For most households storing fresh and frozen food for a week, a fridge freezer is a well-balanced starting point. Check the fresh and frozen capacities separately, along with the interior layout, dimensions, energy label and climate class. Two separate appliances make more sense when you keep a large frozen-food reserve and have enough space.
When meal boxes, fresh ingredients and frozen food all need to fit together, the split between fridge and freezer capacity, as well as the drawers and shelves, matters more than the total volume alone. Que Choisir notably recommends sizing capacity according to the household.
A large load of groceries and frequent door openings call for suitable capacity, practical interior organisation and a stable temperature. Que Choisir’s testing protocol specifically includes a full weekly shop and repeated door openings.
If you freeze large portions, home-grown produce or family-sized packs, a separate freezer may offer more suitable storage than a fridge freezer, provided you have the necessary space and a room compatible with the appliance’s climate class.
Worth considering: for weekly shops combining fresh and frozen food, when you have neither the space nor the need for two appliances.
Watch out for: a large total capacity does not guarantee a freezer compartment big enough for prepared portions.
Worth considering: when fresh food is the priority, space is limited and you only buy frozen food occasionally.
Watch out for: this option limits frozen-food storage and can make it harder to organise prepared portions.
Worth considering: if you store lots of frozen food, cook in large batches or freeze home-grown produce.
Watch out for: two appliances require two spaces, and the ambient temperature must be checked for each one.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and layout | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately, along with the drawers, adjustable shelves and space for containers. Que Choisir suggests using 100 to 150 L for one person as a guide, then adding around 50 L per additional person. | I want to store a week’s shopping, meal boxes and frozen food without overloading the shelves. The space allocated to the freezer should match my actual requirements. |
| Temperature and food storage | Check the temperature at the coldest point, how quickly the appliance cools down again after loading, and whether a door or temperature alarm would be useful. Anses recommends setting the fridge below 4 °C. | I want to keep food properly chilled after a large shop, during repeated door openings and in hot weather. |
| Continuous running costs | Compare the energy label and kWh/year between appliances with similar capacities and intended use. Avoid choosing a capacity that is significantly larger than you need. | I’m looking for an appliance suited to my usual storage needs, without continuously running an unnecessarily large space. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously. |
| Installation and convenience | Measure access points, the installation space, any housing unit, ventilation clearances and the door-opening direction. Also check the climate class and stated noise level for the intended room. | I want an appliance that will fit through the access points, integrate into my kitchen and operate within the room’s usual temperatures. |
An appliance may appear spacious while having a freezer that is too small for prepared portions and frozen food. Que Choisir recommends adapting capacity to the household and considering freezing needs separately.
Make a list of the food you buy in a typical week, meal boxes and frozen items, then compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately, as well as the drawers available.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range for which the appliance is designed to operate optimally. A room that is too cold or too hot can affect performance and energy consumption.
Record the realistic temperatures in the room during winter and very hot weather, then check the exact model’s climate class before buying.
An appliance used outside its temperature range may run for longer and consume more energy.
The letter on the label is not enough to compare appliances with very different capacities. ADEME gives 315 kWh/year as a guide for an average fridge freezer and 300 kWh/year for an average freezer.
Compare the rating and kWh/year between models with similar capacities, then choose a size that matches your actual storage needs.
An appliance may not fit through a door, corridor or lift. An integrated model also requires a compatible housing unit. The product dimensions alone do not always include the packaging and necessary clearances.
Measure the delivery route, installation space, housing unit if applicable, depth with the door open and door-opening direction before ordering.
Bosch’s range includes fridge freezers, single-door fridges, freezers and multi-door models. It can provide a useful reference point when comparing different widths and capacities.
Electrolux offers integrated fridge freezers with separate capacities, No Frost cooling and modular features, making them worth considering when your kitchen requires a housing unit.
Liebherr brings together compact fridge freezers and separate upright freezers, allowing you to compare an all-in-one solution with dedicated frozen-food storage.
Whirlpool offers integrated and freestanding fridge freezers with Less Frost, Total No Frost and Dual No Frost options, which are useful when comparing frost-management systems.
Joybuy fridge freezer options for organising weekly shops, prepared meals and a reserve of frozen food.
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This fridge freezer is suited to a compact kitchen where fresh shopping and frozen portions need to be stored separately.
Stated capacities of 187 L for the fridge and 75 L for the freezer, with three adjustable shelves, three freezer drawers, a width of 54 cm and energy consumption of 215 kWh/year.
Its N-ST climate class is stated as suitable for a room between 16 and 38 °C. The 75 L freezer may be restrictive for large quantities, and manual defrosting is still required with the Low Frost system.
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This fridge freezer is designed for weekly shops with a moderate frozen-food reserve.
193 L fridge capacity, 89 L freezer capacity, three transparent drawers, adjustable shelves, a NoFrost freezer system and stated energy consumption of 228 kWh/year.
Allow for the stated ventilation clearances: 5 cm at the back, 2 cm on the sides and 10 cm above. Also compare the 89 L freezer capacity with your usual stock levels.
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This compact model can meet the needs of a small household that regularly buys fresh food and keeps a few frozen items.
Stated capacities of 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, a width of 54 cm, reversible door, adjustable feet, adjustable shelves and a 4-star freezer.
The 74 L freezer capacity may be limiting for extensive batch cooking. Check the annual energy consumption, climate class and full dimensions to make sure they suit your available space.
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This large model is designed for households that need to store substantial amounts of fresh and frozen food each week.
Stated capacities of 330 L for the fridge and 165 L for the freezer, with No Frost, two cooling circuits, Wi-Fi and dimensions of 177.6 × 81.7 × 71.5 cm.
The width of 81.7 cm and depth of 71.5 cm mean you must check the installation space, delivery route and clearances. If the dispenser requires a direct connection, make sure a suitable mains water supply is available.
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This model offers a generous total capacity for weekly shopping and prepared meals in a larger household.
Stated total net capacity of 444 L, Total No Frost, rapid cooling, SN-T climate class from 10 to 43 °C, stated noise level of 40 dB and stated energy consumption of 289 kWh/year.
Check the split between fresh and frozen storage, the interior layout, the overall dimensions and the required clearances before confirming that it is suitable for your kitchen.
As a general guide, Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person, then around 50 L per additional person. Adjust this guide according to your weekly shopping, the number of meal boxes and, above all, the amount of frozen food you store. Always compare the two compartments separately.
Anses recommends setting the fridge below 4 °C. Check the temperature regularly at the coldest point, as it may rise after loading the appliance heavily or opening the door repeatedly.
No. No Frost is primarily useful for limiting frost build-up and defrosting in the freezer compartment. It does not replace checking the capacity, temperature, energy consumption and interior layout of your chosen model.
It indicates the ambient temperature range for which the appliance is designed. Check it before installing the appliance in a garage, cellar, conservatory or very hot room, as operation outside this range can affect performance and energy consumption.
Yes. DGCCRF states that household refrigeration appliances are among the categories covered by energy labelling requirements. For applicable new products, the energy label and product information sheet must be provided in French, both in shops and online.