Start by choosing the capacity you need for fresh food separately from the capacity you need for frozen food: a larger appliance is only worthwhile if your shopping routine and kitchen justify it. A table-top or single-door model may suit frequent shoppers who keep little frozen food, while a fridge-freezer usually works better for weekly shops; multi-door and American-style models mainly require careful checks of their footprint, capacities and energy consumption.
If you regularly buy fresh food, store little frozen food and have limited space, start with the usable capacity you genuinely need. A table-top or single-door model may be suitable if its freezer capacity matches your habits.
To store fresh food, leftovers, drinks and a supply of frozen food at the same time, a fridge-freezer lets you separate the two uses. Check how the capacity is divided on each model’s label.
If you cook in bulk, build up reserves or use a lot of frozen food, multi-door and American-style models can offer more space and better organisation. However, their dimensions, accessibility and energy consumption must remain compatible with your home.
First compare the fresh and frozen capacities, then consider the footprint, noise and energy consumption. The EU energy label brings these details together to make it easier to compare appliances of similar formats.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity suited to your shopping | Compare the usable litres of the fridge and freezer separately. Que Choisir gives a guideline of 100 to 150 l for one person, followed by an additional 50 l per person, to be adjusted according to your shopping habits and frozen food. | I want to store fresh food, drinks and meals without paying for or filling the kitchen with unnecessary capacity. |
| Genuine freezer capacity | Check the capacity in litres of the freezer compartment, its layout and the number of drawers. A small freezer section will not necessarily replace a substantial frozen-food reserve. | My frozen-food reserve must fit without taking up the space intended for fresh food. |
| Installation and noise | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as access routes and door clearance. Also check the clearances specified in the manual, the noise level in dB and the climate class. | In a compact or open-plan kitchen, the appliance must fit through the access route, be installed correctly and remain acceptable for everyday use. |
| Energy consumption and food preservation | Compare the energy class from A to G and the kWh/year figures between similar capacities and formats. After installation, Anses recommends a temperature between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. | I want to assess energy consumption without choosing based solely on the class letter, while maintaining suitable food-storage conditions. |
Two appliances with the same total capacity can divide the space between fresh and frozen food very differently. A small freezer will not necessarily meet the needs of someone who stores substantial quantities.
Make a note of what you need to keep chilled and frozen over one or two weeks, then compare the litre capacities of both compartments on the label.
American-style fridges may require around one metre of width and weigh more than 100 kg. Multi-door models can also have a substantial footprint.
Measure the alcove, doors, corridors and available depth. Check the clearances specified in the manual, the door opening and whether a water supply is required before buying.
Depending on the seller, delivery or installation may require services suited to access at your home.
A dispenser, connectivity or a dedicated zone may make the appliance more convenient, but on its own it does not indicate whether the fridge is suitable in terms of capacity, noise or energy consumption.
Choose the format, fresh and frozen capacities, dimensions, kWh/year and noise level first. Only assess additional features once you have checked these points.
A fridge is a bulky appliance that must enter the appropriate recycling system. In France, ecosystem states that retailers must offer free “one-for-one” collection when an equivalent new electrical appliance is purchased.
Confirm collection when placing your order and check the arrangements for delivery, disconnection and access to your home.
Worth considering for a 60 cm-wide freestanding fridge-freezer with generous height, particularly if No Frost and fresh-food management features are important to your choice.
Worth considering if dedicated compartments for delicate fresh food matter as much as total capacity, particularly on models equipped with BioFresh.
Worth comparing for a two-door or multi-door appliance offering substantial total capacity and fan-assisted cooling or No Frost features.
Worth looking at for multi-door models designed for family storage, large dishes, flexible compartments and frequent access to everyday food.
Joybuy fridge-freezer options for regular shopping, with separate storage for fresh and frozen food.
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Worth considering for weekly shopping with a separate supply of frozen food.
276 l of fridge capacity and 114 l of freezer capacity; 169 kWh/year and 35 dB stated.
Stated dimensions: 59,5 × 203 × 65,8 cm. Check the ventilation clearances and door-opening direction before installation.
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This format suits family shopping or a greater need for fresh and frozen storage.
311 l of fridge capacity and 129 l of freezer capacity; 223 kWh/year and 35 dB stated.
Its stated dimensions of 70 × 203 × 66,7 cm require a reasonably spacious kitchen and careful checking of delivery access.
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An option for weekly shopping focused more on fresh food, with a separate freezer.
279 l of fridge capacity and 89 l of freezer capacity; 238 kWh/year, 39 dB and three freezer drawers stated.
The stated height of 203 cm and weight of approximately 69 kg mean you should check access to your home and the final installation position.
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Worth considering if you want to divide storage between refrigeration, a cooler compartment and freezing.
183 l of fridge capacity, 37 l of cooler-compartment capacity and 113 l of freezer capacity; 169 kWh/year and 34 dB stated.
Check the stated depth of 67,4 cm, the clearances of at least 5 cm specified and the intended use of the cooler compartment.
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This narrower format may suit regular, moderately sized shops in a compact kitchen.
187 l of fridge capacity and 75 l of freezer capacity; 215 kWh/year, 39 dB and a stated width of 54 cm.
The Low Frost freezer requires manual defrosting. Climate class N-ST is specified for an ambient temperature of 16 to 38 °C.
Compare the energy class from A to G, annual consumption in kWh, the capacities of the fridge and freezer compartments, as well as the noise level and its class. The European Commission states that this information has appeared on fridge labels since the 1 March 2021 rescaling; compare appliances with similar formats and capacities.
Anses recommends a temperature between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. Check it regularly and avoid overloading the appliance so that cold air can circulate.
Yes. In France, ecosystem states that the retailer must offer free “one-for-one” collection when an equivalent new electrical appliance is purchased, including when buying remotely. For home delivery, the old appliance must be collected when the new one is delivered to its place of use.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual, according to economie.gouv.fr. It covers, among other things, a product that does not match the seller’s description, labelling or agreed installation; a commercial warranty is separate.