To keep fresh ingredients and home-cooked meals in good condition every day, start by choosing the fridge capacity you genuinely need and storage that suits your shopping. Then compare the kWh/year and noise levels of similarly sized appliances. According to Anses, the coldest part should stay between 0 and +4 °C, with enough room for cold air to circulate. A fridge-freezer or small freezer compartment is only worth considering if you also need freezer space; assess that separately.
If you store fresh ingredients and prepared meals, look for shelves and drawers that suit your containers. Avoid packing the fridge so full that cold air cannot circulate. Anses recommends keeping the coldest part between 0 and +4 °C, particularly for dishes containing animal products.
For one person, UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L of usable capacity. Adjust this to how often you shop and how much room your prepared meals take up, rather than choosing based on the appliance’s external size alone.
A fridge runs continuously. ADEME highlights that a larger size and unnecessary features can increase energy consumption, so compare the kWh/year of models with a similar fresh-food capacity to the one you need.
Consider this if: you only need this appliance for fresh food and don’t need to freeze anything in it.
The trade-off: you’ll need another solution if you want to store frozen food.
Consider this if: you need separate compartments for fresh and frozen food.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how many litres are available in the fridge compartment.
Consider this if: you mainly need space for fresh food and only have limited freezer needs.
Bear in mind: check the small compartment’s capacity and how to maintain it separately.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh-food capacity and storage | Compare the fridge capacity in litres separately from the freezer capacity. Check the layout of the shelves, drawers and easy-access areas. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L as a starting point for one person, then 50 L for each additional person. | I want room for my shopping and prepared meals without choosing an appliance larger than my habits call for. |
| Temperature and air circulation | Check how to set and monitor the temperature in the coldest part, and whether there’s enough room for air to circulate. Anses recommends 0 to +4 °C in this area and advises against overfilling the fridge. | I need to be able to monitor the temperature for sensitive foods and home-cooked meals, while leaving space between containers. |
| Energy use | Check the energy rating and the kWh/year shown on the label. Compare similar sizes and capacities: according to ADEME, a larger size and unnecessary features can increase the energy use of an appliance that runs continuously. | I’m looking for enough room for fresh food without paying for capacity or features I won’t use. |
| Noise | Check the noise level in dB and the noise class on the energy label. If possible, also look at reviews that measure perceived noise. | In an open-plan kitchen or near a room used for relaxing, everyday noise matters just as much as the space the appliance takes up. |
In a fridge-freezer, part of the total capacity belongs to the freezer and can’t be used to store fresh food.
Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately on the European energy label, then choose a model based on how much space you actually need in each compartment.
ADEME points out that a fridge runs continuously, and that a larger size or unnecessary features can increase its energy use.
For appliances of a similar size and capacity, compare the kWh/year as well as the energy rating, then check the fresh-food capacity and noise level.
According to Anses, keeping food cold also depends on an even temperature. Overfilling the appliance can stop cold air from circulating properly.
Leave space around your containers and check that the coldest part stays between 0 and +4 °C.
An appliance that runs continuously can become a nuisance if it’s near the living room or a space used for relaxing.
Compare the dB level and noise class shown on the label. UFC-Que Choisir cites less than 40 dBA as a guide to the quietest models.
These examples from the July 2026 Guide Topten France selection show a range of capacities and configurations. They don’t represent every range from each brand.
Guide Topten France features, among others, Liebherr fridges with one door.
The K 7377 B and K 7777 B in the Guide Topten France selection are built-in models worth considering for a fitted kitchen.
Guide Topten France features, among others, the RL5K370GSFC, a large freestanding fridge.
These models include fridge-freezers and a fridge with one door and a small freezer compartment. To compare them for storing fresh food, first look at the space allocated to the fridge, then check the overall dimensions and the features listed for each variant.
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Worth considering if your shopping and meal prep call for a large multi-door appliance, with freezer space to factor in. This variant’s name lists a 467 L capacity, Total No Frost, an E rating and a silver finish. Check how much space is actually reserved for fresh food and the temperature reached in the coldest part.
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This three-door fridge-freezer is worth comparing if you want separate storage for fresh and frozen food. The product name lists a 360 L capacity, Total No Frost, an E rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Before choosing, check how the capacity is split and the temperature maintained in the coldest part.
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Its listed width of 54 cm may make it a good option when kitchen space is limited. Remember to measure the clearance needed to open the door, too. This black variant is listed at 262 L, with a 70/30 split and Low Frost. If you store sensitive foods, check the actual temperature in the coldest part rather than relying on the adjustable temperature range alone.
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This fridge with one door and a freezer compartment suits a household that mainly needs space for fresh food, with a separate area for frozen items. The product name lists a total capacity of 179 L. Before choosing it, check the capacity of each compartment, how to maintain the freezer compartment and the temperature in the coldest part.
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If you’re short on width, this fridge-freezer is listed as 54 cm wide and lets you compare the fridge and freezer space separately: its product name specifies 153 L for refrigeration and 74 L for freezing. It also lists Low Frost and an E rating. To complete your comparison, check the kWh/year, noise level and temperature in the coldest part.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. Store raw meat and fish, as well as dishes made with animal products, in this area. Use a thermometer to check the temperature if needed.
Compare the energy rating, kWh/year, the separate fridge and freezer capacities, and the noise level. According to the European Commission, this information is shown on the label. To assess energy use, start with models of a similar size and capacity.
No, it isn’t enough to judge a fridge on this feature alone. UFC-Que Choisir explains that fan-assisted cooling helps maintain an even temperature, while ventilated cooling also helps reduce frost. Whichever type you choose, set and monitor the temperature, and leave room for air to circulate between foods.
Because the total capacity of a fridge-freezer includes space that isn’t available for fresh food. Check the capacity of each compartment on the label, then choose a fridge size that suits your shopping and meal prep.