Choose based on how much space you need for portions to keep chilled and portions to freeze. A fridge-freezer gives you both in one appliance; a larger fridge is best if you mainly need more room for fresh meals, while a separate freezer suits you if your frozen stock exceeds your current capacity. Compare the usable capacity of each compartment and the storage layout before looking at total capacity. Also check the dimensions, kWh/year and the temperatures recommended by Anses: 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge for perishable foods and −18 °C for home freezing.
If containers take up the shelves and drawers for a few days, start by checking the fridge’s usable capacity and storage layout. Anses recommends not overfilling the appliance, so that air can circulate.
When the drawers in your fridge-freezer are no longer enough, a separate freezer lets you increase your freezing capacity without necessarily replacing your fridge. To choose between an upright freezer and a chest freezer, consider how often you’ll take portions out and how much floor space you have.
A fridge-freezer combines both compartments in one appliance. Check the capacity of each separately, then measure the space available, including room to open the doors and the clearance required for installation, as set out in the instructions.
Start by dividing your portions into those you’ll keep chilled and those you’ll freeze. Then compare the stated capacities with your containers, your kitchen and the appliance’s features.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Room for fresh meals | Compare the fridge’s usable capacity in litres, then check the height and layout of the shelves and drawers against your containers. UFC-Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person, as a general guide. Adjust this to suit your routine. | My containers need to fit without filling every shelf: Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge so air can circulate. |
| How much you need to freeze | Check the usable capacities of the freezer and fridge separately, rather than focusing on the total. If frozen portions are piling up, consider how easily you can access the drawers in an upright freezer or how much room you’d need for a chest freezer. | I keep a few frozen portions in a fridge-freezer, or regularly store enough to consider a separate freezer. |
| Temperatures | Check the instructions to find the coldest zone and available settings. Anses recommends 4 °C in this zone for perishable foods and −18 °C for home freezing. Capacity and a frost-free function don’t replace these checks. | For the meals I keep chilled and the portions I freeze, I want to be able to check the temperatures for each use. |
| Energy use and location | Compare the kWh/year, capacities and noise levels shown on the EU energy label, as well as the external dimensions. If you’re planning to put the appliance in a cellar, utility room or garage, check that its climate class is suitable for the room’s temperatures. | An additional appliance needs to fit in the space available. As ADEME points out, fridges and freezers run continuously, so I check their annual energy use as well as their capacity. |
A fridge-freezer may offer plenty of chilled storage but not have enough freezer drawers for your stock of portions.
Count the containers you want to store in each compartment, then compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately.
A feature such as No Frost doesn’t remove the need to check the temperature or avoid overfilling the appliance. For perishable foods, Anses recommends 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge; home freezing should reach −18 °C.
Check the instructions to find the coldest zone and set each compartment according to how you’ll use it.
A second fridge or freezer takes up extra space and runs continuously, as ADEME points out.
Measure the installation space, check the appliance’s ventilation requirements and compare its kWh/year before deciding whether the extra capacity meets your needs.
The temperature in a cellar, garage or utility room needs to fall within the operating conditions of the model you choose.
Check the room’s temperatures against the model’s climate class and the limits listed in its product details.
These features apply to the models mentioned, not to every appliance from each brand.
The freestanding KGN39EXCF fridge-freezer lets you compare the split between fresh and frozen portions in an appliance that’s 60 cm wide.
The WHK26494X6E is a fridge-freezer to consider if you need more room in both the fridge and freezer.
The RFNM200E40WN is an example of a separate upright freezer to consider if you mainly need more room for frozen portions.
This fridge-freezer combines chilled and frozen storage for households preparing portions for both. Check that its capacity split and dimensions suit your containers and your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen portions in one appliance. Compare the 70/30 split with the amount you expect to freeze.
The model name specifies 262 L, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Check the space required for installation, the internal layout for your containers and, in the instructions, the setting that lets you monitor the coldest zone.
Yes, if you mainly need more room for portions to keep chilled. Compare the usable capacity and shelf layout with your containers: Anses recommends not overfilling the fridge. If you also freeze a lot of portions, check the freezer capacity separately.
An upright freezer is worth considering if you want to organise portions in drawers and access them often. A chest freezer may suit you if you need more capacity and have the floor space. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can hold up to 600 L, while upright freezers generally have a capacity of around 200 L. In either case, check that the model’s climate class suits the room where you plan to put it.
Compare kWh/year, storage capacity, noise level and energy rating across appliances that suit your needs. The European Commission says this information appears on fridge and freezer energy labels. Pay particular attention to kWh/year if you’re considering a second appliance.
Anses recommends 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge for perishable foods and −18 °C for home freezing. Check the instructions to find this zone and the available settings: neither a large capacity nor a frost-free function replaces temperature checks.