If you regularly store fresh and frozen food between shopping trips, start by comparing fridge freezers: their separate compartments let you choose the capacity you need for each. A table-top fridge is better suited to a small space with little frozen food, while a multi-door or American-style fridge is worth considering for larger food shops, provided you check the dimensions, delivery access and annual energy consumption.
If you need both types of food to last until your next shop, compare fridge freezers by looking at the fridge and freezer capacities separately. The total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much space you’ll have for frozen food.
A table-top fridge can provide refrigeration where space is limited. However, check the space you actually have available and whether the appliance has a freezer compartment if you buy frozen food. Some models, such as the Bosch KTR15NWEB, which Bosch describes, don’t have one.
A multi-door or American-style fridge may be worth considering if your household needs plenty of space for fresh and frozen food. Before choosing a model, measure the delivery route too: Samsung specifically advises checking that the packaged RM70F63NER will fit through doors, hallways and lifts.
First decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then check each format against your kitchen and shopping habits.
Consider it: for a studio flat or as a second fridge, if you buy little frozen food.
Bear in mind: capacity is limited and, depending on the model, there may be no freezer compartment.
Consider it: if you regularly buy fresh and frozen food that needs to be stored separately.
Check: the height and freezer capacity. An integrated model must also fit its housing and hinge arrangement.
Consider it: for larger food shops, if your kitchen and delivery route can accommodate the appliance.
Check: the packaged dimensions and the clearances required for that specific model.
Consider it: if a large capacity and side-by-side compartments suit your household’s shopping needs.
Check: the width, depth and annual energy consumption of the model you choose.
| Criteria | What to check | For my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and compartments | Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L as a starting point for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to reflect what you actually store. | If I leave longer between shops or often buy frozen food, I need enough space in the relevant compartment, rather than simply aiming for a large total capacity. |
| Space and installation | Measure the appliance, its packaging and the delivery route. Check the door opening, any housing and the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s instructions. | In a small kitchen, I need an appliance that fits the space available and has doors that can open without obstruction. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Compare the A to G energy ratings and kWh/year figures for appliances with similar formats and capacities, as well as their declared noise levels in dB(A). Check the defrosting method. | For an open-plan kitchen, I’ll check the noise level as well as the capacity. If I want to avoid manual defrosting, I’ll check the technology specified for the exact model. |
A large fridge doesn’t necessarily have enough space for frozen food. For example, Bosch states that its table-top KTR15NWEB offers 134 L of fridge space with no freezer compartment, while the KGN39AIBT fridge freezer has 103 L of freezer space.
Estimate how much you usually store in the fridge and freezer, then compare the capacity of each compartment.
External dimensions alone aren’t enough to tell you whether an appliance will fit in a unit: the housing, hinges and ventilation requirements vary by model.
Compare your kitchen measurements with the specifications and installation diagram for the exact appliance.
An unsuitable housing may mean you have to modify the kitchen unit or could make delivery and installation more difficult.
According to their manufacturers, the Samsung RM70F63NER and LG GSJV80BSLF are 912 mm and 913 mm wide respectively. The packaged appliance may need even more room during delivery.
Measure doors, hallways, corners and lifts all the way to the final position, taking the packaged dimensions into account.
You should consider capacity alongside a model’s energy use and noise level. LG states that its GSJV80BSLF uses 437 kWh/year and produces 36 dB of noise; these figures don’t apply to all American-style fridges.
Compare the kWh/year and dB(A) figures for appliances with capacities that genuinely suit your shopping needs.
These examples let you compare different formats. The specifications given relate to the models listed, not to every product from each brand.
Bosch offers table-top fridges, freestanding fridge freezers and integrated fridge freezers.
The Samsung RM70F63NER multi-door fridge is worth considering if your household needs plenty of storage space.
The LG GSJV80BSLF American-style fridge lets you compare the space available for fresh and frozen food separately.
These models include fridge freezers and formats designed for larger food shops. Compare the space they provide for fresh and frozen food with the constraints of your kitchen. This selection doesn’t replace the need to choose the right format first.
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Worth considering for larger shops that include fresh and frozen food, if your kitchen can accommodate an American-style fridge. Energy rating D. Check that the packaged appliance will fit through the delivery route and that you have the necessary water connection if you want to use the dispenser.
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Its four doors make it an option worth considering if you regularly store large amounts of fresh and frozen food. Its name specifies Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check that the packaged appliance will fit through the delivery route and that you have enough clearance for installation before choosing.
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This fridge freezer is worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in one appliance. It is listed with Total No Frost, an energy rating of E, Wi-Fi and My Zone features. Check its height, door clearance and delivery route.
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Its stated capacity of 495 L may suit a household that buys larger food shops, provided you check that it has enough space for your fresh and frozen food. Energy rating E. Confirm the exact door layout, installation space and delivery access.
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At a stated width of 54 cm, this fridge freezer is worth comparing if your kitchen is narrow but you still need a separate freezer compartment. Its name lists 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, along with Low Frost and a reversible door. You’ll need to defrost the freezer manually.
Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L as a starting point for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to suit how often you shop, and compare the litres available for frozen food separately.
No. You need to check the housing, hinges, kitchen-unit doors and ventilation requirements for the exact model. For example, Bosch lists dimensions of 1 772 × 558 × 548 mm for its integrated KIN86ADB0 fridge freezer, but that doesn’t mean another appliance will fit in its place.
Measure the final position and the entire route the packaged appliance will take, including doors, hallways and lifts. Samsung recommends checking this for the RM70F63NER multi-door fridge. Then follow the clearance instructions in the manual for the appliance you choose.
No. Also compare the annual energy consumption in kWh and the usable capacity of appliances that meet the same needs. The European Commission states that fridge energy labels have used a scale from A to G since March 2021. A rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption.
Follow the instructions for the model you’ve bought. For appliances covered by its installation guidance, Electrolux recommends waiting at least 4 hours before plugging it in. Don’t automatically apply this waiting time to other models.