Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
The American fridge-freezer is the king of domestic white goods. It offers more storage than any other model and includes a myriad of additional features, including air circulation that keeps freezer compartments free of frost, and fancy drawers with 0@ for fruit and vegetables. For easy installation opt for non-plumbed units that don't require access to plumbing.
Storage
There are numerous storage options for small American refrigerator freezers. There are models with two large salad crispers, two freezer drawers and zones that are able to switch between freezer and refrigerator at just a click. You can also purchase an additional drink door to keep your wine chilled.
It is common to find American refrigerator-freezers with long, cupboard-like doorways, the fridge on the left, and the freezer to the right or side by side fridge and freezer units. You may also find models with a fridge on the top of a drawer with a freezer or two, known as French-style refrigerators.
These models may take up a little more space in your kitchen however, they'll offer more space to store your groceries than a conventional freestanding model. There are slim American refrigerator freezers with just 70cm wide, perfect for small kitchens.
No matter what size you choose, look for a model with a frost-free freezer to save you the hassle of regularly defrosting by hand. Some models have a setting for fast-freezing, which increases the freezing time so that food stays fresher longer. There are also models that have adjustable shelves that ensure you're making the most of the available space. You'll also need to consider the energy efficiency rating of the appliance, as it will tell you how green it is for the environment and how much it'll cost to operate.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS model, have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between freezer and fridge by pressing a button. This can be ideal for storing fresh vegetables as well as keeping beer and wine chilled, or perhaps an entire batch of frozen ice cream. This is a great idea for Christmas leftovers that you want to freeze or reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a different great feature. It can be adjusted to suit different types of food. You can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can also be set to Chill as well as Refrigerate or Freeze. This is an ideal way to keep all your frozen foods in order and ready for big dinner celebrations.
Other handy features include door alarms that notify you if the doors to the fridge or freezer were left open for too long, helping stop food spoilage. There are models with two cooling systems that separate freezer and fridge compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food in the fridge and can reduce energy costs.
Make sure you check the energy rating of your chosen model before you buy. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model 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 refrigerator freezers have dispensers for water and ice so that you can get chilled, filtered water or cubes at the touch of the button. They're great to have drinks in the fridge for guests or kids. You can also find models with manual ice makers in the freezer section, where you fill a disposable tray and then turn the dial to release crushed ice.
American fridge freezers that can be plumbed must be connected to the mains water supply. They are only able to be installed in a kitchen which is already in place and has enough space to accommodate them. If you want to save money, or don't have enough space to accommodate an appliance that is plumbed there are alternatives. For instance you can purchase a fridge with refillable water bottles that you can fill yourself.
If you love to entertain it is best to choose an American fridge freezer with a built-in wine chiller. It can hold up 28 bottles of wine and is designed to provide optimal cooling. It is also possible to find models that have an intelligent door opener which allows you to manage and monitor your appliance remotely via Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating, which will help you reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on running costs.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerator freezers that have cameras are a nice feature to have' rather than essential feature, but they can be beneficial for those who prefer to keep track of their food supplies and reduce over-consumption. You can see what's in your fridge without having to open the door. This can be very helpful for busy families. You can also utilize the camera to see whether you've shut the fridge before heading out to shop, as an example.
Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers that have cameras, including the sleek RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a large 29-inch touchscreen, which you can use to view the fridge content, get recipes ideas, and even order groceries. It's powered by the brand's own smart assistant Bixby and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can control it with your tablet or smartphone, and also alter the temperature settings of the fridge remotely.
Hisense's fridge freezers fridge freezer FMN431W20C offers a low-cost option. It boasts a massive 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge along with front-mounted water as well as ice dispensers. It's got no-frost technology, which will alleviate the pain of slicing the ice manually and LED lighting to help navigate through the interior space. It's frost free and EnergyStar rated, which means it can be cost-effective and economical to operate too. It doesn't have the flashy cameras of the previous Samsung models, but it will still keep you well fed for less money.