If you want to build up a large supply of meals or store bulky containers, a chest freezer is a good choice. If you regularly take out individual portions, an upright freezer with drawers makes them easier to organise. A fridge-freezer keeps fresh and frozen food in one appliance, but be sure to check the capacity of the freezer compartment rather than the total capacity. Whatever style you choose, measure the space needed to open it and check that the model is suitable for the temperature of the room where it will be installed.
If you cook in bulk or freeze bulky containers, start by looking at the usable capacity and the shape of the storage space. A chest freezer gives you flexibility for larger items, but food at the bottom takes more effort to organise.
If you often take out portions and rotate your meals, the front access and drawers of an upright freezer, or the freezer compartment of a fridge-freezer, may matter more than having a large chest.
If you’re using a garage, cellar or utility room, first compare the room’s actual temperatures with the operating range specified for the model you’re considering. A freezer’s suitability for cold conditions can’t be judged by its style alone.
When stocking up on meals, start with the feature that matters most to you, then check the installation requirements and the capacity actually available for freezing.
Consider it: for large batches, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: food at the bottom is harder to find, so baskets and a stock rotation system come in handy.
Consider it: if you want to organise portions and access them easily from the front.
The trade-off: drawers reduce the space available for bulky containers.
Consider it: if you want to keep fresh food and frozen meals in one appliance.
The trade-off: only part of the total capacity is for freezing, so make sure it’s enough for your stock.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the litres available for freezing and the space for your largest containers. | I cook in large batches and don’t want to divide my meals between several small compartments. Capacity would be the main priority for around 28% of consumers. |
| Access to portions | Look at the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom when the appliance is full. | I take meals from my stock every day, so I want to find a portion without moving everything else. Around 22% of consumers would prioritise easy access. |
| One appliance | For a fridge-freezer, check the fridge and freezer capacities separately. | I want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance, even if I only need a modest supply of meals. This would be the main priority for around 17% of consumers. |
| Installation room | Compare the room’s temperatures with the climate class and the instructions for the exact model. | If my appliance needs to go in an unheated room, I first need to know whether it can operate at the temperatures there. This would be the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
| Energy use | Compare the kWh/year shown on the energy label for appliances with similar styles and capacities. | I want to choose the capacity I need without overlooking the electricity used by an appliance that runs all the time. Around 16% of consumers would put this first. |
A chest freezer needs floor space and clearance above the lid. An upright freezer needs enough room to open the door and pull out the drawers.
Measure the delivery route, the installation area and the space needed to open the appliance fully. Also leave the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s instructions.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the specific model, whether it’s a chest or an upright freezer. Beko says that certain models in its Freezer Guard range can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, as does Liebherr for its CFd 2505 Plus. This doesn’t apply to all their appliances.
Check the room’s temperatures in winter and summer, then consult the technical specifications and instructions for the model you’re considering.
The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy use or the appliance’s capacity. ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously.
Check the kWh/year on the label and compare models with similar styles and capacities, taking into account the features you need.
The compartment can hold bulky containers, but food stacked at the bottom is harder to find.
Sort meals into zones or baskets, date your portions and keep the oldest ones within easy reach. If you check your stock every day, compare upright freezers with drawers too.
Worth considering for an upright or chest freezer in an unheated room, provided the specific model is marked Freezer Guard.
Worth considering for a chest freezer for large batches, particularly if you plan to install it in a cool room.
Worth considering if easy front access to meals and drawer storage are the reasons you’re choosing an upright freezer.
Worth considering if you’d rather have a fridge and freezer in one appliance.
These products cover the three styles you might consider for storing meals: chest freezers for a separate stock, an upright freezer for organising portions, and a fridge-freezer for keeping fresh and frozen food together. Compare the freezer capacity with your needs, then check the installation requirements for the model you choose.
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Worth considering for large batches of meals that need their own freezer space.
The product name indicates that it can switch between fridge and freezer modes, and mentions an E energy rating, a five-level digital control and a removable basket.
Make sure you can reach the bottom of the compartment. If you’re installing it in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperatures in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you want to keep fresh food and frozen meals in one appliance.
The product is listed with an E energy rating. The 282 L in its name shouldn’t be taken as the freezer capacity alone: check how the capacity is split between the two compartments.
Measure the space and delivery route before choosing this style.
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Worth considering if you want extra meal storage in a standalone freezer with a top-opening lid.
The product name mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating.
Check the clearance needed to open the lid, the kWh/year on the label and the permitted ambient temperature range if the appliance is going in an unheated room.
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Worth considering if you prefer to organise portions in a dedicated freezer with front access.
The product name mentions three freezer drawers, No Frost, a temperature setting range of −14 °C to −22 °C and a C energy rating. This temperature setting range doesn’t indicate the ambient temperature permitted for installation.
Check the dimensions, door clearance, kWh/year and installation requirements in the instructions.
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Worth considering for extra storage rather than for large batches of meals.
The product name mentions a removable wire basket, a sliding lid and an E energy rating.
Check the space needed to access it from above, the kWh/year, the defrosting instructions and the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
Compare their kWh/year on the energy label when they have a similar style and freezer capacity. The A to G rating provides useful context, but it doesn’t replace the annual figure; ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously.
Yes, if the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the temperatures in your garage. Measure the room’s temperature and check the instructions for the exact model: Beko only states that certain Freezer Guard models can operate down to −15 °C, while Liebherr specifies FrostProtect down to −15 °C for the CFd 2505 Plus.
Check the A to G rating and the annual energy use in kWh, then compare them with the capacity you need. According to the European Your Europe portal, products covered by EU energy-labelling rules must display the label clearly at the point of sale, including online.
Take it to a collection scheme for electrical and electronic equipment rather than disposing of it as general waste. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition lists collection points, recycling centres, retailers and social and solidarity economy organisations among the options. Check the take-back arrangements before your new appliance is delivered.