Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer

An American fridge freezer is the best of white goods that are used in the domestic kitchen, providing more storage space than your typical fridge and a host of additional features like full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy zero-across fruit and vegetable drawers. For a simple installation, look for non-plumbed units that don't require access to plumbing.

Storage

The good news is that there are lots of choices when it comes to storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models that come with two large salad crispers, two drawers for freezers and zones that can switch from refrigerator to freezer at a touch of a button. You can also get a separate drink door to keep your favorite wine chilled.

You'll usually find American fridge-freezers, which have long doors that resemble cupboards, a fridge on the left and freezer on the right or side by side fridge and freezer units. You might also come across models that have a refrigerator on the top of a freezer drawer or two, known as French-style refrigerators.

These models will take up more space in your home, but you'll have more space to store your groceries. There are even slim american fridge freezer 80cm wide fridge freezers that are just 70cm in width - ideal for kitchens with smaller spaces.

Whatever size you decide to buy, look for a a frost-free freezer, which will save you the hassle of frequently defrosting by hand. Some models have the option of fast-freezing, which extends the time for freezing 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. The energy rating will also show you how efficient the appliance is as well as the cost to run.

Convertible zones

Certain fridge freezers, such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between fridge and freezer at the touch a button. This can be great for storing fresh veg as well as keeping beer and wine chilled, or perhaps an entire batch of ice cream. This is a great idea for leftovers from Christmas that you wish to freeze or reheat.

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 or Soft Freeze, Chill or Refrigerate. This is a great way of keeping all your frozen food organised and ready for big dinner parties.

Door alarms are an additional useful feature that can help you prevent food spoilage by alerting you when the door to your freezer or fridge has been left open too long. There are models with twin cooling systems that separate freezer and fridge compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air from drying food items stored in the fridge. This can reduce the energy consumption.

When you purchase take note of 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 refrigerators have water and ice dispensers which allow you to access chilled filtered ice cubes or water at the push of the button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or the kids. There are also models with manual ice makers in the freezer section where you fill up a removable tray and turn the dial to release crushed ice.

Plumbed American fridge freezers must 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 want to save money, or you do not have enough space for an appliance that is plumbed there are alternatives. For example you can buy refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you can fill yourself.

If you like to entertain or entertain, then consider an 635L Matte Black American Side-by-Side Fridge Freezer fridge freezer that has an integrated wine chiller. It can hold up to 28 bottles of wine and is designed to offer optimal cooling. You can also find models that have a smart sensor that detects the moment that the door is opened. This allows you to manage and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating that can help you reduce your carbon footprint and save money on operating costs.

Built-in cameras

Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a "nice to have rather than a necessity. However they can be useful for those who need to keep track of their food and cut down on their consumption of food. They allow you to see what's inside your fridge without opening the door, which can be especially beneficial for households with busy schedules. You can use the camera to see the fridge if you didn't close your fridge before going shopping, for instance.

Samsung offers a number of fridge freezers that come with cameras, such as the fashionable RS50N3513WW/EU. It features a 29-inch touchscreen display that you can use to view the contents of your fridge, get recipe ideas and 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 using your smartphone or tablet and also alter the temperature settings of the fridge remotely.

For a budget-friendly alternative, look at Hisense's FMN431W20C fridge freezer. It can hold 550ltr in both the freezer and fridge. Front-mounted water and Ice dispensers are also available. It has no-frost technology to alleviate the pain of breaking frozen ice by hand. It also has LED lighting to help navigate the interior space. It's frost-free, and EnergyStar certified, which means it will be efficient to run. It may not have the fancy cameras that Samsung models do, but it's still a good choice. Samsung models have however, you can find plenty of food for a lesser cost.