For a household that does a weekly shop and regularly stores frozen food, a fridge-freezer with a separate freezer is a good starting point. Compare the usable capacity of both compartments, then check the space available in your kitchen. A multi-door model could suit you if you need more capacity, provided it can be installed and delivered; a fridge with a freezer compartment is more suitable if you only keep a small amount of frozen food.
If you put away a lot of fresh food in one go, look at the fridge space without overlooking the room you need for frozen food. Que Choisir takes shopping frequency into account when considering which style to choose.
The size of the freezer compartment matters just as much as the total capacity. A small integrated compartment may not meet the same needs as the separate freezer in a fridge-freezer.
Before choosing a larger model, check how much space it takes up, how its doors open and whether it can be brought through to your kitchen. Samsung also recommends measuring the delivery route with the appliance in its packaging for its RF48A400EM9/EF multi-door model.
Choose this if: your weekly shop regularly includes fresh food and a significant amount of frozen food.
Bear in mind: two fridge-freezers with the same total capacity can divide the space between fresh and frozen food very differently.
Choose this if: you need to store a lot of food and the separate storage zones of a large appliance would be useful.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a suitable space and a delivery route that can accommodate the model you choose.
Choose this if: your main priority is refrigeration and you only keep a small amount of frozen food.
Bear in mind: having a compartment that can freeze food doesn’t guarantee enough room for your usual frozen-food shop.
| Criterion | What to check | Relevant consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh and frozen storage | Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately, as well as the type of freezer compartment. | I want to put away my weekly shop without losing the space I need for frozen food. Around 42% of relevant consumers would prioritise this balance. |
| Space and access | Measure the space available, how far the doors open and the route the packaged appliance will take to the kitchen. | There’s no point choosing a large appliance if it won’t fit into my home. Around 33% of relevant consumers would prioritise whether it fits their kitchen. |
| Everyday use | Check the stated noise level, energy label and cooling features of the exact model. | In a kitchen close to the living area, I want to consider noise and the practicalities of everyday use. Around 25% of relevant consumers would prioritise these operating criteria. |
A large overall capacity may still leave too little room for frozen food or for fresh food after your weekly shop.
Compare the usable capacity of each compartment with what you usually buy, rather than following a fixed rule based on the number of people in your household.
An appliance might fit in the space you have planned for it but not through a doorway, corridor or lift. Samsung advises checking the route with the packaging for its RF48A400EM9/EF.
Check the dimensions of the appliance and its packaging, then make sure the delivery route and the space needed to open the doors are suitable.
A 4-star compartment may let you freeze and store food, but that doesn’t mean it will have enough capacity for a household that buys a lot of frozen food.
Check the compartment’s capacity and the model’s freezing capacity. If you buy a lot of frozen food, compare it with a fridge-freezer that has a separate freezer.
These features vary between models, even within the same brand.
Check the stated noise level and energy label for the exact model, as well as its usable capacities and dimensions.
Its fridge-freezers offer examples of how to compare the space given to fresh and frozen food separately.
The RF48A400EM9/EF multi-door model is an option for households looking for plenty of capacity and several storage zones.
Its fridge-freezers and single-door models let you compare a separate freezer with an integrated freezer compartment.
This selection includes fridge-freezers, multi-door models and a side-by-side appliance, so you can compare the space for fresh and frozen food and find an option to suit your kitchen.
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Consider this if your weekly shop calls for a large four-door appliance and you have space for it in your kitchen.
Stated total capacity: 467 l; Total No Frost; energy class E.
Before ordering, check the packaged dimensions, delivery route and clearance needed to open the doors.
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Consider this if you want a fridge-freezer for your weekly shop without immediately opting for a large multi-door model.
Stated total capacity: 360 l; Total No Frost; energy class E. The model name also mentions Wi-Fi and My Zone.
Check the space needed to open the doors and the delivery route.
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Compare this if you’re looking for plenty of total capacity for fresh and frozen food.
Stated total capacity: 495 l; energy class E.
Check how the capacity is divided, how far the doors open and whether the appliance can be brought through to your kitchen.
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Worth a look if your shopping takes up a lot of space in both compartments and a side-by-side style would suit your kitchen.
Stated capacities: 333 l for refrigeration and 192 l for freezing; No Frost; stated noise level of 37 dB; energy class E.
Check the dimensions of the appliance and its packaging, as well as the space needed to open the doors.
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Compare this if you want to see how a fridge-freezer divides its capacity between fresh and frozen food.
Stated capacities: 252 l for refrigeration and 103 l for freezing; stated width of 60 cm; energy class E.
Also check the height, depth, clearances and delivery route.
Start with the amount of fresh and frozen food you actually store, then compare the usable capacities of both compartments. The guidance per person cited by Que Choisir should be adjusted to suit how often you shop and how much space your frozen food takes up.
It may suit you if you only keep a small amount of frozen food and the compartment’s capacity and freezing performance meet your needs. If you regularly buy a lot of frozen food, compare it with a fridge-freezer that has a separate freezer.
Measure the space where it will go, the clearance needed to open the doors and the entire route to your kitchen. Remember to account for the packaged dimensions too: Samsung recommends checking this for the delivery route of its RF48A400EM9/EF multi-door model.
No. Also compare the usable capacities, dimensions and noise levels of the models you’re considering. The energy class alone won’t tell you whether the balance between fridge and freezer space is right for your shopping.