How To Determine If You're Prepared For Best American Fridge Freezers
Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the queen of white goods that are used in the domestic kitchen, providing more storage space than your regular model, as well as a wealth of additional features, including full air circulation to keep freezer compartments frost-free and fancy fruit and veg drawers. Find models that aren't plumbing-based and do not require access to your plumbing to make it easy to install.
Storage
There are numerous storage options for small American refrigerator freezers. There are models with two large salad crispers, two drawers for freezers and zones that are able to switch between freezer and refrigerator at just a click. You can also purchase separate doors for drinks to keep your favorite wine chilled.
Most often, you'll come across American fridge freezers that have long cupboard-like doors with the fridge on the right side and the freezer on the left, or side-by-side fridge and freezer units. You may also find French-style refrigerators, with the fridge stacked on top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models could take up a bit more space in your kitchen however, they'll offer more space to store your groceries than a standard freestanding model. You can even find slim American fridge freezers that measure only 70cm wide, which is perfect for smaller kitchens.
Look for a frost-free freezer, no matter the size. This will spare you from having to defrost your freezer manually. Some even have a speed-freeze setting that increases the time to freeze which means food stays fresher longer. You can also find models that have adjustable shelves to ensure that you're making the most of your available space. It is also important to be aware of the energy efficiency of the appliance because this tells you how good it is for the environment and how much it will cost to operate.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS model, have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between fridge and freezer by pressing a button. This is ideal for storing fresh wines, vegetables, beer or even a huge batch of ice cream. This can be very useful to store leftovers from Christmas that you want to freeze and then heat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a different great feature. It can be adjusted to accommodate different kinds of food. You can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can be set to chill and Refrigerate or Freeze. This is an ideal way to keep all your frozen food items organized and ready for big dinner gatherings.
Other handy features include door alarms that alert you when the doors to the fridge or freezer are left open for too long, which can help avoid food spoilage. There are american style fridge freezers that have twin cooling systems that separate the freezer and fridge compartments. This stops the cold, dry air that comes from the freezer from causing dehydration of food items inside the fridge. It also helps you save energy.
Before buying be sure to check the energy rating. The higher the rating the more efficient it will be. It's also worth checking the yellow Energy Guide label to get an estimate of the running costs.
Water and ice dispensers
Many American refrigerators have water and dispensers for ice which allow you to access chilled filtered ice cubes or water at the push of an button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or kids. You can find manual ice makers in the freezer section. Simply fill the tray that is removable with ice and turn the dial.
Plumbed American fridge freezers need to be connected to the main water supply, which means they're only suitable if the kitchen is already fitted and can be accommodated. If you're looking to save money, or do not have enough space for a plumbed fridge freezer There are other options. For instance you can buy refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you fill yourself.
If you love to entertain then you should look for an American refrigerator freezer that has an integrated wine cooler which can store up to 28 bottles and is engineered to provide optimal cooling. It's also possible to find models that feature an intelligent door sensor to allow you to manage and monitor your appliance remotely via Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating which can aid in reducing the carbon footprint of your home while saving money on operating costs.
Built-in cameras
Refrigerators with cameras are more of a 'nice to have rather than a necessity. However they can be beneficial for those who wish to keep track of their food and cut down on their consumption of food. You can check what's in your refrigerator without opening the door. This is extremely beneficial for busy families. You can also use the camera to determine whether you have forgotten to shut your fridge before going shopping, for example.
Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers equipped with cameras, including the stylish RS50N3513WW/EU. It comes with a huge touchscreen display that lets you view the contents of your fridge, search for recipes, and even order groceries. It's powered by the company's own smart assistant Bixby and can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. It can be controlled via your tablet or smartphone, and also adjust the temperature of the fridge remotely.
If you're looking for a less expensive option take a look at Hisense's FMN431W20C fridge freezer. It can hold 550ltr in both the freezer and fridge. Front-mounted water and Ice dispensers are included. It comes with no-frost technology to avoid the annoyance of slicing the ice by hand, and 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 might not have the fancy cameras that Samsung models do, but it's still a good choice. Samsung models do however, you can enjoy a large amount of food for less.