If you regularly take out meals in individual portions, choose an upright freezer with drawers that fit your containers. A chest freezer is better suited to larger stocks if you have enough space and can organise access to food at the bottom. If you can’t fit in a second appliance, compare the freezer compartment capacity of a fridge freezer with the amount you actually want to store.
How often you take food out matters just as much as how much you store.
If you regularly take out portions, tubs and bags, consider how easy it is to reach the drawers and whether there’s enough room for your containers. A large capacity is less useful if you have to move a lot of food to find a meal.
For supplies and batch-cooked meals, a chest freezer offers an open space worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir says this type can hold up to 600 l. However, check the capacity of the model you choose, the space it takes up and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom.
A fridge freezer with a larger freezer compartment could be an alternative, particularly if you’re already replacing your fridge. Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment—not the total capacity of the fridge freezer—with the amount you usually store.
Start with how much you need to store and how you’ll use it. Then check whether each appliance will fit its intended space and compare its stated features.
Consider one : if you often take out portions and want to organise them in drawers.
The trade-off : UFC-Que Choisir says upright freezers typically hold around 200 l, rising to 400 l for the largest models. Also check how much room you need to open the door.
Consider one : for larger stocks or bulky containers, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off : food at the bottom takes more organising. A garage or cellar is suitable only if the model is designed to operate at the temperatures in that space.
Consider one : if your extra storage needs can be met by a freezer compartment and you can’t add another appliance.
The trade-off : the total capacity shown includes the fridge section too, so it doesn’t tell you on its own how much room there is for frozen food.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare usable freezer capacity in litres. Measure the height, width and depth, and remember to check the route into the room and the space needed to open the door or lid. | I want room for my meals and supplies without choosing an appliance that won’t fit. With a fridge freezer, only the freezer section meets this need. |
| Access to stored food | Check the number and dimensions of the drawers or baskets, and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. Make sure your tubs and larger dishes will fit. | If I take out portions several times a week, I want to find and remove them without moving all my other food. |
| Installation location | Compare the room temperature with the operating range specified for the exact model. Follow the clearance and ventilation instructions in the manual. | I might put my appliance in a cellar or garage, so I need to check it can cope with the temperatures there. |
| Adding food and power cuts | If you plan to add a lot of fresh food at once, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. For power cuts, compare the stated storage time in hours separately and check whether the model has an alarm. | When I batch-cook or fill the appliance after shopping, I want to know how much it can freeze. If I’m concerned about power cuts, storage time is another factor to consider. |
| Energy use and maintenance | For models with a similar capacity and format, compare the energy rating and stated annual consumption in kWh/year. Also check the defrosting method and noise level. | I’m looking for an appliance that suits the amount I store, without overlooking its ongoing energy use or how much work it takes to defrost. |
In a chest freezer, food at the bottom is harder to reach than items stored in drawers. This is especially important if you take meals out every week.
Check which baskets are included, how easy it is to reach the bottom and the available internal dimensions. If you choose a chest freezer, plan how you’ll organise your containers.
A garage, cellar or conservatory may fall outside the appliance’s specified operating temperature range. A chest freezer isn’t automatically suitable for an unheated room.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the documentation for the exact model, and follow its ventilation instructions. Whirlpool explains that the climate class indicates the conditions an appliance is designed for.
Two appliances with different capacities won’t necessarily meet the same storage needs. The rating letter alone doesn’t replace checking their stated annual energy consumption.
Compare the energy labels of models with similar formats and capacities, then check their consumption in kWh/year, noise level and defrosting method.
Freezing capacity tells you how much fresh food the appliance can freeze; storage time tells you how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. A large capacity doesn’t tell you either figure.
If you regularly fill the appliance after shopping, compare the stated kg/24 h figures. If keeping food frozen during a power cut matters to you, check the storage time in hours and how it was measured.
These examples highlight features to look for in specific models. They don’t necessarily apply to every product from each brand.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an upright freezer and want to compare capacity, freezing performance and stated storage time during a power cut.
A brand to consider for a large-capacity chest freezer, particularly if you plan to install it in a cold room.
Compare its upright and chest freezer models to find one that suits your preferred storage layout and available space.
This selection includes upright freezers for organising portions, chest freezers for separate storage and fridge freezers to consider when a second appliance isn’t practical. Compare the freezer capacity and space needed before choosing.
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Worth considering if you’d rather replace your fridge freezer than add a dedicated freezer. The product details list a 125 l freezer section with three drawers, and state 11 h of storage time during a power cut. The total capacity of 360 l doesn’t represent the freezer space alone. Also check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room where you plan to install it.
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Its upright design makes it easy to organise portions in a separate appliance. The product details list three drawers, two trays and a No Frost system. Before making space for it, check its dimensions and how far the door opens. Also check the documentation for the standard temperature setting and storage time during a power cut, if these matter for your needs.
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This 54 cm-wide fridge freezer is an option if you don’t have room for a separate freezer. Its product details list a 75 l freezer section with three drawers, so compare this capacity with your storage needs rather than the appliance’s total 262 l capacity. The freezer needs to be defrosted manually, and the specified ambient temperature range is 16 to 38 °C.
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This chest freezer can provide extra, separate storage, but its 99 l capacity isn’t designed for very large stocks. The removable basket keeps some items within easy reach. The product details recommend manual defrosting when the ice is more than 5 mm thick. If power cuts are a key concern, check the stated storage time.
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This model offers separate storage and includes a basket for items you want to keep within easy reach. The product details list dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm. Check the floor space available, access to the lid and whether the room is suitable. If you often add large quantities of fresh food or are concerned about power cuts, compare its freezing capacity and storage time before choosing.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified temperature range covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. Check its climate class and installation instructions; don’t assume it’s suitable just because it’s a chest freezer. For example, Liebherr lists FrostProtect down to −15 °C for its CFe 2500 Pure, but this doesn’t apply to other models.
Compare the energy rating and stated annual consumption for the exact model, taking its freezer capacity into account. ADEME describes the energy label as a tool to help you choose. It’s more useful to compare appliances with similar formats and capacities than to look at the rating letter alone.
It helps you compare how freezers perform without power, but the figure depends on the model and the method used to measure it. In its 2025 test, UFC-Que Choisir simulates a power cut and measures how long food stays below −9 °C. Compare the figures and the conditions they’re based on before relying on a stated storage time.
No. Its potential capacity is useful for large quantities, but easy access to small portions you use often may matter more when choosing. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can hold up to 600 l. If you regularly take out meals, also compare the chest freezer’s baskets with the drawers in an upright model.
No. Anses explains that domestic freezing at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most microorganisms survive freezing. Choosing an appliance and its capacity doesn’t replace safe food preparation and storage practices.