If you regularly need to store more frozen food, choose an upright freezer if you want to access and organise your food easily, or a chest freezer if you need a spacious compartment and have room to open it. A large fridge-freezer may be enough if you don’t want a second appliance and its freezer compartment meets your needs. In all cases, check the freezer capacity, room temperature and clearances specified in the manual.
If your fridge’s freezer compartment is no longer big enough, a dedicated appliance gives you the capacity you need. Whether you choose an upright or chest freezer depends on the space available and how often you need to find specific items.
A chest or large upright freezer can be kept outside the kitchen, provided the room temperature is within the range specified for the model. Check its minimum and maximum operating temperatures before choosing an appliance.
A large fridge-freezer combines both functions. However, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the amount of food you want to store.
Choose this if: you check your frozen food often and want to organise it in drawers.
Keep in mind: make sure the door and drawers can open fully where you plan to put it.
Choose this if: you store bulk or bulky items and have enough floor space.
Keep in mind: food at the bottom of the freezer needs to be organised carefully to keep it accessible.
Choose this if: you want refrigeration and freezing in one appliance.
Keep in mind: don’t confuse the stated total capacity with that of the freezer compartment.
| What to consider | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and location | Compare freezer capacity in litres, then measure the width, depth and height, as well as the route to the installation spot. Allow for the clearances specified in the manual. | I want to store my regular food supplies without choosing an appliance I can’t install or open properly. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers in an upright freezer or the baskets in a chest freezer. Check how easy it is to reach the bottom, remove internal parts and clean the compartment. | If I open the freezer often, I want to find food without having to move a large part of the stock. |
| Power cuts | Compare the storage times in hours only if they are measured in the same way. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, describes a test that measures how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. | If I store a lot of food, I’ll check the stated time the appliance can keep food cold and, where available, the results of a comparable test. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class of the exact model. A manufacturer’s specific guidance for one appliance doesn’t apply to all freezers. | If I’m putting it in a cellar or garage, I need to check that it’s designed for the temperatures the room actually reaches. |
| Energy use and noise | The European Commission says the energy label includes information such as annual energy consumption, capacity and noise. Compare kWh/year figures for appliances with similar capacities. | If the appliance is near a living area, its noise level will also influence my choice. |
Items buried beneath other food are harder to find, so keeping track of your stock takes more organisation.
Plan to use baskets or organise food by category. If you often take out small amounts, also compare how easy it is to reach food in an upright freezer with drawers.
According to Bosch Electroménager France, the climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed to operate in.
Measure the minimum and maximum temperatures in your cellar, utility room or garage, then check the range specified for the exact model.
Appliances of different capacities won’t necessarily meet the same storage needs. The European Commission says the energy label also shows annual energy consumption, capacity and noise.
Check the kWh/year figure alongside the freezer capacity, then consider noise and where you plan to put the appliance.
Its overall dimensions alone won’t tell you whether the door or lid can open, or whether there’s enough clearance for ventilation.
Check the model’s installation manual, then measure the doorways along the route, the space needed to open it and access to the socket.
The GSN54EWCV is an example of a large-capacity upright freezer for food you want to organise and access often.
The W3RHS31DW2 is an example of a chest freezer designed for storing large quantities of food.
The GBV22NCDEP is an example of choosing a fridge-freezer instead of a standalone freezer.
These three appliances each offer a different way to store more food: a fridge-freezer, a chest freezer and an upright freezer. First choose the format and freezer capacity you need, then check the installation requirements for the model you have in mind.
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This fridge-freezer is suited to households looking to combine refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. Its product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost technology, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity separately with the amount you usually store. Check the manual for the required clearances and door-opening space.
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This chest freezer suits households looking for dedicated storage for large quantities of food. Its product title lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, a defrost drain and a five-level digital control. Before putting it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range, storage time during a power cut and the model’s full installation requirements.
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This upright freezer suits households looking for dedicated storage with easy access to food in drawers. Its product title lists a capacity of 161 L, three freezer drawers, an alarm and a C energy rating. To check whether it’s suitable for your room and needs, look up its dimensions, climate class, annual energy consumption and the clearances specified in the manual.
Compare the energy rating, annual energy consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise level. The European Commission lists these among the details shown on the label. When choosing between appliances, also compare them with the freezer capacity you actually need.
Yes, provided the temperatures in the room are within the range specified for the model. Check its climate class and installation manual. Guidance about operating in very cold conditions for a particular model doesn’t apply to all appliances.
No. You can’t tell from the format alone. Compare the annual energy consumption on the labels of models with similar capacities, then check that they’re suitable for the room where you plan to use them.
For a like-for-like take-back, the item being purchased must be the same type of equipment, according to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. If you’re replacing your freezer, ask the retailer how to arrange collection when you place your order.