To store a week’s shopping, start by thinking about how much fresh and frozen food you need to keep, then check how much room you have in your kitchen. A fridge freezer is worth considering if you regularly buy frozen food; a compact appliance or a fridge with an ice box may be enough for smaller quantities. A multi-door fridge can suit a family that needs plenty of storage, provided its dimensions and energy consumption work for you.
How often you shop isn’t the only thing that determines the size of appliance you need. The amount of space you need for frozen food and the room available in your kitchen matter too.
If some of your shopping goes in the freezer, compare the usable capacity of each compartment separately. The total capacity may look suitable, but the split between the compartments might not suit the way you shop.
A compact appliance can free up space, but its compartments still need to fit your fresh food and any frozen food you buy during the week.
A large fridge freezer or a multi-door model may be worth considering if you need to store larger quantities. Check that it can be moved through to the kitchen, that the doors can open fully and what its annual energy consumption is.
The right style depends mainly on how much space you need for frozen food and how much room the appliance can take up. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, compare the capacity of each compartment rather than looking only at the total capacity.
Consider this if: you regularly buy frozen food as part of your weekly shop.
Check: how the usable capacity is split between the two compartments. The total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room is available for frozen food.
Consider this if: you mainly store fresh food and buy very little frozen food.
Limitation: check the ice box capacity before relying on it for a week’s worth of frozen food.
Consider this if: you live in a studio or have a small kitchen and only need to store modest quantities.
Limitation: a smaller footprint doesn’t guarantee that it will have enough room for your weekly shop.
Consider this if: your family needs plenty of storage and your kitchen has room for a large appliance.
Check: its dimensions and kWh/year, rather than choosing based only on the stated capacity.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity split | Compare the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer separately. Check how much space is actually available on the shelves and in the drawers. | I do one big weekly shop: I need enough room for fresh food without underestimating how much frozen food I buy. |
| Size | Measure the width, height and depth. Check the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors; UFC-Que Choisir notes that American-style fridges are suited to large kitchens. | I have a small kitchen and want to be able to install and open the appliance while still having enough room for my shopping. |
| Energy consumption | Check the energy rating and kWh/year on the label. Compare appliances with similar sizes, capacities and features; according to ADEME, a larger size and extra features can affect energy consumption. | If I’m choosing between two capacities, I want to know their annual energy consumption before opting for the larger model. |
| Storage and cooling | Check how the storage areas are laid out and whether there’s enough room for air to circulate. Find the coldest area: Anses recommends keeping an eye on the temperature there, which should be 4 °C. | After I’ve done the shopping, I need to store perishable food without filling every space so tightly that it’s difficult to organise. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity can have different amounts of room for fresh and frozen food. An ice box may not be suitable if you buy a lot of frozen food.
Make a note of what you usually buy in each category, then check the usable capacity of each compartment.
An appliance may offer the capacity you want but be too large to get into its intended space or to open the doors comfortably. UFC-Que Choisir says that American-style fridges are suited to large kitchens.
Measure the space, the delivery route and the clearance needed. Don’t assume the dimensions based on the stated capacity.
According to ADEME, the size and features of a fridge can also affect its energy consumption.
Check the kWh/year on the label and compare appliances with similar capacities, sizes and features.
You need to be able to put your weekly shop away without restricting air circulation or compromising where you store perishable food.
Leave some spare storage space and find the coldest area; Anses recommends keeping an eye on the temperature there, which should be 4 °C.
These models include fridge freezers that keep fresh and frozen food separate, as well as multi-door fridges to consider if you need plenty of storage and have room for a larger appliance. Compare the compartments and dimensions of each model with your usual shopping needs.
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With a stated capacity of 467 L, this model is worth considering if you have a large shop to put away and enough room for a multi-door fridge. It has four doors, Total No Frost technology and an E energy rating. Check the usable capacity for fresh and frozen food, as well as the space needed to open the doors.
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This 360 L fridge freezer offers separate storage for fresh and frozen food for your weekly shop. The product name lists three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the usable capacity of each compartment against the amount of frozen food you buy.
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If you have a narrow kitchen, compare the stated width of 54 cm with the space available. The 227 L capacity is split between a 153 L fridge and a 74 L freezer, so check that both suit your shopping needs. The model has Low Frost, a reversible door and an E energy rating; also check its height, depth and kWh/year.
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This 174 L fridge freezer is worth considering if a compact appliance can accommodate the amount of fresh and frozen food you store. The product name lists Low Frost, an adjustable thermostat and a reversible door. Check the usable capacity of each compartment and the kWh/year before comparing it with other fridge freezers.
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With a stated capacity of 474 L and four doors, this model is designed for households that need plenty of storage, provided there’s room for it in the kitchen. The product name lists a three-temperature vegetable drawer and an E energy rating, among other features. Before you choose, check how the usable capacity is split between fresh and frozen food, the full dimensions and the kWh/year.
Start with the amount of fresh and frozen food you usually store, then choose a capacity that fits the space available. UFC-Que Choisir gives an average guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. This isn’t a set capacity that every household needs to follow.
It may be enough if you buy a small amount and the usable capacity can genuinely hold it. If you regularly store larger amounts of frozen food, consider a model with a separate freezer compartment instead.
Check the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh, then compare fridges with similar sizes, capacities and features. The energy label, which the French Ministry of the Economy describes as a summary of an appliance’s characteristics, doesn’t replace checking the usable capacity of each compartment.
Anses recommends keeping an eye on the temperature in the coldest area of the fridge, which should be 4 °C. Check the manual to find this area and store perishable food there, leaving enough room to organise everything properly.
Not necessarily. Choose one if you need the extra capacity and have room for it, and if its compartments suit the way you shop. UFC-Que Choisir says that American-style fridges are suited to large kitchens. For any multi-door model you’re considering, measure the space and compare the kWh/year too.