Choose based on the space you’re actually short of: a better-organised fridge, a fridge-freezer and an additional freezer each meet different storage needs. For the foods in question, Anses recommends a temperature of 0 °C to +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Compare fridge and freezer capacities, annual energy consumption and noise levels too. A larger appliance is no substitute for keeping track of your food and storing it as ADEME recommends.
If food gets piled up or is hard to find, look at the fridge capacity and the layout of the drawers and shelves. Regularly checking what you have, as ADEME recommends, also helps you see what needs using up.
Your meals and portions need to fit without getting in the way of fresh food. Check that your containers fit on the shelves, then work out what you’ll keep in the fridge and what you’ll freeze.
If portions and frozen food are filling your existing compartment, compare freezer capacity separately from the total capacity. An additional freezer is worth considering if you already have enough room for fresh food.
After shopping or preparing meals, work out what you need most: easy-to-reach space for fresh food, reliable temperature control or extra freezer capacity. Suitable containers can make leftovers easier to store, but they won’t increase your fridge’s capacity.
Consider this if: your freezer is big enough, but fresh food or leftovers are difficult to store and find.
Bear in mind: dedicated compartments don’t remove the need to check the temperature or avoid overfilling the fridge, as Anses points out.
Consider this if: you regularly need room for both fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the split between the two compartments varies by model, so total capacity alone isn’t enough to make your choice.
Consider this if: your current fridge has enough room for fresh food, but there’s not enough space for frozen portions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for this second appliance, and it will have its own annual energy consumption.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space and storage | Compare fridge and freezer capacities separately, then check the shelf space available for your containers. | When shopping and leftovers pile up, I want to be able to put everything away without losing track of what needs using up; around 42% of consumers would make usable space their priority. |
| Temperature and food storage | Find the coldest part of the fridge and plan to check its temperature after installation. For the foods in question, Anses recommends 0 °C to +4 °C in this area. | To keep fresh food and leftovers, I need to be able to check that the fridge is cold enough without overfilling it; around 33% of consumers would prioritise temperature control. |
| Freezer capacity and space taken up | Check the freezer capacity, dimensions and door opening direction. Compare kWh/year and noise levels for appliances with similar capacities and layouts. | If my portions for freezing already fill the compartment, I need more freezer space without overlooking how much room the appliance takes up; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
Two appliances with the same total capacity can offer different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. A large fridge-freezer could still leave too little room for meals you want to keep chilled.
Make a note of what you keep chilled and what you freeze, then compare the separate capacities listed for each model.
The name of a compartment or air-circulation technology doesn’t tell you what temperature it reaches once the appliance is full.
For the foods in question, check after installation that the coldest part is between 0 °C and +4 °C, in line with Anses recommendations, and avoid overfilling the fridge.
Extra space won’t automatically make forgotten food easier to spot. ADEME also recommends checking what you have before shopping and regularly organising your fridge.
Before choosing a larger capacity, look for food that’s out of sight and work out whether the problem is a lack of space or the way things are arranged.
A capacity that looks right on paper doesn’t guarantee the appliance will fit through your home’s doorways, into its intended space or accommodate the dishes you usually use.
Measure the access routes, the space for the appliance, the room needed to open the door and your largest containers. For a built-in appliance, check the niche dimensions for the exact model.
Some Bosch fridge-freezers offer NoFrost or VitaFresh zones, depending on the model.
The range includes fridge-freezers and built-in appliances, with BioFresh or NoFrost compartments available on some series.
Some Samsung fridge-freezers combine chilled and frozen compartments with separate cooling systems.
The range includes double-door fridges and fridge-freezers, with compartment layouts that vary by model.
This freestanding fridge-freezer combines refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. If you’re mainly short of space for frozen food and your current fridge is big enough, compare it with the option of an additional freezer.
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Worth considering if you want to keep fresh food and portions for freezing in one freestanding appliance.
Listed total capacity: 330 l; listed noise level: 35 dB. The model name indicates No Frost technology.
Before choosing, compare the space available in each compartment, check that your containers will fit and measure the temperature in the coldest part after installation.
For the foods in question, Anses recommends 0 °C to +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Check this area regularly, using a thermometer if needed, and keep your most perishable food there.
No. Compare the space for fresh and frozen food separately, then check whether the shelves and drawers can accommodate the meals and containers you use.
Cover the portions and leave enough space for cold air to circulate. Anses recommends not leaving hot food out for more than two hours before refrigerating it. Suitable containers make things easier to organise, but they’re no substitute for a safe temperature.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh and the noise emissions shown on the EU energy label, ideally between appliances with similar capacities and layouts. Also consider how much space an additional freezer would take up.
Not on its own. Extra capacity can help if you’re genuinely short of space, but ADEME also recommends checking what you have before shopping and regularly organising your fridge so food is easier to spot.