Keep using the freezer compartment in your fridge freezer if it can hold your portions and other frozen food without making meals difficult to find. For more storage or better separation, an upright freezer with drawers makes frequent access easier, while a chest freezer suits storing batches if you’re happy to organise items stored beneath the surface. An under-counter model is a good fit when space is limited; a built-in model requires a compatible housing unit.
If you regularly take a particular meal out of the freezer, make a list of your containers and see how the drawers or compartments let you keep them separate. The capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how easy they are to reach.
If you want to add an appliance without taking up a large area, compare an under-counter model with a built-in one, if your kitchen has a suitable housing unit. Check the freezer capacity, dimensions and installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
A chest freezer is worth considering if you store batches of prepared food or stackable containers. The number of baskets and compartments is particularly important if you also need to find individual portions.
Start by counting and measuring what you actually plan to freeze, then compare your list with the existing compartment and the container sizes that will fit in your home.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the capacity of the freezer compartments—not the total capacity of a fridge freezer—with your list. Also check that the drawer shape will accommodate your dishes and bags. | I want to store prepared portions without having to remove the other items I usually keep in the freezer. |
| Access to meals | Look at the number and layout of the drawers, flaps or baskets. An upright or built-in freezer with drawers makes it easier to separate meals; with a chest freezer, check how you’ll organise items stored beneath the surface. | Being able to find a meal for tonight matters more to me than storing large batches together—or vice versa. |
| Where it will go | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as the space needed to open the door. For a built-in model, check that the housing unit and door system match the instructions for the exact model. | I’m only interested in a separate appliance if it can be installed and opened in the space I have in mind. |
| Energy use and noise | According to the European Commission, the energy label provides information including the energy class, annual energy consumption, storage volumes and noise. Compare these details between appliances of a similar size and capacity. | If I add an appliance that will run all the time, I want to know its stated energy consumption and noise level. |
| Maintenance | Check the cooling system and defrosting instructions for the model you’re considering. Don’t assume that its maintenance requirements are the same as those of another model from the same brand. | I’d rather know what maintenance is involved before choosing between appliances that can hold my portions. |
Two households of the same size may freeze different quantities of food and use different containers. The stated capacity also won’t tell you whether a wide dish will fit in a drawer.
Make a list of your portions, dishes and bags, then compare their dimensions with the compartments in the model you’re considering.
Items stored beneath the surface can make it harder to reach a particular portion. For example, Beko lists one basket and a single compartment for its CF100EWN chest freezer.
If you often take out individual meals, check what dividers are available or plan to group items in a way that makes them easy to find.
An under-counter freezer and a built-in model are designed for different installations. Bosch lists dimensions of 85 × 56 × 58 cm for its under-counter GTV15NWEB; Electrolux specifies a housing unit measuring 1780 × 560 × 550 mm for its built-in EUN7NE18S.
Measure the space in all three dimensions and check the door swing and clearances. For a built-in model, also check the fixing method in the instructions.
The energy class doesn’t replace the annual energy consumption, freezer capacity and noise level shown on the European energy label. A useful comparison also takes size and capacity into account.
Note these details for each appliance you’re considering, then check separately that the layout will work for your meals.
These models illustrate different formats; their features don’t apply to every appliance from the same brand.
The FNe 5006 is an example of a freestanding upright freezer to consider if you’re looking for easily accessible storage zones.
The brand offers chest freezers, including the CF100EWN, which is worth considering for storing batches.
The GTV15NWEB provides a point of comparison if you’re considering an under-counter freezer and have limited space.
These options include fridge freezers, upright freezers and a chest freezer. First, compare the freezer capacity you need: the total capacity of a fridge freezer isn’t the same as the capacity of its freezer compartment alone.
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Worth considering if you’d like refrigeration and freezing in a single appliance. The title specifies three doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity and drawer dimensions separately to make sure they suit your portions.
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If space is tight, the title lists a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Low Frost is also included in the name. Before choosing it for your meals, check the freezer compartment capacity and the space available in its drawers.
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A separate freezer to consider if you’d like to keep prepared meals apart from the food in your fridge freezer. Check that the compartment layout suits your containers and measure the space before choosing this model.
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This compact format could suit a modest stock of portions. Check the internal layout of this variant before buying, then make sure your containers will fit in its compartments.
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The basket mentioned in the title could help separate some portions from the rest of the food stored beneath. Check that this layout will make it easy to find the meals you want, and that there’s enough room to open the lid.
Start with the portions, dishes, bags and other items you’ll freeze during a realistic meal-prep cycle, rather than estimating litres per person. Compare them with the capacity of the freezer compartments alone, then check the dimensions of the drawers or baskets: a capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee that a dish will fit.
NoFrost may be a factor if you want to reduce the need to defrost, but check the manufacturer’s information for the specific model. It doesn’t replace checking the freezer capacity, layout, dimensions and energy label.
Check the housing unit in all three dimensions, the door fixing system and the installation instructions for the model you’ve chosen. For example, Electrolux specifies a housing unit measuring 1780 × 560 × 550 mm for the EUN7NE18S: a compatible width alone isn’t enough.
For applicable appliances, the European energy label includes information such as the energy efficiency class, annual energy consumption, compartment capacity and noise emissions, according to the European Commission. Compare these details across models of a similar size and capacity, then check that the internal layout suits your containers.