For a big family shop, first compare the stated fridge and freezer capacities, then check that the appliance can be delivered and that its doors and drawers will open in your kitchen. A large fridge freezer could be a good fit if its width and freezer capacity meet your needs; with a multi-door or American-style model, take a close look at its overall dimensions and compartment layout. If your fresh and frozen food needs vary, a convertible zone may be useful, but it cannot serve both purposes at the same time.
If you store a big shop of fresh and frozen food at the same time, compare the capacity of each compartment and check that your usual containers will fit on the shelves and in the drawers. Que Choisir and Les Numériques cover the needs of households that do larger shops.
You want plenty of capacity, but a narrow delivery route, limited width or a nearby wall could make installation and opening the doors more difficult. Measure the route and the space before choosing a model.
If the space you need for fresh and frozen food changes from week to week, a convertible zone may be worth considering. Bear in mind how you plan to use it: it cannot provide both types of storage at the same time.
When choosing a large fridge, compare the separate capacities and layout with your shopping habits, then check that the dimensions and door openings will work in your home.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh and frozen capacity | Compare the stated capacity in litres for each compartment with the size of your usual shop. | When I shop for the whole week, I want to avoid running out of space for either fresh or frozen food. Around 28% of consumers prioritise how capacity is split between these two compartments. |
| Access and door opening | Measure the route with the appliance still packaged, then check the space where it will go, the door swing and whether the drawers can be pulled out. | If the fridge needs to fit through a narrow hallway or sit near a wall, I want to make sure it can be delivered and that I can open its drawers once it’s in place. Around 22% of consumers prioritise compatibility with their home. |
| Practical storage | Check the shelves, drawers and door balconies, as well as the space needed to pull the drawers out. | To store my usual large dishes, bottles or packets, I look beyond the total capacity in litres and check the layout. Around 22% of consumers put the organisation of their shopping first. |
| Convertible zone | Check which compartments can be switched to a different use and how much space is available with each setting. | When the amount of fresh and frozen food I buy changes from week to week, I want to be able to adapt a compartment without counting its capacity twice. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Energy use and features | Compare the kWh/year and compartment capacities on the European energy label; check the model’s installation requirements and consumables. | If I’m keeping the appliance for a long time, I want to take its annual energy use and the requirements of its features into account. Around 11% of consumers prioritise running costs. |
The delivery route needs to accommodate the packaged appliance, while everyday use also requires space to open the doors and pull out the drawers. A fridge may fit into its space but still be difficult to use if a wall or cabinet gets in the way of the doors.
Measure doorways, corridors, lifts and turns along the route, then compare the dimensions of the packaging and appliance with the clearance requirements in the manual. Check the door swing and make sure the drawers can be pulled out.
The split between the fridge and freezer, as well as the layout of the drawers and shelves, may not suit your household’s shopping habits.
Compare the capacity of each compartment and check the layout against your usual containers and packets.
A compartment set to keep food fresh is not available for freezing at the same time. Switching it changes how the zone is used, not its physical capacity.
Check the model’s settings and work out how much space will be left in each mode you plan to use.
Installation requirements vary by model: some dispensers use a water tank, while others need a mains water connection.
Check the product details and manual for the exact model, then make sure it can be installed in your kitchen.
Large-capacity fridge freezers are worth considering if your kitchen can accommodate an appliance that is 70 cm wide and you don’t need a multi-door design.
The Cube 90 range gives you a choice of multi-door models with several storage zones.
A multi-door fridge with a convertible zone may be worth considering if the amount of fresh and frozen food you buy varies.
Large multi-door models are worth comparing if your kitchen can accommodate a wide appliance and its compartments.
Large-capacity multi-door models may suit you if their dimensions, freezer layout and installation requirements work in your kitchen.
This selection includes American-style Side-by-Side, multi-door and Cross Door models, including one with a convertible zone, so you can compare different ways to store fresh and frozen food.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you want a large Side-by-Side model to keep fresh and frozen food separate. The model name specifies a 544 L capacity, No Frost and a water dispenser.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a Side-by-Side appliance to split your shop between fresh and frozen food. It is listed with a 525 L capacity, No Frost and Multi-Airflow.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if your fresh and frozen food needs change: this model has a convertible My Fresh Choice zone. Its stated capacity is 606 L; the zone can’t be used for both purposes at once.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a French Door design to store fresh and frozen food. It is listed with a 485 L capacity, Total No Frost and a tank-fed water dispenser.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a multi-door fridge with separate spaces for fresh and frozen food. It is listed with a 495 L capacity and energy rating E.
Measure the route the packaged appliance will take — including doorways, corridors, the lift and any narrow points — and then measure the space where it will go. Compare these measurements with the dimensions of the model and its packaging. Also check that the doors open far enough to remove the drawers and bins. Follow the manual’s guidance on the ventilation clearances required.
No, the total capacity alone isn’t enough to tell you how well it will suit your household. First compare the stated fridge and freezer capacities, then check the layout and access to the drawers using your usual containers as a guide.
No, it depends on the model. Que Choisir notes that some multi-door fridges need a mains water connection, while LG specifically states that plumbing is required for the GMW765STGJ. Check the water supply requirements in the product details for the model you’re interested in.
The European energy label includes information such as the energy rating, annual consumption in kWh, the capacity of the fresh and frozen compartments, and noise levels. The European Commission explains these details; the labelled energy consumption is not a guaranteed bill for your household.
For a new product, you can claim under the legal guarantee of conformity from the retailer for two years. The French Ministry of the Economy distinguishes this mandatory guarantee from an optional commercial warranty. Keep the contract documents relating to the sale and agreed installation.
The DGCCRF notes that retailers are required to take back used electrical and electronic equipment free of charge, subject to the applicable conditions. Before delivery, ask the retailer how to arrange the removal of your old appliance.