Families who stock up on frozen food
If you do a big food shop or prepare meals in advance, compare the freezer capacity with the amount you usually keep in stock. Don’t rely on the appliance’s total capacity alone.
Who is this choice for?
Households with a compact kitchen
If two appliances would take up too much room, compare the capacity of a fridge freezer and a multi-door model with your kitchen dimensions, walkways and the space needed to open the doors.
Households with a utility room or cellar
A separate freezer can hold more frozen food. Before placing it outside the kitchen, check that the room temperature is suitable for the model you’ve chosen and that the food will still be easy to reach.
What should you look for?
Fridge freezer
Choose this if: you want to store fresh and frozen food in a single upright appliance.
Bear in mind: the freezer section may be too small if you buy a lot of frozen food in one go.
Multi-door fridge freezer
Choose this if: you’re looking for more space in both sections and have a suitable place for it.
Bear in mind: check its overall size, including whether it will fit through walkways and leave enough room for the doors to open.
Upright freezer
Choose this if: you want extra freezer storage and would like to organise food in drawers.
Bear in mind: make sure the drawers can be opened and used easily in the space you have planned for it.
Chest freezer
Choose this if: you want plenty of freezer storage and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the food, perhaps using baskets, to reach items at the bottom.
For family food shopping, compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Then consider how easy it is to reach your food, how much space you have and whether the appliance can operate in your chosen room.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity of both sections | The usable fridge and freezer capacities in litres, listed separately; and the type of compartment designed for frozen food. | If I do a big food shop, I want to store my frozen food without taking space away from fresh food. Around 33% of consumers would make this extra freezer storage their priority. |
| Storage and access | The drawers in an upright freezer or baskets in a chest freezer, as well as access to food at the bottom. | If I use frozen food often, I want to find each type without having to empty the appliance. For around 27% of consumers, easy access to food would be the main priority. |
| Size and space | The appliance’s dimensions, the delivery route and the clearance needed for doors, drawers or the lid. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to leave enough room to move around and open the appliance. Having enough space would be the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Installation and energy use | The permitted ambient temperature range for the room; the energy label and annual energy consumption of comparable models. | If I put a freezer in an unheated room, I want to make sure it can operate at that temperature and know its stated energy consumption. This would be the priority for around 13% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Looking only at the total capacity
An appliance may have plenty of room for fresh food but not enough freezer space for your household’s needs. Que Choisir also distinguishes between an icebox, intended for short-term storage of already-frozen food, and a freezer compartment.
Work out how much space you need in each section, then compare their usable capacities separately in the model specifications.
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Putting a freezer outside the kitchen without checking the temperature
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for. So a cellar or garage won’t necessarily be suitable for every model.
Compare the room’s usual temperatures with the range specified for the exact model you’re considering.
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Underestimating the space a chest freezer needs
A chest freezer needs floor space, room to open its lid and a way to reach food stored at the bottom.
Measure the space and access route, then plan a practical way to organise the food.
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Comparing only the letter on the energy label
The letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption or account for differences in capacity between appliances.
As ADEME recommends when choosing household appliances, check the energy label. Compare the stated annual consumption with the usable capacity and type of appliance.
Brands to consider for the format you’re looking for
Bosch
Worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding multi-door model and have room for a wide appliance.
- Bosch lists the KFN96APEA as having 405 L of fridge capacity and dimensions of 1 830 × 905 × 731 mm.
- These specifications apply to this model only: check the freezer capacity, access route and clearance needed to open the doors of the model you’re considering.
Liebherr
Worth considering if you’re looking for a built-in fridge freezer and need it to fit into a kitchen cabinet.
- Liebherr offers built-in fridge freezers in different capacities, with features that vary by model.
- Check the cabinet dimensions and the capacity split between the two sections of the model you choose.
Haier
Worth considering if you’re deciding between a separate upright freezer and a chest freezer.
- Haier offers both formats; the H4F272WCH1 upright freezer is listed with a capacity of 276 L and a width of 600 mm.
- Compare the full dimensions, internal layout and installation requirements of each model.
Beko
Worth considering if you’re looking for a separate freezer, particularly if you plan to put it in an unheated room.
- Beko offers chest and upright freezers; the brand says its B1RFNE314W upright freezer can operate in an unheated room.
- This doesn’t apply to the whole range: check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model you choose.
Appliances available on Joybuy
These appliances let you compare two ways to store fresh and frozen food together, with a fridge freezer or a multi-door model, as well as a chest freezer for extra, separate storage. Compare the capacity of each section and the space required before choosing.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS multi-door fridge freezer, 467 L, silver
Worth considering if you’d like to store the family food shop in a four-door appliance. This model is listed with a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check that you have enough room to install it and open the doors.
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Bosch KGN33NLEB fridge freezer, 282 L, stainless steel finish
Worth considering if you’d prefer a single appliance with the freezer at the bottom. Its stated total capacity is 282 L and it has an E energy rating. Compare the freezer’s own capacity with the amount of frozen food you usually store.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1, 495 L, black
Worth considering if you’re looking for a stated total capacity of 495 L for your food shopping. This model has an E energy rating. Check how the capacity is split between fresh and frozen food, along with its dimensions and the permitted temperature range for the room you plan to put it in.
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CHiQ JR227LSE fridge freezer, 227 L, silver
Worth considering for a kitchen where width is important: this model is listed as 54 cm wide, with 153 L of fridge capacity and 74 L of freezer capacity. It has an E energy rating and Low Frost. Compare the 74 L freezer capacity with the amount you usually keep in stock, and check the height and clearance required.
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AUCMA convertible chest freezer, 291 L
Worth considering if you have enough floor space and want extra storage. This 291 L chest freezer can switch between fridge and freezer modes. It has a removable basket and an E energy rating. The two modes don’t provide two separate sections that can be used at the same time. Before installing it in a cellar or garage, also check the permitted ambient temperature range.
Frequently asked questions
Is an icebox enough to store several days’ worth of frozen food?
Not necessarily: Que Choisir explains that an icebox is for keeping already-frozen food for a limited time. If you’re building up a stock, check what type of compartment the appliance has and the storage conditions specified for it.
Can you install any freezer in a cellar?
No. Check that the temperature range the model is designed for covers the temperatures in your cellar. The climate class indicates this range; check it for the exact model before deciding where to put it.
How do you compare the energy consumption of two cooling appliances?
Check their energy labels and stated annual energy consumption, taking into account the type and capacity of each appliance. ADEME recommends using the energy label to help guide your choice, rather than looking at the letter alone.
What should you do with your old fridge or freezer?
Arrange for it to be taken to an appropriate collection point for waste electrical and electronic equipment. If you’re replacing an appliance, ask the retailer what take-back or collection options are available before delivery.