Choose based on how much freezer space your prepared meals need. A small compartment is best for a limited supply of food that’s already frozen, while a fridge-freezer combines fresh and frozen storage in one appliance. If your fridge has enough room for fresh food but your frozen supplies regularly overflow, an additional freezer could help, although you’ll need space for another appliance and it will need to be powered. If you plan to freeze meals yourself, check that the compartment has a four-star rating, as recommended by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
If you’re storing several portions at once, make sure there’s room for your containers without overfilling the fridge. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) recommends checking the temperature in the coldest part and allowing air to circulate inside the appliance.
When fresh food and frozen supplies arrive together, compare the litres allocated to each compartment rather than looking only at the total capacity. The European energy label lists these volumes separately.
If your current fridge still meets your everyday needs, compare a larger fridge-freezer with adding a separate freezer. A second appliance also needs space and runs continuously, as the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) points out.
First, decide whether you only need to store food that’s already frozen or freeze your own portions: these uses require different types of compartment. Then compare fresh and frozen capacity separately, along with the space available for installation and the energy consumption shown on the energy label.
Consider it: if you mainly store fresh food and only a few items that are already frozen.
Limit: a freezer compartment designed for temporarily storing frozen food isn’t suitable for freezing home-cooked meals; check the compartment’s star rating.
Consider it: if you need space for fresh ingredients and portions to freeze every week, all in one appliance.
Limit: the balance of fresh and frozen storage varies from model to model; a high total capacity doesn’t guarantee enough room for your portions.
Consider it: if your fridge has enough space for fresh food, but your home-prepared portions regularly exceed its freezing capacity.
Limit: you’ll be adding an appliance that runs continuously; check the space available, how the door opens and the installation requirements too.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature and storage | Check the temperature in the coldest part and how much room you’ll have once your containers are inside. Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part and advises against overfilling the appliance. | When I have several meals in the fridge, I want to store them without blocking the circulation of cold air; around 36 % of consumers put this need first. |
| Capacity by compartment | Check the litres allocated to fresh and frozen food separately on the European energy label, then measure the space available for installation. | After a big shop, I need enough space for fresh ingredients without encroaching on my frozen supplies; nearly 29 % of consumers prioritise this balance. |
| Freezing portions | Check the freezer capacity and star rating: according to the French Ministry of Agriculture, a four-star compartment can freeze food. | If I prepare portions for later, I need to be able to freeze them myself and find them easily; around 21 % of consumers say this is their main need. |
| Energy use and space | Compare the kWh/year for appliances of a similar type and capacity, as well as their dimensions and noise levels. The European energy label provides this information. | Before adding an appliance that will stay on, I want to know where to put it and its stated annual energy use; nearly 14 % of consumers prioritise these considerations. |
A small freezer compartment may be suitable for temporarily storing food that’s already frozen, but not for freezing home-cooked meals, according to the French Ministry of Agriculture.
If you want to freeze meals you’ve prepared, look for a four-star rating on the compartment’s specifications or choose a suitable freezer.
The total capacity doesn’t show how much space is available for fresh food and how much for frozen portions.
Compare the capacity of each section with a typical week’s shopping and meal prep, then check the appliance dimensions.
An additional freezer takes up space and runs continuously. ADEME recommends considering an appliance’s size and avoiding unnecessary extra equipment when choosing refrigeration appliances.
Before installing it, compare the kWh/year, noise level, space needed to open the door and the operating conditions in the user manual.
Containers packed too closely together can restrict the circulation of cold air and make it harder to access the coldest area.
Leave some room for storage and regularly check the temperature in the coldest part, following Anses guidance.
Bosch offers a range of freestanding and integrated fridge-freezers.
Liebherr offers fridge-freezers and chest freezers, two formats to compare depending on how much space you already have for fresh food.
Beko offers fridge-freezers in a range of capacities, including some with specialist storage zones or features.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and integrated fridge-freezers with different balances of fresh and frozen storage.
These five fridge-freezers combine fresh and frozen storage in one appliance. To find the right one for your prepared meals, compare each model’s specifications with the space available and check whether the compartment can freeze your own portions.
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A fridge-freezer to consider if you want fresh food and frozen supplies in one appliance.
The product name states a total capacity of 344 l and an energy rating of E. Check the capacity of each compartment and the star rating before planning to freeze home-cooked meals.
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This four-door design may suit households looking to organise their shopping and prepared meals across several compartments.
The product name states a total capacity of 467 l, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check the separate fridge and freezer capacities, the clearance needed for installation and the temperature settings.
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With a stated width of 54 cm, this fridge-freezer is worth comparing with the space available if you have a compact kitchen.
The product name states 153 l for the fridge, 74 l for the freezer, a four-star compartment and an energy rating of E. Low Frost doesn’t mean frost-free: check the manual for maintenance advice and the energy label for kWh/year.
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This fridge-freezer may be worth considering if you want separate spaces for fresh and frozen food.
The product name states a total capacity of 368 l and an energy rating of E. Compare the capacity of each compartment and check the freezer’s star rating if you plan to freeze meals.
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This fridge-freezer is worth considering if your shopping and prepared meals need more total capacity in one appliance.
The product name states a capacity of 440 l and an energy rating of D. Measure the available space, then check how the capacity is split between fresh and frozen food, as well as the freezer’s defrosting instructions.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. For the freezer, the French Ministry of Agriculture recommends a setting of −18 °C. Put foods that need careful temperature control in the coldest part of the fridge and avoid overfilling it.
A freezer compartment designed for temporarily storing food that’s already frozen isn’t suitable for this purpose. The French Ministry of Agriculture distinguishes this type of compartment from a freezer; if you want to freeze meals yourself, check that it has a four-star rating.
Check the kWh/year, fridge and freezer capacities, energy rating and noise level. According to the European Commission, this information appears on the labels of applicable appliances. To assess energy use, compare models of a similar type and capacity rather than looking at the rating letter alone.
In France, an appliance sold by a business to an individual may be covered by the legal guarantee of conformity if it doesn’t match the seller’s description. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that this compulsory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Report the issue to the seller, keeping a copy of the product description and your proof of purchase.