Start by working out how much space you need for fresh food and frozen portions, rather than relying on the total capacity. A fridge freezer suits mixed use; a small freezer compartment may be enough if you only keep a limited amount frozen. Consider a separate freezer if you regularly prepare lots of meals to freeze and have room for a second appliance. In every case, access to your food, the appliance’s dimensions and its stated energy consumption matter just as much as capacity.
If you prepare meals for several days, compare the space available for frozen portions with the room you need for fresh ingredients. Easy-to-access drawers can also make it easier to find your containers.
If your meals are mostly based on fresh ingredients and you only keep a small amount frozen, chilled capacity and easy everyday access to food will matter more when choosing an appliance.
If food gets forgotten behind other items, look at how easy it is to see and access your supplies before deciding you need more capacity. ADEME recommends checking what you have in stock before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
When planning meals, start by separating the space you need for fresh food from the space for frozen meals. Then check whether the everyday storage and available space make it practical to use those capacities.
Consider this if: your food shops for several days include both fresh ingredients and portions to freeze.
Bear in mind: the space is split between two compartments. Check the capacity of each one rather than relying on their combined total.
Consider this if: you mainly use fresh food and only freeze a few portions at a time.
Bear in mind: the freezer space may limit how much you can prepare at once. Check its capacity and how easy it is to access on the model you choose.
Consider this if: prepared meals and frozen food regularly need dedicated storage, and you have space for the appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to accommodate a second appliance and still have enough fridge capacity for fresh ingredients.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh and frozen food | Compare the stated capacity of each compartment separately, then check it against the containers you usually use. The European Commission lists these capacities separately in EPREL. | If I prepare several portions to freeze, I want to be able to store them without losing space for the week’s fresh ingredients. Around 40% of the consumers concerned would put this freezer space at the top of their needs. |
| Access to fresh food | Check shelf height, access to drawers and how easy it is to see your containers. Leave enough room for the cold air to circulate, as recommended by Anses. | When I mainly buy fresh food, I need to find the ingredients I’ve already bought before writing another shopping list. Easy access and rotating fresh food would be priorities for around 30% of the consumers concerned. |
| Energy consumption and maintenance | Check the energy class, kWh per year and noise level of the exact model. Also check its defrosting method and the dimensions once installed. | If the appliance needs to go near living spaces, I want to compare its stated energy consumption, noise level and maintenance requirements. These would come first for around 30% of the consumers concerned. |
A total capacity in litres doesn’t show how much space is for fresh ingredients and how much is left for frozen portions. EPREL, the European Commission’s database, lists the capacities of each compartment separately.
Compare both capacities with the containers and shopping you want to store at the same time.
More capacity won’t, by itself, make your food easier to see. ADEME recommends checking what you have in stock before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.
Before replacing your appliance, try taking stock and set aside an easy-to-reach spot for food that needs using first.
An appliance may fit in the space you have without leaving enough room to open the doors or reach the drawers. Inside the fridge, Anses recommends avoiding overfilling it so that cold air can circulate.
Measure the space, clearances and delivery route. Check the model’s installation instructions and make sure you can access its storage compartments.
NoFrost or a humidity-controlled drawer alone won’t tell you how much room there is for your meals, how much energy the appliance uses or what maintenance it needs overall. Any stated food-preservation benefits of these features depend on the manufacturer’s claims.
Check the specifications for the exact model and compare its capacities, energy label and dimensions with your needs.
The range includes fridge freezers with different storage layouts and, depending on the model, NoFrost or individual temperature settings.
Some Liebherr fridge freezers combine dedicated fresh-food storage with a freezer compartment.
The range includes large-capacity fridge freezers to consider if your planned food shops need plenty of space.
These appliances cover a range of needs, from combined fridge and freezer storage to separate cold storage for batch-cooked meals. Compare the compartments and how easy they are to access before choosing an appliance to suit your available space.
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Worth considering if you want to keep fresh ingredients and frozen food in one appliance. The product name lists Total No Frost, an energy class of E, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the capacity of each compartment on the model’s product page and make sure the appliance will fit in your space.
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If your shopping includes both fresh and frozen food, check that the way the 495 l capacity is divided suits your containers. The product name lists an energy class of E. Also check the dimensions and, if you want to use the water and ice dispenser described for this model, its connection requirements.
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Consider this if you want to make room for fresh food while keeping a compartment for frozen portions. The product is listed with 153 l of fridge capacity, 74 l of freezer capacity, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an energy class of E. Its system is called Low Frost; check the instructions to find out what maintenance and defrosting it requires.
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Worth considering if you need separate storage for batch-cooked meals. This chest appliance, which opens from the top, is listed with a removable basket, a five-level temperature control and an energy class of E. It operates as either a fridge or a freezer, not both at the same time. Check there’s room to open it and that your portions will be easy to reach.
A fridge freezer is suitable if you need space for fresh and frozen food every day. Consider a separate freezer if your frozen portions regularly take up more room than your current freezer space allows. Compare the capacity of each compartment and measure the space for a potential second appliance.
Check that your containers fit, stay visible and can be taken out without moving everything else. Look at the usable height, depth and flexibility of the storage. Anses also recommends not overfilling the fridge, to allow cold air to circulate.
Anses recommends keeping the temperature between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point, and checking it regularly. Find out where that point is in your appliance rather than assuming the temperature is the same everywhere.
Compare the energy class and kWh per year listed for each model, then check its defrosting method in the instructions. A manufacturer’s NoFrost claim won’t, by itself, tell you which capacity is right for you or how much energy you’ll actually use.
It lets you compare details such as the energy class and stated annual consumption of specific models. The Ministry of the Economy says that fridges are among the appliances covered by the energy label. Compare these details with the capacity and exact model reference of each appliance.