Households that buy in bulk and cook in portions
The capacity you need depends on how much you store, as well as how often you need to find a particular container, bag or meal.
Who are these options for?
Households short on space in the kitchen or pantry
Compare the floor space needed for a chest freezer with the height of an upright model, and remember to allow room for the door or lid to open. If it’s going in an unheated room, also check the operating temperatures specified for the model you’re considering.
Households replacing their fridge as well
A fridge freezer could meet your needs for both fresh and frozen food. To see whether it can replace a separate freezer, look at the capacity of its freezer compartment rather than its total capacity.
How do the options compare?
Upright freezer
Worth considering: if you regularly need to find portions stored in drawers or separate compartments.
Bear in mind: access depends on the drawer layout, and you’ll need space in front of the door.
Chest freezer
Worth considering: for storing larger packs, if you have a suitable room and don’t need to access every item regularly.
Bear in mind: it needs more floor space, and you’ll need a system for finding smaller portions.
Large-capacity fridge freezer
Worth considering: if you also need to replace your fridge and are short on space for both fresh and frozen food.
Check: its total capacity includes the fridge section; only the freezer compartment capacity tells you how much frozen food it can hold.
Reorganising your existing storage
Worth considering: if you only run short of space occasionally and sorting portions and rotating stock would make your current compartment big enough.
Limit: reorganising won’t create extra capacity for frequent, larger shops.
| Factor | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare the freezer capacity with the amount you usually store, then look at the layout of the drawers or compartment. According to UFC-Que Choisir, chest freezers can hold up to 600 l, while the largest upright models hold around 400 l. | I want to find my batch-cooked meals easily; for storing larger shops, I can prioritise the space available in the compartment. |
| Location | Measure the height, width and depth, along with the space needed to open the door and the access route for delivery. Check the climate class and any stated low-temperature operating limits against the temperatures in the room. | In my pantry or garage, the appliance needs to fit and operate at the temperatures it will actually be exposed to. |
| Adding food and power cuts | If you freeze a lot of food at once, compare the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. For how long food stays frozen during a power cut, check how the figure is defined before comparing two values. | My shopping sometimes includes a lot of food to freeze; how well the appliance keeps food frozen during a power cut is also important to me. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the energy rating alongside the annual energy consumption in kWh/year. Compare the noise level in dB(A) between appliances with a capacity suited to your needs. | If it’s near a living space, I want to consider the noise as well as the stated energy consumption of an appliance that runs continuously. |
What should you avoid before buying?
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Choosing based on litres alone
Capacity doesn’t tell you how easy it will be to reach your food or whether the appliance will fit in the room. UFC-Que Choisir highlights, in particular, the floor space needed for a chest freezer.
Make a list of the items you need to store, then measure the appliance, the delivery route and the space needed to open it.
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Assuming any freezer will work in an unheated room
The permitted ambient temperature range varies by model. Liebherr’s FrostProtect feature, rated to work down to -15 °C, applies to the CFe 1870 Pure, not to every chest freezer.
Check the possible temperatures in the room against the climate class and the instructions for the exact model.
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Forgetting about big shops and power cuts
Adding a large amount of food to freeze and dealing with a power cut put different demands on an appliance. Freezing capacity and stated storage time during a power cut answer two separate questions.
Compare the figures in kg/24 h and hours, along with their measurement conditions; check independent tests where available for the models you’re considering.
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Looking only at the energy rating letter
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the stated annual energy consumption or noise level. These figures matter particularly if the appliance will be installed near living spaces.
Consider kWh/year, freezer capacity and dB(A) together, rather than comparing rating letters in isolation.
A few models to consider by brand
These specifications apply to the named models, not every appliance from each brand.
Bosch
The freestanding GSN58AWCV upright freezer offers generous vertical storage: Bosch lists a capacity of 366 l and dimensions of 191 × 70 × 78 cm.
- Bosch’s specifications state a freezing capacity of 26 kg/24 h, a noise level of 38 dB(A) and a stated storage time of 13 h during a power cut.
- Measure the height, depth and space needed to open the door for this model.
Liebherr
According to Liebherr, the CFe 1870 Pure chest freezer has a capacity of 281 l and measures 82 × 104 × 71 cm.
- Liebherr states that this model’s FrostProtect feature allows it to operate at temperatures down to -15 °C. Check that this suits the conditions where you plan to install it.
- As a chest freezer, it needs floor space, and you’ll need to plan how to organise the contents.
Beko
According to Beko’s specifications, the BRCNE50140ZXBN fridge freezer combines 158 l of freezer capacity with a total capacity of 514 l.
- Beko lists a climate class of SN-T, a noise level of 38 dB(A), energy consumption of 304,05 kWh/year and a stated storage time of 16 h during a power cut for this model.
- The 514 l includes the fridge section: assess your frozen-food storage needs based on the freezer compartment’s 158 l alone.
Freezers and a fridge freezer available on Joybuy
This selection includes a fridge freezer if you also need to replace your fridge, an upright freezer for organising portions, and chest freezers in different capacities for building up your reserves. First, choose the format that suits your stock and where you plan to put it.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 360 l three-door fridge freezer
Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too: the stated 360 l capacity is for the whole appliance, so compare the freezer compartment capacity separately with your storage needs. The model name specifies Total No Frost, an E rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the dimensions, delivery access and permitted ambient temperature for the intended location.
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Heinrich´s, 161 l No Frost upright freezer
The upright design and drawers mentioned in the name make it a good choice for keeping frequently accessed portions separate. The model is listed with No Frost technology, a reversible door and a C rating. Measure the installation space and room needed to open the door before choosing this appliance.
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AUCMA, 291 l convertible chest freezer
This 291 l chest freezer is an option for storing larger shops, provided you have enough floor space and room to open the lid. The name specifies a switch between fridge and freezer modes, an E rating and a removable basket. If you’re planning to install it in a garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 l chest freezer
The stated 99 l capacity is suited to a modest amount of extra storage rather than a large reserve for groceries. The model name specifies a removable basket, a sliding lid and an E rating. The description states that it needs manual defrosting, so factor in this maintenance and check the permitted temperatures for the room.
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AUCMA, 95 l convertible chest freezer
With a stated capacity of 95 l, this chest freezer is suited to extra storage if it’s enough for your portions and usual shopping. The name specifies a switch between fridge and freezer modes, an E rating and a removable basket. If you’re considering putting it in a garage, check the room temperature against the permitted range for this model.
Frequently asked questions
When can a large fridge freezer replace a separate freezer?
A fridge freezer may be enough if you’re replacing your fridge too and its freezer compartment can genuinely hold your usual shopping and portions. Compare the capacity of that compartment, not the total capacity: for example, Beko’s specifications for the BRCNE50140ZXBN list 158 l of freezer capacity out of 514 l in total.
Can you install any freezer in a garage or cellar?
No. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range permitted for the exact model. For example, Liebherr states that FrostProtect works down to -15 °C on its CFe 1870 Pure; this feature doesn’t apply to other chest freezers.
What should you look at beyond the energy rating?
Compare the stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise level in dB(A) for appliances suited to your storage needs. The rating letter alone doesn’t sum up these features or the space needed for installation.