When planning meals ahead, start by considering how much space you need for fresh food and frozen portions, rather than focusing on total capacity alone. A fridge freezer combines both uses in one space. If your frozen food regularly exceeds the space available, a separate freezer lets you choose its capacity independently, but you’ll need another place for it and should factor in its electricity consumption.
The right balance between refrigeration and freezing depends mainly on what your household needs to store at the same time, and how much room you have for the appliance.
If you cook for several days at a time, separate fresh ingredients from portions you plan to freeze. This will help you choose between the two fixed compartments of a fridge freezer and separate appliances with independently sized capacities.
Measure the space and delivery route before choosing a format. For a built-in model, also check the housing, door fixing and ventilation requirements in the manual.
Compare the kWh/year of the appliances you’re considering with their usable capacities. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, so it’s worth assessing the impact of adding another appliance separately.
First work out which capacity your meal-prep routine is actually short of. Then compare the installation requirements and energy consumption of the formats that meet that need.
Worth considering: you store fresh food and frozen portions in one place.
Bear in mind: the capacity of each compartment is fixed for that model. A sufficient total capacity can still hide a freezer compartment that’s too small for your portions.
Worth considering: most of your food is fresh, and you only need to freeze a few portions.
Check: some single-door fridges don’t have a freezer compartment. For example, Bosch states that its 204 L built-in KIR41NSE0 has none.
Worth considering: your fresh and frozen food needs are consistently quite different, and you want to size each space independently.
Bear in mind: you’ll need two spaces, and should factor in the annual consumption of two appliances that run continuously, as ADEME reminds us.
Worth considering: your current freezer regularly fills up before you’ve stored all the portions you planned to freeze.
Bear in mind: you’ll need extra space. Compare the usable capacity and kWh/year of the additional freezer with those of your current appliances.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare fridge and freezer capacity in litres separately, then check the drawers and shelves of the model you’re considering. The European Commission says the energy label shows the storage volumes of the appliances it covers. | I want enough room for the week’s ingredients without running short of space for the portions I freeze. |
| Energy consumption | Check the kWh/year alongside the energy class and usable capacities. If you choose two appliances, look at the annual consumption of each; ADEME reminds us that they run continuously. | Extra capacity appeals to me, but I also want to know how much energy the appliances will use while plugged in. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance, the space and the delivery route. For a built-in model, check the housing, door fixing and ventilation clearances in the model’s manual. | My appliance needs to fit in the kitchen and be installed without blocking the required ventilation. |
| Storage and temperature | Check the temperature adjustment and monitoring options, as well as access to areas that need cleaning. For sensitive chilled foods, Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point. | I want to store my prepared meals easily without restricting the circulation of cold air. |
The stated capacity in litres for a fridge freezer as a whole doesn’t tell you which compartment will hold your portions. The European Commission says the energy label shows the storage volumes separately for the appliances it covers.
Estimate how much you typically keep chilled and frozen at the same time over a week, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment.
An extra appliance can solve a storage problem, but it will run continuously. ADEME advises taking the energy consumption of cooling appliances into account.
Choose a capacity that suits your usual stock and compare the kWh/year of the freezer you’re considering with those of the other appliances in your home.
The appliance dimensions alone won’t confirm that it will fit in the housing, that its door can be fixed in place or that the ventilation requirements will be met. The delivery route also matters for larger models.
Check the exact model’s manual for the housing, door fixing and clearances, then measure doorways, stairs and lifts along the delivery route.
A feature that helps manage frost doesn’t replace temperature control or maintenance. For sensitive chilled foods, Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point.
Check the features of your chosen model, monitor its temperature, and follow the storage and cleaning instructions.
These examples highlight specific formats and features; they don’t represent every model from each brand.
Worth a look if your kitchen needs a built-in appliance or you’re planning to freeze food in a separate appliance.
The brand offers a range of fridge freezers and built-in models. Compare the specifications of each model individually.
Its French catalogue includes fridge freezers in a range of capacities, so consider how much room you need for chilled and frozen food.
The WHK25294B6E built-in fridge freezer is a good example of why it’s worth checking both compartment capacities, rather than just the total.
The ECBNe 7871 built-in fridge freezer is an example of a large appliance whose dimensions need to be checked against your kitchen.
These models combine refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. Compare their size with your available space and the capacity you need in each compartment. This selection isn’t a substitute for considering a separate freezer if you need more room for frozen food.
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This fridge freezer gives you space to store fresh shopping and frozen portions in one appliance. Its product title lists a 360 L capacity, Total No Frost, an E energy class, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions for delivery and which connected features you’re likely to use.
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This four-door model is worth comparing with the space you have available if you store fresh shopping and frozen portions at the same time. Its product title lists a 467 L capacity, Total No Frost, an E energy class and Smart Inverter. Measure the space and delivery route, then check the capacity of each compartment.
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The bottom freezer makes this a format worth considering if you want to keep chilled and frozen food in one appliance. The product title lists a 282 L capacity and an E energy class. Before choosing it, compare the available capacity in each compartment and check the installation clearances. Also follow the transport and disposal instructions supplied with the appliance.
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If space is limited, compare its listed width of 54 cm with the available space and delivery route. Its product title splits the 227 L capacity into 153 L of refrigeration and 74 L of freezing capacity. It also lists Low Frost, a four-star freezer, a reversible door and an E energy class. Allow for manual defrosting and check the kWh/year on the energy label before comparing its energy use.
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This built-in model is worth considering if you need to keep chilled and frozen food in an existing housing. Its product title lists a 249 L capacity, TwinTech No Frost and an E energy class. Check that the total capacity matches the breakdown for each compartment, then consult the model’s documentation for the housing dimensions, door fixing, ventilation and kWh/year.
Compare the kWh/year and the storage volumes for chilled and frozen food, as well as the energy class. The European Commission says the labels for the appliances it covers also show noise levels. This information helps you compare models against the space you need in each compartment.
No. Measure the delivery route too. For a built-in appliance, check the housing, door fixing and ventilation requirements in the model’s manual. Bosch’s general guide doesn’t replace the instructions specific to your appliance.
For sensitive chilled foods, Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point. Check the temperature at that point rather than relying on the dial setting alone, and don’t overfill the appliance, as this can restrict air circulation.
No. A No Frost feature doesn’t replace temperature checks or cleaning. Check what the feature covers on your chosen model and follow its maintenance instructions.
Arrange for it to be handled through the electrical and electronic equipment recycling scheme. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that the ‘one-for-one’ take-back service is linked to buying an appliance of the same type. Agree the practical collection arrangements for this large appliance with the retailer.