Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
An American fridge freezer is the best of white goods for the home, with more storage space than the regular model, as well as a wealth of extra features such as full air circulation for frost-free freezer compartments and fancy fruit and vegetable drawers. Look for non-plumbed models that do not require access to your plumbing to make it easy to install.
Storage
There are a variety of storage options for small American refrigerator freezers. There are models that come with two large salad crispers, two drawers for the freezer and zones that can switch from freezer to refrigerator with a touch of a button. There is also an additional door for drinks to keep your wine chilled.
Most often, you'll come across American fridge freezers that have long doors reminiscent of cupboards with the fridge on the right and freezer on the left, or side-by-side refrigerators and freezer units. You may also find French-style refrigerators, which have a fridge stacked on top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models might take up some space in your kitchen, but they'll give you more space for your grocery items than a conventional freestanding model. You can find slim American refrigerator freezers that are just 70cm in width ideal for kitchens with small spaces.
No matter what size you decide to buy, look for a an frost-free freezer to avoid you the hassle of constantly defrosting it manually. Some models even have a speed-freeze setting that increases the time to freeze, so food stays fresher longer. There are also models that have adjustable shelves to ensure that you're making the most of your space. The energy rating will tell you how efficient the appliance is as well as how much it costs to run.
Convertible zones
Certain fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS feature convertible zones that can be switched from freezer to fridge and back again with the click of an button. This is a great way to store fresh food, wine, and beer, or even a large batch of ice cream. It's also useful during the holiday season when there are plenty of leftovers to freeze and then reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a different 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 and Refrigerate or Freeze. This is a great method to keep your frozen food in order and ready for big dinner parties.
Other handy features include door alarms that alert you when the doors to the fridge or freezer were left open for too long, helping avoid food spoilage. There are models with twin american fridges cooling systems that separate the freezer and fridge compartments. This prevents the dry, cold air in the freezer from causing drying of food inside the fridge. It can also help to save energy.
When you purchase be sure to check the energy rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model will be. You can also check the yellow Energy Guide label for an estimate of operating costs.
Ice and water dispensers
Many American refrigerator freezers come with water and ice dispensers, so you can drink chilled water and cubes on the touch of an button. They're great if you like to have drinks available for guests, or even the kids. There are also models with manual ice makers in the freezer section where you fill a removable tray and twist the dial to release crushed ice.
Plumbed American fridge freezers must be connected to the main water supply, so they're only suitable if your kitchen is already equipped with plumbing that can accommodate them. However, if you're looking to save money or don't have enough space to fit a plumbed model, there are alternatives, like refrigerators that have refillable water jugs that can top up yourself.
If you love to entertain then consider an American refrigerator freezer that has an integrated wine cooler that can accommodate up to 28 bottles. It is designed for optimal cooling. It is also possible to find models that feature a smart door open sensor which allows you to control and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. In addition, you can locate an energy-efficient model with low A+ rating, allowing you to cut 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 want to track their food consumption and reduce their food consumption. They let you view what's inside your fridge without opening the door, which can be especially useful for families with busy schedules. You can use the camera to check if you forgot to close your fridge before you go shopping, for instance.
Samsung offers a few fridge freezers that come with cameras, such as the fashionable model RS50N3513WW/EU. It's got a 29-inch touchscreen display that you can use to view the contents of your fridge, find ideas for recipes and even order groceries. It is powered by Bixby, the smart assistant of the brand. It can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can control the temperature of your fridge remotely using your tablet or smartphone.
If you're looking for a less expensive option consider Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It boasts a massive 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge as well as front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost technology to avoid the annoyance of removing the ice manually and LED lighting to make it easier to navigate the interior space. It's frost-free and EnergyStar rated, so should be cost-effective and economical to run as well. It doesn't have the fancy cameras of the above Samsung models however it can keep you full with less expense.