If your weekly shop regularly includes frozen food, start by comparing the usable capacity of the fridge and freezer compartments: a fridge freezer combines both in one appliance. A compact model may suit you if you don’t need much storage space; a multi-door or American-style model needs more room and is only worth considering if its layout and capacity work for you. Before choosing, also check the route into your kitchen, door clearance, ventilation and the energy consumption of the specific model.
If you put away fresh food, meals and frozen food all at once, look at the space you can actually use in each compartment. Que Choisir simulates a full weekly shop in its fridge-freezer tests to assess how the appliance responds when food is added.
Your fridge needs to fit through to its intended position, allow its doors to open and meet the ventilation requirements for installation. For a built-in model, also check the alcove dimensions and hinge system in the manual.
In an open-plan kitchen or one close to the living room, perceived noise matters just as much as the stated noise level: Que Choisir points out that a figure alone cannot predict how disruptive a sound will be. The ADEME also notes that an appliance’s actual energy consumption depends, among other things, on its size and how it is used.
Worth considering: if space is limited and you don’t store much frozen food.
The trade-off: a small freezer compartment, if there is one, may not provide enough storage between shops.
Worth considering: if your weekly shop regularly includes fresh and frozen food.
The trade-off: the amount of space given to the freezer varies between models, even when their total capacities are similar.
Worth considering: if you have a large household and need several sections to organise a big shop.
The trade-off: its size calls for a suitably spacious kitchen and delivery route.
Worth considering: if you need plenty of storage and have room for a wide, deep appliance.
The trade-off: check that the doors can open fully and, for a plumbed water dispenser, make sure there’s a water supply. A large capacity doesn’t guarantee better food preservation.
Whatever the style, start with what you usually buy, then rule out any models that can’t be installed properly.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space for your shopping | Compare the usable capacities of the fridge and freezer separately. If you fill the appliance in one go, also look at test results for temperature stability after loading. | When I bring home several days’ worth of fresh and frozen food, I want to put it all away without running out of space in either compartment. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this need for capacity. |
| Fitting it in your kitchen | Measure the space and delivery route, then check the door clearance and the gaps specified in the model’s manual. | In a kitchen with an alcove or a narrow access route, I need to be able to install the appliance and open its doors without anything getting in the way. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Energy use, cooling and noise | Compare the annual energy consumption of models with similar capacities, their stated noise levels, and test results for noise and temperature stability. | If the fridge is close to the living area, I want to keep noise to a minimum while also keeping an eye on energy use and how well it maintains a cold temperature. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this combination of criteria. |
An appliance may offer plenty of space for fresh food but too little for the frozen food you buy each week.
Make a list of what you store in each section, then compare their usable capacities separately.
A fridge may fit in the space you have planned for it but still block a walkway or fail to meet the clearance requirements for installation.
Measure the delivery route and check the installation diagram for the exact model, including its ventilation requirements.
A narrow access route or insufficient door clearance could mean you need to rearrange the space before installation.
Size alone doesn’t guarantee good food preservation. The ADEME says an appliance’s actual energy consumption depends, among other things, on its size and how it is used.
Choose a capacity that suits your usual shop and compare the annual energy consumption of models with similar capacities.
Its width, depth and door clearance can make it difficult to get into your kitchen. A plumbed water dispenser also needs a compatible water supply.
Check the model’s dimensions and connections, then compare its layout with that of a large fridge freezer or multi-door model.
The details below apply to the ranges or models mentioned, not every fridge made by each brand.
Freestanding and built-in fridge freezers to consider depending on the space available in your kitchen.
Fridge freezers and side-by-side models whose capacities and dimensions let you weigh up storage against the space they take up.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for several compartments to organise a large shop.
Built-in fridge freezers to consider if your kitchen already has a designated appliance alcove.
American-style fridges to compare if you’re looking for a large capacity and have plenty of space to spare.
These Joybuy models include a multi-door fridge freezer, two fridge freezers and two side-by-side appliances. Compare their compartments and size with your weekly shop, then check the installation requirements for the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering if you want to organise a large shop in a four-door appliance. The model is listed at 467 l, with Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities to make sure they suit your needs.
Before choosing this style, check the delivery route, door clearance and the gaps specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if your kitchen is designed for a built-in appliance and you need space for both fresh and frozen food. The model is listed at 252 l, with No Frost and a C energy rating.
Check that the freezer capacity suits your shopping, then compare the alcove, hinges and ventilation requirements with the installation manual.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a freestanding fridge freezer with a bottom freezer to store your weekly shop. Its stated total capacity is 282 l and it has an E energy rating.
Check the capacity of each compartment, the noise level if your kitchen is open-plan, and the clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if a large proportion of your shopping needs to go in the freezer and your kitchen can accommodate a side-by-side appliance. The stated capacities are 333 l for the fridge and 192 l for the freezer; the model features No Frost, a noise level of 37 dB and an E energy rating.
Measure the access route and door clearance, then check the annual energy consumption before comparing it with an appliance of similar capacity.
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Worth considering if you want plenty of total capacity for your weekly shop. The model is listed at 444 l, with frost-free technology, a noise level of 40 dB and an E energy rating.
Before choosing, check how the capacity is divided between fresh and frozen food, as well as the dimensions, door clearance and ventilation requirements.
Use Que Choisir’s guideline as a starting point: 100 to 150 l of usable capacity for one person, then 50 l for each additional person. Adjust this to suit your meals, drinks and frozen food, and check the fridge and freezer capacities separately.
Measure both the space where it will go and the entire route into your kitchen. Then check door clearance and ventilation gaps in the model’s manual. For a built-in model, also measure the alcove and check the hinges and plinth.
Anses recommends an ideal temperature of between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. Find this area for your most perishable chilled foods, and check the appliance’s temperature if its display doesn’t show it clearly.
No. It gives you a guide, but on its own it can’t predict how disruptive the noise will be in your kitchen. Que Choisir highlights the role of the type of noise and vibrations. If your fridge is near a living area, look for a test that also assesses perceived noise, if possible.
For a new item bought from a professional seller in France, the DGCCRF states that you can claim under the legal guarantee of conformity for two years. Any commercial warranty is separate and does not replace this legal guarantee.