If you prepare fresh meals and regularly freeze portions, a fridge freezer may be a good fit if both compartments meet your needs. A fridge with a small freezer compartment is better suited to occasional freezing, while a separate freezer gives you dedicated space but needs room and uses electricity continuously, as ADEME points out. In all cases, compare usable capacity, layout and kWh/year, and avoid overfilling the fridge so air can circulate, recommends Anses.
If you fill your fridge with containers and ingredients for several days, check how much space is genuinely accessible, how the shelves are arranged and whether air can circulate. Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge.
If you prepare more portions to freeze than you keep chilled, compare freezer capacity, the instructions for freezing fresh food and the appliance’s energy consumption. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously.
If space is limited, compare the appliance’s dimensions with its usable interior space and the kWh/year shown. ADEME advises taking size and over-equipping into account when choosing household appliances.
Worth considering : if you regularly store fresh meals and frozen portions in one appliance.
Keep in mind : the fixed split between fridge and freezer space may not suit your habits.
Worth considering : if chilled storage is your priority and you only freeze small quantities.
Keep in mind : Electrolux France says this compartment is generally smaller than the freezer section of a fridge freezer; check the model specifications if you plan to freeze fresh food.
Worth considering : if your fridge already meets your chilled storage needs, but you regularly run short of space for frozen portions.
Keep in mind : you’ll need a suitable place for it and should factor in the extra appliance’s energy consumption.
Worth considering : if you need separate capacities for chilled and frozen food and have two suitable places to put the appliances.
Keep in mind : compare the dimensions and add together the kWh/year figures for both appliances to assess their combined stated annual energy consumption.
When choosing a refrigeration appliance for meal prep over several days, compare the capacity and layout of each compartment before relying on the total capacity. Anses recommends avoiding overfilling the fridge so that air can circulate.
| What matters | What to check before you buy | Who cares most about it |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh meals | Usable fridge capacity, space between the shelves and room for the containers you usually use. | When I prepare several meals in advance, I want to store my containers without cramming the food in ; around 36% of consumers prioritise storing fresh meals. |
| Freezing portions | Compartment capacity, star rating and guidance on freezing fresh food. | If I prepare portions to freeze, I check that there’ll be room for them and that the compartment is suitable for this use ; around 29% of consumers prioritise freezing portions. |
| Size and installation | Appliance dimensions and access routes, door clearance and ventilation instructions in the manual. | In a kitchen where space is at a premium, I want to make sure I can fit and open the appliance I’ve chosen ; around 21% of consumers prioritise how well it fits into their available space. |
| Energy consumption | kWh/year for each appliance and, if you’re buying two, the total of their stated annual figures. | If I’m comparing a fridge freezer with two separate appliances, I consider their stated annual energy consumption rather than capacity alone ; around 14% of consumers make energy consumption their top priority. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may divide the space differently between fresh meals and frozen portions.
Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment, then check the shelf and drawer layout against the containers you usually use.
A compact compartment generally offers less space than the freezer section of a fridge freezer, and whether it can freeze fresh food depends on the model.
Check its capacity, star rating and the manufacturer’s guidance before planning to freeze several batches of portions in it.
Extra capacity alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption of two appliances. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously.
Compare the kWh/year figures for each appliance and add them together to assess their combined stated annual energy consumption.
An overfilled fridge can prevent cold air from circulating properly. Having enough space doesn’t remove the need to organise your food appropriately.
Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge and gives an ideal temperature of between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. Find this area and follow the storage guidance for your meals.
The brand’s freestanding fridge freezers let you compare fridge and freezer capacities, as well as the interior layout, depending on the model.
Fridges with a small freezer compartment are worth considering if your main need is chilled storage.
The brand’s upright freezers are worth comparing if you’re considering a separate appliance for frozen portions.
The brand’s fridge freezer and freestanding freezer ranges include different formats to consider based on the space you have and the capacities you need.
This selection brings together freestanding fridge freezers for storing fresh food and frozen portions in one appliance.
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Its two compartments may appeal to households that store both fresh meals and frozen portions.
Stated capacities : fridge 329 L and freezer 159 L. Stated freezing capacity : 12 kg/24 h. Stated annual energy consumption : 298 kWh.
The product description mentions shelves, door balconies and drawers in both compartments.
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The split between the compartments can help households compare the space available for chilled and frozen food separately.
Stated capacities : fridge 347 L and freezer 197 L. Stated freezing capacity : 12 kg/24 h. Stated annual energy consumption : 254 kWh.
The title specifies No Frost and a water dispenser; the description mentions four shelves and two drawers in the freezer section.
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This fridge freezer may suit you if you want chilled and frozen storage in a single appliance.
Stated total capacity : 336 L. The product name specifies a black finish.
Work out how many containers and ingredients you’ll keep chilled at the same time, then consider the portions you want to freeze. Compare the usable capacity of each compartment separately and check that your containers fit between the shelves. Avoid overfilling the fridge so that air can circulate, recommends Anses.
An appliance’s capacity alone doesn’t determine how long a meal can be stored. Anses gives an ideal temperature of between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point and recommends not overfilling the fridge. Find this area and follow the storage guidance for the food; freeze portions intended for freezing as soon as you’ve prepared them.
Before you buy, check access routes, the space available, door clearance, and the delivery and installation options offered for your chosen model. Then follow the manual’s instructions on ventilation, climate class and how long to wait before plugging the appliance in. Electrolux recommends waiting at least four hours for appliances covered by its installation guide; this advice isn’t universal.
The French Ministry of the Economy says that the seller must tell you the delivery price in writing before you buy. According to the DGCCRF, free like-for-like take-back applies when you buy a new appliance and an equivalent old one is taken away. The legal guarantee of conformity is provided by the professional seller and is separate from an optional commercial guarantee.