Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the king of white goods in the home, offering more storage space than your regular model, as well as a wealth of extra features such as full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy zero-across fruit and vegetable drawers. Look for non-plumbed models that do not require access to your plumbing for a simple installation.
Stores
The good news is that there are lots of options when it comes to storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models with two large salad crispers, two drawers for the freezer and zones that are able to switch from freezer to refrigerator at the push of a button. You can also get an additional drink door to keep your wine chilled.
Most often, you'll come across American refrigerator freezers that feature long doors reminiscent of cupboards with the fridge on the right and freezer on the left, or side-by-side refrigerators and freezer units. There are also models that have a refrigerator on the top of a drawer with a freezer or two, also known as French-style refrigerators.
These models will take up more space in your home but you'll also have more room to store your groceries. You can find slim American refrigerator freezers that are just 70cm in width which is ideal for kitchens with limited space.
No matter what size you pick, search for a an unfrosted freezer to spare you the hassle of frequently defrosting it manually. Some models have a setting for fast-freezing, which can increase the time to freeze so that food stays fresher longer. There are models with adjustable shelves to make the most of your space. The energy rating will also show you how efficient the appliance is as well as the cost to run.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers, such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS model, have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between freezer and fridge with a single touch. This is great for storing fresh vegetables, wine and beer as well as a huge batch of ice cream. This is a great idea to store leftovers from Christmas that you wish to freeze and then reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is another fantastic feature. You can alter it to suit different types of food items - you can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can be set to chill, Refrigerate, or Freeze. This is a great way to keep all your frozen food organized and ready for big dinner parties.
Door alarms are another helpful feature that will help you prevent food spoilage by alerting you when the door to your freezer or fridge has been left open too long. There are models that have twin cooling systems to create a separate fridge and freezer compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food items in the fridge and helps cut down on the energy consumption.
Make sure you check the energy efficiency rating of your chosen model before purchasing. The higher the rating, the more efficient it will be. It's also worth checking the yellow Energy Guide label to get an estimate of operating costs.
Ice and water dispensers
Many American refrigerators feature water and dispensers for ice that let you get chilled frozen ice cubes or water at the touch of a button. These are great to have drinks readily available for guests or kids. There are manual ice makers for the freezer section. Simply fill the removable tray with ice and turn the dial.
Plumbed American fridge freezers must be connected to the mains water supply, so they're only suitable if your kitchen is already installed and you have the space to accommodate them. If you want to save money, or you don't have enough space to accommodate a plumbed fridge freezer, there are other options. For example you can buy refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you fill yourself.
If you like to entertain and entertain guests, then you should consider an American refrigerator freezer that comes with built-in wine chillers. It can hold up to 28 bottles of wine and is designed to offer optimal cooling. You can also find models that have sensors for opening doors that are smart that lets you manage and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. Additionally, you can find an energy-efficient model with low A+ rating, helping you to reduce your carbon footprint and save on running expenses.
Built-in cameras
Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a "nice to have rather than a necessity. However they can be useful for those looking to track their food intake and reduce their consumption of food. You can check what's in your fridge without opening the door. This can be extremely helpful for busy families. You can also use the camera to see what you've left out if it's not closed your fridge prior to shopping, for example.
Samsung offers a variety of fridge freezers that have cameras, including more info the stylish RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a big touchscreen display that lets you see the contents of your fridge, look up recipes and place orders for groceries. It's powered by the brand's own smart assistant Bixby and can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can alter the temperature of your fridge via your smartphone or tablet.
Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C is a budget-friendly option. It has a huge 550ltr capacity across the fridge and freezer as well as front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost technology to help you avoid the hassle of slicing ice by hand and LED lighting to help navigate the interior space. It's frost-free as well as EnergyStar accredited, which means it will be efficient to run. It doesn't have the flashy cameras of the above Samsung models however it can keep you well fed for less money.