To keep fresh and frozen food for several days, start by comparing the fridge and freezer capacities separately. A fridge freezer is suitable when its freezer compartment genuinely matches your habits; a large multi-door or American-style model is mainly worthwhile if the extra capacity and access requirements are compatible with your home.
Allow enough room for several days’ worth of fresh food while keeping a separate freezer compartment. A fridge freezer is a good starting point, provided you check its fridge and freezer capacities separately, according to UFC-Que Choisir and Gifam.
Prioritise the freezer’s capacity and organisation rather than its total capacity alone. A multi-door model may be suitable when a fridge freezer’s freezer compartment regularly fills up; UFC-Que Choisir also points out that a conventional freezer can be useful for larger families.
Balance capacity, noise and delivery practicality: measure access points, door-opening space and the stated noise level. The latter is a useful first reference, but it cannot guarantee acoustic comfort on its own.
Choose it if: you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance that is easier to fit into your kitchen than a large-format model.
Watch out for: freezer capacity is often considerably smaller than fridge capacity; for example, Bosch states that the KGN36NWEA offers 216 L of fridge space and 89 L of freezer space.
Choose it if: your household needs plenty of storage in both compartments and has sufficiently wide access.
Watch out for: the documented Samsung RF59C701EB1 is 91.2 cm wide and 72.3 cm deep; Samsung advises checking that the packaged appliance will fit through the access route.
Choose it if: you only buy small amounts of frozen food occasionally.
Watch out for: UFC-Que Choisir says that a simple freezer compartment is not enough when you regularly consume large quantities of frozen food.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh and frozen food split | Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then an additional 50 L per person for fresh food. | I want to avoid a large total capacity disguising a freezer that is too small for my weekly frozen-food shop. |
| Size and access | Record the appliance’s width, height and depth, then check its packaged dimensions, delivery route, door swing and the clearances specified in the manual. | My appliance must fit through doors, corridors or lifts and be able to open without getting in the way in the kitchen. |
| Comparable energy use | Use the energy class together with the kWh/year, compartment capacities and noise level shown on the label. Compare similar formats and capacities. | I want a clear annual comparison rather than choosing based on the class letter alone. According to the European Commission, in the 2024 Eurobarometer on energy, 75% of the EU consumers surveyed said that the energy label had influenced their appliance purchase during the previous five years. |
| Noise | Compare the dB rating and noise class, then consult independent tests if quiet operation is important. UFC-Que Choisir uses below 40 dBA as a reference for the quietest models. | In an open-plan living space, I want a discreet appliance without assuming that a dB figure captures every vibration and tone. |
| Freezer maintenance | Check the cooling system and drawer layout. Gifam presents fan-assisted cooling or No Frost as a solution that avoids manual defrosting. | I would rather minimise ice build-up when the freezer is used regularly for the weekly shop. |
An appliance can appear spacious while offering too little room for frozen food. UFC-Que Choisir explains that a simple freezer compartment is not suitable for a high intake of frozen products.
Note separately the fresh-food and freezer capacities you actually use, then rule out models whose freezer compartment is already smaller than this requirement.
The documented Samsung RF59C701EB1 is 912 mm wide and 723 mm deep. Samsung recommends measuring doors, lifts and corridors to check that the packaged appliance will fit through.
Measure every access point, the available depth, the door swing and the clearances specified in the manual for the exact model before ordering.
The A to G class is useful, but the European label also displays annual consumption in kWh, capacities and airborne noise emissions so that appliances can be compared more precisely.
Compare kWh/year between models with similar capacities and formats, then check that the freezer capacity remains suitable for your shopping needs.
UFC-Que Choisir states that two appliances displaying 40 dB can be perceived differently: vibrations, frequency and the character of the sound also affect comfort.
For an open-plan kitchen, use the dB rating and noise class as an initial filter, then look for independent acoustic tests when quiet operation is a decisive criterion.
Worth considering for a standard-width freestanding fridge freezer. The documented Bosch KGN36NWEA is 60 cm wide and offers 305 L in total, split between 216 L of fridge space and 89 L of freezer space.
Worth considering for fridge freezers focused on stated quiet operation and high capacity, provided your kitchen can accommodate a wider appliance. The documented CBNsdc 765i offers 423 L, is 74.7 cm wide and has a noise level of 34 dB.
Worth considering if you are moving up to a large multi-door model. The documented RF59C701EB1/EF offers 649 L, including 390 L of fridge space and 259 L of freezer space.
Joybuy options for combined fridge freezers, helping you keep fresh and frozen food storage separate for the weekly shop.
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For weekly shops combining fresh and frozen food, with a stated 276 L of fridge space and 114 L of freezer space.
169 kWh/year, 35 dB, 59.5 × 203 × 65.8 cm, reversible door, No Frost and three freezer drawers.
Check the ventilation clearances, actual door-opening space and delivery route in the manual.
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For a weekly food supply split between a stated 230 L of fridge space and 114 L of freezer space.
204 kWh/year, 35 dB, 59.5 × 185.3 × 65.8 cm, reversible door, Multi-Flow, four shelves and three freezer drawers.
Check the exact model’s official net capacity, along with its clearances and delivery dimensions, before ordering.
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For several days’ worth of shopping, with a stated 276 L of fridge space and 114 L of freezer space.
264 kWh/year, 35 dB, noise class B, 59.5 × 203 × 65.8 cm, four-star compartment, automatic defrost and fast freezing.
Check the ventilation clearances and door swing for your chosen location in the manual.
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For weekly shops containing a significant amount of frozen food, with stated capacities of 230 L for fresh food and 114 L for frozen food.
No Frost, three freezer drawers, reversible door, plus Power Cool and Power Freeze functions.
Before buying, check the energy label, noise level, depth, delivery dimensions and required clearances.
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For a small household with moderate weekly shopping, offering a stated 187 L of fridge space and 75 L of freezer space.
54 cm wide, 176 cm high, 215 kWh/year, 39 dB(A), noise class C, reversible door, three drawers and a four-star compartment.
The Low Frost system requires manual defrosting; the 75 L freezer capacity may be limiting if frozen food takes up a large part of your shop.
Use the usable capacity of the fridge compartment as your starting point, then adjust it to suit your habits. UFC-Que Choisir recommends an average of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus an additional 50 L per person; check separately how much room you need for frozen food.
Check both compartments separately. The documented Bosch KGN36NWEA splits 305 L between 216 L of fridge space and 89 L of freezer space, while the documented Samsung RF59C701EB1 offers 649 L, including 390 L and 259 L: the right ratio depends on how much frozen food you actually buy.
No: it provides an initial comparison filter but does not fully describe acoustic comfort. UFC-Que Choisir uses below 40 dBA as a reference for the quietest appliances, while highlighting the effect of vibrations, frequency and the type of noise.
For fridges and freezers sold in the European Union, the label shows the A to G class, annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and airborne noise emissions with their class, according to the European Commission. Compare these details between appliances with similar capacities and formats.
In France, ecosystem states that retailers must offer a free “one-for-one” take-back solution when an electrical appliance is purchased. Confirm the practical arrangements for collection with the seller before finalising your order.