Choose a fridge with drawers, shelves and usable capacity that make it easy to see and find the food you usually buy. A fridge-freezer suits shops that include frozen food, while fan-assisted or fan-circulated cooling keeps the temperature more consistent. With a static-cooling model, you’ll need to store food according to its temperature zones. Check the capacity of each compartment, the space available for installation and the energy consumption of the model you’re considering : a new appliance is no substitute for checking your food stocks regularly.
If you buy fresh food for several meals, you’ll need enough space to see what you already have, too. Compare the capacity of each compartment and how easy it is to reach the drawers and shelves, rather than looking only at the total capacity. ADEME recommends checking your food stocks before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
When vegetables, dairy products, prepared meals and opened food all share the fridge, easy-to-spot storage spaces can help you keep everything organised. The type of cooling matters, too : according to Que Choisir, fan-assisted and fan-circulated cooling maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the fridge.
If the appliance needs to fit between units or next to a wall, measure the space and check that the door can open wide enough for you to remove the drawers. Also compare the annual energy consumption and noise levels of models that fit your space : ADEME points out that a fridge runs continuously.
A fridge-freezer combines refrigeration and freezing ; the choice between fan-assisted, fan-circulated or static cooling affects how cold air is distributed in the fridge compartment. Start by considering how much food you usually buy and the space available, then think about the storage layout that will work for you day to day.
Worth considering : if you often fill your fridge and want to rely less on where food is placed on each shelf. Que Choisir says these technologies maintain a more consistent temperature.
Bear in mind : a consistent temperature doesn’t mean you can skip setting the temperature correctly or keeping an eye on opened food.
Worth considering : if you’re happy to store food according to the appliance’s temperature zones.
Bear in mind : according to Que Choisir, the temperature isn’t consistent throughout the fridge, so you’ll need to understand the zones in your model and organise food accordingly.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and usable capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities in litres separately, then check how easy it is to reach the drawers and shelves. | When I shop for several meals, I want to see food that’s already been opened and avoid buying duplicates. Around 42 % of consumers are thought to prioritise this storage need. |
| Consistent cooling | Identify the type of cooling and the storage zones designed for fresh food. | If I store lots of different fresh foods, I want to know where to put them without choosing the wrong zone. Around 33 % of consumers are thought to prioritise consistent cooling. |
| Installation and continuous use | Measure the space and check how far the door opens ; compare kWh/year and noise levels between models of a similar type and capacity. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to be able to open the door and remove the drawers without difficulty, while taking into account that the appliance stays on. These constraints are thought to be the top priority for around 25 % of consumers. |
With a fridge-freezer, some of the capacity is reserved for the freezer. So a large total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space will be left for fresh food.
Compare the usable capacity of each compartment with the amount you buy, then check whether the drawers and shelves make that space easy to use.
Food that’s easy to see is easier to find, but the layout can’t replace checking your stocks, making a shopping list and organising food regularly, as ADEME recommends.
Work out which types of food you most often forget about, then look for easy-to-reach storage spaces for them in the model you’re considering.
A door blocked by a wall or unit can make it impossible to remove the drawers. The installation space must also meet the appliance’s ventilation requirements and climate class specifications.
Measure the route into your kitchen, check how far the door opens and consult the manual for the required clearances. Que Choisir also recommends checking that you can reach the drawers after installation.
Two appliances with different capacities or designs won’t necessarily meet the same needs. ADEME also highlights how choosing an oversized appliance could affect energy consumption when it runs continuously.
Compare the stated kWh/year, usable capacity and noise levels of fridges with a similar design and capacity ; the EPREL database lets you check a model’s declared information.
These models are examples of layouts and features to consider ; details that apply to an individual model shouldn’t be assumed to apply to the whole brand.
The freestanding KGN362WDF fridge-freezer is a useful point of comparison for splitting your shopping between fresh and frozen food.
The Beko B5RCNE405HG fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for a layout with air-circulation features and storage options for fresh food.
The two-door GTD7043MC is a useful reference if your shopping calls for plenty of space in both compartments.
These fridge-freezers offer a range of capacities and layouts to consider for shops that include fresh and frozen food. Compare the compartment sizes and installation requirements before choosing.
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Worth considering if your shopping calls for space for both fresh and frozen food, with storage that’s easy to look through.
Stated total capacity : 390 l ; D energy rating. Compare the capacity of each compartment with your usual shopping and check the clearances required for installation.
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Worth considering if you want to divide a varied shop between fresh and frozen food.
Stated total capacity : 360 l ; Total No Frost, E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone feature in the model name. Check how much space you’ll need to open the doors and reach the drawers.
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Worth considering if you prefer a bottom freezer and want to compare the space for fresh food with the space for frozen food.
Stated total capacity : 282 l ; E energy rating. Check the capacity of each compartment and allow for the installation clearances specified for this model.
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Worth considering if you want to separate different types of fresh food while keeping a compartment for frozen food.
Stated total capacity : 344 l ; D energy rating. Check the depth, installation clearances and kWh/year before comparing its size and energy consumption.
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Worth considering if you want separate doors for different sections of your shopping and a dedicated drawer for storing vegetables.
Stated total capacity : 474 l ; Vario Box and E energy rating. Before choosing this design, check the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer, the kWh/year and the space needed to open the doors.
Start with the amount of food you usually store, then compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer separately. Check how easy it is to reach the drawers and shelves, too : a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee enough space for your fresh food. ADEME recommends avoiding an oversized appliance that runs continuously.
No : a static-cooling fridge can work well if you organise food according to its temperature zones. Que Choisir says that fan-circulated and fan-assisted cooling maintain a more consistent temperature, which can make it less important to choose specific storage spots after a big shop.
Measure the space, the route into your kitchen and the room needed to open the door and remove the drawers. Then check the manual for ventilation clearances and the model’s climate class ; Que Choisir also highlights the importance of being able to remove the drawers once the appliance is installed.
Check the model information and its entry in the European EPREL database to see details such as the stated capacity of each compartment and annual energy consumption. Compare these details across appliances with a design and capacity suited to your shopping, rather than assuming your actual energy use from the rating alone.