If you need to find and take out pre-prepared portions regularly, consider an upright freezer. For large dishes or bulk buys, a chest freezer is worth considering if you have room to install it and open the lid. A larger fridge-freezer may be a better fit if you’re also short of space for fresh food. Before adding an appliance that will run continuously, check whether organising and rotating your supplies could free up the capacity you need.
If you regularly store containers and small packs, being able to see and reach them matters just as much as the stated capacity. The drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to separate portions you’ll use soon from older supplies.
A chest freezer can be a good option for storing large dishes or bulky supplies. However, you’ll need to set aside floor space, make sure the lid can open fully and organise food stored at the bottom. If you plan to keep it in an unheated cellar or garage, check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range.
If both the fridge and freezer compartments are short of space, compare their capacities separately when looking at a possible replacement. A higher total capacity doesn’t guarantee that the freezer section will meet your needs.
First work out whether you’re short of space for frozen food, fresh food or simply need to organise your supplies better. Then measure the space available before comparing model specifications.
Worth considering: you take out portions often and want to organise them in drawers.
The trade-off: check that the door opens wide enough to pull out the drawers and reach your containers.
Worth considering: you store large dishes or bulk buys and have a suitable place to put it.
The trade-off: food at the bottom takes more organising to keep it accessible.
Worth considering: you’re also short of space for fresh food or can’t install a second appliance.
The trade-off: check the freezer compartment capacity: according to Bosch’s product specifications, the Bosch KIV87NSE0 has a 70 l freezer compartment and 200 l of fridge space.
Worth trying: you mainly run out of space after shopping or find portions difficult to locate.
The limit: dating, listing and rotating your supplies won’t create extra capacity if the compartment is consistently full.
| Criterion | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment, then consider how much room your containers and large dishes take up. Look at the layout of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach the bottom. | I prepare several portions at once, so I want to find them without having to empty part of the appliance every time I take something out. |
| Where it will go | Measure the available space and the delivery route. Allow for the door or lid to open, as well as the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s manual. | An extra appliance needs to fit in my home and still be easy to use once it’s installed. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the model’s climate class or stated operating range. Don’t assume it’s suitable for a garage just because of its design. | If I keep supplies in an unheated cellar or garage, I need to know whether the appliance can operate at the temperatures in that room. |
| Energy use | Check the model’s kWh/year and usable capacity. Compare appliances with similar capacities and formats, rather than looking at the energy rating letter alone. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. | I want the extra capacity to suit the supplies I actually use, as the appliance will stay plugged in all year round. |
| Maintenance and food storage | Check the defrosting method and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. According to Anses, freezing food at −18 °C stops bacteria multiplying but does not destroy most micro-organisms. | I want to maintain the appliance without letting portions build up, so I’ll date them and plan to rotate them. |
A large chest freezer can take up a lot of floor space and make food at the bottom harder to reach. UFC-Que Choisir describes chest freezers as high-capacity appliances and upright models as more compact.
Measure the delivery route, installation space and opening clearance, and allow room to remove the baskets or drawers. Also check that the space works for the containers you normally use.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model, not just its format. The climate class indicates the temperature range it’s designed to operate in.
Check the room temperature throughout the year and compare it with the specifications and manual for the appliance you’re considering.
ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. The capacity of two appliances can also vary considerably, so comparing them by the energy rating letter alone may not be very useful.
Check the kWh/year and usable capacity of the exact model, then look at the defrosting method and installation requirements.
According to Anses, freezing food at −18 °C stops bacteria multiplying but does not destroy most micro-organisms. It therefore won’t make up for food having been stored incorrectly before it went in the freezer.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, date portions and follow Anses guidance on defrosting. Don’t refreeze food once it has defrosted.
These ranges and models give you examples of the features to compare. A feature listed for one model won’t necessarily apply to other appliances from the same brand.
The range includes upright freezers and fridge-freezers, so you can compare options depending on whether you need dedicated freezer space or more room for fresh food.
Its chest freezers are worth considering for their capacity, footprint and, depending on the model, suitability for use in a cold room.
Beko’s chest freezer specifications are worth checking if you’re considering separate storage, particularly in an unheated room.
The French range includes chest freezers, upright freezers and fridge-freezers, so you can compare different formats to suit the space you have available.
These Joybuy options include convertible chest freezers and an upright freezer. To choose between them, consider how much you need to store, how easily you want to access portions and where the appliance will go. If you’re also short of space for fresh food, compare the compartments of any fridge-freezer you’re considering separately.
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With a stated capacity of 291 L and a removable basket, this top-opening chest freezer is designed for bulk buys and large dishes. It can switch between freezer and fridge modes. Its specifications list an E energy rating, LED lighting, five-level digital temperature control and a defrost drain. Check the space needed to open the lid and the permitted ambient temperature range before planning to install it in a cold room.
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This chest freezer has a stated capacity of 197 L and can store portions or supplies organised with its removable basket. It offers fridge and freezer modes, five-level digital temperature control and a defrost drain. Its stated energy rating is E. Bear in mind that you’ll need access from above, and check the model’s ambient temperature range if you plan to put it in a cellar or garage.
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With a stated capacity of 141 L, this chest freezer could be a good option if it’s large enough for your portions and supplies. Its removable basket helps separate some foods. It offers fridge and freezer modes, a seven-level thermostat and a defrost drain. Check that the lid can open fully and that the ambient temperature is suitable for the planned location.
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This chest freezer has a stated capacity of 95 L and is worth considering if you only need a little extra storage. Compare its capacity with the size of your bulkiest dishes. It has a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat, a defrost drain and fridge and freezer modes. Check the lid clearance and permitted ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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The upright design and drawers make it easy to organise portions you access often. The model name specifies a capacity of 161 L, a No Frost function, a reversible hinged door, a temperature range of −14 °C to −22 °C and a C energy rating. Before choosing a spot, check its dimensions, required clearances and permitted ambient temperature range.
Not necessarily. Date your portions, take stock of what you have and see whether the compartment stays full after several shopping trips. If the problem persists, compare the extra capacity you need with the space required and energy use of an appliance that will run continuously, as ADEME points out.
Yes, as long as the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the temperature of the room. Some Liebherr and Beko appliances are rated to operate down to −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to every freezer from those brands. Check the specifications, rating plate and manual for the model you’re considering.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for the appliance you choose. For example, in its FAQ Whirlpool recommends 5 cm above and 10 cm behind certain freestanding fridges. These measurements don’t replace the instructions for another model or a built-in appliance.
Anses recommends freezing food as soon as you buy or prepare it, rather than waiting until it’s close to its use-by date. To defrost food, it advises using the fridge, the microwave’s defrost setting, or cooking or reheating it quickly. Eat it within three days and don’t refreeze food once it has defrosted.
Compare the kWh/year alongside the usable capacity and appliance type. The energy rating letter alone doesn’t show what storage needs each model can meet. The European Commission provides public access to its EPREL database, where you can look up energy information for listed models.