Weekly shops and prepared meals
If you shop for several days at a time and prepare meals in advance, you’ll need a fresh-food area where you can easily find items to eat soon, as well as enough room for the portions you want to freeze.
Who are these options for?
A stock of frozen portions
If you batch-cook or regularly buy frozen food, focus on the freezer’s net capacity, how easily you can reach your portions and whether there’s room for a second appliance.
Small homes and limited food stocks
In a studio flat or a narrow kitchen, a compact appliance may suit smaller shops. However, make sure you can store your food and prepared meals without overfilling the fridge compartment.
What should you check before choosing?
To choose between a fridge-freezer, a fridge with a small freezer compartment, an additional appliance and a compact model, start with what you keep chilled and what you actually freeze. A compact model is primarily a solution when space is limited: you’ll still need to check that its two compartments, if it has them, suit your food stocks.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh food | Net fridge capacity, shelf layout and the position of the coldest area. | When I prepare several meals for the next few days, I want to see the dishes I’ll be eating soon and still have room for fresh groceries. Around 37% of consumers would make this their top storage priority. |
| Freezer capacity | Net freezer capacity and access to portions; for a separate appliance, floor space or drawer storage. | If I batch-cook, a small compartment may not hold all the portions I want to keep. Freezer space would be the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Size and space required | Dimensions, clearances specified in the manual and whether the doors or drawers can open fully. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to be able to install the appliance and reach what’s inside without cutting my food stocks too much. For around 18% of consumers, available space would be the main consideration. |
| Energy use and noise | kWh/year and noise emissions on the label, considered alongside the appliance’s size and usable capacity. | If my kitchen opens onto my living space, I consider noise as well as the electricity used by an appliance that runs continuously. Around 18% of consumers would put these factors at the top of their list. |
The European Commission says that the label on fridges and freezers includes information such as capacity, energy consumption and noise. Compare these details across appliances that meet the same storage needs: a large total capacity doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much space is reserved for frozen food.
Mistakes to avoid
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Focusing only on total capacity
Two fridge-freezers may divide their capacity differently between the fridge and freezer. If you often freeze meals, the net capacity of the freezer compartment needs to suit the portions you want to store.
Assess your fresh and frozen food stocks separately, then check the capacity in litres listed for each compartment on the label or model specification.
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Assuming a larger appliance means less food waste
Extra space won’t make food easier to see or replace planning your shop. ADEME recommends checking what you already have before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
Make space for opened food and prepared meals where you can find them, then check your supplies before you go shopping.
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Overfilling the fridge
Packing food too tightly can restrict airflow. For foods that spoil easily, including meat, fish and cooked dishes, Anses recommends using the coldest area, at 4 °C.
Check the manual to find this area and leave enough space between items. If your shopping consistently fills the appliance, reconsider how much capacity you need.
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Comparing only the energy rating
Fridges and freezers run continuously, as ADEME points out. The energy-rating letter doesn’t replace checking the kWh/year figure, particularly when the appliances you’re comparing have different capacities.
Compare annual energy use with that of appliances of a similar type and capacity, then check the stated noise level if your kitchen opens onto a living space.
Brands to consider by model
Bosch
The freestanding KGN362WDF fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for two separate compartments for fresh groceries and frozen portions.
- Bosch lists 218 L of fridge capacity, 103 L of freezer capacity and a noise level of 35 dB(A) for this model.
- These specifications apply to the KGN362WDF; also check its dimensions and compartment layout to make sure they suit your kitchen.
Electrolux
The ENC8MD18S is a built-in fridge-freezer to consider if your kitchen already has a housing unit with specific dimensions.
- Electrolux specifies a housing niche of 1780 × 560 × 550 mm, with 186 L of net fridge capacity and 62 L of net freezer capacity.
- The built-in installation and freezer capacity need to suit both your kitchen units and the number of portions you plan to store.
Liebherr
The CNd 5704 Pure NoFrost is an option to explore if you’re considering a large-capacity freestanding fridge-freezer.
- Liebherr lists a total capacity of 359 L and a noise level of 35 dB for this model.
- Total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen portions: check how the space is divided between the two compartments.
Whirlpool
The WFNF82EOXFR is a freestanding fridge-freezer to consider if you want to assess freezer capacity separately from fridge capacity.
- Whirlpool lists 223 L of fridge capacity and 97 L of freezer capacity for this model.
- These capacities don’t tell you how much usable space there is for your containers, so check the model’s interior layout.
Beko
The B3RCHE305HW is worth considering if door opening and shelf layout are important in a space-restricted kitchen.
- Beko lists a reversible door, a D energy rating, 196,80 kWh/year and 39 dB(A) for this model.
- Check the net capacities and dimensions before deciding whether this fridge-freezer will suit your fresh and frozen food stocks.
Appliances for different storage needs
This selection includes fridge-freezers for keeping both fresh groceries and frozen portions, as well as freezers to consider as an additional appliance if frozen food takes up a larger share of your storage needs.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 467 L four-door fridge-freezer
Worth considering if you’re looking for one appliance for fresh groceries and frozen portions, and have room for a large fridge-freezer.
The model name indicates 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the capacity of each compartment and the dimensions before choosing.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1, 495 L multi-door fridge, black
Worth considering if you need a large appliance for groceries and prepared meals; check separately how much space is available for frozen food.
The product name indicates 495 L and an E energy rating. Before buying, check the door configuration and clearance, as well as any water connection requirements for the dispenser.
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CHiQ JR227LSE, 227 L fridge-freezer, 54 cm wide
Worth considering for a narrow kitchen if you need separate areas for fresh and frozen food.
The product details list 153 L of fridge capacity, 74 L of freezer capacity, Low Frost, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the full dimensions, door clearance and kWh/year figure on the label.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest fridge-freezer
Worth considering as an additional appliance if you want more room for frozen portions, provided you have space to install and open a chest freezer.
The product name indicates 291 L, a choice of fridge or freezer mode, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Check which mode you’ll use and how easy it is to reach food stored at the bottom.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L No Frost upright freezer, stainless steel
Worth considering for storing frozen portions separately from fresh groceries, which still need fridge space.
The product name indicates three freezer drawers, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the installation dimensions and kWh/year consumption before comparing it with another appliance.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should the coldest area of the fridge be?
Anses recommends 4 °C in the coldest area of the fridge. Store meat, fish and cooked dishes there, and avoid overfilling the appliance so air can circulate.
Can you wait until a dish is nearly past its use-by date before freezing it?
No. Anses recommends freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until its use-by date is nearly up. It advises defrosting food in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or through rapid cooking or reheating. Once defrosted, eat it promptly, within three days at the latest, and don’t refreeze it.
What should you compare on an appliance’s energy label?
For domestic fridges and freezers covered by EU energy labelling, compare the A to G rating, kWh/year, compartment capacities and stated noise level. The European Commission says the A to G scale has applied to these appliances since 1 March 2021; compare models that meet the same storage needs.
Does a fridge bought from a business in France come with the legal guarantee of conformity?
Yes. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, when a consumer buys goods from a business in France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It covers goods that don’t conform to the contract and is separate from a retailer’s returns policy for change of mind.