If you want to build up a large stock and store bulky containers, a chest freezer could be right for you, provided you have enough floor space and are happy to organise its open interior. If you often take out small portions, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to sort and find what you need. A fridge-freezer is better suited to storing both fresh and frozen food, as long as its freezer compartment has enough capacity. In every case, check the dimensions, the permitted room temperature and the stated power-cut storage time for the model you choose.
If you regularly take out individual portions, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to organise and find them. A fridge-freezer may also work if its freezer compartment has enough capacity. Just remember that this is not the same as the appliance’s total capacity.
A chest freezer offers open space for bulky containers. You’ll need enough floor space, though, and a way to organise smaller packs so they’re easy to find. This is the key difference between chest and upright freezers, as highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
The room temperature becomes a deciding factor. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the operating range stated for the exact model you’re considering. Not every freezer is suitable for use in a cold room.
Consider one: for a large stock of food or bulky containers, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: the open interior needs to be organised if you regularly take out small portions.
Consider one: if you want to sort portions and access different meals frequently.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough height and space in front of the door to open the drawers.
Consider one: if you need more space for both fresh food and frozen meals.
Check: the total capacity includes the fridge, so it doesn’t show how much space is available for frozen meals.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres, especially for a fridge-freezer. Also measure the width, depth and height, and check the route to the intended location. | I want to store several meals or a large shop without counting the fridge compartment as freezer space. |
| Access to meals | Check the size and layout of the drawers or baskets. For an upright freezer, allow room in front of the door; for a chest freezer, allow space above the lid. | If I often take out a portion, I want to find it easily. For bulky containers, I’d prefer a more open interior. |
| Storage time during a power cut | Compare the stated power-cut storage time for each model and check whether its specifications include a temperature alarm. Don’t assume this time based on the appliance type. | If I have a large stock of food, I want to know the stated storage time for the model I plan to install. |
| Location | Note the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then check the model’s climate class and manual. Any claim that it can be used in an unheated room must apply to the specific model you choose. | I may put my appliance in a garage or cellar, so I need to check that it’s designed for the temperatures in that room. |
This figure includes the fridge compartment, so it doesn’t measure the space available for frozen meals.
Compare the net capacity of the freezer compartment, in litres, with that of a separate freezer.
The climate class indicates the range of ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for, as defined by the EU regulation on energy labelling for refrigerating appliances.
Compare the room temperature with the climate class and the instructions in the manual for the exact model.
Its open interior can hold bulky containers, but smaller packs may be harder to find than in a drawer.
Plan to use baskets or bins and labels. If you often take out small portions, consider an upright freezer too.
Stated figures vary by model: Whirlpool gives 11 h for the WHFF 6403 W4E and 24 h for the UW8F2DWHBIN2.
Check the stated power-cut storage time and the conditions listed on the product page for the model you’re considering.
The range includes upright freezers, but the features that matter when choosing vary from model to model.
The chest freezer range includes models designed to store large quantities.
Samsung France’s buying guide covers several fridge and freezer configurations, including single-door appliances for people who prepare meals in advance.
These models illustrate the three options: a fridge-freezer if you also need more space for fresh food, an upright freezer for organising portions, and chest freezers in different capacities. Compare their freezer capacity with the number of meals you want to store.
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Worth considering if you need more space for both fresh and frozen food. The stated total capacity is 360 L, and it features Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Before deciding, check the net capacity of the freezer compartment separately, as well as the dimensions.
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The upright design makes it a potential choice if you want to organise portions in drawers and access them regularly. The title lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost technology and an energy rating of C. Check the dimensions, climate class and storage time for your installation.
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Before choosing this 95 L chest freezer for a large stock of food, compare its capacity with the amount of food you plan to store. The title lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Check the climate class if you plan to keep it in a cold room, and allow space above the lid.
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Check whether the stated 99 L capacity will hold your meals and other food. According to the title, the model has a removable metal basket, a sliding lid and an energy rating of E. Check the clearance above the freezer, its climate class and its stated power-cut storage time.
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Compare this 140 L chest freezer with the actual size of your stock of meals. The title lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an energy rating of E. Allow room to open the lid, and check the model’s climate class and power-cut storage time.
Compare the temperatures the room actually reaches with the range specified for the exact model, as shown by its climate class and manual. A chest freezer isn’t automatically suitable for cold conditions: Beko France says that some appliances with Freezer Guard can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to the whole category.
Check the stated power-cut storage time for each model rather than relying on its type. For example, Electrolux lists 10 h for the EUN7NE18S built-in freezer, while Whirlpool gives 11 h for the WHFF 6403 W4E and 24 h for the UW8F2DWHBIN2. These figures don’t apply to every model in their respective ranges.