Households that freeze meals in portions
If you often take out one portion at a time, look at how the drawers or compartments let you separate meals and find them without moving the rest of your food.
Which type is right for you?
Households that shop in bulk or less frequently
For storing multipacks and bulky items, compare the usable capacity with the floor space the appliance will take up. You’ll also need to be able to access the food in a chest freezer from above.
Households with no room for an extra appliance
If you’re short of space for both fresh and frozen food, consider a larger fridge-freezer. Its total capacity alone won’t tell you how much space is available in the freezer.
What should you check before choosing?
Upright freezer
Worth considering: if you organise food in portions and open the appliance often to take out a few at a time.
Bear in mind: check that the drawers and door can open fully in the space you’ve chosen.
Chest freezer
Worth considering: if you store large shops or bulky food and have a suitable room for it.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough floor space and a way to find items at the bottom.
Fridge-freezer
Worth considering: if you also want more room for fresh food without installing a second appliance.
Bear in mind: check the freezer capacity separately. For the Whirlpool WHK25404XBR5E, Whirlpool France lists a 106 l freezer in a total capacity of 355 l.
Start with the food you want to store and the space you have, then compare the specifications of models in the type you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | How it suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and access | Count the drawers or baskets, and check their dimensions, whether they can be removed, and how the door or lid opens. Make sure there’s room for your containers and bulky items. | I often take out one or two portions, so I want to find them without emptying the other compartments. |
| Capacity and size | Compare the freezer capacity in litres, then measure the width, depth and height, along with the clearance needed. UFC-Que Choisir says some chest freezers hold up to 600 l, but take up more floor space than upright models. | My shopping takes up a lot of room, so I need to be able to store multipacks and open the appliance in the space I’ve set aside. |
| Where you’ll install it | Compare the model’s minimum and maximum operating temperatures with the temperatures in the room. Check its climate class and any guidance for use in an unheated room. | If the appliance is going in my garage or cellar, I can’t assume it’s suitable just because of its type. |
| Freezing performance and use | If you’re adding a lot of food at once, compare the freezing capacity, fast-freeze function and storage time in the event of a power cut. The EU energy label, as explained by the European Commission, shows details such as annual energy consumption, capacity and noise. Also check the defrosting system. | I sometimes fill the appliance after a big shop, so I want to know how well it freezes as well as what maintenance it needs. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing based on capacity alone
A chest freezer has a tub you access from above and takes up more floor space, while an upright freezer divides storage between compartments. So two appliances with the same capacity in litres may not be equally easy to organise.
Measure the space, the clearance needed to open the appliance and the containers you want to store. For an upright model, check that you can remove the drawers where it will be installed.
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Assuming any model will work in a garage
The permitted ambient temperature varies by appliance. Specifications for some models designed for unheated rooms don’t apply to every freezer.
Check the temperature in the room and compare it with the limits listed in the specifications or manual for the exact model.
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Confusing a large total capacity with a large freezer
For the WHK25404XBR5E fridge-freezer, Whirlpool France lists a total capacity of 355 l, including 106 l for the freezer. If frozen food is your main priority, assess the freezer capacity separately.
Compare the fresh and frozen food capacities separately, along with the appliance’s dimensions, before replacing your current appliance.
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Confusing a retailer’s warranty with your statutory rights
In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual. It covers issues including a product that doesn’t match its description.
Read the terms of any additional commercial warranty separately, particularly what it covers for installation, labour and call-out charges.
What do the brands offer?
Bosch
Bosch offers upright and integrated freezers for organising food in a vertical layout.
- Depending on the model, Bosch highlights bins, shelves and removable fittings to help organise your food.
- Check the layout and features of the model you’re considering rather than assuming they apply across the whole range.
Liebherr
Liebherr’s chest freezer range includes models worth considering for bulky items in a suitable utility room or other ancillary space.
- For the CFe 1870 Pure, Liebherr France lists a capacity of 281 l and FrostProtect, rated to operate down to -15 °C.
- These specifications apply to this particular model. Also allow for its width of 104 cm and depth of 71 cm.
Beko
Beko offers upright freezers, including some models designed to operate in an unheated room.
- For the RFNM200T40WN, Beko France lists a capacity of 177 l, five compartments and a minimum operating ambient temperature of -15 °C.
- Don’t assume this temperature limit applies to other models. Check the specifications of the one you choose.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool fridge-freezers are worth considering if you want fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance.
- For the WHK25404XBR5E, Whirlpool France lists 249 l of fridge space and 106 l of freezer space, with Dual No Frost.
- If you store a lot of frozen food, assess whether the 106 l freezer suits your usual needs rather than focusing on the 355 l total capacity.
Joybuy options for organising your food supplies
These models offer three options: an upright freezer for separating portions, chest freezers for extra frozen storage, and a fridge-freezer that also gives you more room for fresh food. Check the dimensions and installation requirements for your space.
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Heinrich´s 161 L white freezer
For organising portions in an appliance with drawers. The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, a No Frost system, an alarm and a temperature setting range of -14 °C to -22 °C. Before installing it in an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperature range separately, along with the appliance’s dimensions.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 467 L four-door fridge-freezer
Worth considering if you want more fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance. The product name lists a total capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer capacity separately: that’s what determines how much room you’ll have for frozen food.
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AUCMA 291 L convertible chest freezer
This top-opening chest freezer could suit you if you’re looking to add more storage and have room for it. The product name lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, LED lighting and a five-level temperature setting. Make sure you can reach the bottom of the freezer and check its permitted ambient temperature before placing it in a garage.
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AUCMA 197 L convertible chest freezer
This capacity is worth considering if you want an extra chest freezer without needing one of the largest models in the selection. The product name lists a capacity of 197 L, a removable basket, five-level digital temperature control and a defrost drain. Check that the top access and freezer layout work for the portions you want to store.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L white chest freezer
Worth considering for more modest storage needs rather than regular large shops. The product name lists a capacity of 99 L, a four-star freezer rating, an adjustable thermostat and a removable basket. Measure the space needed to open the lid and check the installation requirements for your chosen room.
Frequently asked questions
Chest or upright freezer: which is best for prepared meals?
An upright freezer is a good choice if you separate food into lots of portions and take them out often. Check how its drawers are arranged. A chest freezer is better suited to storing large quantities or bulky items, as long as you can access it from above and organise the food at the bottom.
Can you put a freezer in an unheated garage?
Yes, if the garage temperature stays within the permitted ambient range for the specific model. Check this range in the specifications or manual. Beko France and Liebherr France list some models as operating down to -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all their freezers.
What should you compare on the energy label?
Look at annual energy consumption, storage capacity and noise, as well as the A to G rating shown on the EU energy label described by the European Commission. To compare energy use, look at appliances of a similar type and capacity. The rating alone won’t tell you how much space is available for frozen food.
What should you look for after a big shop?
Compare the freezing capacity and check for a fast-freeze function if you often add a lot of food at once. Temperature stability and storage time in the event of a power cut also matter when you have a large amount of food stored. UFC-Que Choisir includes these factors in its tests of refrigeration appliances.