Choose a fridge freezer if you want fresh and frozen food close to hand in the kitchen and both compartments offer enough space. A fridge paired with an upright freezer is a good option if you want more room for fresh food and easy access to frozen items; consider a chest freezer for larger stocks that you access less often. If you’re placing an appliance in a utility room or garage, check its permitted ambient temperature range and the space needed to open it.
If your kitchen fridge is running out of room, moving frozen food to a nearby utility room could be one solution. A post on ForumConstruire gives an example of this kind of setup, but it doesn’t mean it will suit every home.
If you regularly look for portions or bags of frozen food, compartment layout and ease of access matter just as much as the stated capacity. Que Choisir highlights the importance of being able to handle drawers and reach your food easily.
If you store large quantities of food and have enough floor space, a chest freezer could be worth considering. Compare its capacity and footprint, check how easy it is to reach items at the bottom, and confirm the model’s permitted ambient temperature range.
A fridge freezer saves you trips to another room if both compartments offer enough space. With separate appliances, choose an upright freezer for easy access to drawer storage, or consider a chest freezer if you have room for bulkier items and enough floor space.
Choose this if: you often reach for frozen food while preparing meals, and the fresh and frozen compartments each meet your needs.
Bear in mind: the freezer takes up some of the total capacity. Measure the space available and allow for the doors to open.
Choose this if: you want to use your kitchen appliance for fresh food and keep frozen food in drawers in an accessible utility room.
Bear in mind: two appliances need two spaces, and getting food from the freezer means making a trip. How inconvenient that is depends on how you use it.
Choose this if: you stock up on larger quantities and have enough floor space in your utility room.
Bear in mind: it can take up more floor space, and reaching items at the bottom may be less convenient than in an upright freezer with drawers.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh food | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately; measure the space available and the clearance needed for the doors. | If my fridge is already overflowing, I want to work out how much fridge space I need before comparing total capacity. Around 33% of consumers are thought to prioritise this. |
| Access to frozen food | Consider how often you take food out, the trip to the utility room, and how easy it is to reach drawers, baskets or items at the bottom. | If I often take out frozen portions, I want to find them quickly, even if I have to go to another room. Around 27% of consumers are thought to prioritise easy access. |
| Stocking up and floor space | Compare freezer capacity, external dimensions and the space needed to open the lid or door. | If I store large packs or containers, I want to check that my utility room can fit the model I choose and that its contents will be easy to reach. Around 20% of consumers are thought to prioritise storage capacity. |
| Use and location | For two appliances, add together their stated energy use in kWh/year; check the permitted temperature range for each model installed in the utility room. | If I’m comparing two appliances with a fridge freezer, I want to look at their combined energy use and check that the room meets their operating requirements. Around 20% of consumers are thought to put running costs first. |
ADEME advises checking the permitted ambient temperature for the room where an appliance will be installed. If you’re putting a refrigeration appliance in a utility room or garage, compare this range with the room’s actual temperatures and check the documentation for the exact model.
A total capacity that looks sufficient doesn’t guarantee that the fridge and freezer compartments will each meet your needs.
Compare the stated capacities in litres separately and consider what you usually store before choosing between a fridge freezer and two separate appliances.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. Some manufacturers state that certain models can operate down to −15 °C, but that doesn’t mean every appliance can handle this temperature.
Check the stated range for the model you’re considering and compare it with the temperatures the room can reach, in both cold and warm weather.
Items at the bottom can be harder to reach, particularly if you open the freezer often.
Choose according to how often you take food out, the size of your food packs and the space around the lid or door.
Food that’s difficult to spot can also take time to find and put back in order.
This isn’t a like-for-like comparison. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously.
To compare energy use, add together the kWh/year figures for the separate fridge and freezer, then compare the total with that of a fridge freezer that meets similar needs.
The KGV33VWEAS and KSV33VWEP models are examples of a fridge freezer and a fridge without a freezer compartment, respectively. Compare them according to how much space you want for fresh food.
The H4F240WEE upright freezer is an example of a drawer model to consider for a utility room.
The CFe 2080 Pure chest freezer is an example to consider if storage capacity and floor space are priorities.
The WHM251122 chest freezer is an example of a mid-capacity option to compare with the amount of food you want to store.
This selection includes fridge freezers that keep fresh and frozen food in the kitchen, as well as separate appliances you can pair to suit your space and how you organise your food stocks.
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This all-in-one appliance combines a fridge and freezer for use in the kitchen.
Stated capacity: 355 L in total, including 252 L for the fridge and 103 L for the freezer; 60 cm wide; frost-free system; energy rating E.
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This model combines both compartments in an appliance that’s 54 cm wide, making it worth considering if your kitchen space is tight.
Stated capacity: 262 L; 70/30 split; height of 176 cm; black finish. The product description states an ambient temperature range of 16 to 38 °C and advises against installing it in a garage or outbuilding.
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This standalone freezer can be paired with a separate fridge if you want to organise frozen food vertically.
Stated capacity: 161 L; three freezer drawers and two drawers; reversible door; LED display; alarm; stated temperature range from −14 °C to −22 °C; energy rating C.
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This fridge, which has no freezer compartment, can provide the fresh food storage in a separate-appliance setup; you’ll need another appliance for frozen food.
Stated capacity: 82 L; adjustable shelves; salad drawer; energy rating E.
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A chest freezer could suit larger food stocks if you have enough floor space and can easily reach items at the bottom.
Stated capacity: 291 L; selectable fridge and freezer modes, but they can’t be used at the same time; removable basket; interior light; five-level digital control.
No. It depends on the permitted ambient temperature range for the specific model. Check its documentation and compare the range with the temperatures in your garage. Some manufacturers state a lower limit of −15 °C for certain models, but this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Add together the annual energy use in kWh stated for the separate fridge and freezer, then compare the total with that of a fridge freezer suited to similar needs. ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously, so compare the energy use of the models you’re considering as a whole.
An upright freezer with drawers can make it easier to organise and reach portions. A chest freezer is worth considering if you store larger quantities and have enough floor space. Que Choisir recommends checking how easy it is to use the drawers and access food in the compartments.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of your fridge between 0 and +4 °C. It also advises checking the temperature regularly, not overfilling the appliance, and cleaning it regularly and whenever it gets dirty.
For relevant fridges, freezers and fridge freezers, the label includes information such as the energy efficiency class, energy use, compartment capacity and noise level. The European Commission explains these details. Compare the information for the specific models you’re considering, and add together their annual energy use if you’re looking at two separate appliances.