First, choose a configuration based on the balance you need between fresh and frozen food: a fridge focuses on fresh food, a fridge-freezer combines both uses, and a separate freezer adds more freezing capacity. Then compare the capacity in litres of each compartment, the kWh/year, the dimensions and the installation requirements for the exact model. Total capacity and energy rating alone are not enough.
Compare the usable capacity for fresh food and, if needed, frozen food. Que Choisir and Gifam present compartment capacities as useful guides when choosing an appliance that suits your food storage habits.
Check whether a fridge-freezer has enough capacity, or whether a separate freezer would better suit your storage needs. A small freezer compartment is not the same as a dedicated freezer.
Measure the space and the route to it, then compare the configuration and kWh/year stated for the model. ADEME recommends checking the energy label as one of the points to consider when choosing a household appliance.
Choose this if: you mainly store fresh food and don’t need this appliance to provide regular freezing capacity.
Bear in mind: check whether it has a small freezer compartment, but don’t mistake this for a freezer suitable for storing larger quantities.
Choose this if: you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the total capacity is shared between the two uses, so compare the capacity in litres of each compartment separately.
Choose this if: storing frozen food is a priority or your existing freezing capacity isn’t enough.
Bear in mind: an additional appliance needs its own space and has its own electricity consumption.
| What matters | What to check | Who cares about it most? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity to suit your shopping | Compare fridge and freezer capacity in litres separately, and measure the space available. | If I want the appliance to suit my usual shopping, I check how much space is actually available for each type of food. Around 33% of consumers prioritise usable capacity. |
| Freezing capacity | Check the usable capacity in litres, the type of compartment and, for an unheated room, the temperature range the model can operate in. | If I regularly store frozen food, I check whether a fridge-freezer compartment will meet my needs or whether I need a separate freezer. Around 27% of consumers prioritise frozen food storage. |
| Electricity consumption | Check the kWh/year and energy rating on the label for the exact model; compare appliances that meet similar needs. | When replacing an appliance that runs every day, I consider its annual consumption as well as its usable capacity. Around 20% of consumers put kWh/year first. |
| Installation and replacement | Measure the space and access route, consult the model’s instructions, and confirm the delivery, installation and old-appliance collection arrangements. | If access to my kitchen or the space available is restricted, I check the dimensions and installation requirements before ordering. Around 20% of consumers prioritise compatibility with their home and delivery. |
A large total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is available for fresh and frozen food. For relevant appliances, these capacities are listed separately.
Start with your shopping habits and compare the capacity in litres of each compartment before choosing a configuration.
The rating doesn’t replace comparing kWh/year and usable capacity. Appliances with different configurations won’t necessarily meet the same needs.
Check the kWh/year on the label for the exact model, then compare appliances with similar uses and capacities.
Dimensions, climate class and installation instructions vary by model. An unheated room or a built-in appliance calls for specific checks.
Also measure the route to the space and consult the product details and instructions for the model you’ve chosen.
Collecting used equipment and installing a new appliance are separate services. The DGCCRF describes ‘one-for-one’ collection, which does not, in itself, define what an installation service includes.
Before ordering, ask for clear details of the delivery, collection and installation arrangements offered for your appliance.
Freestanding fridge-freezers to compare by the capacity of each compartment, dimensions and maintenance features.
The range mentioned includes single-door fridges and freestanding freezers. Compare these with fridge-freezers based on how you plan to use them.
The BRCNE50140ZXBN fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for substantial fridge and freezer capacity.
The French range shown includes freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, with several cooling configurations.
These Joybuy models combine refrigeration and freezing. Compare how their capacity is divided, their stated energy consumption and the space needed for installation.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for one appliance to store fresh and frozen food.
Total capacity: 344 L, split between 230 L of fridge capacity and 114 L of freezer capacity. Stated consumption: 254 kWh/year; E rating. Freestanding, with a stated width of 59,5 cm and a reversible door.
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Worth considering if you’d like a stated capacity of 355 L split between the fridge and freezer in one appliance.
Stated capacities: 252 L for the fridge and 103 L for the freezer. Stated width: 60 cm. The product details list an E rating, a frost-free system, an inverter compressor and a reversible door.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of space for fresh and frozen food and have room for a larger appliance.
Stated capacity: 495 L, with 330 L for the fridge and 165 L for the freezer. Stated consumption: 301 kWh/year; E rating. Stated dimensions: 177,6 × 81,7 × 71,5 cm; check the space and access route.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for plenty of space for fresh and frozen food; check that the side-by-side design suits your kitchen.
Stated capacity: 525 L, split between 333 L of fridge capacity and 192 L of freezer capacity. The product details list an E rating and a No Frost function.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a more compact fridge-freezer and its compartment layout meets your needs.
Stated capacity: 227 L, with 153 L of fridge capacity and 74 L of freezer capacity. Stated width: 54 cm; E rating and 4-star freezer rating. Low Frost technology reduces frost build-up but doesn’t eliminate it, so you’ll still need to defrost the appliance.
When comparing domestic refrigeration appliances, look at the energy rating, kWh/year and the fridge and freezer capacities in litres. Gifam includes these details among the information on the label, and ADEME recommends using the energy label as a guide when choosing an appliance. Compare models that meet similar needs rather than looking at the rating letter alone.
That depends on the model and the actual temperature in the garage. Check the product details for the ambient temperature range indicated by its climate class. Liebherr describes some FrostProtect chest freezers as suitable for unheated rooms, but this does not apply to all freezers.
In its guidance dated 3 October 2024, the French Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting the fridge to +4 °C and the freezer to −18 °C. Also follow the instructions for your model when setting it up, maintaining it and defrosting it when necessary.
No. Collection and installation are separate services. The DGCCRF describes ‘one-for-one’ collection of used equipment when you buy a new appliance; this doesn’t mean connecting or installing the new appliance is included. Check the arrangements stated for your order separately.
The statutory guarantee of conformity applies when a business sells a new product to a consumer. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the period for a new product is two years, and consumers do not have to prove that the defect existed on the date of sale. Any additional commercial guarantee offered does not replace it.