A fridge freezer lets you keep fresh and frozen food in one place, provided each compartment has enough room for your prepared meals. If you regularly freeze large quantities, consider a separate freezer instead: an upright model makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer offers plenty of capacity. Before adding another appliance, check that this is an ongoing need, then compare the space required and annual energy consumption of the models you’re considering.
If meal containers share space with fresh food and frozen portions, check the room available in each fridge-freezer compartment, not just its total capacity. The space you need depends on what you’re storing at the same time.
If a fridge-freezer compartment isn’t big enough for your prepared portions and bulk buys, a separate freezer could be the answer. According to UFC-Que Choisir, chest freezers are particularly notable for their large capacity, while upright models take up less space.
If you have an alcove, an open-plan kitchen or a narrow delivery route, measure both the route and the space where the appliance will go. Also check the ventilation requirements in the manual, how far the doors or lid need to open and the noise level of the model you’re considering.
Start by working out how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then check that an appliance with the right capacity will fit and work in your home.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage format | A fridge prioritises fresh food, while a fridge freezer divides its space between fresh and frozen food. If you need extra freezer space, compare an upright model with drawers, a chest freezer and a supplementary appliance, depending on the space available. Beko France’s guides explain how these formats suit different storage habits. | Do I mainly keep my prepared meals chilled, or do I freeze food often enough to need a separate space? Would a second appliance meet a regular, ongoing need? |
| Usable capacity | Compare the usable litres in the fridge and freezer compartments separately, then check how much room the drawers or shelves offer for your containers. The total capacity of a fridge freezer doesn’t tell you how that space is divided. | After a cooking session and a big food shop, I want to be able to put away both my meal containers and frozen food without filling up the compartment I use most. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the kWh/year figures for models with similar functions and capacities, as well as their energy ratings. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, so factor in the energy use of any additional appliance. | If I add a freezer, its capacity needs to meet a lasting need, not just solve a temporary lack of space. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance and the delivery route. Check the manual for clearance, ventilation and climate class requirements. For a built-in model, also check the housing dimensions and installation type. | In my kitchen or utility room, the doors, drawers or lid must be able to open once the appliance is in place. |
| Noise and access | Compare the stated noise level in dB(A), especially if the appliance will be near a living area. Consider whether the drawers in an upright freezer or the open space in a chest freezer will make it easier to find your portions. | Noise matters to me in an open-plan kitchen. If I freeze lots of small portions, I also want to be able to organise them and reach them easily. |
A fridge freezer may offer plenty of space overall, but still have too little room in its freezer compartment for your prepared portions.
Estimate separately how much food needs to stay chilled and how much needs to be frozen during a busy week, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment in litres.
ADEME points out that refrigeration appliances run continuously, so a second appliance will also use electricity throughout its lifetime.
First check whether rearranging the space in your main appliance would be enough. If you regularly need extra capacity, compare the annual energy consumption in kWh of the models you’re considering.
A chest freezer needs floor space and room to lift the lid; an upright model makes more use of height. A built-in model must fit its housing and meet the manufacturer’s ventilation requirements.
Measure the space and the delivery route, then check the clearance requirements in the manual for the specific model.
Two appliances with different capacities or functions won’t necessarily meet the same storage needs, even if they have the same energy rating.
Compare the kWh/year figures for similar models and check their usable capacities. The European EPREL database can provide more information about models registered there.
Worth considering for a built-in refrigeration project where the housing dimensions and installation requirements determine your choice.
Its guides for French shoppers introduce several domestic appliance formats to compare with your storage habits.
Worth comparing model by model if stated capacity, noise and storage layout are important to your choice.
This selection includes fridge freezers for keeping fresh and frozen food in one appliance, as well as chest freezers for separate freezer storage. Compare their capacity with your storage habits and check the installation requirements for the model you choose.
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To keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance, check that the 360 L capacity is divided in a way that suits your usual portions. This model is listed with Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the manual for ventilation clearance and the space needed to open the doors.
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Its stated width of 54 cm may make it a suitable option for a narrow space, subject to checking the clearance required. This fridge freezer is 176 cm tall and features Low Frost. With its 70/30 split, check the freezer capacity before planning to store a large number of prepared portions. Also make sure the room temperature meets the model’s operating requirements.
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If you bulk buy and need plenty of space in both compartments, compare its 333 L fridge capacity and 192 L freezer capacity with your usual storage needs. The model is listed as No Frost, with a noise level of 37 dB and an E energy rating. Before choosing this format, check its external dimensions, the delivery route, door clearance and annual energy consumption in kWh.
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This chest freezer could suit you if you need separate frozen food storage and have enough floor space, including room to open the lid. It’s listed with a removable basket and a choice of fridge or freezer mode: you can’t use both modes at the same time. Check the climate class and the permitted room temperature for the space where you plan to put it.
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This 197 L chest freezer is another capacity to consider for separate frozen food storage; compare it with the amount you use regularly. The model is listed with a removable basket and convertible mode, but you’ll need to choose between fridge and freezer modes rather than using both at once. Check the dimensions, the clearance needed to open the lid and whether the room is suitable for its climate class.
Start with the usable capacity of each compartment in litres. This will tell you whether the fridge freezer can hold your frozen food without adding another appliance. Then compare the kWh/year figures for models with similar functions and capacities, followed by their stated noise levels in dB(A), dimensions and climate classes.
Yes, as long as there’s enough room to install it and open the lid fully, and the room temperature is suitable for the model’s climate class. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a chest freezer is particularly suited to storing large quantities. If you’d rather organise small portions in drawers, consider an upright freezer too.
Measure the space where the appliance will go and the entire delivery route, including doors, corridors, stairs and lifts. For the model you choose, also check door or lid clearance, the required space around the appliance and ventilation instructions. A built-in model must fit its housing and installation system.
Check its energy label and product details. For a model registered in the European EPREL database, you can also use its QR code to access the declared information. Check the kWh/year figure and capacity before comparing two appliances: the energy rating alone won’t tell you whether they offer the same storage capacity.