A fridge freezer may be enough if you’ll eat most of your prepared meals over the next few days and only freeze a few portions. If you need a separate frozen food store, consider an upright freezer for easy access to portions, or a chest freezer if capacity is your priority and you can organise food stored deeper inside. In either case, match the usable capacity to your habits, then check the location, defrosting requirements and storage temperatures.
If you’re mainly preparing meals for the week, make sure you have enough room in the fridge before deciding whether its freezer compartment will be sufficient. Anses recommends checking the temperature in the coldest part of the fridge.
If you sort meals by type or date, check how easy the drawers are to access and whether they’ll fit your containers. The removable drawers and shelves on the Bosch GSN33FWEV are one storage option to look for on each model.
If you store lots of portions or large containers, it’s worth considering a dedicated freezer. With a chest freezer, also think about how you’ll reach food stored at the bottom.
Consider it: for fresh meals you’ll eat over the next few days and a limited number of frozen portions.
The drawback: the freezer compartment may run out of room if you keep adding portions.
Consider it: for organising frozen portions and regularly accessing specific meals.
The drawback: you’ll need space for a separate appliance, which won’t keep fresh meals chilled.
Consider it: for a large frozen food store or bulky containers.
The drawback: portions stored deep inside need to be organised by area and date.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storing fresh meals | Space available after your usual shop and the temperature in the coldest part of the fridge. | If I’ll eat the meals over the next few days, I want to be able to refrigerate them without overcrowding the appliance; around 37 % of consumers prioritise keeping meals fresh. |
| Access to frozen portions | Number and size of drawers, room for containers and whether you can separate portions. | If I want to find a specific meal without moving my whole stock, organisation is my main priority; the same is true for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity, interior layout and installation requirements if the appliance will be placed in an unheated room. | If I regularly freeze large quantities, I’m mainly looking for a separate frozen food store; this capacity is the priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Space at home | Dimensions, delivery access, door or lid clearance and ventilation space. | If there’s little room in my kitchen, I want to avoid an appliance I can’t install or open properly; around 9 % of consumers prioritise the space it takes up. |
Food storage containers complement your chosen appliance. Check they’re suitable for how you plan to use them, fit in the drawers or baskets and can be labelled with a date. They don’t replace storage space or temperature checks.
Capacity alone won’t tell you whether you’ll be able to reach your portions. A deep chest freezer needs a different approach to organising food from an upright model with drawers.
Think about how you’ll arrange your containers for individual portions, family meals and ingredients, then check the drawers, baskets and usable internal dimensions.
No Frost relates to frost build-up in models with this feature; it doesn’t mean you can stop checking your fridge. Anses recommends a temperature of 4 °C in the coldest part.
Store perishable meals there and avoid packing containers so tightly that they block the circulation of cold air.
Whether an appliance can operate in an unheated room depends on the model. Beko says the HSM35050 can be used at ambient temperatures down to −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all chest freezers.
Before choosing a location, check the manual for the permitted ambient temperature range and required ventilation clearances.
Anses recommends refrigerating cooked food within two hours and advises against refreezing food once it has thawed.
Divide large batches into suitable containers to help them cool, date your portions and plan to defrost them in the fridge, or quickly by cooking or reheating.
Worth considering if you want to keep portions organised in an upright freezer.
Worth considering for storing portions in a chest freezer.
Worth considering if you want to store fresh meals and frozen portions in one appliance.
These Joybuy models include fridge freezers for keeping fresh meals and frozen portions together, as well as an upright and a chest freezer for separate frozen food storage. Start by choosing the function you need, then check the dimensions and installation requirements of your chosen model.
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A fridge freezer to consider if you want to keep prepared meals fresh and freeze some portions in the same appliance. The product title states 174 L, Low Frost, an adjustable thermostat and a reversible door. Check the temperatures it can reach and the clearance needed for its location.
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Worth considering if you want to store prepared meals in the fridge and freezer sections of one appliance. The title states 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, a width of 54 cm, Low Frost and a reversible door. Check the height, clearances and temperature settings before choosing a location.
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An option to consider if you want to organise frozen portions in an appliance separate from your fridge. The title states No Frost, three freezer drawers and an advertised temperature range of −14 °C to −22 °C. This appliance won’t keep fresh meals chilled; also check its dimensions and installation clearances.
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A fridge freezer to consider if you need one appliance for chilling and freezing, and its capacity suits your habits. The title states 360 L, three doors and Total No Frost. Check the fridge’s adjustable temperature, the dimensions and the ventilation clearances required for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you want extra frozen storage without opting for a large-capacity chest freezer. The title states 99 L, an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket and a sliding lid. Organise portions stored beneath the basket, and check the dimensions, clearances and defrosting method.
Anses recommends keeping the temperature at 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Store perishable cooked meals there and avoid overfilling the appliance so cold air can circulate.
Avoid putting a hot meal in the fridge, but don’t leave it out for too long: Anses recommends refrigerating it within two hours. Dividing a large batch into suitable containers helps it cool more quickly.
No. Anses recommends not refreezing food once it has thawed. Prepare portions to suit each meal, then defrost them in the fridge, in the microwave using the defrost setting, or quickly by cooking or reheating.
No. In models with this feature, No Frost relates to frost formation; it doesn’t replace cleaning, labelling portions or checking the temperature needed to keep food safe.