If your fridge freezer has enough room for the occasional extra, you don’t need a separate appliance. If you often want to find ready-prepared portions quickly, opt for an upright freezer with a well-organised interior. For larger quantities, consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. An under-counter model is better suited to occasional extra storage. Whatever you choose, check the usable capacity, dimensions and permitted ambient temperature range for the room where it will be installed.
If you regularly freeze portions, containers or meals, consider the drawer layout and room for your containers as well as the usable capacity. Que Choisir and Beko France describe the differences in accessibility between upright and chest freezers.
To store bulk purchases or bulky food in a pantry, cellar or garage, you’ll need to balance interior space with the room available. The temperature in that room must also fall within the range specified for your chosen model.
If your fridge freezer only runs short of space now and then, compare its capacity with that of a compact appliance before adding a large standalone freezer.
First decide whether the freezer compartment in your fridge freezer is large enough. If you’re adding a freezer, choose a style that suits the food you want to store, how often you’ll access it and the space available.
Consider it: for organising portions and accessing them often, thanks to its drawers and compartments.
Bear in mind: check that your larger dishes will fit in the drawers.
Consider it: for bulk buys or bulky food, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: it’s less convenient to reach items at the bottom.
Consider it: for a few extra portions when space is limited.
Bear in mind: its smaller capacity makes it less suitable for bulk buys.
Keep it: if its freezer compartment already has room for your occasional extras.
Bear in mind: a small integrated compartment may not have enough room for regular meal prep or larger shops.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Drawer dimensions and room for the containers you usually use. | When I freeze meals every week, I want to find a portion without emptying the whole freezer. Around 31% of consumers make easy access their priority. |
| Usable capacity | Usable capacity and the shape of the interior for the quantities you plan to store. | To store large packs, I need space for them to fit without blocking everything else. Capacity is the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Installation room | The minimum and maximum temperatures permitted for the model, as well as the space needed to open it. | If the only space I have is in a cellar or garage, I need to be able to install the appliance there in line with the instructions. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Extra storage | Space taken up, annual energy consumption and the capacity already available in the fridge freezer. | If I only run out of space occasionally, I’d rather check whether a small extra appliance will do before adding a large one. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this considered approach. |
A chest freezer offers open storage, but small portions can end up at the bottom. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise them, but may not fit all your bulky dishes.
Compare the dimensions of your containers and bags with those of the drawers, baskets and removable compartments in the model you’re considering.
Whether a model can be used in an unheated room depends on the model and the temperatures in that room, not just on whether it’s a chest or upright freezer.
Compare the room’s seasonal temperatures with the operating range given in the instructions for the exact model.
The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how much an appliance will use when its capacity and style are right for your needs.
Compare the kWh/year figures for freezers of a similar type and capacity, then check how much space is actually usable.
A freezer uses electricity throughout its lifetime, so the annual kWh figure helps you understand its long-term running costs.
Cooling technology, temperature alarms and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut vary by model.
Check the product details for your chosen model to find out which features it has and how it needs to be defrosted.
The range includes upright, chest and under-counter freezers, so you can compare options based on the space available and where you plan to install yours.
The range of upright freezers lets you compare drawer layouts and defrosting features across different models.
The range of chest freezers is worth considering if open storage is better suited to your larger purchases.
The range of upright freezers includes large-capacity models, allowing you to compare capacity and interior storage.
These Joybuy models include upright and chest freezers for storing prepared meals or bulk purchases separately from your fridge. Choose a capacity and layout that suit your containers. If you’re putting your freezer in a separate room, check the permitted temperature range for the model you choose.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to store prepared portions separately and find them easily in an upright freezer.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 l, a No Frost function and energy rating C. Check that the drawers fit your containers, and that you have enough space and the room is within the permitted temperature range.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for bulk buys if you have enough room to open the lid upwards.
The product name lists a capacity of 291 l, fridge or freezer modes, energy rating E and a removable basket. Check how you’ll reach food at the bottom and whether the room is within the permitted temperature range.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for extra freezer storage if you’d prefer a chest freezer with a more modest capacity.
The product name lists a capacity of 197 l, fridge or freezer modes, energy rating E and a removable basket. Check whether the basket is enough to organise your portions and whether the space is within the permitted temperature range.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want extra freezer storage without opting for a large chest freezer.
The product name lists a capacity of 140 l, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and energy rating E. Measure the space needed to open the lid and compare annual energy consumption before you choose.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for a little extra storage rather than regular bulk buys.
The product name lists a capacity of 99 l, a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat and energy rating E. Check that it has enough room for your portions and that the lid can open fully in the space available.
No. The permitted temperature range for the exact model must suit the room. Que Choisir recommends checking its climate class. For example, Beko states that the RFNM200T40WN alone can operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh and the energy rating of appliances with a similar style and capacity. The label described by ADEME doesn’t replace checking that the usable capacity and dimensions meet your needs.
No. Start by choosing storage that suits your portions, then decide whether you want to reduce the need for defrosting. Bosch says No Frost avoids the need for manual defrosting on selected models. Check the details for the model you choose rather than assuming the feature is available across the whole range.
Check how long parts are stated to be available for and look up the service information for the exact model. Beko states that parts will be available for 12 years for the RFNM200T40WN, but this period may not apply to its other models.