If you need to freeze more than your fridge-freezer can hold, choose between an upright and a chest freezer based on the capacity you need, the floor space available and how often you retrieve food. The drawers in an upright make it easier to organise your food, while a chest freezer suits a large stockpile if you have space to dedicate to it. A small model is better as an extra freezer; replacing your fridge-freezer is mainly worth considering if you also want to upgrade your fridge. For a cellar, pantry or garage, always check the ambient temperature range allowed for the specific model.
If you freeze bulk buys or meals prepared in advance, first estimate how much extra capacity you need. A chest freezer could be a good choice if you have enough floor space; Que Choisir describes models with capacities of up to 600 litres.
If you often look for a particular portion or container, the drawers in an upright help you separate food and find what you need. A chest freezer takes more organisation to keep items at the bottom within easy reach.
For a cellar, pantry or garage, the type of freezer alone won’t tell you whether it’s suitable. Compare the room temperature with the permitted range for the model you’ve chosen. Some features designed for cold ambient conditions are available only on specific models, as Liebherr and Beko indicate for some of their products.
To increase your storage capacity for the long term, first weigh up the capacity of a separate appliance, how easy it is to access the compartments and whether it can be installed in the intended location. A small freezer is better for extra storage; a large fridge-freezer combines refrigeration and freezing if you’re already replacing your main appliance.
Consider it if: you often retrieve specific foods and want to organise them in drawers.
Bear in mind: drawers make it easier to organise your food, but check that they open fully and can accommodate bulky packaging.
Consider it if: you want to store a large stockpile and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: its open compartment can hold items of various sizes, but you’ll need a system for organising and rotating food at the bottom.
Consider it if: having some extra freezer space matters more than significantly increasing your storage capacity.
Bear in mind: check the freezer capacity before relying on this type for long-term storage.
Consider it if: you’re also replacing your fridge and would rather combine both functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: its total capacity includes the fridge compartment. Check the freezer capacity separately.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres, the external dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance. | If I prepare portions in advance, I want to increase my storage without choosing an appliance that won’t fit in the room; around 33% of consumers would prioritise capacity and available space. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach items stored at the bottom. | When I often need a particular portion, I want to find it without moving everything else; around 27% of consumers would put access and organisation first. |
| Installation location | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range allowed for the exact model. | If the appliance needs to go in a cellar or garage, I need to know whether it can operate at that room’s temperatures; this compatibility would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Energy use and power cuts | Check the annual energy consumption in kWh and the stated power-cut storage time, along with any alarms. | I want to know how much energy an appliance that stays plugged in will use, and be prepared for a power cut; around 20% of consumers would prioritise both points. |
An appliance’s shape doesn’t determine the ambient temperature at which it can operate. Bosch explains that this range depends on the climate class; features designed for cold rooms are specific to certain models.
Check the room’s lowest and highest temperatures, then compare them with the specifications for your chosen model. If you’re relying on it to work at temperatures down to −15 °C, make sure this is stated for that specific model.
A generous capacity is less useful if the lid can’t open fully or it’s difficult to reach your food. Que Choisir highlights the capacity of chest freezers and the organisation offered by upright models as separate considerations.
Measure the space and the delivery route. For a chest freezer, plan how you’ll organise and rotate food; for an upright, check the clearance needed for the door and drawers.
The old rating system and the current EU A to G scale aren’t interchangeable. A rating letter on its own also doesn’t give you a useful comparison between two appliances with very different capacities.
For models suited to the same need, check the current label and compare annual energy consumption in kWh with freezer capacity and noise levels.
According to Anses, freezing food at home at −18 °C stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive. Freezing won’t make up for food having been stored incorrectly beforehand.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, follow the appropriate defrosting instructions and don’t refreeze food once it has thawed.
These models illustrate features worth looking for, but they shouldn’t be assumed to apply across an entire range. Always check the specifications for the appliance you’re considering.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a high-capacity upright with storage features and alarms.
Worth considering for a chest freezer if storage capacity and the temperature of the installation room are key factors in your choice.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a drawer-style upright that may be installed in a cold room.
These products show three ways to increase your freezer space: replace your fridge-freezer, add a high-capacity chest freezer or choose a separate appliance for more modest, well-organised storage. For each model, compare the freezer capacity with the amount of food you store and check the permitted temperature range for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge-freezer rather than adding a separate freezer. Check how much of the appliance’s stated 467 l capacity is reserved for freezing. The model name indicates four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. If it will be installed outside a heated room, check its ambient temperature range.
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This chest freezer is for households with enough floor space for a capacity of 291 l. The product description lists switchable fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, five-level digital controls and an E energy rating. If you’re installing it in a cold room, check the permitted temperature range. Also check the stated power-cut storage time if this is a concern.
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With a stated capacity of 95 l, this model is better suited to extra storage than a large stockpile. Compare its capacity with the amount of food you usually store. The product description lists switchable fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating. Check whether this model is suitable for an unheated room.
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A 161 l upright could suit you if you want to organise your food in drawers and access it regularly. The product description lists No Frost, an alarm, a reversible door hinge and a C energy rating. Before choosing a spot for it, check its external dimensions and ambient temperature range. Check the power-cut storage time if this is a concern.
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This 99 l chest freezer is better suited to extra storage than a large stockpile. The product description lists a removable basket, sliding lid, four-star freezer rating and an E energy rating. Bear in mind that this model requires manual defrosting, and check its ambient temperature range if you’re installing it in an unheated room.
No. You need to compare the room temperature with the permitted range for the exact model. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. Liebherr and Beko state that certain specific models can operate at temperatures down to −15 °C; this doesn’t automatically apply to their other appliances.
For appliances that meet similar needs, compare annual energy consumption in kWh with freezer capacity and noise levels. The European Commission says that the energy label for the household refrigeration appliances covered uses a scale from A to G and displays this information. The total capacity of a fridge-freezer isn’t the same as the capacity of its freezer compartment alone.
The recommended temperature for freezing food at home is −18 °C. According to Anses, this stops bacteria from multiplying but doesn’t eliminate most micro-organisms. Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it rather than waiting until it’s close to its use-by date, and follow safe defrosting guidance.
If you bought a freezer in France from a professional seller and it doesn’t match its description, raise the issue with the seller under the legal guarantee of conformity. The French Ministry of the Economy confirms that this guarantee is mandatory; it is separate from any voluntary returns policy.
If you have any concerns about the location or electrical installation, have it checked before plugging in the appliance and follow the installation instructions. French regulations for domestic electrical installations require protection against the dangers of electric shock. An extension lead or multi-socket adaptor is no substitute for checking a potentially unsafe installation.