Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the king of white goods for the home, with more storage space than your typical model, and a myriad of additional features like full air circulation for frost-free freezer compartments and fancy zero-across fruit and vegetable drawers. To make installation easy choose units without plumbing that don't need access to plumbing.
Storage
The good news is that there are a variety of options for storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models that come with two large salad crispers, two drawers for the freezer and zones that switch from freezer to refrigerator with the push of a button. You can also choose separate doors for drinks to keep your favorite wine chilled.
You'll typically find American refrigerator-freezers with long, cupboard-like doorways, the fridge on the left and freezer on the right, or a side-by-side fridge and freezer units. There are also French-style refrigerators, with a fridge stacked on the top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models could take up some space in your kitchen but they'll leave more room for your groceries than a standard freestanding model. There are even slim American fridge freezers that measure only 70cm wide, which is perfect for smaller kitchens.
Whatever size you choose, look for a an unfrosted freezer to spare you the trouble of frequently defrosting it by hand. Certain models come with an option for speed-freezing, which will increase the time of freezing to ensure that food stays fresher for longer. You can also find models that have adjustable shelves to ensure you're making the most of your available space. The energy rating will show you how efficient the appliance is as well as the cost to run.
american-style fridges Frydge , such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS, feature convertible zones. These zones can be switched between freezer and fridge with a single touch. This is great for storing fresh beverages, wine and beer as well as a huge batch of ice-cream. It's also useful at Christmas when you have lots of leftovers to freeze and reheat.
For another fantastic feature, look into Samsung's FlexZone compartment that you can adjust to suit different food types - it can be set to Freeze, Soft Freeze chill, Refrigerate or Chill. This is the perfect way to store all your frozen foods organised and ready for those big dinner gatherings.
Door alarms are another useful feature that can help you keep food from spoiling by alerting you when the freezer or fridge door has been open for too long. There are models that feature twin cooling systems that divide the fridge and freezer compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food items stored in the fridge. This helps cut down on energy costs.
Make sure to check the energy efficiency 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.
Water and ice dispensers
Many American fridge freezers feature water and ice dispensers, so you can drink chilled filtered water or cubes at the touch of one button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or kids. You can find manual ice makers for the freezer section. Simply fill the removable tray with ice and turn the dial.
American fridge freezers that can be plumbed need to be connected to a mains water supply. They are only able to be installed in a kitchen that is already in place and has enough space to accommodate them. However, if you're looking to save money or don't have enough space to install a plumbed option, there are other options, such as fridges with refillable water jugs you can fill up yourself.
If you love to entertain then look for an American refrigerator freezer that comes with built-in wine coolers that can store up to 28 bottles and is engineered to ensure optimal cooling. There are also models that have an intelligent door sensor to allow you to manage and monitor your appliance remotely using Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. In addition, you can locate an energy-efficient model with low A+ rating, allowing you to reduce your carbon footprint and save on running costs.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerators with cameras are more of a "nice to have feature than an essential one. However they can be beneficial for those looking to keep track and reduce their food consumption. They let you view 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 see what you've left out if it's not closed your fridge before going shopping, for example.
Samsung offers a variety of fridge freezers with cameras, including the elegant RS50N3513WW/EU. It features a 29-inch touchscreen display, which allows you to see the contents of your fridge, get 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. You can control it with your tablet or smartphone and adjust the temperature settings of your fridge remotely.
Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C is an affordable option. It's got a huge 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge along with front-mounted water and Ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost, which will save you from the pain of chipping ice away by hand, and LED lighting for more efficient interior navigation. It's frost-free, and EnergyStar certified, so it is efficient to run. It's not equipped with the fancy cameras of the other Samsung models however it can keep you well fed at a lower cost.