Who is each type best suited to?

Households that freeze portions every week

If you prepare individual portions or a few family meals in advance, think about how many need to fit at once and whether you’ll be able to find tonight’s meal easily.

Households that store large dishes or bulk supplies

A chest freezer is worth considering if you have large containers and enough floor space. You’ll also need a way to reach portions stored at the bottom.

Households replacing their fridge as well

A fridge-freezer combines refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. However, check the capacity of its freezer compartment alone, as this varies by model.

What should you prioritise for meal prep?

Fridge-freezer

Consider it if: you’re also buying a fridge and the freezer compartment can hold the portions you need to rotate.

The trade-off: the freezer compartment may be smaller than that of a dedicated appliance. An integrated model also needs a compatible housing space.

Upright freezer

Consider it if: you store several prepared meals and want to regularly take out portions organised in drawers.

The trade-off: drawers make it easier to organise your food, but their dimensions may limit how you store large dishes.

Chest freezer

Consider it if: you have large containers or a substantial family-sized stock, and enough floor space.

The trade-off: the open space accommodates a range of sizes, but you’ll need to organise portions carefully to keep those at the bottom accessible.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Freezer capacity Compare the usable capacity, in litres, of the freezer compartment alone with the number and size of the containers you’ll store at the same time. When I have several meals waiting their turn, I want them all to fit without relying on the fridge’s capacity. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise having enough space.
Access to portions Check the dimensions of the drawers or baskets, and how easy it is to reach the oldest containers. When I want to grab a meal in the evening without rummaging through everything, I want to be able to spot my portions at a glance. This would be a priority for around 30% of consumers.
Available space Measure the space and the clearance needed for the door or lid to open. If you’re placing the appliance in an outbuilding, check the model’s climate class. If space is tight, I need to be able to open the appliance and move around it. Nearly 20% of consumers would put installation requirements first.
Continuous operation Compare the exact model’s kWh/year, stated power-cut storage time and any alarms it may have. When I’m storing meals for several days, I want to keep an eye on energy use and know what alerts are available if something goes wrong. For around 10% of consumers, this would be the top priority.

Portioning your food helps you make the most of any type of freezer, but it doesn’t increase its usable capacity. ANSES notes that at −18 °C, bacterial growth stops, but most micro-organisms survive. Maintaining the cold chain is therefore essential.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Going by a fridge-freezer’s total capacity

    Total capacity includes the fridge section too. For example, Whirlpool’s product specifications list 68 L of freezer capacity for the integrated WHC18T132FR and 150 L for the freestanding WHK26494X6E. These capacities aren’t interchangeable.

    Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with the number of portions you plan to store at the same time.

  • Choosing a chest freezer without checking access

    According to Que Choisir, chest freezers are commonly 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep. You’ll also need room to lift the lid and reach the containers at the bottom.

    Measure the space and the clearance above the appliance, then plan to use baskets or containers labelled with their contents and dates.

  • Assuming freezing removes microbiological risks

    ANSES explains that at −18 °C, bacterial growth stops, but most micro-organisms aren’t destroyed. How you prepare and defrost food still matters.

    Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until its use-by date is approaching. Follow ANSES guidance on defrosting, eat defrosted food promptly and within a maximum of three days, and don’t refreeze it.

  • Looking at capacity alone

    As ADEME points out, refrigeration appliances run continuously. If you’re storing meals, the stated storage time during a power cut and any available alerts are also worth considering when choosing a model.

    Check the exact model’s kWh/year, as well as its stated storage time and alarm features. Don’t assume these specifications based on the type of appliance alone.

Brands to consider by type

Bosch

Upright freezers worth considering if you want to spread portions across several storage spaces.

  • Bosch lists features including Vario Zone and Big Box on the GSN33FWEV; its specifications state a usable freezer capacity of 225 L.
  • Check the layout and dimensions of the version you choose: the specifications of one Bosch model don’t apply to the whole range.

Liebherr

Chest freezers to consider if storing large containers is a priority and you have enough floor space.

  • Liebherr describes StopFrost as a feature designed to reduce frost build-up in its chest freezers.
  • Whatever the model, a chest freezer needs to be positioned so you can reach portions at the bottom and open the lid fully.

Whirlpool

Integrated and freestanding fridge-freezers to compare if you want both functions in one appliance.

  • Whirlpool’s product specifications list 68 L of freezer capacity for the integrated WHC18T132FR and 150 L for the freestanding WHK26494X6E.
  • These examples show why you should check freezer capacity separately, and make sure an integrated model will fit its housing space.

Joybuy products for your needs

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should you keep prepared meals at in the freezer?

ANSES states that domestic freezing at −18 °C stops bacterial growth, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. Handle meals properly before freezing them, and follow the recommended defrosting guidance too.

Can you wait until a food’s use-by date is approaching before freezing it?

No. ANSES recommends freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until its use-by date is approaching. If you’ve made a meal at home, plan to freeze it when you portion it up.

How should you defrost a portion, and when should you eat it?

ANSES recommends defrosting food in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly by cooking or reheating it. It advises eating defrosted food promptly, within a maximum of three days, and not refreezing it.

Is a chest freezer always better for a family?

No. A chest freezer can hold large containers, but it takes up more floor space and portions at the bottom are harder to reach. If you regularly take out small portions, compare it with the drawer organisation of an upright freezer too.

How do you compare the energy use of a fridge-freezer and a separate freezer?

Compare the kWh/year figures for the specific models you’re considering, taking into account how much freezer capacity you need. ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously; an average for the category can’t replace the figures for the model you choose.