Choose according to how much space you need for fresh and frozen food. A fridge on its own is suitable if you rarely freeze food, while a fridge-freezer combines both functions in one appliance. A separate freezer is only worthwhile if you genuinely need more room for frozen food; it takes up space and runs continuously, as ADEME points out.
If most of your shopping is fresh food, compare the fridge capacity and useful storage space without giving up room for a freezer you’ll rarely use. Que Choisir recommends considering how often you shop and how much food you need to store.
If you need both zones in a single space, check the fridge and freezer capacities of a fridge-freezer separately. Que Choisir and the European Commission identify storage volumes as useful information when comparing appliances.
If you prepare portions to freeze and have room for an extra appliance, compare the capacity and access to food offered by an upright or chest freezer. Que Choisir also highlights ease of use as an important consideration.
Choose this if: you mainly buy fresh food and don’t need a regular supply of frozen food.
Bear in mind: the capacity for chilled food won’t meet any need you have for freezing.
Choose this if: you want to store fresh and frozen food in the space taken up by a single appliance.
Bear in mind: the capacity is divided between compartments, so check that each one suits the amount you store.
Choose this if: your current freezer capacity isn’t enough for your shopping or prepared portions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to make room for it and factor in the electricity used by an appliance that runs continuously.
Consider this if: the lack of space could be down to food or packaging taking up unnecessary room in your fridge.
Bear in mind: this option won’t give you any extra freezer capacity.
The percentages below reflect consumers’ main priorities when choosing an appliance to regularly store shopping and home-cooked meals.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh food | Usable fridge capacity and storage layout; whether or not there’s a freezer compartment. | If I mainly store fresh food between shops, I want a suitable capacity without giving up space for a freezer I won’t use much. Around 33% of consumers concerned prioritise capacity for fresh food. |
| Balance of fresh and frozen storage | The capacity in litres of each compartment and the appliance’s external dimensions, rather than its total capacity alone. | If I want to keep fresh and frozen food in the same place, I check that each zone can hold the amount I usually store. Around 27% of consumers prioritise having both functions in one appliance. |
| Freezer capacity | Freezer volume, access via drawers or an open compartment, floor space and the installation requirements specified for the model. | If I freeze prepared portions or larger shops, I compare an upright and a chest freezer based on the space available and how easy it is to access the food. Around 20% of consumers prioritise extra freezer capacity. |
| Size and electricity use | External dimensions and annual consumption in kWh shown on the label, for an appliance with a capacity suited to how you’ll use it. | If available space and electricity use are especially important to me, I compare the dimensions and kWh/year of appliances that meet my needs. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
Total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is for fresh food and how much is for frozen food. These two needs aren’t interchangeable.
Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment with your shopping and the portions you want to keep, as the European Commission recommends when reading appliance information.
ADEME points out that cooling appliances run continuously, and that an appliance that’s too large or an unnecessary extra one can increase electricity use. Anses also recommends not overfilling the fridge.
First check which foods really need to be kept chilled and whether your storage layout meets your needs.
The energy label shows both a rating and annual consumption in kWh; the rating alone doesn’t tell you the consumption figure.
To compare models suited to similar uses and capacities, check the kWh/year shown on their labels. Bear in mind that this isn’t the same as your household’s actual consumption.
The ambient temperature range an appliance can handle depends on the model. A stated capability for one appliance doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Before installing one in a cellar or garage, check the specific model’s climate class and permitted ambient temperatures, as well as the space needed to open it.
The RSSE265K40WN is an example of a freestanding fridge without a freezer, for prioritising chilled storage.
The freestanding KGN36ELEA fridge-freezer is an example of storing fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
The freestanding FNe 5217 upright freezer is an example of adding organised, vertical storage.
The WHM46122FR chest freezer is an example of a large-capacity option when you have enough floor space.
This selection includes fridge-freezers and a chest freezer that can switch between chilling and freezing, so you can compare different ways to store food at home.
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Worth considering if you want to combine chilled and frozen storage in one appliance.
Stated capacity: 355 L. Total No Frost and energy rating C are listed in the product name.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an appliance that combines fresh and frozen storage in a three-door design.
Stated capacity: 360 L. The product name lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
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Worth considering if you want a separate storage space that can switch between chilling and freezing.
Stated capacity: 291 L. The product name lists a removable basket, a five-level digital control and a defrost drain. It doesn’t provide both compartments at the same time like a fridge-freezer.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a large, multi-door appliance for storing food at home.
Stated capacity: 495 L. The product name lists a black finish and an E energy rating.
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Worth considering if you want a side-by-side design with the fridge and freezer capacities listed separately.
The product name lists 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer, plus No Frost technology, Multi-Airflow and an Inverter compressor.
Start with the amount of fresh and frozen food you have after a typical shop, then compare the capacity in litres of each compartment. Que Choisir gives an average guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, then 50 L for each additional person for the fridge. This isn’t a universal threshold: how often you shop, the meals you prepare and the space you have available can all affect what you need.
For appliances covered by European regulations, the energy label uses a scale from A to G and includes information such as kWh/year, fridge and freezer volumes, and noise levels. The European Commission says the QR code links to the EPREL database. For an unusual appliance, check that it falls within the scope of the relevant rules before comparing its label with that of a standard appliance.
Anses recommends storing food in the coldest part of the fridge, between 0 and +4 °C, not overfilling the appliance and refrigerating prepared food within two hours. Freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. Anses therefore recommends freezing food before its use-by date has passed.
Check the ambient temperature range specified for the model, the dimensions of the space and whether there’s room to open the door or lid. Que Choisir highlights the importance of the climate class. Liebherr and Whirlpool state that certain specific models can operate at temperatures down to −15 °C; this feature doesn’t apply to every freezer.
In France, when a private consumer buys from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity applies through the seller and is separate from any optional commercial warranty. The Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years from delivery of the goods to take action. When a new appliance is sold, the DGCCRF says the free take-back of an old equivalent appliance is covered by the so-called “one-for-one” rule. Check the practical arrangements with the seller.