Households buying fresh and frozen food every week
If you need to store both until your next shop, compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer separately. A large total capacity can disguise a freezer that’s too small for your supplies.
Who is this type of fridge-freezer for?
How often you shop and how much frozen food you buy will affect the capacity you need in each compartment, as highlighted in UFC-Que Choisir’s buying guide.
Households storing lots of frozen food
Check the freezer capacity and drawer layout. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide points out that a small freezer compartment may not meet your needs if you eat a lot of frozen food.
Shoppers with a compact or open-plan kitchen
Measure the space, the route into the kitchen and the clearance needed to open the doors. If the appliance is near a living area, compare the noise emissions listed for each model too.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with a typical week’s shop, then check that the capacity of each compartment and the available space meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity split | Compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer, then check the arrangement of the shelves and drawers. The total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is allocated to each compartment. | I stock up on fresh and frozen food for several days: both need to fit without overfilling their compartments. |
| Style and freezing capacity | For a mix of fresh and frozen food, consider a fridge-freezer with separate compartments. If you buy little frozen food, check the capacity and intended use of a small freezer compartment. If space is tight, check the capacity of a top-mount model. | Do I buy frozen food occasionally, or do I need to store a week’s supply? The answer matters more than the name of the style. |
| Large capacity | For a multi-door model, compare the fridge and freezer capacities, dimensions, delivery access and door clearance. UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be just as bulky and heavy as American-style fridge-freezers. | I want more room for my supplies, but only if the appliance fits in my kitchen and is easy to open. |
| Unpacking your shopping | Look for relevant test results on how the appliance handles a large amount of food being added. Don’t assume that the temperature will remain stable based on a single advertised feature. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes a simulated weekly shop. | When I put away my weekly shop, I want to be able to distinguish test results from features listed on a product page. |
| Noise and energy use | Check the noise emissions, energy rating and annual energy consumption for the exact model. The European Commission also states that the energy label shows storage capacities. | Noise matters to me in an open-plan kitchen. I also want to compare the energy use of appliances that can hold my supplies. |
| Freezer maintenance | Check whether the freezer is listed as No Frost or needs manual defrosting. Either way, follow the instructions and check the recommended temperature settings. | I want to know what maintenance to expect without choosing a technology at the expense of the freezer capacity I need. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Looking only at the total capacity
Two appliances with a similar total capacity can allocate space differently between fresh and frozen food. A small freezer compartment may not be big enough for a large weekly supply.
Make a list of what you buy in a typical week, then compare the usable capacity and drawer layout of each compartment.
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Treating capacity per person as a hard-and-fast rule
The number of people in your household doesn’t tell you how much you buy in bulk, how much frozen food you eat or how often you actually shop.
Use any capacity guideline as a starting point, then choose a model that suits the shopping you really need to store.
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Forgetting about installation and noise
An appliance might fit in the space you’ve set aside but still not have enough clearance for the doors to open. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that multi-door models can be particularly bulky.
Measure the space and delivery route, check the clearance required in the instruction manual, and compare noise emissions if your kitchen is open-plan.
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Expecting No Frost to solve every storage problem
This feature doesn’t tell you how much usable freezer space there is or how much room the drawers provide.
Check the storage layout first. If you choose a model that needs manual defrosting, allow for the maintenance specified in the instruction manual. UFC-Que Choisir recommends setting the fridge to between 4 °C and 5 °C and the freezer to −18 °C.
A few brands to compare
These examples can help you compare the configurations and features of specific models. They don’t necessarily reflect the entire range from each brand.
Bosch
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, with the freezer at the top or bottom.
- For the KGN362LAF, Bosch lists 218 L of fridge capacity, 103 L of freezer capacity and a noise level of 30 dB. These figures are useful when comparing this specific model.
- Check the capacity split and noise level on the product page for the Bosch model you’re considering; these figures don’t apply to the whole range.
Liebherr
The CBNsfc 5223 Plus is an example of a model to consider when the way fresh and frozen food is organised matters to you.
- Liebherr lists a total capacity of 320 L, a noise level of 35 dB, and BioFresh and NoFrost features for this model.
- The total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food, so check the freezer compartment of the model you choose.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool’s product pages let you compare a freestanding fridge-freezer with a built-in model, which have different installation requirements.
- Whirlpool lists 223 L of fridge capacity and 97 L of freezer capacity for the WFNF82EOXFR.
- For the built-in WHC18T323P, Whirlpool specifies a 56 cm-wide niche. Check the installation dimensions for the model you choose.
Fridge-freezers on Joybuy
This selection includes fridge-freezers with separate compartments for fresh and frozen food, as well as a multi-door model to consider if you have larger storage needs and enough room. Compare the compartments and installation requirements to suit your weekly shop.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, three doors, 360 L
If your weekly shop includes both fresh and frozen food, check that the layout of this three-door model suits the way you store each type. The product description lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Measure the space too, and check the instruction manual for the required clearances.
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Bosch KGN33NLEB, bottom freezer, 282 L
The bottom freezer may suit you if you want separate spaces for fresh and frozen food; check the usable capacity of each. The product description lists an E energy rating. If your kitchen is open-plan or the door opening direction matters, check the noise level and door details on the product page. Follow the instructions on handling and installing the refrigerant.
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CHiQ JR227LSE, 227 L, 54 cm wide
If kitchen space is limited, compare its 153 L of fridge capacity and 74 L of freezer capacity with what you need for your weekly shop. The product description lists Low Frost, an E energy rating and a reversible door. Low Frost is not the same as No Frost, so allow for manual defrosting as instructed. Check the full dimensions and required clearances too.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, four doors, 467 L
This multi-door model is suited to households with plenty of fresh and frozen food to store, provided the internal layout works for you. The product description lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating. At 83.3 cm wide, with non-reversible doors, it’s important to measure the delivery route, the space and the clearance needed to open the doors.
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LG GBBSJ1CCSW, 333 L, C energy rating
For a weekly shop that includes both fresh and frozen food, check the space allocated to each and how easy the drawers are to access. The product description lists a C energy rating and the NatureFRESH™, DoorCooling+™ and LinearCooling™ features. These names don’t replace comparing the capacities. Check the instruction manual for installation clearances, including the space needed next to a wall.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do I need for a weekly shop?
Choose a model based on what you actually store during a typical week, comparing the fridge and freezer capacities separately. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide recommends considering how often you shop and how much frozen food you eat, so total capacity alone isn’t enough to make a decision.
Is a small freezer compartment enough for a week’s frozen food?
A small freezer compartment may be fine if you buy only a little frozen food, but it’s less suitable for larger supplies, as UFC-Que Choisir’s guide points out. In that case, compare the usable capacity and layout of a full freezer compartment.
What should I look for on the energy label?
When comparing specific models, check their energy efficiency rating, energy consumption, storage capacities and noise emissions. The European Commission says this information appears on fridge and freezer labels. Also make sure the fridge and freezer capacities suit your shopping needs.
Is a multi-door model always better for a family?
No. Its capacity needs to suit your household’s storage needs, and you need to have room to install it. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a multi-door model can be just as heavy and large as an American-style fridge-freezer, so remember to measure the access route and door clearance too.
Do I need No Frost for a weekly shop?
No. Your first priority should be having enough usable space for fresh and frozen food. If you’re comparing No Frost models with those that need manual defrosting, also look at their layout, noise levels and energy consumption, and follow the maintenance instructions for the model you choose.