Who is this for?

Small-kitchen batch cooks

You make vegetable soup in batches and need to fit portioned containers around the frozen food you already store.

People protecting preparation space

You have little clear worktop, so you need to decide whether a table-top freezer will leave enough room to prepare food or whether a floor position is more practical.

People comparing ongoing use

You want extra freezer space but also need to weigh energy information and defrosting requirements against the capacity you will use.

What should you check?

Existing freezer

Choose it when: There is room for your usual soup portions once they are packed into smaller containers or freezer bags.

Trade-off: It avoids another appliance but does not resolve a genuine shortage of freezer space.

Table-top freezer

Choose it when: You need a small amount of dedicated storage and have a suitable surface that leaves room for food preparation.

Trade-off: It preserves floor space but takes up worktop area and has limited room for bulky containers.

Floor-standing freezer

Choose it when: Regular batches exceed compact storage or losing worktop space would make cooking difficult, and you have a suitable floor location.

Trade-off: It needs floor and door-opening space; check the capacity and energy information of the particular model.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Physical fit Measure the available width, depth and height, then check the exact model’s ventilation and door-opening requirements. I cannot give up the space I use to prepare soup, even if the freezer is called compact. Around 42% of consumers would put physical fit first.
Soup storage Measure your usual containers or freezer bags against the usable interior; check shelf arrangement and whether manual defrosting suits you. My cooled soup needs to fit in practical portions alongside other frozen food, rather than in one large pot. For around 33% of consumers, portion storage would be the primary concern.
Ongoing use Compare the A–G energy label and annual kWh figure for comparable models; check defrosting and permitted installation locations. Once I know the freezer fits, I want to understand its electricity use and the upkeep my chosen location will require. Ongoing use would come first for around 25% of consumers.

Common buying mistakes

  • Choosing by capacity without measuring the space

    A 31-litre table-top model can still occupy a substantial part of a small worktop before you allow for ventilation and opening its door.

    Measure the intended position and follow the exact model’s installation instructions. A cabinet fitting into a gap does not mean that the gap provides adequate ventilation.

  • Putting soup away in one large pot

    A pot uses compact storage awkwardly. GOV.UK advises dividing food into smaller portions in containers or freezer bags so it can cool quickly.

    Cool and portion the soup, use freezer-safe packaging, label the portions and freeze them promptly in line with food and packaging instructions.

  • Assuming every compact freezer suits every location

    Defrosting and installation conditions vary by model. The Russell Hobbs RHTTFZ0E1W listing, for example, specifies manual defrosting and says the model is unsuitable for outbuildings.

    Check the exact freezer’s defrost method, climate class and permitted locations before deciding where to put it.

  • Choosing on the energy letter alone

    The A–G label helps compare efficiency, but it does not tell you whether your containers will fit or whether you have a suitable place for the freezer.

    Confirm usable storage and installation fit first. Then compare labels and stated annual kWh figures among models that meet those needs.

Relevant brands to consider

These model examples offer points of comparison; check the specifications of the exact freezer you are considering.

Cookology

The MFZ32BK is a 31-litre table-top option for extra batch-cooking storage.

  • Cookology states external dimensions of 438 × 472 × 510 mm for the MFZ32BK.
  • Check its installation clearances as well as the cabinet dimensions before allocating worktop space.

Russell Hobbs

The 31-litre RHTTFZ0E1W is a table-top model to consider where its stated dimensions fit.

  • Joybuy lists dimensions of 49.2 × 47.2 × 45 cm; The listing covers a reversible door.
  • The listing specifies manual defrosting and says this model is unsuitable for outbuildings.

Haden

The HZ59W-E is a 31-litre table-top model with stated dimensions of 51 × 44 × 47 cm.

  • The HZ59W-E listing specifies a reversible door and manual defrosting.
  • Its installation instructions say not to obstruct ventilation openings, so cabinet width alone is not enough to establish fit.

CHiQ

The CSD31D4EU is a 31-litre table-top freezer to compare against your usual soup portions.

  • The Joybuy listing identifies the CSD31D4EU as an E-rated model.
  • Confirm the interior arrangement and installation requirements for this exact model before choosing it for your containers and location.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Should vegetable soup be cooled before freezing?

Yes. GOV.UK advises cooling warm food before freezing it and dividing it into smaller portions in containers or freezer bags so it cools quickly. Once cooled, pack the soup in freezer-safe portions rather than putting a large pot into a compact freezer.

What freezer temperature should I look for?

For household food freezing, GOV.UK says a freezer should be around −18°C. Follow the exact appliance’s instructions for reaching its operating temperature before loading food.

Can a table-top freezer go in a garage or outbuilding?

Only if the exact model’s instructions permit that location. The listing states that the Russell Hobbs RHTTFZ0E1W is unsuitable for outbuildings; check the climate class and installation instructions of any other model rather than applying that restriction to all compact freezers.

How should I compare freezer energy use?

Compare A–G energy labels and stated annual kWh figures among freezers of a comparable type and capacity that fit your space. Energy Saving Trust explains the A–G efficiency scale, but the label does not replace checking usable storage and installation requirements.