Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the ultimate in white goods in the home, offering more storage space than the average model and a raft of additional features, including full air circulation for frost-free freezer compartments and fancy fruit and vegetable drawers. For a simple installation opt for non-plumbed units that don't need access to your plumbing.
Stores
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives for storage options for small American fridge freezers. You can find models with two freezer drawers large salad crispers as well as zones that can change from freezer to fridge with the touch of a button. They also have an additional door for drinks, so you can keep your favorite wine chilled and in stock.
In general, you'll find American fridge freezers with long doors that look like cupboards, with the fridge on the right and the freezer to the left. You can also find side-by-side fridges and freezer units. There are also French-style refrigerators, which 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 also have more space to store your food items. You can also find slim American fridge freezers that measure just 70cm in width - ideal for smaller kitchens.
Whatever size you choose, look for a model with an unfrosted freezer to spare you the hassle of frequently defrosting the freezer by hand. Certain models come with an option for speed-freezing, which extends the time for freezing so that food stays fresher longer. There are also models that have adjustable shelves to ensure that you're making the most of the available space. The energy rating will also reveal how efficient the appliance is as well as how much it will cost to run.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS, have convertible zones. These zones can be changed between fridge and freezer by pressing a button. This is a great way to store fresh wines, vegetables, beer or even a huge batch of ice-cream. This can be extremely useful for leftovers from Christmas that you want to freeze and then heat.
For another great feature, look into Samsung's FlexZone compartment, which you can alter to suit different food types. It can be set to Freeze, Soft Freeze, Chill or Refrigerate. This is a great way to keep all frozen food items in order and ready for those big dinner gatherings.
Other handy features include door alarms that will alert you when the fridge or freezer doors have been left open too long, helping to keep food from spoiling. There are models with twin cooling systems which divide the freezer and fridge compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food items in the fridge and can cut down on energy costs.
Before buying make sure you check the energy rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model will be. You can also look at the yellow Energy Guide label for an estimate of operating costs.
Water and ice dispensers
Many American fridge freezers are equipped with dispensers for ice and water so you can have chilled water and cubes on the touch of a button. These are great to have drinks readily available for guests or children. There are manual ice makers that are suitable for the freezer section. Simply fill the tray with ice and turn the dial.
Plumbed American refrigerator freezers must be connected to the main water supply, so they're only appropriate if your kitchen is already fitted and can be accommodated. However, if you're looking to save money or don't have enough space for a plumbed option there are alternatives, like refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you can refill yourself.
If you enjoy entertaining it is best to choose an American refrigerator freezer with an integrated wine chiller. It can store up 28 bottles of wine and click here is designed to offer optimal cooling. You can also find models that feature sensors for opening doors that are smart that lets you control and monitor your appliance remotely using Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating, which will assist you in reducing your carbon footprint and save money on operating expenses.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerator freezers with cameras are a 'nice to have' rather than an essential feature however they can be useful to those who want to keep track of their food supplies and cut down on over-consumption. You can see what's in your fridge without opening the door. This can be very beneficial for busy families. You can use the camera to see whether you have forgotten to shut your fridge prior to shopping, for instance.
Samsung offers a selection of refrigerator freezers that have cameras, including the sleek RS50N3513WW/EU model. It has a large touchscreen display that allows you to look through the contents of your fridge, locate recipes and place orders for 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 via your tablet or smartphone, and also alter the temperature settings of the fridge remotely.
For a budget-friendly alternative consider Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It has a 550ltr capacity in both the freezer and fridge. Front-mounted water and Ice dispensers are included. It's got no-frost technology, which will avoid the annoyance of slicing frozen ice by hand. It also has LED lighting to help you navigate the interior space. It's frost-free and EnergyStar accredited, which means it will be efficient to run. It's not equipped with the fancy cameras of the previous Samsung models, but it will still keep you well-fed at a lower cost.