If you shop for several days at a time and regularly freeze some of your meals, start by comparing fridge freezers. Their separate compartments make it easy to assess the space available for fresh and frozen food. A multi-door model is better suited to large containers and bigger volumes, while a separate freezer makes most sense if frozen storage is your main priority and you have room for a second appliance. Whatever you choose, check the dimensions, the capacity of each compartment and the model’s annual energy consumption.
How often you shop and how much food you freeze matter just as much as the size of your household. Two appliances with a similar overall capacity can offer very different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food.
If you keep some dishes chilled and freeze portions for later, start by looking at a fridge freezer. Compare the capacities of its two compartments separately, and make sure your containers will fit on the shelves and in the drawers.
If you need space for large containers or lots of frozen food, a multi-door fridge freezer or a separate freezer could be a good choice. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that multi-door models take up a lot of space, and that a separate freezer can be useful if you need substantial freezing capacity. Measure the available space and access routes before choosing either format.
A table-top or single-door fridge could be suitable if you only have a modest amount of shopping to store. Don’t assume the total capacity tells you how much room there is for frozen food: some compact models have only a small freezer compartment.
Start with the food you usually store, then consider how your preferred format will fit into your kitchen and your daily routine. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between compact fridges, fridge freezers, multi-door models and separate freezers to suit different storage needs.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh and frozen food | Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment, then look at the shape of the shelves and drawers. A small built-in freezer compartment may not offer the same freezing space as a fridge freezer. | I keep several days’ worth of shopping chilled, but how many portions do I actually need to freeze? If frozen food takes up most of the space, it’s also worth considering a separate freezer. |
| Size and access | Measure the height, width and depth, and remember to check the delivery route, door clearance and space needed for installation. UFC-Que Choisir notes that multi-door models can be large and heavy. | My large dishes need to fit inside, but the appliance also needs to pass through the doors in my home and be easy to open in my kitchen. |
| Energy consumption | Check the kWh/year figure alongside the energy rating, and compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. According to ADEME, fridges and freezers run continuously; actual consumption depends in part on their size and how they are used. | I want enough room without choosing a capacity or features I’m unlikely to use. |
| Noise | Compare the noise emissions in dB(A) and the noise class shown on the EU energy label, particularly if the appliance will be near your living space. | In an open-plan kitchen, the model’s published noise level is an important part of my everyday choice. |
| Food storage and maintenance | Check the temperature settings and defrosting system for the model. Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge; check the temperature setting after installation. | I want to organise my food and plan freezer maintenance without assuming that a feature advertised for a product range is included in every model. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity can offer very different amounts of space for fresh food and frozen portions. For example, Bosch’s product pages for the KGN36NWCK and KBN96SFE0 fridge freezers list the capacity of each compartment separately.
Estimate how much you’ll store in each compartment, then compare the corresponding capacities in litres and the shape of the model’s drawers.
A large capacity is only useful if the appliance can get into your home and its doors can open once it’s in place. UFC-Que Choisir notes that multi-door models can be as bulky as American-style fridge freezers.
Measure the space where it will go, the doors, corridors and corners along the delivery route, as well as the clearance needed to open the doors and allow ventilation.
The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you the capacity you’re choosing or the appliance’s stated annual consumption. ADEME notes that cooling appliances run continuously, and that their size and how they’re used affect their energy consumption.
Compare the kWh/year figures on the energy labels of models with a similar type and capacity.
Some table-top fridges have a freezer compartment, but it can be very small: for example, some models listed by BUT have a capacity of just 11 L.
Before planning to store pre-prepared meals or regularly buy frozen food, check the compartment capacity, its star rating and its freezing capacity.
These brands offer useful points of comparison across different formats. The features mentioned relate to specific models, not their entire ranges.
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in fridge freezers, as well as multi-door models, for comparison.
The CBNsdc 765i fridge freezer is a useful point of comparison if you’re looking for a high-capacity model in this format.
Samsung’s French website features large-capacity multi-door and side-by-side appliances.
This selection includes two four-door appliances for larger shops and two fridge freezers that keep fresh and frozen food separate in a more compact format. Choose based on usable capacity and the space you have available, rather than total capacity alone.
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If you buy a lot of food at once, compare the layout of its four doors with the size of your containers. The model name lists a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check how the space is divided between fresh and frozen food, the installation dimensions and the clearance needed to open the doors.
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This fridge freezer lets you assess the space for groceries and frozen portions separately: the fridge capacity is listed as 153 L and the freezer capacity as 74 L. Its stated width is 54 cm; the product page lists three freezer drawers, 39 dB and 215 kWh/year. Low Frost doesn’t eliminate the need to defrost, so check that your containers will fit in the drawers too.
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This model offers 187 L of fridge space and 75 L of freezer space, with three drawers, making it easy to keep fresh food and frozen portions separate. Its stated noise level is 39 dB(A). Check the exact dimensions before planning where to install it, and consult the energy label to compare its annual consumption. Low Frost doesn’t remove the need to defrost.
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Its four doors and joinable freezer drawers are worth considering if you store large containers. The stated total capacity is 474 L and the listed dimensions are 838 × 653 × 1775 mm. Before choosing this model for meals you plan to freeze, check the capacity of each compartment, the internal size of the drawers, the kWh/year figure and the noise level.
As well as the A to G energy rating, compare the kWh/year figure, compartment capacities and noise information. The European Commission confirms that these details appear on the energy label for cooling appliances. Compare models of a similar type and capacity to make your comparison more useful.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. Once your appliance is installed, check its settings and operating temperature rather than assuming that choosing a particular format will be enough to maintain this range.
No. A fridge freezer could be suitable if its fresh and frozen food compartments and drawers can accommodate your shopping and portions. A multi-door model is worth considering if you need space for large containers or more storage, as long as its dimensions suit your kitchen and delivery route.
Consider one if you freeze food regularly and need a lot of space for it, and if you can fit in a second appliance. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of this format when you need substantial freezing capacity. Check its capacity, how easily you can access the food and its kWh/year figure, as it will run continuously according to ADEME.
No. If you want to reduce manual defrosting, check whether the exact model is listed as No Frost or Low Frost and what its manual recommends for maintenance. This feature doesn’t replace the need to compare capacity, dimensions, noise and energy consumption.