A fridge-freezer may be all you need if its freezer compartment can fit your prepared portions and other frozen food, while still leaving enough room for fresh ingredients. If it regularly gets overcrowded, consider adding a separate freezer: an upright model makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer is better suited to larger containers, provided you have enough room for it and can access it easily.
If you freeze several portions in advance, think about both the space available and how easy it is to organise and find your meals. An upright freezer’s drawers may be more useful to you than a large overall capacity that’s difficult to keep organised.
If you need to store both fresh groceries and a supply of frozen food, assess the usable capacity of each compartment separately. The space available in your home will also determine whether a second appliance is an option.
If you mainly keep prepared meals in the fridge to eat over the next few days, first check there’s enough room for containers, shelves and drawers. A larger freezer won’t solve a lack of space in the fridge compartment.
First, work out whether you need more room for fresh food, frozen portions that you access regularly, or a large supply that you use less often. Then compare the usable capacity of each compartment and the space needed for installation.
Choose this if: you use both the fridge and freezer compartments every day and don’t need to keep a large stock for long periods.
The trade-off: the built-in freezer shares the appliance’s space with fresh food.
Choose this if: you often freeze portions and want to find them easily in drawers.
The trade-off: it’s an extra appliance to install and doesn’t provide any fridge space.
Choose this if: you want to store a large supply or larger containers, and have a suitable space for it.
The trade-off: it takes up more floor space, and food at the bottom needs to be organised carefully.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organising frozen portions | The freezer’s usable capacity and the dimensions of its drawers or baskets compared with your containers. | When I prepare several meals in advance, I want to organise them and find a portion without moving everything else around. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise organising their frozen food this way. |
| Balancing fresh and frozen food | The separate usable capacities of the fridge and freezer, rather than just the overall capacity. | If my shopping includes fresh ingredients, leftovers and some frozen food, I want easy everyday access to both compartments. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
| Storing a large supply | Floor space and clearance for the lid; the permitted ambient temperature in the room where you plan to put it. | For larger, less frequent shops, I’m happy to organise food into sections if it means I can store larger containers. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this type of storage. |
| Room for fresh food | The fridge’s usable capacity and the available height between shelves for dishes and containers. | I mainly keep prepared meals chilled to eat over the next few days, so I need room for containers, not necessarily more freezer space. Around 10% of consumers would put fridge capacity first. |
Two fridge-freezers with similar overall capacities may divide the space between fridge and freezer differently. You could run out of freezer space for meals, even if the overall figure looks sufficient.
Estimate how much space you need in each compartment, then compare their separate usable capacities in the model specifications.
Whether an appliance can be used in a cold room depends on the model. For example, Beko states that its HSM14540 can operate at an ambient temperature as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Check the room temperature against the climate class and installation conditions in the manual for your chosen appliance.
In a large open compartment, portions stored beneath other food can be difficult to find if you open the freezer frequently.
Plan suitable sections or use baskets. If you need frequent access to individual portions, compare upright models with drawers too.
Choosing an appliance doesn’t remove the need to monitor the temperature. ANSES recommends checking your fridge temperature; the seals, ice build-up and cleanliness also need to be maintained as instructed in the manual.
Use a thermometer to check the coldest area and follow the maintenance instructions for your model.
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, worth considering if you’re comparing these two installation types.
Liebherr offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers, with features such as NoFrost and EasyFresh available on selected models.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers with No Frost or Dual No Frost features, depending on the model.
Beko is worth considering if you’re looking for an upright or chest freezer to add to your household’s fridge space.
These models let you compare fridge-freezers for storing fresh and frozen food, as well as an upright and a chest freezer for extra freezer space. Choose according to how much room you need in each compartment, how easily you want to access portions and the space available for the appliance.
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Worth considering if you’d like to keep fresh food and frozen portions in a single appliance.
The model name indicates an overall capacity of 360 L and Total No Frost. Check the space in each compartment separately, the installation clearances and the route to its final position.
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Worth comparing if your household needs a large fridge-freezer for groceries and prepared meals.
The model name indicates an overall capacity of 467 L and Total No Frost. Check how the space is divided between fresh and frozen food, then measure the appliance, installation clearances and delivery route.
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Worth considering if your fridge has enough room for fresh food, but you’d like to organise more frozen portions.
The product name indicates a capacity of 161 L, three freezer drawers, No Frost and an adjustable temperature range of −14 to −22 °C. This appliance doesn’t provide any fridge space; also check the permitted ambient temperature and required clearances.
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Worth considering for extra storage for larger containers if you have enough floor space.
The product name indicates a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket and a choice of fridge or freezer modes; you can’t use both compartments at the same time. Allow room to open the lid and check the permitted ambient temperature before installing it in a cellar or garage.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for one large appliance for both fresh and frozen food.
The model name indicates an overall capacity of 495 L and an energy rating of E. Before choosing, check the separate capacities, delivery route, door clearance and the installation instructions for the water dispenser if you plan to use it.
Compare its usable capacity with the maximum number of portions and other frozen food you store at one time. If the compartment is always full or meals are difficult to find, consider a separate freezer rather than focusing only on the overall capacity of a new fridge-freezer.
Que Choisir suggests using 100 to 150 L for one person as a starting point, then adding 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to suit your shopping habits, the size of the dishes you store and how much food you keep chilled.
An upright freezer is a better fit if you often need to access portions organised in drawers. A chest freezer can accommodate larger containers, but takes up more floor space and needs to be organised so food stays within easy reach.
Yes, but only if the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the conditions in the room. Check its climate class and manual. For example, Beko’s stated suitability for temperatures as low as −15 °C applies to the HSM14540 and not to other models.
Compare the stated annual energy consumption of models with a similar size and capacity, and check the capacity of their compartments too. The information on the label and in the European Commission’s EPREL database can help you compare these features, but it doesn’t replace assessing how much space your household needs.