If you shop several days in advance, start by working out how much space you need for chilled and frozen food separately. Then check whether you’ll be able to see what’s inside and whether the appliance can be delivered and installed. A fridge-freezer covers both needs in one appliance; a small fridge or a model with a freezer compartment is a good choice if space is the priority and you only freeze a little. Two separate appliances need two spaces and are really only worth considering if you regularly keep large stocks of both.
If you prepare several meals in advance, you need to find room for dishes and everyday essentials without losing track of what needs using up. ADEME recommends checking your food stocks regularly and organising your fridge to avoid forgetting food or buying duplicates.
If you regularly store prepared meals or frozen food, look at the freezer’s capacity and drawer layout, without giving up the space you need for fresh food.
If space is tight or delivery access is restricted, measure the appliance, access routes and door clearance. Also check the manual for the installation and ventilation requirements of the model you’re considering.
If you regularly use both compartments, compare fridge-freezers against the amount of fresh and frozen food you actually keep. A freezer compartment or small fridge makes the most of limited space; two separate appliances need more room and are mainly worth considering if you regularly keep large stocks in both.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility of fresh food | Compare the usable fridge capacity and the layout of the shelves and drawers with the dishes and containers you usually store. | When I shop for several days at a time, I want to spot the food that needs using without letting prepared meals disappear behind other products. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise being able to see what’s inside. |
| Space for frozen portions | Check the freezer’s usable capacity and drawer layout; look up the exact model to see which compartments have No Frost. | If I often freeze portions, I need enough room to organise them without taking too much space away from fresh food. Around 30% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Installation and energy use | Measure the appliance and access routes, check the clearance requirements in the manual and compare the energy label details of appliances in the same category. | In a kitchen where every centimetre counts, I need to be able to get the appliance into place and install it properly, without choosing a capacity that’s far greater than I need. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise fitting the appliance into their space and its energy use. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may offer different amounts of space for chilled and frozen food. The total doesn’t tell you whether there’ll be room for your prepared meals or portions.
Make a list of what you buy and prepare over a week, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment and the drawer layout.
A fridge may fit in your kitchen but not through a doorway, up the stairs or into a lift. You’ll also need enough room to open the doors once it’s in place.
Measure the delivery route and check the manual for the clearance and ventilation requirements of the exact model.
No Frost, fresh-food zones and dedicated drawers vary from model to model. Their names alone don’t tell you how much space is available or guarantee a particular storage result.
Check the product details and manual to see which compartments have each feature and whether their dimensions suit your food and containers.
The range includes freestanding fridge-freezers, including wider 70 cm models with separate capacity figures for the fridge and freezer.
The range reviewed includes freestanding fridge-freezers with separate capacity figures for the fridge and freezer.
The models reviewed include a large-capacity fridge-freezer and a built-in appliance that needs a suitably sized housing unit.
These fridge-freezers combine chilled and frozen storage in one appliance, making them suitable for planned shopping and meals. Compare the stated capacity split for each model with the amount of food you usually keep, then check the dimensions and installation requirements before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh food and frozen portions in one three-door appliance.
The product name lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi connectivity and My Zone. Check the product details and manual for the capacity split, dimensions and required clearances.
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Compare it with the amount of food you usually keep if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer for shopping several days in advance.
Joybuy France’s product details for the KGN39VLEB list a total net capacity of 368 L and an E energy rating. Check how much space is allocated to each compartment and the installation requirements for this model.
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Worth considering if you need to store planned shopping across both chilled and frozen compartments.
The product name lists a total capacity of 316 L and Dual No Frost. Check the capacity of each compartment, the layout and the clearances required for installation.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of capacity for your shopping and meal preparation, provided you have enough space.
The product name lists a total capacity of 440 L. Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities in the product details for this model, then measure the delivery route and check the installation instructions.
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Worth comparing if you divide your food between the fridge and freezer while keeping an eye on the available width.
The product name lists 252 L for the fridge, 103 L for the freezer, a width of 60 cm and an E energy rating. Check the other dimensions, the interior layout and the required clearances: width alone isn’t enough to confirm that the appliance will fit.
Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately, then consider the space actually available for your meals, containers and frozen food. The external dimensions, noise level and energy label also help you compare models; the same total capacity doesn’t guarantee the same split between compartments.
No. Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the specific model and type of installation. Bosch says a fridge-freezer needs enough space for ventilation, particularly at the back and underneath, but this doesn’t mean the same clearance applies to every appliance.
No. Also compare the stated energy consumption, usable capacities and dimensions against your needs. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes the energy label as a way to compare products in the same category; on its own, it doesn’t tell you how the interior is laid out.
They can point out things to check, but they’re no substitute for the drawer dimensions, photos and manual for the exact model. Bosch says it doesn’t always verify whether people who leave reviews on one of its pages have bought or used the product.