To stop leftovers and shopping from being forgotten, start by taking stock of what you keep, then compare fridge and freezer capacity separately. A fridge-freezer may suit you if you use both compartments regularly, while a small freezer compartment or a separate freezer may better meet other needs. Check the available space, kWh/an and noise level too. ADEME recommends keeping track of your supplies, but a larger appliance won’t take the place of good organisation or proper food storage.
If opened products or prepared meals get left at the back of the fridge, check how easy it is to reach the shelves and drawers before looking for more litres. ADEME and Anses offer advice on managing supplies and storing food.
If you regularly freeze portions or leave longer between shops, compare freezer capacity and drawer layout, not just the total capacity. Anses and Que Choisir Ensemble highlight the importance of storage practices and how often you shop.
If you’re replacing a built-in appliance or putting the fridge near a living area, check the dimensions, installation requirements and noise level before choosing a larger capacity. These criteria are covered in information from the European Commission, Que Choisir Ensemble and the manufacturers concerned.
Worth considering: if you regularly store fresh food and frozen portions, and have space for just one appliance.
Bear in mind: the split between the two compartments varies by model. Check the dimensions and how much usable space it actually offers.
Worth considering: if you mainly store fresh food and only freeze things occasionally.
Bear in mind: a small compartment leaves less room for frozen portions. For a built-in model, check the housing dimensions and installation instructions too.
Worth considering: if the meals and shopping you need to freeze regularly exceed the available capacity.
Bear in mind: you’ll need extra space. Compare the kWh/an for both appliances with those of a fridge-freezer that meets the same needs.
Worth considering: if the main problem is forgetting what you have rather than running out of fridge space, make your supplies easier to see and plan when to use them.
Bear in mind: good organisation doesn’t replace appropriate refrigeration or freezing for the food in question.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Finding fresh food | Check how easy it is to reach the shelves and drawers, and whether the usable fridge capacity suits your shopping habits. | When leftovers and opened products get lost in the fridge, around 33% of the priorities described here are from consumers who want to find them more easily. |
| Freezing portions | Estimate the largest amount you’ll need to store at once, then compare freezer capacity in litres and the drawer layout. | If you prepare meals in advance or regularly buy frozen food, around 27% of the priorities described here are from consumers who put freezer space first. |
| Electricity consumption | Compare the energy class and kWh/an. If you’re buying two appliances, add together their stated annual consumption. | “I want to limit the energy use of an appliance that runs continuously without choosing unnecessary capacity”: around 20% of the priorities described here are from consumers who put electricity use first. |
| Installation and noise | Measure the space and access routes. Check the housing dimensions, ventilation, door clearance and stated noise level. | When a housing unit or proximity to a living area limits the choice, around 20% of the priorities described here are from consumers who prioritise fitting in and noise. |
Fridge and freezer capacity serve different purposes. A large total capacity doesn’t guarantee enough room for your portions in the freezer.
List what you keep in each compartment at the same time, then compare the stated capacities in litres separately.
ADEME recommends keeping track of your supplies. It also points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, and that choosing a larger or unnecessarily well-equipped model can affect energy consumption.
Start by making leftovers easy to see and planning your shopping. Only increase capacity if you’ve confirmed you need more space.
Two separate appliances run continuously and won’t necessarily offer the same capacity as a fridge-freezer.
Compare options that meet the same needs, and add together the stated kWh/an for the separate fridge and freezer.
This term refers to frost; it doesn’t prove that less food will be thrown away. Temperature, organisation and storage practices matter too.
Check the model’s specifications and food-storage instructions. Don’t assume a marketing term means there will be a measured reduction in waste.
The models listed cover a freestanding fridge-freezer and an integrated fridge with a freezer compartment.
The models reviewed let you compare a separate freezer with a large-capacity fridge-freezer.
The KNT6ME18S4 offers a point of comparison for a built-in fridge-freezer when the housing determines your choice.
Beko’s French range includes fridge-freezers with different layouts.
These fridge-freezers combine a fresh-food compartment with a freezer. Compare the capacity split, stated energy consumption and dimensions to make sure each model suits your space.
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If you want to store fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance, compare the two compartments and their layout.
The Joybuy product listing gives capacities of 235 L for the fridge and 125 L for the freezer, with 271 kWh/an and 35 dB(A). The title also mentions class E, Total No Frost, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
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This fridge-freezer lets you compare fresh and frozen food capacity with its stated annual energy consumption.
The Joybuy product listing gives capacities of 238 L for the fridge and 98 L for the freezer, with 135 kWh/an and 35 dB(A). It also lists class B, five shelves and three freezer drawers.
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Its compact size may be worth considering if you have limited fridge and freezer needs.
The Joybuy product listing gives capacities of 115 L for the fridge and 59 L for the freezer, with a noise level of 39 dB. It lists three freezer drawers and Low Frost technology; this doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it manually.
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If you’re splitting your shopping between fresh and frozen food, check whether the capacities and compartments suit the way you usually organise your food.
The Joybuy product listing gives a fridge capacity of 183 L, a freezer capacity of 113 L and a 37 L compartment, along with 169 kWh/an and 34 dB. It also mentions a Fresh Converter drawer.
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Worth considering if you need to work around limited width while still having separate compartments for fresh and frozen food.
The title gives a fridge capacity of 153 L, a freezer capacity of 74 L and a width of 54 cm. It also mentions Low Frost and class E. Low Frost technology doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it manually.
Start with what you buy and store between shops, then consider fridge and freezer capacity separately. Que Choisir Ensemble gives an average guide of 100 to 150 L for one person and 50 L for each additional person. How often you shop and how much frozen food you buy also matter, so this isn’t a universal threshold.
A large capacity doesn’t replace proper food storage. Anses recommends checking the temperature in the coldest part of the fridge, covering partially eaten food and avoiding overfilling it. For the preparations concerned, it recommends refrigerating them within two hours; guidance may vary depending on the food.
Check the housing dimensions, door fixing type and manual against the exact model reference. For the KNT6ME18S4, Electrolux France gives a housing size of 1780 × 560 × 550 mm. This measurement doesn’t apply to other models.
For goods sold to a private individual by a business, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies under the conditions set out by law, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains. When selling a new appliance, the DGCCRF reminds retailers of the obligation to take back a similar used appliance free of charge on a “one-for-one” basis. Ask the retailer how this works in practice, and distinguish this take-back service from any installation or disconnection services that may be available.
Yes. Domestic appliances covered by EU regulations must carry an energy label. The European Commission says the label shows information including the A to G class, kWh/an, capacity and noise level. Check the label for the specific model you’re considering.