Choose an upright freezer if you want to separate and regularly find portions using drawers, shelves or large compartments. A chest freezer is better suited to storing a large reserve if you have enough floor space, while a fridge freezer is the right choice when you are replacing both appliances and a more moderate freezer capacity is sufficient.
You prepare meals for several evenings and need genuine freezer capacity, portion-by-portion organisation and an easy way to keep track of your supplies. A separate upright or chest freezer becomes worthwhile when the small compartment in a fridge freezer is no longer enough.
You want to make weekday dinners quicker by preparing or freezing food in advance. In the OpinionWay survey for Lustucru, conducted among 1,020 French people aged 18 and over, 61% said they spent 30 minutes or less preparing dinner on a weekday evening; this figure concerns preparation time, not the practice of batch cooking.
You have space outside the kitchen and want to build up a substantial reserve. Some chest freezers whose suitability is explicitly stated by the manufacturer can operate down to -15 °C; check this information for the specific model, along with its floor dimensions.
Choose this if: you want to see and separate portions, containers and different meals every day.
Bear in mind: this format is tall and deep; check the available space, access routes and door clearance.
Choose this if: you prioritise storing portions, family meals or bulk purchases.
Bear in mind: deep storage requires baskets, designated areas and labels so that older portions remain visible.
Choose this if: you are also replacing the fridge and need a moderate amount of freezer space in a single appliance.
Check: the total capacity does not represent the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Look for drawers, baskets or separate compartments, as well as lighting or easy-to-identify storage areas. A door or temperature-rise alarm can help flag a problem. | I want to choose a ready-made meal quickly instead of cooking from scratch on busy evenings. In the OpinionWay survey for Lustucru conducted in July and August 2024, 61% of the French people surveyed spent 30 minutes or less on dinner during the week. |
| Stock organisation | Compare drawers, removable shelves, large compartments and baskets. For a chest freezer, plan storage areas and label items by date and contents. | I want to distinguish portions to eat first from those being kept for longer, without older meals disappearing at the bottom of the appliance. |
| Capacity and footprint | Compare net freezer capacity, height × width × depth dimensions and the opening clearance for doors or the lid. With a fridge freezer, check the capacity allocated to the freezer. | I need enough space for my portions and family meals without installing an appliance that is disproportionate to my kitchen or storage room. |
| Temperature and energy use | Check the temperature setting, the A to G energy label and kWh/year figures for models with a comparable capacity and format. Also check the installation conditions if the appliance will be placed in an outbuilding. | I want to keep prepared meals at -18 °C and maintain energy use suited to an appliance that runs continuously. |
A 387 L appliance may allocate just 114 L to freezing: this is not equivalent to a 350 L chest freezer or an upright freezer with a capacity of 366 to 404 L.
Compare the line labelled “freezer capacity” or “usable freezer compartment capacity”, then estimate your portions, family meals and required stock rotation space.
Deep storage can make the oldest portions less visible, even though they should be used first.
Check whether baskets are included and divide meals into designated areas. Label every preparation with its contents and date, keeping portions that need to be used quickly within easy reach.
Cooling appliances run continuously. The format alone is not enough to conclude that a chest or upright freezer will use less energy than another model.
Use the kWh/year figure on the label as a basis for comparison between models with a similar capacity, and check the A to G energy class. The ADEME states that the average annual consumption of a freezer is 300 kWh in its table published in May 2026.
According to Anses, at -18 °C freezing stops bacterial multiplication, but most microorganisms survive. Maintaining the cold chain therefore remains essential.
Freeze food as soon as you buy or prepare it, do not leave a cooked dish at room temperature overnight, and follow the appropriate defrosting instructions.
The 366 L GSN58AWEV is an upright freezer designed for households that prioritise organisation and generous front-access storage.
The 350 L HSM35050 chest freezer is designed for substantial storage needs, particularly when the appliance is intended for a lightly heated room.
The RB38C7B6AS9/EF fridge freezer may suit you when both the fridge and freezer need replacing at the same time, with moderate freezer storage.
The WHFF6403W4E is a very high-capacity upright option when drawer storage is the priority.
These Joybuy options include upright freezers, chest freezers and a fridge freezer to help organise meals prepared in advance.
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A versatile option for organising portions with easy front access.
161 L, No Frost, three drawers, two shelves, Fast Freeze function, alarm, reversible door and a stated range of -14 °C to -22 °C. Check the dimensions, kWh/year and power-cut storage time for your intended location.
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A dedicated chest freezer for creating a portion reserve where floor space is available.
140 L, storage basket, counterbalanced lid, adjustable thermostat, castors and adjustable feet. The stated dimensions are 637 × 556 × 846 mm; use labels and designated areas to organise deep storage.
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A compact format for additional storage of prepared portions.
99 L, 4-star freezing, adjustable thermostat, removable metal basket, castors and a stated freezing capacity of 4.5 kg/24 h. Defrosting is manual; also check the permitted ambient temperature range if the appliance is intended for a garage.
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A handy solution for a small rotation of portions in a compact kitchen.
60 L, 4-star freezing, adjustable thermostat, reversible door, adjustable feet and a stated capacity of 6 kg/24 h. The stated dimensions are 44.5 × 47.5 × 84.5 cm; check the internal layout before ordering.
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A two-in-one appliance if a small portion reserve is sufficient and your fridge also needs replacing.
187 L of fridge capacity and 75 L of freezer capacity, three transparent drawers, 4-star freezing, Low Frost, 215 kWh/year, a stated storage time of 10 hours and a reversible door. The stated ambient temperature range is 16 to 38 °C.
Anses states that domestic freezing at -18 °C stops bacterial multiplication. It does not destroy most microorganisms, so the quality of the preparation and maintaining the cold chain remain essential.
According to Anses, it is best to freeze food when you buy or prepare it, rather than at the end of its use-by date. Plan ahead and freeze portions in advance instead of relying on freezing as a last-minute solution.
No. Anses advises that a freshly prepared dish should not be left at room temperature overnight while you wait for it to cool. Plan your preparation to minimise this time and follow the appropriate storage guidance for the food concerned.
This depends on the model and the minimum ambient temperature specified by the manufacturer. Beko, for example, states that the HSM35050 can operate down to -15 °C; check the climate class, instructions and installation requirements for your chosen appliance.
Compare the A to G energy label rating and annual consumption in kWh/year for appliances with a similar capacity and format. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously and provides average benchmarks that do not represent guaranteed consumption for every model.