If you use both the fridge and freezer compartments every day without building up large stocks, start by comparing fridge freezers and the space they allocate to each compartment. A separate freezer is worth considering if your frozen food regularly takes up more room and you have a suitable place for it. Either way, the capacity and layout should suit the food you actually store.
Your storage habits matter more than the total capacity shown: they determine how much space you need for fresh food, prepared portions and frozen supplies.
You need to find fresh food and prepared portions easily, without them disappearing behind your next shop. ADEME recommends checking your stocks regularly and organising your fridge to avoid buying items twice.
If you regularly freeze portions or buy in bulk, check the usable freezer capacity and how easy it is to keep different foods separate. A separate appliance also needs its own space.
If you plan to use a cellar, garage or utility room, check the temperatures it can reach and the operating range specified for the exact model. Suitability stated for certain models does not apply to an entire range.
First decide between an appliance with both fridge and freezer compartments and a separate freezer for extra storage. Then compare each format with your stock and the room you have in mind. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide recommends looking at factors such as a freezer’s format, capacity and climate class.
Consider it if: you use both compartments every day and want them together in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is available for frozen food.
Consider it if: you mainly store fresh food and only freeze a few portions at a time.
Bear in mind: the compartment may feel too small when you buy in bulk or prepare food in advance.
Consider it if: you keep a separate stock of frozen food and want to organise it in drawers.
Bear in mind: it needs a suitable space and won’t replace a fridge for fresh food.
Consider it if: you have enough floor space and can organise your supplies using baskets or labels.
Bear in mind: the top-opening lid and access to food at the bottom need careful consideration.
| Criterion | What to check | Based on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing what you have in stock | Check how easy it is to access the drawers, bins and shelves, and whether there’s space for your containers. See which parts are adjustable on the model you’re considering. | I want to see leftovers and food I’ve already bought before doing another shop. ADEME recommends taking stock and organising your fridge regularly to avoid buying duplicates. |
| How the capacity is divided | Compare the usable capacity, in litres, of the fridge and freezer compartments separately. Also check the number and size of the drawers or baskets. | If I often freeze portions, I need enough space for what I have between shops, not just a large total capacity. |
| Space and access | Measure the space, then check which way the door opens, access to the drawers and the clearances required in the instructions. For a chest freezer, allow room to open the lid. | I need to be able to install the appliance and reach the food without blocking furniture or a walkway. |
| Energy and room temperature | Compare the energy label and stated energy consumption for appliances with similar uses and capacities. Check the climate class and the permitted temperature range for the room. | In a room with little heating, I first check that the model I’ve chosen can operate at the temperatures the room reaches. According to the European Commission, energy labels use a scale from A to G. |
Two fridge freezers can divide their capacity differently between the fridge and freezer compartments. So a total that looks big enough doesn’t necessarily mean there’s enough room for your frozen portions.
Keep a note of what you store at the same time for a few weeks, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment and the internal layout.
A climate class indicates the ambient temperature conditions an appliance is designed for. Beko says some FreezerGuard models can operate in temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all its freezers.
Record the room temperature throughout the year and check it against the instructions for the exact model before choosing where to put it.
A feature that deals with frost won’t organise your portions or stop you buying items twice. ADEME recommends checking your stocks and organising your fridge regularly.
Group food into categories and use clear labels, then check the contents of the drawers or baskets regularly.
These examples highlight features to check on a specific model. A feature or operating range doesn’t automatically apply to every model from the same brand.
The French range includes fridge freezers, single-door fridges and freezers.
The French range includes freestanding and integrated fridge freezers, with dedicated fresh-food drawers on some models.
The French range includes upright freezers, some of which are described as suitable for installation in an unheated room.
The brand offers chest freezers, with basket storage options available on some models.
These options include fridge freezers for keeping fresh food and frozen portions together, plus an upright freezer and a chest freezer for separate storage. Compare the space available for each use and the installation requirements before choosing a format.
Image unavailable
This fridge freezer brings the fridge and freezer compartments together for your shopping and prepared portions. Its product title specifies Total No Frost, an E rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Compare the capacity split with your stock, and check the installation clearances and the ambient temperature range the room needs to stay within.
Image unavailable
This fridge freezer keeps fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance. Its product title specifies a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. The freezer is listed as requiring manual defrosting, so factor this into maintenance. Check the annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range before deciding where to put it.
Image unavailable
This upright freezer provides separate storage for frozen food; it doesn’t have a fridge compartment for fresh food. Its product title lists three freezer drawers, a reversible door hinge, an alarm and a C rating. Check its dimensions and ambient temperature range before planning to install it in a cellar or garage.
Image unavailable
This integrated fridge freezer combines both cooling compartments in a fitted kitchen. Its product title specifies TwinTech No Frost and an E rating. Before choosing it, check the niche dimensions, door fixing and installation instructions, then compare the space available for fresh and frozen food.
Image unavailable
According to its product title, this chest can be set to fridge or freezer mode. Check that this suits your storage needs when you use it. It has an LED light and a removable basket, but the top-opening lid needs room to open, and food at the bottom will need organising. Also check the ambient temperature range for the room you plan to use it in.
No. Compare the temperatures the room reaches in winter and summer with the operating range of the model you’ve chosen. Beko specifies an ambient temperature as low as −15 °C for some FreezerGuard models only.
For a fridge or freezer sold in France, check its rating and stated energy consumption, then compare appliances with similar uses and capacities. The French ministries responsible for the ecological transition state that these appliances must carry an energy label; the European Commission says the scale runs from A to G.
No: its capacity should match the stock you can keep track of and use. ADEME recommends checking your supplies and avoiding duplicate purchases, so choose a capacity after considering your freezing habits and how much space you actually need.
No. The No Frost features described by manufacturers deal with frost, not keeping track of portions. Also check the usable capacity, access to drawers or baskets and whether you can clearly label what you store.
According to the DGCCRF, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual in France. Keep the product description from your contract and proof of purchase so you can report any lack of conformity to the seller.