A separate freezer is worth considering when your fridge’s freezer compartment no longer has enough room for your shopping and prepared meals, while still keeping everything easy to access. An upright freezer makes it easier to sort food into drawers; a chest freezer suits larger stocks, provided you have the space and a way to keep everything organised. If you’d rather have just one appliance, compare the freezer capacity of a fridge-freezer with your actual needs before replacing it.
For a large household, the right format depends as much on how you find your food as on how much you need to store and how much space you have.
If you often prepare meals in tubs and bags, the drawers in an upright freezer can make it easier to organise everything and access it day to day. However, UFC-Que Choisir advises checking that you’ll be able to open and use all the drawers once the appliance is in place.
For bulk shopping and bulky packaging, a chest freezer’s open compartment offers a different way to organise your supplies. You’ll need enough floor space and a plan for reaching food stored at the bottom. If the room is unheated, check the model’s permitted temperature range too.
An under-counter freezer can provide extra capacity if you only need a little more room. If you’re already replacing your fridge and would rather have a single appliance, check the capacity of its freezer compartment instead. UFC-Que Choisir advises not to confuse this with the total capacity of the fridge-freezer.
To choose between a separate appliance and a fridge-freezer, start with what you’re short of today: easier access to portions, more storage space or simply a little extra capacity.
Choose this if: you regularly need to find portions, tubs and bags stored in separate compartments.
Bear in mind: drawers divide up the space and must remain fully accessible once the appliance is installed. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how important it is to be able to use them.
Choose this if: you have a room large enough to store substantial supplies in an open compartment.
Bear in mind: a chest freezer takes up more floor space, and stacked products can be difficult to find. UFC-Que Choisir notes that these considerations differ from those of an upright freezer.
Consider this if: you’re short on height and only need some extra storage.
Bear in mind: its capacity may be limited for a large household’s shopping. Bosch lists 83 L for its under-counter GTV15NWEB model.
Consider this if: you’re already replacing your fridge and want to keep just one appliance.
Bear in mind: for frozen food storage, it’s the capacity of the freezer compartment that matters, not the total capacity listed for both compartments.
| What matters | What to check | What consumers say |
|---|---|---|
| Access to meals | Whether the drawers can be opened and removed once the appliance is in place; how the compartments are arranged for storing portions. | When I often use tubs and bags, I want to find a meal without having to move all my supplies; around 36 % of consumers rank organised access as their top priority. |
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity in litres, the size of bulky packaging and whether a chest freezer can be organised. | When I bring home a big shop, I need space for bulky packs; around 29 % of consumers put capacity ahead of other considerations. |
| Location | Delivery access, clearance for the door or lid, and the temperature range suitable for the room. | A cold cellar or narrow kitchen can determine which format I can actually install; around 21 % of consumers prioritise this compatibility above all else. |
| Number of appliances | The fridge-freezer’s freezer capacity, separate from its fridge capacity; the capacity of any additional under-counter freezer. | When I replace my fridge, I’d rather avoid adding another appliance as long as my frozen food fits in the freezer compartment; around 14 % of consumers put this option first. |
Once you’ve chosen a format, compare appliances with similar capacities. Check their stated energy consumption in kWh/year and, if you’re concerned about power cuts, what their storage time means. The climate class should match the temperature of the room where you plan to install the model.
An appliance may fit in the room, but its door, lid or drawers might not be usable. UFC-Que Choisir says a chest freezer is typically 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep; the dimensions of the model you choose are what matter.
Measure the space, doors, corridors and turns along the delivery route. Ask the retailer for the package dimensions, then check the clearance needed to open the appliance and remove its drawers.
Its open compartment can hold a range of supplies, but meals you use frequently may end up buried beneath other products.
Plan to sort food into categories using suitable baskets or containers. If you need to access lots of small portions every day, compare an upright freezer with drawers too.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model, not just its shape. Liebherr states that FrostProtect works down to -15 °C on the CFe 1870 Pure; Beko also specifies Freezer Guard down to -15 °C for certain appliances.
Check the temperatures expected in the room and compare them with the climate class or the temperature range explicitly stated in the details for the model you’re considering.
Two freezers with different capacities won’t necessarily meet the same needs. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the label also shows annual energy consumption, which should be considered alongside usable capacity.
Compare kWh/year figures for models with similar formats and capacities, then check each one’s installation and maintenance instructions.
These brands offer examples of formats and features to look at on specific models. This doesn’t guarantee availability or mean that a feature applies across an entire range.
Beko offers upright, chest and under-counter freezers for different storage needs.
Bosch lets you compare a compact under-counter appliance with a larger upright freezer.
Liebherr’s CFe 1870 Pure chest freezer is an example to consider for an auxiliary room.
Whirlpool’s WHFF6403W4E upright freezer is an example of a large capacity divided between compartments.
Haier’s range includes chest freezers in several sizes as well as upright models.
No. Compare the temperatures expected in your garage with the permitted range for the exact model. Liebherr states that FrostProtect works down to -15 °C on the CFe 1870 Pure, while Beko specifies Freezer Guard down to -15 °C on certain appliances. These features aren’t available on every freezer.
It describes how long the appliance keeps food cold under specified conditions; it isn’t a guaranteed duration in every real-life situation. In its test, UFC-Que Choisir simulates a power cut and measures how long food stays below -9 °C. Check the method used for the figures you’re comparing.
Compare their stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year as well as their usable capacity. Ideally, compare appliances that offer similar capacity for your needs. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this information on the energy label rather than relying on its letter alone.
No. On models with this feature, it reduces frost build-up, but you should still follow the instructions for cleaning and maintenance. Also check the drawer layout and how easy it is to reach your food: No Frost alone won’t solve your storage needs.