Choose based on what you’re actually short of: space for fresh food, enough freezer capacity for your portions, or extra room for frozen food. Compare usable capacities separately, then check the appliance’s dimensions and kWh/year. Keeping one appliance and adding another also means taking their continuous running costs into account.
If you store several days’ worth of fresh food and prepared meals, make sure there’s enough room for your containers without overfilling the fridge. Anses recommends not overloading it, to help keep food properly preserved.
If you store prepared meals or frozen food, compare the freezer compartment’s usable capacity with the portions and containers you need to fit, rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
If the appliance needs to fit in your home, utility room or garage, its dimensions, delivery route, door clearance and permitted ambient temperature matter just as much as its capacity.
Worth considering if: most of your shopping and meal prep needs to go in the fresh-food section, and you already have a suitable way to freeze food.
Bear in mind: a fridge without a proper freezer compartment won’t meet a significant need for frozen storage.
Worth considering if: you need both a fridge and a freezer in one appliance.
Bear in mind: check the usable capacity of each compartment separately. The freezer may not have enough room for a large stock of frozen food.
Worth considering if: your fridge has enough room for fresh food, but you’ve run out of space for portions or frozen food.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space and an electricity supply for the appliance. Check its permitted ambient temperature range too.
Worth considering if: you need both a large fridge and a separate freezer for frozen food.
Bear in mind: allow for the space you’ll need and compare the two appliances’ kWh/year with those of a fridge-freezer that meets your needs.
| Priority | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh-food capacity | Estimate how much space you need after your biggest shop, including meal containers. Compare fridge capacity in litres and the shelf layout. | If I shop for several days at a time, I want enough room for fresh food and prepared meals without filling the fridge to the brim. Around 36% of consumers put fresh-food storage capacity first. |
| Freezer capacity | Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in litres with your containers, and check the model’s stated freezing capacity. | If I freeze portions or stock up on frozen food, I look at the freezer’s capacity, not just the capacity of the whole appliance. Around 29% of consumers make freezer storage their top priority. |
| Access and installation | Measure the access route and space for the appliance, allow clearance for doors or drawers to open, and check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range. | If space is limited, or the appliance needs to go in a utility room or garage, I check that it can be delivered, installed and used in those conditions. Around 21% of consumers prioritise how well it will fit in their home. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the kWh/year of models that genuinely meet your needs. If you’re buying two appliances, add together their stated annual energy consumption. | Once I’ve worked out the capacity I need, I compare the stated energy consumption so I don’t choose a bigger appliance without good reason. Around 14% of consumers make energy consumption their top priority. |
ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, and that choosing a size or capacity you don’t need can increase your electricity consumption.
A large total capacity doesn’t guarantee that the freezer compartment will fit your portions or frozen-food stash.
Compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer compartments separately with the maximum amount you usually store.
If you keep your fridge, the new appliance will be added to equipment that already runs continuously. ADEME recommends taking the energy consumption of cooling appliances into account.
Compare the stated kWh/year for options that meet your needs. If you use two appliances, add together their stated annual energy consumption.
An appliance that looks suitable on paper may be difficult to install or use if its size, opening or the room temperature isn’t right for your home.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the model’s installation requirements. The French Ministry of the Economy says delivery charges and, where offered, paid installation must be communicated in writing before you buy.
The KGN36NLEA fridge-freezer lets you compare the stated capacities of the fridge and freezer compartments in a single appliance.
The GBV3100EPY fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’d like both compartments in one appliance.
The FNe 4605 Pure NoFrost is an example of a separate upright freezer.
The SW8 AM2D WHR 2 is an example of a single-door fridge for households that mainly need space for fresh food.
These integrated and freestanding fridge-freezers combine a fridge and freezer compartment. Compare the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions and the stated energy consumption to find an option that suits the space you have and the amount of food you want to store.
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Store fresh and frozen food in two compartments with separately stated capacities.
347 l fridge and 197 l freezer; 254 kWh/year; dimensions: 911 × 1786 × 615 mm; No Frost.
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Combine fresh and frozen storage in an integrated appliance, provided it’s compatible with your cabinetry and installation.
186 l fridge and 62 l freezer; energy class E; sliding-door installation requires compatible cabinetry.
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Compare two storage compartments in a freestanding appliance with stated annual energy consumption.
Approx. 249 l fridge and 106 l freezer; 240 kWh/year; freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h; stated ambient temperature range: 10 to 43 °C.
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Store fresh food and frozen portions in compartments with separately stated capacities.
235 l fridge and 125 l freezer; 271 kWh/year; freezing capacity of 10 kg/24 h; three freezer drawers.
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Keep a generous amount of fresh food separate from frozen food in a dedicated compartment.
322 l fridge and 115 l freezer; 254 kWh/year; freezing capacity of 5,5 kg/24 h; manual defrosting of the freezer compartment.
Not necessarily. Compare the compartment’s capacity and features with the amount you want to freeze. If you need to store a lot, consider a fridge-freezer with a suitably sized freezer section or a separate freezer.
Measure the space and the route to it, then check the model’s dimensions and the clearance needed to open it. In France, the Ministry of the Economy says the seller must provide the delivery price in writing before purchase. If they offer paid installation, they must also state its cost.
No. Check the model’s specified ambient temperature range and compare it with the conditions in the room. Liebherr says the FNe 4605 can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C, checking the temperature regularly and avoiding overfilling it. These steps are useful whatever the appliance’s capacity.
The DGCCRF says energy labelling applies to new domestic refrigeration appliances sold in France, including online. When you buy new equipment, the Ministry of the Economy says free take-back of an old equivalent appliance is available on a ‘one-for-one’ basis. Check the practical arrangements with the seller.