If you stock up each week on fresh food, meal-prep containers and frozen food, a fridge freezer gives you both compartments in one appliance. Be sure to compare the capacity of each compartment and the space you have for installation. A smaller model may not have enough room, while a multi-door fridge or separate freezer is only worth considering if your storage needs and kitchen allow for it.
If you buy food for several days at a time, make sure there’s enough room for fresh produce, and check the freezer capacity separately if frozen food is part of your shop. UFC-Que Choisir includes how often you shop among the factors to consider when choosing a fridge.
Your containers need to fit alongside fresh ingredients without hiding the rest of your food. An easy-to-view layout also makes it simpler to check what you have before you shop, as recommended by ADEME.
Your preferred capacity needs to fit the space available. Compare the dimensions of a compact appliance with those of a fridge freezer, and check that the doors can open fully before opting for a larger model.
Start by working out how much room you need in each compartment, then compare the available styles with your kitchen dimensions and the appliance’s energy label.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh food capacity | Compare the fridge compartment’s capacity in litres, then check the usable shelf space for your containers and shopping. | I shop for several days at a time and want to store my meal-prep containers without hiding other food. |
| Space for frozen food | Compare the freezer’s capacity in litres separately from the total. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. | If I regularly freeze portions, freezer capacity matters just as much as the space for fresh food. |
| Appliance style | Consider a larder fridge if you mainly store fresh food, a table-top model if height is limited, or a fridge freezer if you want both compartments in one appliance. A multi-door model may suit larger stores, provided you have room for it. | I’m looking for a style that suits my habits, not simply the appliance with the biggest total capacity. |
| Separate freezer | If your current fridge has enough room for fresh food, measure the space for a second appliance and compare its freezer capacity, dimensions and kWh/year. | I mainly need more space for frozen food, so I’d rather check whether a separate freezer could work before replacing the whole fridge. |
| Installation and storage | Measure the width, height and depth, then check how much clearance is needed to open the doors. Also look at the layout of the shelves, compartments and drawers. | The doors need to open in my kitchen, and my containers need to fit the interior layout. |
| Energy use and noise | For appliances with a similar style and capacity, compare the energy rating, kWh/year and noise level. The European Commission says the labels on fridges and freezers also show storage capacity. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to consider noise as well as annual energy use. |
The total capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much room there is for fresh food and how much for frozen food. The compartment you need most could still be too small.
Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately for each model.
Replacing the whole appliance may not solve the problem if your current fridge already has enough room for fresh food.
Also consider a separate freezer, if you have a suitable space for it, and check the annual energy use of the options you’re considering.
An appliance might fit in the space available but still be impractical if the doors can’t open wide enough or access is awkward.
Measure all three dimensions and check which way the doors open, as well as the route into your kitchen.
Shelves and drawers help you organise your food, but they’re no substitute for keeping track of what you have.
Check that the layout works for your meal-prep containers, and take stock before you shop, as ADEME recommends.
Bosch offers fridge freezers designed to help you organise fresh and frozen food, including the KGN39AIAU and KGN86VIEA models.
LG lets you compare fridge freezers by the capacity of each compartment. The GBB61DSJZN product details list a total capacity of 341 L, with 234 L for the fridge and 107 L for the freezer.
Samsung France features the 647 L RF65A967ESR multi-door fridge, a style to consider if you need plenty of storage space and have room for a larger appliance.
Haier offers four- and five-door multi-door fridges, giving you several compartments for organising your food.
These fridge freezers and multi-door models combine a fridge compartment with a freezer. Compare their internal layouts and overall dimensions to make sure they suit the amount of shopping, prepared meals and frozen food you need to store.
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This style combines fresh and frozen food storage for shopping that needs to last several days. The product name lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the capacity of each compartment and allow enough room for the doors to open.
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Worth considering if you want to spread a large amount of food across several compartments. The product name lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Measure the space available and check the fridge and freezer capacities separately.
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This fridge freezer gives you one appliance for fresh and frozen food. The product name lists a C energy rating. Compare the capacity of each compartment and the dimensions with your storage needs.
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This model combines fridge and freezer space for your shopping and prepared meals. The product name lists a D energy rating. Before buying, check the depth and the clearance needed to open the doors.
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This fridge freezer is worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in one appliance. The product name lists Total No Frost and a B energy rating. Check the capacity of each compartment and the model’s kWh/year on its energy label.
Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately, then check the kWh/year, energy rating and noise level. The European Commission says the labels for fridges and freezers show this information. For a fair comparison, it’s best to look at appliances with a similar style and capacity.
No. The total doesn’t show how space is divided between fresh and frozen food, or how much room there is for your containers. Check the capacity of each compartment and the layout of the shelves and drawers in the model you’re considering.
Consider one if your fridge already has enough room for fresh food and you mainly need more space for frozen food or portions to freeze. You’ll need space for a second appliance, so compare its dimensions, freezer capacity, noise level and kWh/year too.
No. Choose based on how much room you need for ingredients and containers, how much frozen food you store, how often you shop and the dimensions of your kitchen. A fridge freezer gives you both compartments in one appliance, but check the capacity of each before you decide.