If you store fresh food and frozen portions each week, start by comparing the usable capacity of the two compartments in a fridge-freezer, rather than its total capacity. A small freezer compartment is better suited to occasional use, while a separate freezer is worth considering if you’re consistently short of space for frozen food and have room for a second appliance. In either case, check the route to your kitchen, the storage layout and the stated annual energy consumption of the models you’re considering.
If you prepare several meals during the week, count the containers you’ll keep in the fridge separately from the portions you’ll freeze. Shelf and drawer shapes matter just as much as the stated capacity when it comes to fitting everything in.
Between shops, frozen food has to share the freezer space with your prepared portions. Check how much room is actually available in the drawers before choosing based on the appliance’s external size alone.
If your current fridge still meets your needs for fresh food, a separate freezer could give you another way to organise your supplies. You’ll need to plan where to put it and compare the energy consumption of an additional appliance.
First choose a format that gives you the space you need for fresh and frozen food, then compare the features of appliances that can accommodate your usual stock.
Consider this if: you regularly use both compartments and want them in one appliance.
Keep in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee enough room in the freezer drawers.
Consider this if: you mainly store fresh food and only occasionally keep frozen food.
Keep in mind: UFC-Que Choisir says a small freezer compartment won’t be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
Consider this if: you mainly need extra space for frozen portions and shopping.
Plan for: a dedicated space and the electricity consumption of a second appliance, which runs continuously according to ADEME.
| What to compare | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer separately, then check drawer sizes and the space between shelves. UFC-Que Choisir gives a general guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person; this alone doesn’t determine how much freezer space you need. | My meal containers need to fit alongside fresh food, and my frozen portions alongside the frozen food I buy. |
| Cooling and adding food | Check how evenly the appliance cools and how much room is available when you add shopping or several prepared meals. UFC-Que Choisir assesses temperature and freezing performance when food is added; ANSES recommends not overfilling the fridge. | After cooking or doing the shopping, I want to be able to put food away without blocking the airflow. |
| Energy use | Check the annual consumption in kWh alongside the energy rating from A to G, then compare appliances of a similar size and capacity. If you’re buying a separate freezer, also consider its energy consumption on top of that of the fridge you’re keeping. | If I add a second appliance, the extra freezer space needs to justify its additional energy use in my eyes. |
| Installation and noise | Measure the appliance and check it will fit through doors, corridors and lifts; make sure the doors and drawers can open fully. The European energy label also shows noise emissions. | In an open-plan kitchen or a narrow space, I need to be able to install the appliance and access its storage easily. |
A spacious fridge-freezer may still have too little freezer capacity for your frozen portions.
Estimate the number and size of your containers, along with the frozen food you buy, then compare the usable capacity of both compartments.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment won’t be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
If you regularly freeze portions, compare the space in a fridge-freezer and, if necessary, a separate freezer.
The A to G rating doesn’t replace checking the kWh/year, usable capacities and noise level shown on the European energy label.
Compare these details for appliances with similar capacities and dimensions.
An appliance that fits its space may still be difficult to get through the access routes or open once installed.
Check the appliance and packaging dimensions, the route to your kitchen, and the space needed to open the doors and drawers.
These features apply to the models listed, not to every appliance made by each brand.
The KGN493WDA fridge-freezer is a useful example for comparing the stated fresh and frozen storage capacities.
The RB38T602CSA fridge-freezer is a useful reference for comparing total capacity and dimensions.
The WB70E973W is an example of a large-capacity fridge-freezer whose dimensions need careful consideration.
These five fridge-freezers combine fresh and frozen storage in one appliance. Compare their internal layouts before choosing a model for your prepared meals.
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Its three doors let you separate storage for fresh and frozen food; check how much room each compartment offers for your containers.
The product name lists Total No Frost, an E rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Measure the route and the space before ordering.
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This four-door design is worth considering if you need to divide a large amount of food between fresh and frozen storage; check the capacity and access for each area.
The product name lists Total No Frost, an E rating and Smart Inverter. Check that there’s enough room to open the doors where you plan to put it.
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With a stated 70/30 split, check that the freezer section can hold your usual portions as well as the frozen food you buy.
This model is listed as 54 cm wide and 176 cm high. Low Frost doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it manually.
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A bottom freezer is worth considering if you often separate frozen portions from fresh food.
The product name lists an E rating. To decide whether it suits your kitchen and the amount you store, check the capacity of each compartment, the noise level and the freezing features of this specific model.
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If you store containers of different sizes, take a look at the Flip Tray layout listed for this model rather than relying on its total capacity of 474 L alone.
The product name also mentions Vario Box and an E rating. Check the usable fresh and frozen capacities, kWh/year and noise level for the exact model.
Separate the containers you’ll keep chilled from those you’ll freeze, then add the frozen food you usually buy before comparing the capacity of each compartment. UFC-Que Choisir gives a general guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person; adjust this to account for how much of your food you keep frozen.
Consider one if you’re consistently short of freezer space, while your fridge still meets your needs for fresh food. Check where it will go, how the drawers are arranged and the second appliance’s annual energy consumption; ADEME notes that fridges and freezers run continuously.
According to the European Commission, the EU energy label for household refrigeration appliances shows the A to G rating, annual energy consumption, storage capacities and noise level. Compare the kWh/year figures in light of each model’s capacity and format, rather than looking at the rating alone.
Leave enough space between containers for air to circulate. ANSES recommends not overfilling the fridge and advises keeping food at between 0 and +4 °C in its coldest area; it also recommends not putting hot food straight into the fridge.
Measure the space where it will go, as well as the doors, corridors and any lift on the delivery route, taking the packaging dimensions into account. Then check there’s enough clearance to open the doors and pull out the drawers in your kitchen.