Start by choosing the freezer position based on which compartment your household opens most often: a fridge freezer with a bottom freezer puts fresh food higher up, while a top-freezer, two-door model makes frozen food easier to reach. Next, check whether the layout keeps your food stocks visible, then compare the capacity of each compartment, energy consumption and noise levels. If the appliance needs to be built in, the housing dimensions, door fixing and ventilation requirements may determine your choice before anything else.
When several people do the food shopping, easy-to-spot items make it simpler to write a shopping list and avoid buying duplicates. ADEME recommends checking what you have before you shop and tidying your fridge regularly.
If you’re replacing a built-in appliance, measure the housing and check the door fixing and required ventilation. Bosch Home Appliances highlights the importance of the hinge type when replacing an appliance.
If you open the fridge often, consider how easy it is to reach food, temperature control, noise and energy consumption, as well as the space you need for frozen food. Anses recommends monitoring the temperature in the coldest part of the fridge.
Best if: you mainly open the fridge and want fresh food higher up.
Bear in mind: the freezer is lower down; this format alone doesn’t tell you its capacity or how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut.
Best if: you check frozen food very often and want the freezer compartment higher up.
Bear in mind: fresh food is lower down; check how easy it is to reach in the layout of the model you choose.
Once you’ve chosen a format, start with your main needs. The criteria below can help you compare appliances whose compartments and installation requirements suit your household.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility of food stocks | Layout of shelves, drawers and door balconies; space for the packaging you usually buy. | When several people put the shopping away, I want to spot opened food before buying more. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this visibility. |
| Kitchen installation | Space dimensions and access route to the room; for a built-in model, door fixing and specified ventilation. | If I’m replacing a built-in appliance, the new model needs to fit the existing housing and door. This compatibility would be the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Energy consumption and noise | kWh/year, net capacities and noise level in dB(A) for models with similar functions and capacity. | In an open-plan kitchen, I pay as much attention to noise as to the energy consumption of an appliance that runs continuously. Around 21% of consumers would put these criteria first. |
| Freezer use | Position, net capacity and access to drawers; stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If I often buy frozen food, I want an easy-to-reach compartment and a storage time that suits my concerns about power cuts. This would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A large capacity doesn’t guarantee that everyone can find what they need, or that your usual packaging will fit in the drawers. A confusing layout can leave food forgotten at the back of the fridge.
Compare the interior layout with what you actually store and make sure there are easy-to-recognise places for everything. ADEME also recommends checking your food stocks before shopping.
A housing that’s the right height may still be incompatible because of its width, depth, door fixing or ventilation requirements.
Measure the housing, identify the door fixing and compare these details with the installation instructions for the exact model.
A compatibility issue may mean adapting the door or arranging another installation visit.
Dropping off the appliance, installing it and taking away your old one aren’t necessarily part of the same service. The options vary depending on the retailer and service you choose.
Before ordering, check that the appliance will fit through doors and up stairs, confirm where it will be left, and check the installation and old-appliance collection options available with your purchase.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge at 4 °C. The freezer’s storage time during a power cut is a separate measure; it doesn’t indicate the usual temperature of the fresh-food compartment.
Check the manual to find the coldest area, use a thermometer to check it if needed, and avoid overfilling the appliance so that air can circulate.
A brand worth considering, particularly when replacing a built-in fridge freezer with a cabinet door.
A brand to consider if the housing, alarms and ventilation instructions are key to choosing a built-in model.
A brand to consider when comparing freezer layouts in a fridge freezer and a two-door model, as well as built-in options.
These models show a range of layouts for fresh and frozen food: a three-door appliance, four-door models, a side-by-side model and a built-in model. Compare their layouts with your storage habits and available space. Details in a product title don’t replace checking the dimensions and instructions for the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you’d like to divide your shopping between several storage areas. The product title lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check how much space it needs with the door open before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering if several people need access to separate compartments. The product title lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the route into your kitchen, then make sure there’s enough room to open the doors.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen, once you’ve compared the housing and door fixing with the instructions. The product title lists TwinTech No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the usable capacity of each compartment before assessing its storage space.
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Worth considering if you want separate spaces for larger amounts of fresh and frozen food. The product title gives a capacity of 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer, and lists No Frost and a stated noise level of 37 dB. Check its dimensions and interior layout.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for separate storage areas for your household shopping. The product title mentions Vario Box, a salad drawer with three temperature settings and an E energy rating. Compare the capacity of each compartment and the installation dimensions before buying.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part at 4 °C. Use the manual to find this area, store sensitive foods there and avoid overfilling the fridge so that air can circulate.
A fridge freezer with the freezer at the bottom suits you if you mainly reach for fresh food. A two-door model with the freezer at the top is worth considering if you often check frozen food. Whirlpool France describes the difference in layout, but you’ll still need to compare capacity and storage from model to model.
Measure the height, width and depth of the housing, then check the door fixing and existing cabinet door. Bosch Home Appliances highlights the importance of dimensions and hinges when replacing an appliance. The new model’s instructions should confirm that it’s compatible.
Follow the vent and clearance requirements in the installation instructions for the model you choose. Electrolux specifies 200 cm² of ventilation at the top and bottom of the cabinet for its integrated appliances; this isn’t a rule that applies to every model.
Compare the stated kWh/year for appliances with similar functions and capacity, then look separately at usable capacity and noise. The European Commission says the EPREL database lets you consult models’ energy information and other declared characteristics.