To store the week’s ingredients and a few frozen portions in one appliance, start by comparing the fridge and freezer capacities of fridge-freezers. If frozen storage becomes a priority, an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer takes up more floor space and needs a well-planned storage system. A fridge with a small freezer compartment is better suited to occasional use. Whatever you choose, check the available space, the energy label and food storage guidance: an appliance won’t manage your stock for you.
If you cook for several days at a time, work out how much space you need for fresh ingredients and how much for frozen portions. A fridge-freezer lets you consider both needs in one appliance. ADEME also recommends checking what you already have in stock before you shop.
Shopping less often or preparing lots of portions can make a separate freezer worthwhile. The choice between an upright and a chest freezer depends as much on how easily you can access your food as on capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out in its freezer guide.
Measure the available space, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors or lid. If the appliance will be near your living area, check the noise level shown on the energy label too.
First decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then make sure the appliance will be easy to access in the room you have in mind.
Worth considering: if space is limited and you only freeze small amounts occasionally.
The drawback: a small compartment may not be large enough for portions you prepare regularly, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if you want to keep fresh ingredients and frozen portions in one appliance.
The drawback: the split between fridge and freezer space needs to suit what you store; total capacity alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Worth considering: as a complement to a fridge, if you want to organise portions in drawers and access them easily.
The drawback: check how much usable space each drawer offers before choosing this format.
Worth considering: as a complement to a fridge, for storing a large amount of frozen food in a suitable room.
The drawback: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a chest freezer takes up more floor space. Its open storage space also means you’ll need to organise your food so you can find it again.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity split | Compare the usable litres of the fridge and freezer compartments separately; the EU energy label shows their capacities. | To prepare several meals without needing multiple appliances, you’ll need enough room for both ingredients and portions to freeze. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
| Freezer capacity | Check the freezer capacity and how easily you can access food in drawers or baskets. If the appliance will be outside the kitchen, check its climate class too. | When you shop less often or build up a stock of portions, being able to find food easily matters just as much as having room to store it. Around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Size and access | Measure the height, width and depth, the clearance needed for doors or the lid, and the delivery route. | In a narrow kitchen, you need to be able to install and open the appliance without blocking the way. Around 20% of consumers would put this constraint first. |
| Energy use and maintenance | For appliances of a similar size and capacity, compare kWh/year, noise levels and defrosting type, rather than looking at the energy class alone. | If the appliance is near a living area, I want to know how noisy it is and plan ahead for any maintenance caused by frost build-up. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise these factors. |
A fridge-freezer may offer plenty of space overall without having enough room for frozen portions. The energy label shows the capacity of each compartment.
Estimate how much fresh and frozen food you store separately, then compare the corresponding usable capacities.
In an open space, portions stored at the bottom can be difficult to find.
Use baskets or tubs, label each portion with its contents and date, and keep a simple inventory.
ADEME highlights the value of checking what you have in stock before shopping. For food storage, Anses also stresses the importance of temperature and following the cold chain.
Use the storage zones to keep track of your food, check the temperature in the coldest part and follow the guidance for each type of food.
According to the European Commission, the label for fridges and freezers also shows annual energy use, capacity and noise levels.
Compare these details for appliances with a similar use and capacity, then check their dimensions and defrosting method.
Bosch offers freestanding fridge-freezers, some of which feature Total No Frost and VitaFresh.
Liebherr offers chest freezers and fridge-freezers, including models with dedicated storage zones.
Beko offers fridge-freezers with features such as AeroFlow, NeoFrost Dual Cooling and dedicated compartments, depending on the model.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, including some models described as Dual No Frost.
These models cover three of the options outlined above: a fridge-freezer for keeping fresh and frozen food in one appliance, and chest or upright freezers for adding dedicated storage. Before you choose, compare each format with your usual stock and the space available.
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For keeping fresh ingredients and frozen portions in one appliance.
The model name indicates a capacity of 360 L, three doors, Total No Frost, energy class E, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the manual for the temperatures in each zone and the space required for installation.
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For households looking to combine refrigeration and freezing in one freestanding appliance.
The model name indicates a capacity of 355 L, Total No Frost and energy class C. Measure the space and check the capacity of each compartment, along with the temperatures specified in the model documentation.
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For storing fresh and frozen food in one fridge-freezer.
The model name indicates a capacity of 344 L and energy class D. Before comparing it with another fridge-freezer, check the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions and the energy-use figures.
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For building up a freezer reserve in a chest freezer, if you have the floor space and can keep its contents organised.
The product name indicates a capacity of 291 L, energy class E, a removable basket, LED lighting and five-level digital control. It describes an appliance that switches between fridge and freezer modes, not two compartments that operate at the same time. Check the temperatures for each mode in the manual.
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For organising frozen portions in an appliance separate from your fridge.
The product name indicates a capacity of 161 L, three drawers, No Frost, an alarm and energy class C. It lists a temperature range of -14 °C to -22 °C: check the manual for the right temperatures for your food, and measure the space before installation.
Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Use the manual to find this area, check its temperature and store meat, fish and cooked meals there.
No. Anses recommends freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until its use-by date is nearly up. Freezing at home at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive.
Anses recommends defrosting them in the fridge, in a microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly by cooking or reheating. Defrosted food should be eaten promptly, within three days at the latest, and must not be refrozen.
For domestic appliances sold in the European Union, compare the A to G energy class, annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise level. The European Commission explains that the label’s QR code links to further information in EPREL. Most importantly, compare appliances with a similar purpose and capacity.
Yes, provided the room temperature is within the model’s specified climate class and the appliance is installed according to the manual. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this for chest freezers kept outside the kitchen. Also measure the space and the clearance needed to open the lid.