To store prepared meals, start by choosing a freezer that suits the space you need for your maximum frozen-food stock, the size of your containers and the room available. An upright freezer makes it easier to access a variety of portions; a chest freezer works well for storing large containers if you have enough floor space. Consider a large fridge-freezer if you’re replacing your fridge too, provided its freezer compartment has enough capacity on its own.
If you regularly take out different tubs or bags, think about how easy the drawers are to access and how you’ll organise the food. UFC-Que Choisir points out that ease of use matters just as much as capacity when choosing a freezer.
For large batches or bulk buys, compare the open space inside a chest freezer with the floor space it takes up. Also check that you’ll be able to reach your food once the appliance is full.
A fridge-freezer combines fresh food storage and freezing in one appliance. For your prepared meals, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with the amount you plan to store, rather than looking at the total capacity.
Make a note of the portions, leftovers and shopping you need to store during your busiest period. Then compare the formats based on what matters most to you, and check the installation requirements and features of the specific model.
Consider it: if you often take out different portions and want to keep them separate in drawers.
Bear in mind: the drawers may limit the space available for your bulkiest dishes.
Consider it: if large containers or bulk buys make up most of your supplies.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the food carefully to find and retrieve items at the bottom.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and the freezer compartment has enough capacity for your supplies.
Bear in mind: only part of the total capacity is available for freezing meals.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Count how many containers you need to store at once and compare the litres available for freezing, especially with a fridge-freezer. | When prepared meals and planned shopping build up, I want to fit everything in without confusing total capacity with space for frozen food; around 31% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Access to portions | Measure your largest dishes and check the usable height, drawers or baskets, and how easy they are to access when full. | If I often take out a particular portion, I want to find it without moving everything else; access and organisation are priorities for around 31% of consumers. |
| Location | Measure the appliance, the route to its location and the space needed to open it. Compare the room’s temperatures with the range specified for the model. | If space is limited or the room is unheated, my main concern is whether I can install and use the appliance there; around 23% of consumers put this constraint ahead of other criteria. |
| Everyday use | Check the product details for annual energy consumption in kWh, noise, defrosting and storage time in the event of a power cut. | For an appliance that runs all the time, I mainly keep an eye on maintenance, noise and energy consumption; these are the top priorities for around 15% of consumers. |
The European Commission says that the energy label for refrigeration appliances provides information including energy consumption, capacity and noise. To compare energy consumption, look at appliances of a similar type and capacity rather than judging them on their energy rating alone.
Some of that capacity is reserved for the fridge. For example, the Joybuy product listing for the Whirlpool WB70E973W gives a total capacity of 462 L, including 153 L for freezing.
Note down the freezer compartment’s capacity separately and compare it with the portions and containers you typically store.
A large capacity doesn’t necessarily mean easy installation or convenient access to food at the bottom. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering ease of use as well as capacity.
Measure the space available, the route to the location and the clearance needed to open the lid. Plan an organisational system that makes it easy to find your portions.
The climate class indicates the range of room temperatures the appliance is designed for. So if you’re using an unheated garage or cellar, check that the model you choose is suitable; the format alone won’t tell you.
Note the room’s temperatures and compare them with the range given in the manual or technical specifications.
According to Anses, domestic freezing at -18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. It doesn’t reset the condition of food.
Freeze food and prepared dishes as soon as you buy or make them, rather than waiting until the use-by date is approaching; don’t refreeze food once it has been defrosted.
The GSN58AWEV is a useful benchmark for an upright freezer designed to organise a large supply of frozen food.
Its chest freezers are worth considering for large supplies and bulky containers.
The WB70E973W is an example of a large fridge-freezer to consider if you also need to replace your fridge.
These models cover the three options explored here: a fridge-freezer if you’re replacing your fridge too, a chest freezer for supplies you can organise, and an upright freezer for separating portions. Compare each appliance’s freezer capacity with the amount you actually need to store.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want to keep a supply of frozen meals. The product description lists 156 L for freezing, with two drawers, out of a total capacity of 467 L; check that this is enough for your needs.
Listed features include Total No Frost, energy consumption of 290 kWh/year and dimensions of 181,5 × 83,3 × 65 cm. Check the clearance needed and the ambient temperature range required for installation.
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This fridge-freezer could be a good fit if you’re replacing your fridge and want to organise portions in several drawers. Of the stated total capacity of 360 L, 125 L is for freezing, split across three drawers.
The product description lists Total No Frost, 271 kWh/year and dimensions of 185 × 59,5 × 66,7 cm. Compare the 125 L capacity with your stock and check the model’s installation requirements.
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If you want to store a batch of prepared meals in a chest freezer, this model has a stated capacity of 291 L and a removable basket. It’s described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes; plan how you’ll organise portions in its open interior.
Its stated dimensions are 1100 × 597 × 872 mm and its energy consumption is 226 kWh/year. Before installing it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range and defrosting requirements.
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If you want to separate portions in an upright freezer, this model has a stated capacity of 161 L, three drawers and two shelves. Check that your containers will fit in this layout.
The product description lists No Frost and an energy rating of C. Check the external dimensions, ambient temperature range and annual energy consumption in kWh to compare it with other appliances and plan its installation.
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This 197 L chest freezer is worth considering if you want a separate supply and can organise your meals in an open space with a removable basket. The product is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes.
The product description lists energy consumption of 197 kWh/year and dimensions of 816 × 554 × 848 mm. Check the clearance needed to open the lid, the room’s temperature range and defrosting requirements.
Compare your maximum stock with the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, and check that your containers will fit in its drawers. For example, the Joybuy product listing for the Whirlpool WB70E973W gives a freezer capacity of 153 L out of a total capacity of 462 L.
Yes, if the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the temperatures the garage actually reaches. Check its climate class and manual: the chest freezer format alone doesn’t guarantee it’s suitable.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise levels, focusing on appliances of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission also says the label shows their energy rating; don’t base your decision on that letter alone.
Don’t rely on freezing to make food safe once it’s close to its use-by date. Anses recommends freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it and points out that most micro-organisms survive at -18 °C; it also recommends not refreezing food once it has been defrosted.