If you store fresh ingredients every day and keep a modest supply of frozen portions, start by comparing the usable capacity of both compartments in a fridge-freezer. If meals and bulk buys regularly exceed the space available in the freezer, a separate appliance may be worth considering: an upright freezer makes organised portions easier to reach, while a chest freezer needs more floor space and a practical way to organise its deep compartment. If you’re mainly short of space for fresh food, consider a roomier fridge instead, rather than assuming its freezer compartment will grow in proportion.
You keep fresh ingredients for the next few days and freeze some of the meals you’ve prepared. The capacity of each compartment and how often you need to access it matter more than the number of people in your household alone.
You cook in bulk or buy large packs that take up a lot of room. As UFC-Que Choisir explains in its freezer guide, upright and chest freezers suit different needs when it comes to capacity and space, so start with the containers you need to store and the room you have available.
An alcove, narrow kitchen or unheated outbuilding means you’ll need to check the dimensions, door opening, ventilation and ambient temperatures permitted in the manual. If defrosting is a concern, also check which compartments are covered by the advertised technology.
Estimate how much fresh and frozen food you need to store when your supplies are at their fullest, then check that the appliance and its doors or lid will fit the intended space.
| Factor | What to check | What shoppers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen-food capacity | The freezer’s net capacity and the space needed for your largest containers or packs. | If I freeze lots of meals at once, I want to fit everything in without relying on the appliance’s total capacity; around 33% of shoppers prioritise this freezing capacity. |
| Balance of fresh and frozen storage | The net capacity in litres of each compartment and how the shelves and drawers fit your containers. | To cook for the next few days while keeping a few portions in reserve, I need room in both compartments. This balance is the main priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Access to portions | How the door or lid opens, whether drawers can be removed and how easy it is to reach the bottom of the compartment. | If I often take out portions sorted by date, I want to find them without moving the whole supply; around 25% of shoppers prioritise easy access. |
| Maintenance and installation | Defrosting method, kWh/year on the energy label and the ambient temperatures permitted in the manual. | If the appliance needs to go in a particular space or defrosting is a chore, installation and maintenance requirements matter more to me than extra capacity. This is the priority for around 17% of shoppers. |
A large advertised capacity doesn’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food. The fridge compartment might also be too small if fresh groceries make up most of what you store.
Make a note of your containers when your supplies are at their fullest, then compare the net capacity of the fresh-food and freezer compartments separately.
A large chest freezer takes up floor space, and you may have to move food to reach items at the bottom. In its freezer guide, UFC-Que Choisir gives average dimensions of 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep for this type of appliance; the dimensions of the model you choose are what matter.
Measure the space, access route and lid opening. If you take out portions several times a day, also compare the drawer access offered by an upright freezer.
The permitted ambient temperatures depend on the model. A feature advertised for one model or range doesn’t necessarily apply to every freezer.
Check the possible temperatures in the space and compare them with the manual, climate class and required ventilation clearances.
The DGCCRF says the energy label for fridges and freezers moved to an A to G scale in 2021. A different letter on the new scale doesn’t, by itself, show that energy consumption has changed.
To compare appliances in the same category, check their current energy labels and stated annual consumption in kWh, while also taking their usable capacities into account.
Worth considering for a fridge-freezer if defrosting and fitting the appliance near a wall or in an alcove are important factors.
Worth considering for an upright or chest freezer if how you organise your supplies and the conditions in the room are important.
Worth considering for a chest freezer if you want to compare capacity, baskets and how much food a model can freeze in a day.
Worth considering for an integrated fridge-freezer when the housing space and capacity of each compartment need to meet specific requirements.
These models let you compare fresh and frozen storage in a single appliance, or add extra storage with a convertible chest freezer. Before choosing, compare the space actually available for freezing and any installation requirements.
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Consider this if you want to store fresh food and frozen portions in one four-door appliance. The model name indicates Total No Frost and an E energy rating; compare the usable capacity of each compartment with your containers and check the clearance needed for installation.
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An option to compare if you prepare portions for freezing while keeping fresh ingredients for the week. The model is listed with Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone; check how much space each compartment offers and whether the intended location meets the installation requirements.
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Worth comparing if you need a mix of fresh-grocery and frozen-food storage. The model name indicates Double No Frost and a D energy rating; check the freezer’s usable capacity, annual energy consumption on the label and permitted ambient temperatures if the appliance will be kept somewhere unheated.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer with separately listed capacities: 252 L for the fridge and 103 L for the freezer. The model name mentions a width of 60 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating; also measure the depth, height and door clearance before buying.
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Worth considering as a separate food store if you have enough floor space for a chest freezer. The model is described as switching between fridge and freezer modes, and comes with a removable basket and an E energy rating; check the usable capacity in your chosen mode, access to the bottom, defrosting requirements and the temperatures permitted in your space.
Take stock during a typical grocery-shopping and cooking cycle, when you have the most food in storage. Count the portions, bulk buys and containers you need to keep chilled or freeze, then compare the net capacity of the two compartments separately.
No. A chest freezer can store bulky packs, but it needs floor space and food at the bottom can be harder to reach. If you often take out sorted portions, compare it with an upright freezer with drawers, taking the available space into account.
No. Check the model’s permitted ambient temperatures, climate class and ventilation clearances in the manual. A manufacturer’s claim about a particular model doesn’t apply to its entire range.
Check the exact model, its rating on the current A to G scale and its stated annual energy consumption in kWh. The DGCCRF explains that the old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings have been replaced for fridges and freezers; also compare usable capacity and the category of the appliances you’re considering.
That depends on the model and which compartments the feature covers. Bosch and Liebherr describe their No Frost systems as limiting frost build-up; check the product details and manual for your chosen model to see whether the feature applies to the freezer alone or both compartments, and what maintenance is required.