If you do a weekly shop and regularly store frozen food, a fridge-freezer with a separate freezer compartment is a good place to start. Then compare the capacity of each compartment, the storage layout and how the model performs after being loaded. A larger model could be right if you need the extra space and it will fit in your home and through the delivery access.
There should be room for a large shop, while keeping everyday items within easy reach. Que Choisir includes a weekly shop in its fridge-freezer tests, so it’s worth checking how quickly each model returns to the right temperature after being loaded.
A separate freezer compartment and easy-to-use drawers matter more than the total capacity alone. Que Choisir’s guide explains that a small freezer compartment won’t be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
If a fridge-freezer doesn’t leave enough room for fresh and frozen food, you could consider a larger appliance. Before choosing a model, measure the space, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors.
First decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then check how each model fits your kitchen and shopping habits.
Consider this if: your weekly shop regularly includes fresh and frozen food that needs to be stored in two separate compartments.
The trade-off: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much usable space there is in the freezer.
Consider this if: you only freeze food occasionally and mainly need space for fresh food.
The trade-off: according to Que Choisir’s guide, a small freezer compartment isn’t enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
Consider this if: your household needs more capacity and you have a suitable space and delivery access.
The trade-off: check the exact model’s dimensions and annual energy consumption rather than assuming they’re the same for every large appliance.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Check the depth of the drawers and how easy they are to access, as well as whether there’s enough room for air to circulate. | I want to fit in a full shop and find my frozen food without having to stack everything in one compartment. |
| Keeping food cold | Where available, look for comparable tests of temperature stability and cooling performance after food has been added. Check the model’s settings and instructions. | I load a lot of food at once after shopping, so I want to choose an appliance whose performance in this situation has been tested. Que Choisir includes a weekly shop in its test procedure. |
| Size | Measure the width, depth, required clearances and the route to your kitchen. Check that the doors can open fully, too. | A larger capacity won’t help if the appliance won’t fit through the delivery route or gets in the way in the kitchen. |
| Noise and energy use | According to the European Commission, the energy label shows information including noise emissions and annual energy consumption in kWh. Compare the capacities of the models you’re considering, too. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters to me. When comparing energy use, I look at the annual kWh rather than the energy rating alone. |
This figure doesn’t tell you how much space is set aside for frozen food. Different layouts can affect how easily you can put away a full shop.
Think about how much fresh and frozen food you need to store, then compare the capacity of each compartment on the energy label or product specification.
An integrated freezer compartment may not be suitable for storing frozen food regularly. Que Choisir explicitly distinguishes this from occasional freezing.
If frozen food is part of your regular shop, check the capacity and drawer access of an appliance with a separate freezer compartment.
A fast-cool or fast-freeze function doesn’t, by itself, tell you how stable the temperature will be after the appliance has been loaded. The settings and how you arrange the food matter, too.
Check the instructions and, where possible, look for comparable test results. Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge and gives a temperature range of 0 °C to +4 °C at the coldest point.
A larger appliance can be difficult to install if you haven’t checked the delivery route or allowed enough room to open the doors.
Measure the space and the route to it, then check the energy label for the model’s capacity, annual energy consumption and noise level.
These models give you examples of features to compare. They shouldn’t be taken as typical of every appliance from the same brand.
The KGN39VLCT fridge-freezer is an example of how space can be divided between the fridge and freezer.
The CNd 5704 Pure NoFrost is a useful example when comparing a large-capacity fridge-freezer.
The RB34T600CSA/EF is a good example of what to check if a fast-freeze function is important to you.
This selection includes fridge-freezers with separate storage for fresh and frozen food, as well as larger models to consider if you need extra capacity and have room to install one.
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This multi-door model is worth considering if you need more room for a big shop. Check the space and delivery access before choosing it. The model name lists a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E; compare the capacities of the two compartments as well.
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If your shopping includes both fresh and frozen food, check the space and access offered by each compartment in this three-door model. Its name lists a capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an energy rating of E, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the dimensions and interior layout before choosing.
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This fridge-freezer is worth considering if you want separate spaces for fresh and frozen food. Its name lists a capacity of 368 L and an energy rating of E. If noise or freezing a large amount of food at once matters to you, check the KGN39VLEB’s noise level and freezing capacity.
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If you need more room in a fridge-freezer for your weekly shop, compare how the capacity is divided and how much space the appliance needs. The KGN497LDF name lists a capacity of 440 L and an energy rating of D. Also check the freezer drawer layout to make sure it suits your frozen food storage needs.
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For a large stock of fresh and frozen food, this model’s name lists 333 L of fridge capacity and 192 L of freezer capacity. It also lists No Frost, 37 dB and an energy rating of E. Before choosing this side-by-side model, check its dimensions, delivery access, storage layout and annual energy consumption in kWh.
Compare the space set aside for fresh and frozen food separately: the same total capacity doesn’t guarantee the same layout. The energy label, as described by the European Commission, also shows annual energy consumption, capacity and noise emissions. Then check the drawers and, where available, comparable test results.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 °C and +4 °C. Check the temperature regularly and avoid overfilling the appliance to help cold air circulate.
According to Que Choisir’s guide, a small freezer compartment isn’t enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. In that case, look for an appliance with a separate freezer compartment, and check its capacity and how easy the drawers are to access.
Check the annual energy consumption in kWh, storage capacities and noise emissions. These are among the details shown on the label described by the European Commission. When choosing an appliance for weekly shops, compare this information with how much space you need in each compartment and the room available in your kitchen.