To increase your frozen food storage, choose an upright freezer if you regularly take out a variety of foods, or a chest freezer if capacity is your priority and you have enough floor space. A table-top model is better suited to extra storage; a large fridge freezer can save you from needing a second appliance, but only if its freezer compartment is big enough for your stock. Whatever the style, check the usable capacity, delivery access, climate class and ventilation requirements for the specific model.
If you store large shops, prepared portions or lots of frozen food, start by comparing the usable capacity of a chest freezer with that of a large upright model. You’ll also want a design that makes it easy to find what you’ve stored.
If you want to keep portions, meals and bags separate and access them regularly, an upright freezer with drawers is worth considering. Check that its compartments can accommodate the packaging you usually buy.
Whether it’s going in a compact kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage, measure the access route and the space needed to open the appliance. The room temperature and ventilation requirements may also rule out some models.
Start with how much frozen food you need to store, then decide whether easy everyday access or floor space matters more. The drawers of an upright freezer, the opening of a chest freezer, the compact size of a table-top model and the freezer compartment of a fridge freezer all suit different needs. Then check the installation requirements and the energy consumption and power-cut storage figures for each model.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer’s usable litres, making sure not to confuse the total capacity of a fridge freezer with that of its freezer compartment. Check there’s room for your larger packages. | When my current compartment is overflowing, I want enough room to build up a stock without relying on lots of small storage spaces; around 33% of consumers would make capacity their top priority. |
| Access and organisation | Look at the drawers or baskets, and consider how easy it is to reach food at the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I take food out every day, I want to find what I need without moving everything else; easy access would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Installation | Measure access routes and the space needed to open the door or lid. Compare the room’s temperatures with the climate class, and follow the manual’s ventilation guidance. | In a narrow room or one with fluctuating temperatures, I need to be able to install and use the appliance in the conditions it’s designed for; around 25% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Everyday use and power cuts | Compare kWh/year consumption between appliances with similar functions, then check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | I want to keep the energy use of an appliance that stays plugged in under control and know how long it’s claimed to keep food cold; these factors would come first for around 17% of consumers. |
A large capacity doesn’t make food at the bottom easy to reach, especially if you take out different types of food every day.
Compare it with an upright freezer with drawers if easy access matters as much as capacity. If you choose a chest freezer, plan from the start how you’ll sort and label your food.
Bosch says that an ambient temperature outside the recommended range can affect how an appliance works.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the climate class and installation conditions for the model you’re considering.
The ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. The rating alone doesn’t tell you its annual energy consumption or how much usable storage space it offers.
Compare the kWh/year and usable capacity of appliances that meet the same storage needs. If it’s going near a living area, take noise levels into account too.
An appliance may fit in its intended space but still not get through a doorway, or leave enough room to open the lid and allow for ventilation.
Measure the delivery access route, the space for the appliance and the area needed to open it. For ventilation clearance, follow the manual for the exact model rather than using a measurement from another appliance.
A brand to consider for an upright freezer or fridge freezer if you want to compare capacity, organisation and installation requirements in detail.
A brand to consider for a chest freezer if climate class and stated power-cut storage time are key for your chosen location.
A brand to consider for a chest freezer if you’re comparing power-cut storage time, baskets and annual energy consumption model by model.
A brand to consider for chest freezers with baskets and features designed to limit frost build-up.
These Joybuy appliances let you compare two chest freezers, an upright freezer and two fridge freezers. For the fridge freezers, focus on the capacity of the freezer compartment rather than the total capacity shown.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for separate storage and have space to open a chest freezer from above.
The product name lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating. This model can switch between freezer and fridge modes: check which mode is selected, as well as its climate class and power-cut storage time for your needs.
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Compare this model if you’re also replacing your fridge and would rather combine both functions in one appliance.
The product name lists a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity separately, along with the space needed for installation: the total capacity doesn’t mean you’ll have that much room for frozen food.
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Worth considering if you want to replace a fridge freezer without installing a separate freezer.
The product name lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an E energy rating and Wi-Fi. Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with the amount you plan to store, then check access routes and ventilation clearances.
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Consider this if you’d rather organise your frozen food in a dedicated appliance than rummage through a chest freezer.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, three drawers, No Frost, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, climate class, annual energy consumption and power-cut storage time before deciding where to put it.
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Compare this model if you want a separate freezer with a more modest capacity and can set aside some floor space for it.
The product name lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Think about how you’ll reach food at the bottom, and check the model’s climate class, annual energy consumption and power-cut storage time.
Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures. Check the climate class for the exact model, along with the other installation requirements in its manual. The fact that an appliance is a chest freezer doesn’t automatically mean it’s suitable for a cold garage.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh and usable capacity, as well as the noise level if the appliance will be near a living area. The ADEME points out that freezers run continuously, so the energy rating alone isn’t enough to compare appliances with different capacities.
Keep the door or lid closed to limit heat loss, as Whirlpool recommends. Power-cut storage time varies by model. Once the power is back on, check the condition of the food and follow the food safety advice appropriate to its condition.
Yes. Leave the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model to ensure its ventilation isn’t blocked. Also check that the door or lid can open fully: a clearance specified for another appliance won’t necessarily apply to yours.