If you shop and prepare meals for several days at a time, start by choosing the usable capacity you need in each compartment, rather than focusing only on the total volume. A fridge-freezer is a good fit if its split between fresh and frozen food suits your habits; a multi-door model offers greater capacity if you have the space, while separate appliances let you choose your freezer capacity independently. Then check the dimensions, annual energy consumption and noise levels of the models you’re considering.
You need room for fresh food without choosing an appliance that’s too large for your needs. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide recommends matching the capacity to the number of people in your household and your shopping habits.
You’ll need enough freezer capacity, while keeping the fridge clear enough to store perishable foods. Anses recommends not overfilling it, so that air can circulate.
If your kitchen opens onto a living area, compare the stated noise level alongside the usable capacity and kWh per year. Check these figures for the specific model you’re considering, particularly on its energy label.
The right style depends mainly on how much space you need for frozen food and how much room you have for the appliance.
Consider this if: you store both fresh food and a few frozen portions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the split between fridge and freezer space is fixed for each model.
Consider this if: you’re looking for plenty of capacity, with separately accessible compartments, and have enough room.
Bear in mind: a wide or deep appliance can be tricky to install; check the energy consumption of the specific model you choose.
Consider this if: you regularly freeze lots of portions and want to choose the capacity of each appliance independently.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room for two appliances and will need to add together their annual energy consumption.
To estimate the capacity you need, UFC-Que Choisir suggests using 100 to 150 L for one person, then adding 50 L for each additional person. Use this as a starting point, adapting it to how often you shop and how much space you actually need in each compartment.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Well-balanced capacity | Usable litres in the fridge and freezer; dimensions and door clearance. | If I shop for several days at a time, I want to store fresh food without reserving space for capacity I won’t use; around 42% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
| Room for frozen portions | Usable freezer capacity and the layout of its drawers. | When I prepare meals to freeze, I need compartments where I can organise portions without sacrificing too much room for fresh food; around 33% of consumers put this capacity first. |
| Energy use and noise | Annual energy consumption in kWh and stated noise level in dB(A), comparing models of a similar type and capacity. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to take account of the noise and energy use of an appliance that runs continuously; around 25% of consumers prioritise this trade-off. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity can offer very different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. If you freeze portions, a large overall capacity doesn’t guarantee enough room in the freezer.
Think about what you usually store, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment.
Anses recommends leaving enough room for air to circulate in the fridge and keeping perishable foods, including cooked meals, in the coldest zone at 4 °C.
Check the layout of the shelves and drawers, then find the cold zone in the manual before arranging your food.
Capacity, energy rating and annual energy consumption each tell you something different. The published specifications for a Bosch or LG model don’t allow you to draw conclusions about all fridge-freezers or multi-door models.
Compare the kWh per year, capacity of each compartment, dimensions and noise levels of models that suit the same needs.
According to Anses, home freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria multiplying, but most microorganisms survive. Freezing food late won’t correct unsuitable storage.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, label portions with the date and defrost them using the methods recommended by Anses; don’t refreeze food that has been defrosted.
The range includes freestanding and integrated fridge-freezers, worth considering if you’re looking for a traditional split between fresh and frozen food.
The multi-door range includes high-capacity appliances arranged in several zones.
Liebherr offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, giving you a choice of different installation options.
These fridge-freezers and multi-door models offer two ways to organise fresh and frozen food in one appliance. Before choosing, compare their total capacity with the space you need in each compartment.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh food and frozen portions in a fridge-freezer. It has a stated total capacity of 440 L and a D energy rating. Check that you have enough room to install it and open the doors.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a four-door appliance to organise your shopping and frozen food. The model name indicates a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Measure the space needed for installation.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in a three-door appliance. The model is listed with a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, My Zone, Wi-Fi and an E energy rating. Check its dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if you need a multi-door appliance for a large weekly shop. It has a stated total capacity of 495 L and an E energy rating. Check the space needed around the appliance and the plumbing requirements if you want to use a water dispenser.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer for fresh food and frozen portions. It has a stated total capacity of 368 L and an E energy rating. If noise is a deciding factor, compare the noise level of this model before choosing.
Start with UFC-Que Choisir’s suggested guide: 100 to 150 L for one person, then add 50 L for each additional person. Adjust the space for the freezer according to how many portions you prepare, and the fridge capacity according to the fresh food you keep between shops.
Anses recommends keeping cooked meals and other perishable foods in the coldest zone of the fridge, at 4 °C. For portions intended for the freezer, it advises freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it, and notes that freezing at −18 °C doesn’t eliminate most microorganisms.
No, No Frost isn’t essential for storing frozen portions. On models that have it, this feature can reduce the need to deal with frost, but it doesn’t replace checking the temperature or arranging food so that air can circulate. Check that the exact model you’re considering has this feature.
Compare their annual energy consumption in kWh with the usable capacity of each compartment, ideally choosing appliances of a similar type and capacity. Energy labels available in the European Commission’s database show details including annual energy consumption and capacity; it’s also worth checking the noise level if the appliance will be installed near a living area.