Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the king of white goods for the home, with more storage space than the typical model, and a myriad of extra features such as full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy fruit and veg drawers. Find models that aren't plumbing-based and do not require access to the plumbing for simple installation.
Stores
The good news is that there are plenty of options for storage for small American fridge freezers. There are models with two large salad crispers, two drawers for freezers and zones that are able to switch from freezer to refrigerator at the touch of a button. They also have separate doors for drinks to keep your wine chilled and available.
In general, you'll find American fridge freezers with long doors that resemble cupboards, with the fridge on the right and the freezer on the left, or side-by-side fridge and freezer units. You may also find French-style refrigerators. They have an stacked fridge on top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models will take up more space in your home, but you'll have more room to store your groceries. There are slim American refrigerator freezers measuring just 70cm wide, perfect for small kitchens.
No matter what size you select, look for a model with a frost-free freezer, which will save you the hassle of regularly defrosting by hand. Some even have a quick-freeze setting that can speed up the freezing time to ensure that food stays fresher for a longer period of time. There are models with adjustable shelves that allow you to make the most of your space. You'll also want to take into consideration the energy efficiency rating of the appliance, as this tells you how good it is for the environment as well as what it will cost to operate.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones which can be switched between fridge and freezer and back again with the click of an button. This is useful for storing fresh vegetables or keeping beer and wine chilled, or perhaps a big batch of Ice cream. It is also helpful during the holiday season when you have lots of leftovers to freeze and heat.
For another fantastic feature, check out Samsung's FlexZone compartment, which you can alter to suit various food types. It can be set to Freeze, Soft Freeze chill, Refrigerate or Chill. This is a great method to keep all your frozen food organized and ready for big dinner parties.
Door alarms are a useful feature that can help you avoid food spoilage by notifying you if the freezer or fridge door has been open for too long. There are models with twin cooling systems that separate fridge and freezer compartments. This prevents the cold, dry air from the freezer from dehydrating food items in the fridge. It also helps to save energy.
Don't forget to look at the energy rating of the model that you've chosen before you buy. 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 refrigerator freezers come with dispensers for water and ice so that you can drink chilled water and cubes with the push of the button. They're great to have drinks in the fridge for guests or kids. There are manual ice makers in the freezer section. Simply add american style fridge freezers to the tray on the removable tray ice and turn the dial.
Plumbed American fridge freezers need to be connected to the main water supply, which means they're only appropriate if your kitchen is already equipped with plumbing that can accommodate them. If you're looking to save money, or you don't have enough space for an appliance that is plumbed, there are other options. For example, you can buy a fridge with refillable water bottles that you fill yourself.
If you enjoy entertaining, then you should look for an American fridge freezer that has a built-in wine cooler that can hold up to 28 bottles and is designed to provide optimal cooling. You can also find models that feature a smart door open sensor which allows you to control and monitor your appliance remotely via Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. You can also find models with an A+ energy rating that can help you reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on operating expenses.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerator freezers that have cameras are a nice to have' rather than an essential feature, but they can be beneficial for people who like to keep track of food supplies and reduce over-consumption. You can see what is in your fridge without having to open the door. This can be extremely beneficial for busy families. You can also use the camera to find out if you've forgotten to close the fridge before going out for shopping, for example.
Samsung offers a number of fridge freezers that have cameras, including the stylish RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a big touchscreen display that lets you view the contents of your fridge, find recipes and order groceries. It's powered by the brand's own smart assistant Bixby and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can control the temperature of your fridge remotely using your tablet or smartphone.
Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C offers a low-cost choice. It's got a huge 550ltr capacity across the fridge and freezer along with front-mounted water as well as Ice dispensers. It has no-frost technology to spare you from the hassle of removing ice by hand, and LED lighting for better navigation in the interior. It's frost-free and EnergyStar rated, which means it can be efficient and cheap to run too. It doesn't have the fancy cameras of the above Samsung models however, it's able to provide you with a healthy diet with less expense.