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 fridge and a host of extra features such as full air circulation to keep freezer compartments frost-free and fancy fruit and veg drawers. Look for models without plumbing that do not require access to your plumbing for a simple installation.
Storage
The good news is that there are a variety of alternatives for storage for small American fridge freezers. You can find models with two freezer drawers, large salad crispers and zones that change from fridge to freezer at the flick of a button. You can also purchase an additional door for drinks to keep your wine chilled.
Typically, you'll see American fridge freezers that have long cupboard-like doors with the fridge on the right and the freezer on the left. best american-style fridge freezer can also find side-by-side fridges and freezer units. There are also models with a fridge on top of a freezer drawer or two, also known as French-style refrigerators.
These models will take up more space in your home but you'll also have more room to store your groceries. You can find slim American refrigerator freezers that measure just 70cm in width, perfect for small kitchens.
Whatever size you select, look for a a frost-free freezer to save you the trouble of frequently defrosting it by hand. Some models have an option for speed-freezing, which increases the freezing time so that food stays fresher longer. There are also models with adjustable shelves to ensure you're making the most of the available space. The energy rating will also tell you how efficient the appliance is and what it costs to run.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between fridge and freezer with a single touch. This is a great way to store fresh wines, vegetables, beer as well as a huge batch of ice-cream. It is also helpful during the holiday season when you have plenty of leftovers that you can freeze and then reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is another great feature. You can alter it to accommodate different kinds of food. You can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can be set to chill or Refrigerate, or Freeze. This can be an excellent way to keep all your frozen foods organised and ready for big dinner gatherings.
Other handy features include door alarms that notify you if the fridge or freezer doors are left open for too long, helping avoid food spoilage. There are models that have twin cooling systems to separate fridge and freezer compartments. This stops the cold, dry air that comes from the freezer from dehydrating food inside the fridge. It also helps you save energy.
Make sure you check the energy rating of your chosen model before you buy. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model will be. It's also worthwhile to check the yellow Energy Guide label to get an estimate of running costs.
Water and ice dispensers
Many American refrigerator freezers come with dispensers for water and ice so that you can have chilled filtered water or cubes at the touch of the button. They're great to keep drinks handy for guests, or even the kids. You can find manual ice makers that are suitable for the freezer section. Simply fill the tray that is removable with ice and turn the dial.
American fridge freezers that are plumbed should be connected to a mains water supply. They are only able to be installed in a kitchen that is already set up and has enough space to accommodate them. If you're looking to save money, or don't have enough space for a plumbed fridge freezer 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 consider an American fridge freezer with a built-in wine cooler that can hold up to 28 bottles and is engineered to provide optimal cooling. You can also find models that have a smart sensor that detects the moment that the door is opened. This lets you manage and monitor your appliance remotely using Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. You can also find models that have an A+ energy rating that can assist you in reducing your carbon footprint while also saving money on operating costs.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerators with cameras are more of a 'nice to have feature than an essential one. However they can be useful for those looking to track their food intake and reduce their consumption of food. They allow you to see the contents of your fridge without opening the door, which is particularly helpful for busy households. You can also make use of the camera to determine the fridge for any traces of not closing the fridge prior to going out for shopping, for example.
Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers with cameras, such as the fashionable model RS50N3513WW/EU. It comes with a huge touchscreen display that allows you to view the contents of your fridge, look up recipes and place orders for groceries. It is powered by Bixby, the intelligent assistant of the brand. It can also be used with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can alter the temperature of your fridge remotely using your smartphone or tablet.
Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C is a budget-friendly option. It boasts a massive 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge, plus front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost, which will save you from the annual pain of chipping ice away by hand and LED lighting for better navigation inside. It's frost free and EnergyStar accredited, so it should be efficient and affordable to run. It may not come with the high-end cameras that the Samsung models have however, you can have plenty of food for less.