For quick access to a portion
If you prepare several recipes, easy-to-reach drawers can help you take out the meal you want without moving everything else. Check that they’re large enough for the containers you usually use.
Which format is right for you?
For storing lots of meals
A chest freezer can hold a large stock or bigger dishes if you have enough room. However, reaching items at the bottom means you’ll need baskets, labels and a system for rotating your portions.
To avoid buying another appliance
If you live in a small home, start by measuring the space actually available in your existing freezer compartment. It needs to hold your portions at −18 °C without forcing you to overfill the fridge.
What should you look for?
Existing freezer compartment
Worth considering: if your stock fits comfortably in the compartment at −18 °C, and you don’t want another appliance.
The trade-off: the fridge’s layout limits both the available space and how easily you can reach your portions.
Upright freezer
Worth considering: if you want to organise several recipes and reach a portion without rummaging.
The trade-off: check that your containers fit the drawers and that there’s enough clearance to open them.
Chest freezer
Worth considering: if you have a large stock and enough suitable floor space.
The trade-off: portions at the bottom are less easy to reach, as Que Choisir points out.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Drawer dimensions and opening; whether you can keep recipes separate. | If I prepare several meals, I want to find the one I need without having to unpack a stack of containers. Around 42% of consumers prioritise easy access. |
| Space available | Usable capacity of the existing compartment; dimensions and clearance for a new appliance. | When my kitchen is small, I’d rather use the space I already have, if my portions fit. For around 33% of consumers, avoiding another appliance comes before other considerations. |
| Stock size | Net capacity suited to your containers; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you’re adding lots of meals at once. | If I prepare a large stock or bulky dishes, I need to be able to fit them in while keeping everything practical to organise. This capacity is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a chest freezer for capacity alone
The open space makes it easier to store large containers, but a portion at the bottom can be hard to find. Que Choisir highlights how access differs from that of an upright freezer.
Set aside baskets or zones for different types of meal, label each portion with a date, and put the oldest ones where you’ll see them.
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Assuming a freezer will work in a cold garage
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. Beko says the HSM35050 will operate in temperatures down to −15 °C, and Liebherr gives the same specification for the CFd 2505. This does not apply to every model.
Check the operating range in the manual against the temperature of the space you have in mind, then measure the clearance needed to open the appliance.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
A freezer runs continuously, the ADEME points out. The letter on the energy label isn’t enough to compare appliances with different capacities.
Look at the kWh/year shown on the energy label alongside the net capacity and dimensions of the appliances you’re considering.
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Assuming freezing keeps a meal safe indefinitely
According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. It doesn’t replace safe preparation and storage practices.
Label each portion with its contents and date, maintain the cold chain, and use the oldest meals before they’re forgotten.
Freezer brands to know
Bosch
Upright freezers to consider if you’re looking for a vertical storage solution, either freestanding or integrated into your kitchen.
- Bosch states that its GSN58AWEV upright freezer has a usable capacity of 366 L.
- This capacity applies to the GSN58AWEV only. Check the dimensions and drawers of the model you’re considering.
Liebherr
Undercounter, integrated and chest freezer formats offer a range of different installation options.
- Liebherr lists capacities including 80 L for the SUFNc 375i undercounter model, 101 L for the IFSd 3904 integrated model and 359 L for the CFd 2505 chest freezer.
- Frost-related features and installation requirements vary by model. Check the specifications for the exact model you’re considering.
Beko
Chest freezers to consider if you have enough floor space for your storage needs.
- Beko says its HSM35050 chest freezer can operate at an ambient temperature as low as −15 °C.
- This installation condition applies to the HSM35050, not to all Beko freezers.
Freezers available on Joybuy
This selection includes two upright freezers for separating portions and a chest freezer for more open storage. Before choosing, compare their capacity with your containers and the space you have available.
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COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
Worth considering if you want to store a limited number of portions in a dedicated appliance.
The product title lists three freezer drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check that your containers will fit the 60 L capacity.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
Worth considering if your containers need an open storage space and you have room on the floor for a chest freezer.
The product title lists a removable wire basket, a four-star classification and an E energy rating. The basket can help keep some portions separate, but meals stored underneath will need to be organised carefully.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L freezer, stainless steel finish
Worth a look if you want to organise a stock of portions in a larger-capacity upright format.
The product title lists No-Frost protection, an adjustable temperature range of −14 °C to −22 °C and a C energy rating. Check that your containers will fit in its compartments and set the appliance to freeze at −18 °C.
Frequently asked questions
Is my existing freezer compartment big enough for prepared meals?
Yes, if it can freeze food at −18 °C and hold your actual stock of portions without overcrowding the fridge. Measure the containers you use and check the capacity of the freezer compartment rather than the fridge as a whole.
What temperature should I use to freeze home-cooked meals?
For home freezing, use −18 °C, in line with Anses guidance. This temperature stops bacteria from multiplying but does not destroy most micro-organisms, so you still need to maintain the cold chain.
Can I put a chest freezer in a cellar or an unheated garage?
Only if the model’s operating range covers the temperatures in that space. Beko specifies an ambient temperature as low as −15 °C for the HSM35050, and Liebherr does the same for the CFd 2505. Always check the manual for your chosen model, as well as the space needed to open its lid.
How do I compare the energy use of two freezers?
Compare their annual consumption in kWh on the energy label, taking their net capacities into account. The ADEME points out that cooling appliances run continuously, so you can’t compare models with different capacities by their energy rating letter alone.
Does the statutory guarantee of conformity cover a second-hand freezer bought from a trader in France?
Yes. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, this mandatory guarantee covers new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a private individual. Keep your proof of purchase and the freezer’s description so you can report any lack of conformity.