If your current fridge has enough space but leftovers disappear behind your shopping, make food easier to see before replacing the appliance. If you genuinely need more room, choose based on the capacity you need in each compartment, the interior layout and the dimensions of your kitchen. A large amount of frozen food may justify a separate freezer, as long as you consider the space it takes up and its ongoing energy use. ADEME also recommends checking what you have in stock and tidying your fridge regularly: more capacity is no substitute for these habits.
Before comparing appliances, think about what causes problems after you’ve done the shopping and when you put leftovers away. A lack of visibility calls for a different solution from a lack of space.
If opened food ends up behind other packaging, first check how easy it is to reach the shelves and whether you can give leftovers a clearly visible spot. ADEME recommends checking what you have in stock and tidying your fridge regularly; a larger capacity isn’t necessarily the answer.
When shopping, home-cooked meals and frozen food are all competing for space, compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Also check whether the drawers and shelves can accommodate the containers you use every day.
A freestanding appliance, an integrated fridge freezer and a separate freezer all take up space differently. Measure the space available, any housing unit and the clearances needed before choosing a capacity; ADEME reminds us that refrigeration appliances run continuously.
If your current fridge has enough room, compatible accessories and a clearer layout may solve the problem without adding capacity. If you need to replace it, start with the compartment that’s genuinely too small, then check the installation requirements and energy consumption of the model you’re considering.
| What matters | What to check | Which consumers? |
|---|---|---|
| Food visibility | Access to shelves, lighting and a clearly defined space for opened products and leftovers; don’t overload the appliance. | When small containers disappear behind the shopping, I want to be able to find them before I forget about them. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise visibility. |
| Usable capacity | Fridge and freezer capacities separately, followed by shelf height and drawer layout. | If I prepare meals for several days, I need room for both dishes and shopping, without sacrificing the compartment I use most. This balance would be the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Kitchen space | Appliance or housing-unit dimensions, clearance for doors and drawers to open, and delivery access. | In a narrow kitchen, an appealing capacity won’t help if the doors don’t open properly or the appliance won’t fit. Around 20% of consumers would put whether it fits their space first. |
| Frozen-food storage and continuous use | Freezer capacity, annual energy consumption in kWh on the model’s label, and defrosting type. | If I regularly freeze large batches of meals, I need to decide whether a fridge freezer is enough or whether a separate freezer would meet an ongoing need. Around 20% of consumers would put this question at the top of their list. |
Anses recommends not overfilling your fridge so that cold air can circulate. To compare specific appliances, the European Commission lets you check manufacturers’ declared specifications in EPREL. Consider annual energy consumption alongside capacity and appliance type, rather than looking at the energy rating alone.
Two fridge freezers with a similar total capacity may divide the space between fresh and frozen food differently. A larger compartment won’t automatically make meals and small items easier to reach, either.
Compare the stated capacity in litres for each compartment, then check the drawer and shelf layout against the food you actually store.
ADEME reminds us that fridges and freezers run continuously, and that a larger size or extra features can increase their energy consumption. Adding a freezer isn’t the answer if leftovers are simply hard to spot.
First check whether a more accessible layout would be enough. If you’re replacing your appliance, compare the annual energy consumption in kWh of models that suit your needs.
Accessories can help you sort food, but an overcrowded fridge can restrict the circulation of cold air. Anses recommends not overfilling your fridge.
Choose containers that fit the available space, and keep food easy to reach without blocking the airflow.
An integrated fridge freezer needs a suitably sized housing unit; a large freestanding appliance must also fit through to its intended spot, with enough room for its doors and drawers to open.
Measure the housing unit or space, delivery access and clearances specified for the model you’ve chosen. Check separately what’s included in delivery, installation and removal of your old appliance.
These examples are for looking at specific configurations, not for judging an entire brand. The features listed are those manufacturers specify for the named models.
The Bosch KGN86AIDP is an example of a freestanding fridge freezer to consider if you need plenty of space in both compartments.
The CNd 5704 Pure NoFrost is an example of a freestanding fridge freezer with an EasyFresh compartment.
The ENV9GB18S Série 900 MultiChill 0 °C is an integrated fridge freezer to consider if fitting into a housing unit is a priority.
The W9C841COX is a freestanding fridge freezer to consider if you’re looking for separate drawers for certain fresh foods.
These are freestanding or integrated fridge freezers to consider if you need space for both fresh food and frozen storage. If your current appliance has enough room and visibility is the only issue, first look at ways to improve the layout inside it.
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Worth considering if you’d like to divide shopping and prepared food between fresh and frozen sections in a freestanding appliance. The product description lists 360 L, Total No Frost, an E rating and My Zone. Check the clearance needed for the doors and ventilation before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering if you’d like to store fresh and frozen food in an integrated appliance. The product description lists TwinTech No Frost and an E rating. The stated total capacity doesn’t match the sum of the capacities for each compartment, so confirm these figures and the housing-unit dimensions before you buy.
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Worth considering if your shopping regularly takes up a lot of space in the fresh and frozen compartments. The product description lists 467 L, Total No Frost and an E rating. Its stated width of 83,3 cm means you’ll need to check the space available, door clearance and delivery access.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for several areas to organise food in a four-door fridge freezer. The product description lists 474 L, an E rating, a Vario Box and a vegetable drawer with three stated temperature settings. Check how the capacity is split between compartments and how much room you’ll need to open the doors.
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Worth considering if your kitchen can accommodate an integrated appliance and you don’t need much freezer space. The product description lists 188 L, a top-mounted freezer and an E rating. Check the housing unit and sliding hinge installation; the furniture door isn’t included.
Anses recommends keeping the temperature between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. Put sensitive foods in the appropriate area, and don’t overfill the appliance so cold air can circulate. Check the temperature if needed.
No. Depending on the model’s stated features, a drawer can give certain foods a clearly defined place. But it doesn’t replace checking your stock, as ADEME recommends, or following Anses’ advice on temperature and air circulation.
For specific models, compare their declared annual energy consumption in kWh, capacity and type, as well as the rating on the energy label. The European Commission’s EPREL database lets you check the declared specifications using the exact model reference.
Not on its own. If the problem is getting to leftovers, start by organising the space you have; ADEME recommends checking your stock and tidying regularly. If you genuinely need more capacity, compare the space in each compartment and the installation dimensions rather than looking at total capacity alone.