If you regularly prepare meals in batches, start by considering how much room you need for your containers and how often you’ll need to get them out. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer offers a more open space but takes up more floor space. A compact model will suit more modest needs; replacing your main fridge with a large fridge freezer makes most sense if you’re short on chilled storage too.
If you prepare a variety of meals and want to find a particular container quickly, the drawers in an upright freezer can make it easier to organise and access your food. This is one of the key differences between upright and chest freezers highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
If you have a utility room and use large containers, the open space in a chest freezer could suit you. You’ll need to organise it so you can still reach the portions at the bottom.
If you want extra freezer capacity without replacing your fridge, consider a compact model or an upright freezer. Check the space available, including room for the door to open and the clearances specified in the manual.
When you’re freezing prepared meals, your choice comes down first to how much you need to store, how easy it is to reach your portions and how much space you have. Next, decide whether to add a freezer or replace your fridge.
Consider it if: you often take out different portions and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: the drawers limit the size of dishes you can store, and you’ll need enough room to open them where the freezer will go.
Consider it if: you store large batches and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: portions stored beneath other containers take more organisation to keep accessible.
Consider it if: you only need a little extra storage in a restricted space.
Bear in mind: check that the number and size of your containers will fit inside.
Consider it if: both the fridge and freezer compartments in your main appliance are too small.
Bear in mind: this means replacing your appliance, rather than simply adding freezer space. Make sure the new fridge freezer will fit in your kitchen.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the capacity in litres with the number and size of the containers you want to store at the same time. If you’re adding large batches of freshly prepared food, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h too. | If I cook in large batches, I want to store my portions without filling the appliance straight away. Around 36% of consumers put capacity first. |
| Access to portions | Look at the layout of the drawers or baskets, and check how much room you’ll need to open or remove them. | When I prepare different meals and take them out often, I want to find the right container without moving everything else. Easy access comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Available space | Measure the appliance and the space where it will go, then check how far the door or lid opens and the clearances specified in the manual. | I want extra freezer space without rearranging my kitchen or replacing my existing fridge. Space is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Adding or replacing | Work out whether you also need more chilled storage. Compare the kWh/year figures for appliances of similar capacity, rather than looking at their energy rating alone. | If my current appliance already meets my refrigeration needs, I want to understand what adding a freezer involves before considering a replacement. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this decision about their appliance and its electricity use. |
Its open space can hold large containers, but portions stored at the bottom may be harder to reach day to day.
Try grouping your containers together, and check whether baskets can keep the portions you use most within easy reach.
Freezers run continuously, as ADEME points out. The energy rating doesn’t replace checking the model’s annual energy consumption and capacity.
Compare the kWh/year figures for appliances of similar capacity, then use your electricity tariff to estimate the running cost.
An upright freezer might fit in its allotted space but leave no room to remove the drawers. A chest freezer also needs room for its lid to open.
Before ordering, measure the available opening and check the manual for ventilation clearances and room conditions.
A large fridge freezer also adds chilled storage and takes the place of your main appliance. Its dimensions may mean you need to rethink your kitchen layout.
If your fridge compartment is big enough, compare add-on freezer options first. Consider a fridge freezer if both compartments have become too small.
Bosch offers upright freezers and large-capacity fridge freezers.
Liebherr’s range includes chest freezers and appliances that combine refrigeration and freezing.
Whirlpool offers upright freezers and fridge freezers, including large-capacity models.
Electrolux offers a range of built-in freezers, including Low Frost and No Frost models.
Beko offers upright, chest and table-top freezers to suit different storage needs.
These models add freezer capacity without necessarily replacing your main fridge. The selection includes an upright freezer, a compact model and chest freezers in different sizes. Choose the type that suits you before comparing the features of each appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to keep portions organised in a separate upright freezer.
The product title states a capacity of 161 L, No Frost technology and a C energy rating. Check the exact drawer layout, dimensions and kWh/year figure for the model before choosing.
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Worth looking at if you store large batches and can set aside floor space for a top-opening appliance.
The product title states a capacity of 291 L, fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Check that the selected mode meets your freezer needs and that the lid can open fully.
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Worth considering for a small reserve of portions when saving space matters more than storing large batches.
The product title states a capacity of 60 L, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the interior layout, required clearances and annual energy consumption on the label.
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Worth considering if you prefer a chest freezer and only need a limited amount of extra capacity.
The product title states a capacity of 99 L, a removable basket and an E energy rating. Allow room for the lid to open, and check the defrosting requirements, clearances and kWh/year figure for the model.
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Worth considering if you want a spare chest freezer with a basket to keep a few smaller items separate.
The product title states a capacity of 140 L, a basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check the space needed to open it, as well as the model’s annual energy consumption and freezing capacity.
Start with the number of containers and dishes you want to store at the same time, rather than looking for a one-size-fits-all capacity. As a rough guide, Bosch suggests 50 to 100 L for one person or a couple, and at least 200 to 300 L for a household of four. The size of your containers and any other frozen food you store can change what you need.
No. It’s a feature to consider if you want to limit frost build-up, as Electrolux explains for the relevant models. Also compare the capacity, kWh/year, noise level and interior layout of the specific model.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, freezer capacity and noise level together, rather than looking at the energy rating letter alone. The European Commission says this information appears on the labels of relevant appliances in the European Union. Above all, compare models with capacities that meet the same needs.
Measure the space where it will go, as well as the room needed to open the lid or door and remove the drawers. Follow the manual’s instructions on ventilation and room temperature. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends keeping the appliance away from heat sources.
Old fridges and freezers can be taken to the French collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment, as described by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Ask the retailer or your local authority about the collection or drop-off options available to you.