Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer

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

Stores

The good news is that there are lots of options for storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models with two freezer drawers large salad crispers as well as zones that can change from american-style fridge to freezer at the flick of a button. They also have separate doors for drinks, so you can keep your wine chilled and available.

Most often, you'll come across American refrigerator freezers that feature long doors that resemble cupboards, with the fridge on the right side and the freezer on the left. They also have side-byside fridges and freezer units. You can also find French-style refrigerators that have an stacked fridge on the 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 grocery items. You can find slim American refrigerator freezers that are just 70cm wide which is ideal for kitchens with limited space.

Look for a frost-free freezer, regardless of size. This will free you from having to manually defrost it. Certain models come with an option for speed-freezing, which increases the freezing time so that food stays fresher longer. You can also find models with adjustable shelves to ensure that you're making the most of the available space. You should also take into consideration the energy rating of the appliance because it will let you know how efficient it is for the environment and how much it will cost to run.

Convertible zones

Certain fridge freezers, such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS, feature convertible zones. These zones can be switched between fridge and freezer with a single touch. This is ideal for storing fresh vegetables, wine and beer as well as a huge batch of ice cream. This can be very useful for leftovers from Christmas which you'd like to freeze and then heat.

Another great feature is to take a look at Samsung's FlexZone compartment that you can alter to suit different food types. It can be set to Freeze or Soft Freeze chill, Refrigerate or Chill. This is a great way to keep all your frozen foods organised and ready for big dinner gatherings.

Door alarms are a useful feature that will help you prevent food spoilage by alerting you when the door to your freezer or fridge has been left open too long. There are also models with two cooling systems that divide the freezer and fridge compartments. This prevents cool, dry freezer air dehydrating food items in the fridge and helps cut down on the energy consumption.

Before buying make sure you check the energy rating. 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 running costs.

Water and ice dispensers

Many American refrigerators are equipped with water and dispensers for ice that let you access chilled filtered ice cubes or [empty] water at the push of the button. They are ideal for keeping drinks available for guests or children. You can also find models with manual ice makers in the freezer department where you simply fill a removable tray and twist the dial to release crushed ice.

Plumbed American refrigerator freezers must be connected to the mains water supply, which means they're only suitable for use if your kitchen is already installed and you can accommodate them. If you're looking to save money or don't have enough space to install a plumbed option, there are alternatives such as refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you can fill up yourself.

If you like to entertain, then you should look for an American refrigerator freezer that comes with an integrated wine cooler that can store up to 28 bottles and is built for optimal cooling. There are also models that have sensors that sense when the door is opened. This allows you to manage and monitor your appliance from afar using Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. In addition, you can locate an energy-efficient model that has a low A+ rating, allowing you to cut your carbon footprint while saving money on operating expenses.

Built-in cameras

Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a "nice to have feature than an essential one. However, they can be helpful for those who want to track their food consumption and reduce their food consumption. They let you view what's in your fridge without opening the door, which can be particularly helpful for busy households. You can also use the camera to find out the fridge for any traces of not closing the fridge prior to going out to shop, for instance.

Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers that have cameras, including the sleek RS50N3513WW/EU. It has a big touchscreen display that lets you view the contents of your fridge, locate recipes and order groceries. It is powered by Bixby, the intelligent assistant of the brand. It can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can alter the temperature of your fridge remotely using your tablet or smartphone.

For a more budget-friendly option consider Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It has a capacity of 550 litres in both the fridge and freezer. Front-mounted water and Ice dispensers are also included. It's got no-frost technology, which will alleviate the pain of breaking ice by hand and LED lighting to make it easier to navigate the interior space. It's frost-free and EnergyStar certified, which means it will be economical and efficient to operate too. It doesn't have the fancy cameras of the other Samsung models however, it's able to keep you well-fed at a lower cost.