Start by choosing a fridge capacity and layout that suit your usual food shop. If you regularly buy frozen food, check the freezer capacity of a fridge freezer separately. A kitchen housing unit requires a compatible built-in model, while a freestanding appliance needs enough space and room for its doors to open. To compare models that meet these needs, check their kWh/year figures and capacities on the energy label.
If you store fresh food, opened products and frozen food, a clear layout makes it easier to check what you have before your next food shop. ADEME recommends checking your supplies and tidying your fridge regularly to avoid buying duplicates.
A fridge runs constantly. ADEME advises taking its size and features into account: compare the annual energy use of models with a capacity that genuinely meets your needs.
A housing unit, narrow access or the space needed to open the door could determine your choice before you even consider the interior layout. Measure the space and check the installation requirements for the model you’re considering.
If you shop for several days at a time, start with what you usually buy, then rule out any appliances that won’t fit in your available space.
Worth considering: if you mainly need space for fresh food and don’t need an integrated freezer for your regular food shop.
Bear in mind: check whether the specific model has a freezer compartment rather than assuming it does based on its name.
Worth considering: if your regular food shop includes fresh and frozen food that needs to be stored separately.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t show how much space each compartment offers, so check both capacities separately.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Food visibility | Layout of shelves, drawers and door balconies; usable space for your containers. | When I shop for several days at a time, I want to spot products that are already open and avoid buying more of what I still have. Around 31% of consumers prioritise being able to see what’s in stock. |
| Fresh and frozen capacity | Separate chilled and frozen capacities, in litres, on the energy label; a freezer that suits your regular purchases. | If I regularly buy frozen food, I need enough room for it without running short on space for fresh food. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
| Continuous energy use | kWh/year, energy class and capacities of models that meet the same storage needs. | I want to avoid an appliance that’s bigger than necessary, as it’ll be switched on all the time. Energy use is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space in your kitchen | Housing unit dimensions and door fixing for a built-in model; overall dimensions, access and door clearance for a freestanding model. | If I have a housing unit or narrow access, I need to be able to install the appliance and open its doors without obstruction. Around 19% of consumers put kitchen compatibility ahead of other criteria. |
Two fridge freezers can divide their capacity differently between the fridge and freezer. The total alone won’t tell you whether your food shop will fit in each compartment.
Work out how much space you need for fresh and frozen food separately, then check each compartment’s capacity on the model’s label.
ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run constantly, and that a larger size or unnecessary features can add to your bills.
First, choose capacities that match your usual food shop, then compare their energy use in kWh/year.
Similar external dimensions don’t prove that an appliance will fit a housing unit or work with your fitted kitchen’s door-fixing system.
For a built-in model, check the installation guide and housing unit measurements. For a freestanding model, also check the access route and the space needed to open the doors.
Storage zones and defrosting systems listed for Bosch, LG or Whirlpool products apply to specific models. Their names alone don’t prove how well food will keep.
Check the features and layout of the exact model before choosing it for your food shop.
The freestanding KGN362WDF fridge freezer is an example of a model with separate fridge and freezer capacities.
The product details for the GBB72BM9CQ1 fridge freezer list several storage zones to consider in light of what you buy.
The models covered include a built-in fridge freezer and a freestanding one. First, consider how each needs to be installed.
These built-in and freestanding fridge freezers offer separate storage for fresh and frozen food. Compare their capacity with your usual food shop and check that they’ll fit in your kitchen.
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Worth considering for food shops that include fresh and frozen food, if you have room for a freestanding appliance.
The product name gives a total capacity of 390 L and an energy class of C. Compare the capacities of each compartment and check the model’s energy label. Also check the clearance needed and the delivery access route.
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Worth considering if your kitchen needs a built-in appliance and your food shop includes both fresh and frozen food.
The product name mentions No Frost and an energy class of C. Before choosing this model, check its housing unit and door-fixing requirements against your kitchen, then check its energy use on the energy label.
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Its design is worth considering if you want to keep different fresh and frozen purchases separate in a freestanding appliance.
The product name lists Total No Frost, My Zone and an energy class of E. Check the interior layout, energy use on the energy label, and the space needed for installation and opening the doors.
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Worth comparing for everyday storage of fresh and frozen food in a freestanding appliance.
The product name mentions a dual No Frost system and an energy class of D. Before buying, compare the space in each compartment with your food shop, then check the energy label, clearance and delivery access route.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of capacity and your kitchen can accommodate a freestanding four-door appliance.
The product name lists Total No Frost and an energy class of E. Check the fridge and freezer capacities, the space needed to open each door, and the energy use on the exact model’s label.
Compare the kWh/year figures and the fridge and freezer capacities separately, after checking that the model suits what you buy. The European Commission says the label also shows the energy class and noise level; its QR code lets you look up the model’s details in EPREL.
The energy class alone isn’t enough to compare fridges with different capacities. Check the kWh/year figures and capacities shown on each label too. ADEME points out that an appliance’s size affects a household’s electricity use.
Measure the housing unit and check the appliance dimensions, its door-fixing system and the door-opening direction needed for your kitchen. Requirements vary by model: for example, Whirlpool France specifies a 54 cm-wide housing unit for the WHC18T132FR.