To store meals you’ve prepared in advance, start by considering how much space you can realistically set aside for frozen food, how easy it is to reach portions and how much room you have. An upright freezer makes it easy to organise food and access portions frequently; a chest freezer suits a larger stock if you can organise it and have enough floor space. An under-counter model works in a smaller space, while a fridge freezer will do if its freezer compartment can hold all your portions.
How often you take out a portion and how much food you store at once matter just as much as the stated capacity.
If you take out a meal regularly, check the freezer compartment’s capacity and how the drawers or baskets separate your dishes. Easy-to-reach sections make it simpler to organise meals by dish or date. Also check that your containers will fit in the compartments.
An under-counter model can fit into the space beneath a worktop. Compare its height and depth, freezer capacity and freezing capacity with the number of meals you add at a time.
A chest freezer can hold a substantial stock if you have enough floor space. Before choosing one, make sure you can reach the food at the bottom, organise portions in the baskets and meet the model’s installation requirements.
Start by working out how many meals you want to store at once, then consider how each type will fit your space and the way you take out portions.
Worth considering: if you also need a fridge and the freezer compartment can hold your stock of portions.
Limitation: the total capacity includes the fridge section. For example, according to Electrolux France, the Electrolux KNT6ME18S4 fridge freezer has a total capacity of 248 L, including a 62 L freezer compartment.
Worth considering: if you take out portions frequently and want to organise them in separate drawers or sections.
Limitation: check how much room you need to open the door and pull out the drawers, as well as whether the height is convenient for everyday use.
Worth considering: if the available space is beneath a worktop and you freeze a limited number of portions at a time.
Limitation: check the exact model’s capacity and freezing capacity before adding several batches of meals at once.
Worth considering: if you store lots of portions and have enough floor space.
Limitation: food at the bottom is harder to reach than food in drawers. Plan how you’ll organise it so you can find the oldest meals first.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the capacity in litres of the freezer compartments, not just the total capacity of a fridge freezer. Also look at the size and number of drawers or baskets. | I want to store several meals at once without taking up the space set aside for other frozen food. |
| Access to portions | Consider how easy it is to remove the drawers or reach the bottom of a chest freezer. Check whether the compartments suit dishes of different sizes; UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking how easy the drawers and food are to handle. | I regularly take out a prepared meal, so I need to find portions easily and use the oldest ones first. |
| Installation | Measure the height, width and depth, then allow for the space needed to open the door or lid. If the appliance will be in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperature range for that model. | There’s not much room in my kitchen, or I’m planning to put an additional appliance in another room. |
| Energy use and noise | For models that meet your needs, compare kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise levels in dB(A). The European Commission says the energy label displays this information; ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously. | Noise matters to me too if the appliance will be near a living area. I want to know its annual energy consumption before adding a second appliance. |
| Adding meals and food safety | If you’re adding several batches at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h, as well as the stated storage time in the event of a power cut. For domestic freezing at −18 °C, Anses explains that bacterial growth stops, but most micro-organisms survive. | When I cook several meals on the same day, I want to be able to freeze them promptly after preparation and know how the appliance will protect my stock during a power cut. |
The fridge section can’t hold your frozen portions. For example, Electrolux France lists a 62 L freezer compartment in the KNT6ME18S4, which has a total capacity of 248 L.
Work out how many meals you want to store at once, then compare this with the freezer compartment’s capacity and layout.
A large capacity is no use if you can’t find a meal because newer portions are covering the older ones. Check that you can reach the bottom and lift out your containers.
Organise meals by date and use the baskets for portions you plan to eat soon.
The rating doesn’t tell you the model’s annual energy consumption. As ADEME points out, a freezer runs continuously; usable capacity and noise also matter when choosing an additional appliance.
For models with similar storage capacity, compare the kWh/year, freezer capacity in litres and noise emissions shown on the energy label and product information sheet.
According to Anses, domestic freezing at −18 °C stops bacterial growth, but doesn’t destroy most micro-organisms. It won’t make up for food having been stored improperly beforehand.
Freeze meals as soon as you’ve prepared them, following appropriate food-safety guidance. Once defrosted, eat them promptly and don’t refreeze them.
These examples highlight features to compare on specific models; they don’t represent every model from each brand.
Bosch offers under-counter freezers and freestanding upright models, among other options.
The Whirlpool W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer is an example of a model with baskets for storage.
The FNe 5207 Pure is one example of a freestanding upright freezer in the Liebherr range.
This selection from Joybuy includes fridge freezers for storing fresh food alongside frozen portions, as well as a chest freezer and a dedicated upright freezer. Compare their usable capacity for your meals and the space they’ll take up before choosing.
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This fridge freezer is for anyone who wants to store fresh food and frozen meals in one appliance. The product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity separately, along with the drawer layout and the space needed for installation.
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If you’re storing portions in a fridge freezer, first measure the space available for the freezer rather than relying on the appliance’s stated capacity of 262 L. The product title lists Low Frost, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Also check the depth, door clearance and usable space inside the drawers.
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This chest freezer provides dedicated storage for frozen meals. The product title lists a removable basket, sliding lid, adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating. Check that you’re happy with how food is stored at the bottom of the freezer. It’s also worth checking the annual energy consumption and storage time in the event of a power cut before you buy.
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The upright design lets you divide portions between the stated storage spaces, including drawers. The product title lists a C energy rating and an adjustable temperature range of −14 °C to −22 °C. Check that you can set it to maintain −18 °C for everyday use, as well as confirming the installation dimensions and storage time in the event of a power cut.
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This fridge freezer may suit you if frozen portions make up only part of the storage you need. The stated 174 L capacity is for the whole appliance, so check the freezer’s capacity before planning your meals. The product title lists Low Frost and a reversible door. Also check the model’s dimensions and annual energy consumption.
Anses uses −18 °C as the reference temperature for domestic freezing. At this temperature, bacterial growth stops, but most micro-organisms survive. Freeze meals as soon as you’ve prepared them, following appropriate food-safety guidance. Once defrosted, eat them promptly and don’t refreeze them.
Compare the energy rating, kWh/year, freezer compartment capacity and noise emissions. The European Commission says this information appears on the energy label for refrigeration appliances. The kWh/year figure is particularly useful for comparing models with similar storage capacities.
Yes, if its capacity, interior layout and freezing capacity suit the amount you store and add at once. As an example for this specific model, Bosch Electroménager France lists a capacity of 83 L and a freezing capacity of 4 kg/24 h for the GTV15NWEB. Compare these figures with your portions and the space beneath your worktop.
First, check the permitted ambient temperature range and installation instructions for the exact model. Whirlpool France lists FreezerGuard for its W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer, allowing it to operate at ambient temperatures down to −15 °C. This model-specific feature doesn’t mean that every freezer is suitable for an unheated room.
No. The freezer type alone doesn’t determine how long it will keep food frozen: compare the stated hours for each model. Bosch Electroménager France lists 14 h for the GSN54EWCV upright freezer, while Whirlpool France lists 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer. These figures don’t apply to every model of either type.