If you store both fresh food and a moderate amount of frozen portions, compare the capacity of the two compartments in a fridge freezer. A separate freezer may be worth considering if prepared meals or bulk buys regularly fill the freezer compartment, while the fridge still meets your needs. In either case, compare capacity with the food you actually store, the space available and the kWh/year: an extra appliance runs continuously.
If you freeze portions for the days ahead, start by checking the freezer capacity and how easy the drawers make it to find your meals. Then compare the annual energy consumption of models suited to that capacity.
If fruit, vegetables and food for the week take up most of the space, prioritise fridge capacity and easy-to-see storage areas. Checking your food stocks regularly can help you spot what needs using before your next shop.
Your chosen capacity also needs to fit through the door and into the space available. Measure the width, height and depth, then check the clearances specified in the manual, how the doors open and the stated noise level.
Consider this: if you rarely freeze food and use most of the space for fresh produce.
Bear in mind: check the compartment’s capacity and intended use before relying on it for several batches of meals.
Consider this: if you want to keep fresh food and a regular but limited supply of frozen food in one appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity can hide a freezer compartment that’s too small for your prepared portions.
Consider this: if your fridge freezer’s freezer compartment is often overflowing, but its fridge section still suits you.
Remember: you’ll need extra space, and a second appliance will run continuously.
| Criterion | What to check | Consider your needs |
|---|---|---|
| How capacity is divided | Note the fridge and freezer capacities separately, in litres. Compare them with the food you have just before your next shop, rather than looking only at the total capacity. | Do I mainly store fresh food, or does my frozen food regularly fill the whole compartment? |
| Space available | Check the height, width and depth, delivery access, door opening and the clearances specified in the model’s manual. | Will a larger appliance fit in my kitchen and still be easy to use with the doors open? |
| Energy consumption and noise | According to the European Commission, the energy label shows the energy class, kWh/year, capacity and noise level. First compare appliances of the same type and similar capacity; if you’re adding a second appliance, check its energy consumption too. | I want to know the annual energy consumption of a size that suits my food stocks, rather than judging running costs by the energy class alone. |
| Food storage | Check how easy it is to reach the shelves and drawers. Set aside an area for food to use first and keep track of frozen portions; ADEME recommends checking your food stocks regularly. | After shopping, I need to be able to find leftovers and food I already have, even if I have more storage space. |
| Temperature and maintenance | Anses recommends checking that the coldest part of the fridge is between 0 and +4 °C, and notes that domestic freezers should operate at −18 °C. Also check the model’s defrosting function. | I want settings and storage arrangements I can keep on top of every day; a function that reduces frost doesn’t replace checking the food inside. |
Two fridge freezers with a similar total capacity can divide their litres differently between the fridge and freezer. So you can’t tell whether you’ll have enough room for prepared meals from the overall figure alone.
Estimate how much fresh and frozen food you have separately before your next shop, then check the capacity of each compartment in the specifications for the models you’re considering.
ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously. A separate freezer is another appliance to power and install, even if you rarely use its drawers.
First check whether you regularly run short of freezer space. Then compare the kWh/year, capacities and dimensions of options that meet that need.
A function designed to reduce frost won’t sort your portions or alert you to food forgotten at the back of a drawer.
Set aside space for food to use first, date your frozen portions and check your stocks before you shop again.
The stated width alone won’t tell you whether an appliance will fit in your kitchen or whether its doors can open fully. Whether you can use it in an unheated room also depends on the conditions specified for that exact model.
Measure the space and access route, then check the manual for clearance requirements, door opening and permitted ambient temperatures.
These examples show formats and features to check on each model; they don’t represent every range from a brand.
Its fridge freezers let you compare different balances between fridge and freezer capacity.
Depending on the model, the brand’s fridge freezers include features such as SmartFrost or NoFrost.
Its upright freezers are worth considering if your main aim is to add more space for frozen food.
Its upright freezers offer examples of capacities to compare with the space available and the model’s energy consumption.
These models combine fridge and freezer storage in one appliance. To choose between them, start with the space available and how you divide your food stocks. If your main aim is to add a large amount of freezer space, consider that option separately.
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This three-door fridge freezer is worth considering if you want one appliance for fresh food and frozen portions. The product name lists a capacity of 360 L, an E energy class and Total No Frost. Compare the capacity of each compartment with your food stocks and check the required installation clearances.
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This model is worth comparing with other fridge freezers if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance. The product name lists a capacity of 333 L and an energy class of C. Before comparing its capacity with another model, check the energy label to see how the space is divided between compartments.
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This multi-door design is worth considering if you’re looking for a large capacity in one appliance. The product name lists a capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy class. Check the space needed to open the doors, as well as the separate capacities for fresh and frozen food.
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This fridge freezer is another option to compare with your fresh and frozen food stocks. The product name lists a capacity of 344 L and an energy class of D. Check the kWh/year on the energy label and the full dimensions, especially the depth, before comparing its energy consumption or planning its installation.
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At 54 cm wide, this model is worth a look if space is limited. Joybuy lists 153 L of fridge capacity and 74 L of freezer capacity; the product name also mentions Low Frost and an E energy class. Check the full height and kWh/year before deciding whether this model suits your space and food stocks.
Start by comparing appliances of the same type and similar capacity. According to the European Commission, the energy label shows information including the energy class, kWh/year, capacity and noise level. Look at annual energy consumption and usable capacity in litres, not just the energy class. If you keep your fridge and add a freezer, take the energy consumption of both appliances into account.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 °C and +4 °C. It also explains that freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria multiplying, but doesn’t destroy most microorganisms. Freeze food in good time rather than waiting until it’s close to its use-by date.
No: a function that reduces frost doesn’t determine how much capacity your household needs. First work out how much space your frozen food takes up and how you’ll organise the drawers. Then compare maintenance features, kWh/year and noise levels across suitable models.
Not necessarily. It may be worth considering if frozen portions regularly fill your fridge freezer’s freezer compartment, while the fridge section still meets your needs. If the main problem is finding food, start by creating clearly visible storage areas and checking your stocks before shopping, as ADEME recommends.