Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the ultimate in white goods for the home, with more storage space than the typical fridge and a host of extra features like full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy fruit and veg drawers. Choose models that aren't plugged in and do not require access for your plumbing for easy installation.
Stores
There are numerous storage options for small American refrigerator freezers. You can find models with two freezer drawers along with large salad crispers and zones that switch from freezer to fridge with the flick of a button. They also have an additional door for drinks to keep your favorite wine chilled and on hand.
Most often, you'll come across American fridge freezers that have long doors that resemble cupboards, with the fridge on the right and the freezer on the left. They also have side-byside fridges and freezer units. You may also find models with a fridge on top of a freezer drawer or two, which are referred to as French-style refrigerators.
These models might take up some space in your kitchen but they'll leave more room for your groceries than a conventional freestanding model. There are american style fridge freezers that are just 70cm wide - great for kitchens with smaller spaces.
Whatever size you pick, search for a a frost-free freezer, which will save you the hassle of regularly defrosting the freezer by hand. Some even have a speed-freeze setting that increases the time to freeze to ensure that food stays fresher longer. You can find models with adjustable shelves, which allows you to make the most of your space. The energy rating will also reveal how efficient the appliance is and what it costs to run.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones which can be switched from freezer to fridge and back again with the click of one button. This is ideal for storing fresh vegetables as well as keeping beer and wine chilled, or even making a large batch of frozen ice cream. This is especially useful for Christmas leftovers which you'd like to freeze and reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a great feature. You can set it to accommodate different kinds of food items - you can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can also be set to Chill and Refrigerate or Freeze. This is a great way to keep all frozen food items in order and ready for big dinner parties.
Door alarms are another helpful feature that can help you avoid food spoilage by notifying you when the door to your fridge or freezer has been open for too long. There are also models with twin cooling systems which separate the freezer and fridge compartments. This prevents cool, dry freezer air dehydrating food items stored in the fridge. This can help to cut the energy consumption.
When you purchase make sure you check the energy rating. The higher the rating the more efficient it is. It's also worth checking out the yellow Energy Guide label to get an estimate of the running costs.
Ice and water dispensers
Many American refrigerators come with water and dispensers for ice that let you get chilled water or filtered ice cubes at the touch of a button. They're great if you like to keep drinks handy for guests or kids. There are also models with manual ice makers in the freezer section where you fill a removable tray and twist the dial to release crushed ice.
American fridge freezers that are plumbed need to be connected to an water supply that is mains. They are only able to be installed in a kitchen already in place and has the space to accommodate them. If you want to save money, or don't have enough space for a refrigerator freezer with a plumbed connection There are other options. For instance you can purchase a fridge that comes with refillable water bottles that you can fill yourself.
If you love to entertain then look for an American fridge freezer that has a built-in wine cooler which can store up to 28 bottles. It is designed for optimal cooling. It is also possible to find models with an intelligent door sensor which allows you to control and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating that will help you reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on operating expenses.
Built-in cameras
Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a "nice to have' than an essential feature. However they can be beneficial for those who want to keep track of their food and cut down on their food consumption. They let you know what's in the fridge without opening the door, which is particularly useful for households with a busy schedule. You can also use the camera to check the fridge for any traces of not closing the fridge before going out to shop, as an example.
Samsung offers a few refrigerator freezers equipped with cameras, including the fashionable model RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a big touchscreen display that allows you to look through the contents of your fridge, locate recipes and place orders for groceries. It's powered by the brand's own smart assistant Bixby and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. It can be controlled via your tablet or smartphone and also alter the temperature settings of your fridge remotely.
For a more budget-friendly option, look at Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It's got a massive 550-litre capacity across the freezer and fridge along with front-mounted water as well as ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost technology to save you the annual misery of slicing ice by hand and LED lighting that makes it easier to navigate the interior space. It is frost-free and EnergyStar certified, which means it will be efficient to run. It doesn't have the flashy cameras of the above Samsung models however, it's able to keep you well-fed with less expense.