Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the ultimate in domestic white goods, offering more storage space than the average model and a raft of extra features like full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy fruit and veg drawers. Look for non-plumbed models that do not require access to the plumbing for simple installation.
Storage
There are numerous storage options for small American refrigerator freezers. You can find models with two freezer drawers large salad crispers as well as zones that switch from freezer to fridge with the touch of a button. You can also get an additional drink door to keep your wine chilled.
There are a lot of American fridge-freezers with long doors that resemble cupboards, a fridge on the left and the freezer on the right, or a side-by-side fridge and freezer units. You may also find models that have a refrigerator on the top of a drawer with a freezer or two, 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 even find slim American fridge freezers that measure only 70cm wide, which is perfect for kitchens with smaller spaces.
Make sure you have a frost-free freezer, no matter the size. This will save you from having to manually defrost it. Some even have a quick-freeze setting that increases the time to freeze, so food stays fresher for a longer period of time. You can find models with adjustable shelves, which allows you 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
Certain fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS come with convertible zones that can be switched from freezer to fridge and back again with the click of one button. This is great for storing fresh veg as well as keeping beer and wine chilled, or even an entire batch of Ice cream. This can be extremely useful to store leftovers from Christmas which you'd like to freeze and then heat.
For another great feature, check out Samsung's FlexZone compartment that can be adjusted to accommodate different food items - it can be set to Freeze or Soft Freeze, Chill or Refrigerate. This is a great way to keep all your frozen food organised and ready for big dinner parties.
Door alarms are a useful feature that will help you avoid food spoilage by notifying you when the door to your freezer or fridge has been left open for too long. There are models that have twin cooling systems to create a separate fridge and freezer compartments. This keeps the dry, cold air that comes from the freezer from causing dehydration of food in the fridge. It can also help you save energy.
Make sure you check the energy efficiency rating of your chosen model before you buy. The higher the rating is, the more efficient it will be. It's also worth looking at the yellow Energy Guide label to get an estimate of operating costs.
Ice and water dispensers
Many American refrigerators feature water and ice dispensers that let you get chilled water or filtered ice cubes at the push of a button. These are great to ensure that drinks are readily available to guests or for children. There are also models with manual ice makers in the freezer section. you fill a removable tray and twist the dial to release crushed ice.
American fridge freezers that are plumbed should be connected to the mains water supply. They are only able to be installed in a kitchen that's already in place and has enough space to accommodate them. If you're looking to cut costs or don't have enough space for a plumbed option there are other options, such as fridges with refillable water jugs you can refill yourself.
If you are a fan of entertaining then consider an American fridge freezer that has built-in wine coolers that can accommodate up to 28 bottles and is designed to provide optimal cooling. There are models with sensors that sense the moment that the door is opened. This allows you to control and monitor your appliance remotely using Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating which can help you reduce your carbon footprint while also saving money on running expenses.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerator freezers that have cameras are a 'nice to have' rather than essential feature, but they can be useful to people who like to keep track of their food supplies and cut down on over-consumption. You can see what's in your fridge without having to open the door. This can be extremely beneficial for busy families. You can also make use of the camera to determine if you've forgotten to close the fridge before heading out to shop, for instance.
Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers with cameras, such as the fashionable RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a large 29-inch click here touchscreen display, which you can use to view the contents of your fridge, get recipes ideas, and even order groceries. It is powered by Bixby which is the smart assistant of the brand. It can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can control it using your smartphone or tablet and also adjust the fridge's temperature settings remotely.
Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C offers a low-cost option. It's got a huge 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge as well as front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It has no-frost technology to spare you from the pain of chipping ice away by hand, and LED lighting for easier navigation within the interior. It's frost-free as well as EnergyStar accredited, which means it will be efficient to run. It might not have the fancy cameras that Samsung models do, but it's still a good choice. Samsung models do however, you'll still find plenty of food for less money.