Start by comparing the space for fresh food with the space for frozen food, rather than looking only at the total capacity. A fridge freezer is worth considering if most of your shopping is fresh; if you regularly store a lot of frozen food, look at a model with a larger freezer or consider two separate appliances. For a multi-door model, also check the available space and delivery route.
If you stock up the fridge for several days, compare the space for fresh food and frozen food separately. The energy label shows the capacity of each compartment, as indicated by the European Commission.
If you regularly freeze meals or buy frozen food, check the freezer’s capacity and layout. Once your food is put away, you should be able to monitor the temperature without overfilling the compartments; Anses highlights the importance of storage temperature.
A multi-door model or two separate appliances may be worth considering if you need more storage. Compare the space they take up in your kitchen, the route to the intended position, and the noise and energy consumption listed for the models you’re considering.
Start with the space taken up by a week’s shopping, then compare the fresh and frozen capacities. Next, check that the appliance will fit in your kitchen and that its noise level and energy consumption suit your home.
| Criterion | What to check | What shoppers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Balance of fresh and frozen storage | Compare the usable litres in each compartment with your usual shopping and the amount you typically keep in reserve, rather than focusing on total capacity. | When I mostly keep fresh food, I still need enough room for the week’s frozen food. Around 31% of shoppers would make this balance their priority. |
| Frozen food storage | Check the freezer capacity and drawer layout for your bags and portions. | If I often freeze meals or buy lots of frozen food, I want to be able to store it and find it easily; this would be the priority for around 31% of shoppers. |
| Capacity and installation | Check the dimensions, the clearances specified in the manual and the route into your kitchen, including the packaged appliance. | To store more shopping without blocking the way through my kitchen, I need a model that will genuinely fit in my home. This capacity that suits the available space would be a priority for around 23% of shoppers. |
| Noise and energy consumption | For comparable capacities and formats, check the kWh/year and dB on the energy label. | In an open-plan kitchen, I pay attention to the noise from an appliance that runs continuously, as well as its energy consumption; around 15% of shoppers would put these factors first. |
Two fridges with a similar overall capacity can offer very different amounts of space for frozen food. So the total capacity alone won’t tell you whether your supplies will fit in the freezer.
Check the fresh and frozen capacities separately, then compare them with your shopping and usual stock.
A multi-door model may fit in its intended position but not through a doorway or along a corridor. Samsung, for example, advises checking the delivery route for its larger models.
Measure the space, the clearances specified in the manual and every doorway or passage, taking the packaged appliance’s dimensions into account.
Your food must be arranged in a way that allows air to circulate. Anses recommends monitoring the temperature in the coldest part of the fridge, which should be 4 °C.
Leave room for air to circulate, check the temperature and put food that needs careful storage in the appropriate cold zone.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but does not destroy most micro-organisms. It does not remove the need to follow use-by dates.
Freeze food intended for freezing as soon as you buy or prepare it, and keep its use-by date in mind.
The range includes freestanding fridge freezers that combine a fridge and freezer in one appliance.
Its multi-door models are aimed at households with room to allow more width and depth for storage.
The brand offers fridge freezers as well as upright freezers if you’re considering separate storage for frozen food.
Its large multi-door models are worth considering if your kitchen and delivery route can accommodate a wide appliance.
These appliances combine refrigeration and freezing in one unit: one three-door model and three multi-door models. Compare their stated total capacity with the space you need for fresh and frozen food; this selection does not include a separate freezer.
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Worth a look if you want to keep fresh food and frozen food in one three-door appliance. The listing states a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone; compare the capacity of each compartment with the amount you usually store. Also check the installation clearances and whether the packaged appliance will fit through the delivery route.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a multi-door model for the family shop and have room for its size. The listing states a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating; check how the capacity is split between fresh and frozen storage to make sure it suits your frozen food. Measure the space and delivery route before ordering.
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Compare this with other multi-door models if you shop for several days at a time and store a lot of frozen food. The listing states a total capacity of 495 L and an E energy rating; check how many litres are set aside for each use rather than inferring the freezer space from the total. Check the installation space and delivery route too.
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Worth a look if you’re after a four-door model for the family shop. The listing states a total capacity of 474 L, Vario Box and an E energy rating; check the usable capacity of each compartment separately before deciding how much room there is for frozen food. Also check the energy label for consumption and noise, then measure the delivery access route.
Start by comparing the litres available for fresh and frozen food. The energy label described by the European Commission also shows annual energy consumption and noise levels. Use this information to choose between appliances with capacities that meet your needs.
Anses recommends monitoring a temperature of 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge and states that freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying. However, most micro-organisms survive freezing: follow use-by dates and freeze food intended for freezing as soon as you buy or prepare it.
NoFrost may be useful if you want to avoid manual defrosting, according to manufacturers’ descriptions, but it isn’t enough on its own to choose an appliance. Also compare the freezer capacity, layout, noise and energy consumption of the specific model.
Measure the space, the clearances specified in the manual and the entire delivery route, including doorways and the lift. Samsung specifically highlights these access points for its large appliances; take the packaged model’s dimensions into account when checking that it will fit.