If you keep fresh ingredients and regularly freeze some of the meals you prepare for the week, start by comparing fridge freezers. The usable capacity of the fridge and freezer compartments should suit your containers separately. A small freezer compartment is better suited to occasional use; separate appliances are worth considering if frozen storage becomes a priority, provided you have the space and compare their combined annual energy consumption.
You prepare several portions in advance while keeping fresh ingredients to hand. Check the usable capacity of each compartment: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how many containers will fit in the freezer.
The space you can actually use in the drawers matters more to you than the overall capacity. Compare a fridge freezer with a generous freezer compartment against the option of installing a separate freezer.
In a small kitchen, or when replacing an integrated appliance, measure the space and check the installation requirements, door opening direction and usable capacities. These constraints could rule out an appliance that would otherwise suit your portions.
Before planning to buy an extra appliance, check whether better organisation in your current one will do the job. It won’t, however, give you more cooling capacity. If you need to replace an appliance, first decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then compare the dimensions and kWh/an of models that meet the same needs.
Consider this if: you keep fresh ingredients and a regular supply of frozen portions at the same time.
The trade-off: a large total capacity can still leave too little room in the freezer drawers.
Consider this if: you mainly keep meals chilled and rarely freeze portions.
The trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a simple freezer compartment isn’t suitable if you eat a lot of frozen food.
Consider this if: you need plenty of frozen storage and have space for both appliances.
The trade-off: they take up more room. Add together the kWh/an of the two models you’re considering before comparing them with a fridge freezer that has the right capacity.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh-to-frozen capacity | Count the portions you store at the same time and compare the usable litres in each compartment separately. Check how much room your largest containers will take up. | I want to keep the week’s ingredients chilled without running out of space for the meals I freeze; around 42% of consumers would put this balance first. |
| Frozen storage | Check the freezer’s usable capacity, as well as the size and number of drawers. Don’t assume you can work this out from the total capacity. | When I freeze most of the portions I prepare, I need to be able to store them without blocking access to other food; freezer capacity would be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Energy use and space | Compare the kWh/an of models with similar capacities and measure the available space, or the housing unit for an integrated appliance. | If my kitchen is compact, I want enough capacity without setting aside space for storage I won’t use; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
As a starting point for sizing your fridge, UFC-Que Choisir suggests allowing 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person, then 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this to suit the containers and portions you actually store: it doesn’t determine the freezer size on its own. ADEME points out that cooling appliances run continuously; their size and buying more capacity than you need can affect energy consumption.
A fridge freezer may offer plenty of fridge space but too few drawers for the meals you want to freeze. Conversely, a large freezer compartment that you barely use takes up unnecessary space.
Work out the maximum number of fresh and frozen portions you’ll have at the same time, then check that your containers will fit the capacity and layout of each compartment.
ADEME says that the size of a cooling appliance and buying more capacity than you need can increase its energy consumption, as it runs continuously. Size alone isn’t enough to compare two specific models.
Once you’ve worked out the capacity you need, compare the stated annual consumption in kWh/an for appliances with similar layouts and capacities.
Two appliances with the same letter rating can have different capacities and layouts. The letter doesn’t replace the annual energy consumption or the exact model reference.
Before comparing models, check the energy label and product information sheet for the kWh/an, capacity of each compartment and model reference.
During inspections, the DGCCRF found issues with energy label displays and inconsistencies in product documentation. A photo or product title alone isn’t enough to compare a model’s specifications.
Make sure the product reference matches its energy label and information sheet. Check its EPREL entry if you need to clarify any discrepancies.
The range includes freestanding and integrated fridge freezers to consider, depending on how you want to divide the space between fresh and frozen food.
Some fridge freezers feature specialist freshness compartments. Compare these with the space you need for your meal containers.
The range of fridge freezers may appeal to households looking for a flexible interior layout.
Compare the brand’s fridge freezers model by model, looking at how their capacity is divided and the type of cooling they use.
Housing dimensions and the capacity of each compartment are particularly important when replacing an integrated fridge freezer.
These Joybuy fridge freezers combine chilled storage and a freezer for meals prepared for the week. Their freestanding and integrated styles, as well as their total capacities, vary. Before choosing, compare them with the space you need for your containers.
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Worth considering if you regularly store fresh and frozen meals and have enough room for a four-door model.
Total No Frost and energy rating E are stated in the model title. Check how the capacity is divided and the installation dimensions before buying.
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For a fitted kitchen with a housing unit, this model combines chilled and frozen storage in one integrated appliance.
No Frost and energy rating C are stated in the title. Check the housing dimensions and the model’s installation requirements.
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This larger model is worth considering if your weekly stock needs plenty of space and your kitchen can accommodate it.
The title states energy rating E. Check the space allocated to the freezer, the required clearances and whether the appliance will fit through to its intended location.
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A bottom-mounted freezer is worth considering if you want to keep frozen portions separate from food stored in the fridge.
The title states energy rating E. Compare the capacity of each compartment with your containers, and check the noise level if the appliance will be near a living area.
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This model is designed for kitchens with space for an integrated fridge freezer, provided its freezer can accommodate the number of portions you want to store.
TwinTech No Frost and energy rating E are stated in the title. Check that the housing unit and door system are compatible, then compare its annual consumption in kWh/an.
No. Check the freezer’s own capacity and the usable space in its drawers. If you store a lot of frozen food, UFC-Que Choisir warns in particular about the limitations of a simple freezer compartment.
Add together the kWh/an listed for the fridge and freezer you’re considering, then compare the total with that of a fridge freezer offering the right capacity for fresh and frozen food. ADEME’s published averages — 315 kWh/an for a fridge freezer, 180 kWh/an for a fridge and 300 kWh/an for a freezer — are for different appliance categories, not appliances of the same capacity and age.
Measure the housing unit and check the installation requirements and door system for the model you’ve chosen, as well as the capacity of each compartment. As an example for this specific model, Electrolux lists a housing size of 1780 × 560 × 550 mm for the KNT6ME18S4.
Yes. The French Ministry of the Economy states that the energy labelling requirement for fridges also applies to online sales. Check that the label matches the exact model reference and shows, among other details, the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh.
Compare the exact model reference with the energy label and product information sheet, then check the model’s EPREL entry to clarify any discrepancy. The DGCCRF found display anomalies during its inspections, so don’t rely on the product title alone.