upright freezer is a good choice for a separate supply of food that you want to sort into compartments. The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, No Frost and an energy rating of C. Check the external dimensions and ambient temperature range for the room where you plan to put it.
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This fridge freezer is worth considering if you need more fridge space as well as room for frozen food. The model name gives a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. If you need to store a large amount of frozen food, check the freezer capacity separately.
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This 140 L chest freezer is a separate storage option for batches of food you access less often, provided you have enough floor space. The product name lists an energy rating of E. Check what’s included in the box, particularly whether it comes with a basket, and confirm the ambient temperature range if you plan to keep it in an unheated room.
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With a stated capacity of 99 L, this chest freezer is better suited to a smaller additional supply than to storing a very large amount of food. The product name mentions a removable metal basket and an energy rating of E. Check that its capacity is enough for the batches of food you usually store.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the room’s temperatures throughout the year. Check its climate class or operating conditions in the instructions. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN, while Liebherr lists FrostProtect down to -15 °C for its CFe 2080 Pure chest freezer. This latter capability doesn’t apply to other models.
Check the energy rating alongside the annual consumption in kWh and the freezer capacity in litres. If you’re building up a household supply, compare appliances with a capacity that meets your needs. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously and their size can affect their electricity use.
Don’t assume so based on the type alone: compare the stated storage time during a power cut for the specific models you’re interested in. Bosch gives a figure of 13 h for its GSN58AWCV upright freezer, but that doesn’t tell you how long all upright or chest freezers will stay cold.
You can ask about having it taken away when you buy an appliance of the same type. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition outlines, among other options, the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme when buying a new appliance. It also says that electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre.