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 your typical fridge and a host of additional features like full air circulation to keep freezer compartments frost-free and fancy zero-across fruit and vegetable drawers. Look for non-plumbed models that do not require access for your plumbing for simple installation.
Storage
The good news is that there are lots of alternatives for storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models that have two large salad crispers, two drawers for freezers and zones that are able to switch from freezer to refrigerator with a touch of a button. They may also come with separate doors for drinks to keep your favourite wine chilled and on hand.
Typically, you'll see American fridge freezers that have long doors reminiscent of cupboards with the fridge on the right and freezer on the left. You can also find side-by-side fridges and freezer units. You can also find French-style refrigerators, with refrigerators that are stacked on the top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models will take up more space in your home, but you'll have more space to store your groceries. There are slim American refrigerator freezers that measure just 70cm wide, perfect for small kitchens.
No matter what size you decide to buy, look for a model with an unfrosted freezer to spare you the hassle of regularly defrosting it manually. Some even have a quick-freeze setting that boosts freezing times to ensure that food stays fresher for longer. There are models that have adjustable shelves, which allows you to make the most of your space. It is also important to factor in the energy efficiency of the appliance, as it will tell you how green it is for the environment and how much it will cost to run.
Convertible zones
Certain fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones that can be switched between fridge and freezer and back again at the touch of an button. This is a great way to store fresh beverages, wine and beer, or even a large batch of ice-cream. This can be very useful for leftovers from Christmas that you wish to freeze and then heat.
For a different feature that is great, look into Samsung's FlexZone compartment, which you can adjust to suit various food types. It can be set to Freeze or Soft Freeze and Chill, or even Refrigerate. This is a great way to keep all your frozen foods in order and ready for big dinner parties.
Other useful features include door alarms that will warn you if the doors to the fridge or freezer are left open for too long, which can help keep food from spoiling. There are models that feature twin cooling systems that create a separate fridge and freezer compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food items stored in the fridge. This can cut down on the cost of energy.
Don't forget to look at the energy rating of the model that you've chosen before purchasing. The higher the rating the more efficient the model will be. You can also examine the yellow Energy Guide label for an estimate of operating costs.
Ice and water dispensers
Many American refrigerator freezers have dispensers for water and ice so that you can have chilled, filtered water or cubes at the touch of a button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or children. There are 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 can be plumbed require an water supply that is mains. They can only be installed in a kitchen that's already in place and has enough space to accommodate them. If you're looking to save money, or don't have enough room for a plumbed fridge freezer, there are other options. For example you can buy a fridge that comes with refillable water bottles that you fill yourself.
If you like to entertain it is best to choose an American fridge freezer that has an integrated wine chiller. It can store up 28 bottles of wine and is designed to offer optimal cooling. There are models that have a smart sensor that detects the moment that the door is opened. This lets you control and monitor your appliance from afar using Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. You can also find an energy-efficient model that has a low A+ rating, allowing you reduce your carbon footprint and save on running costs.
Built-in cameras
Fridge freezers with cameras are a nice feature to have', not an essential feature however they can be beneficial for those who want to keep track of their food supplies and cut down on over-consumption. They let you see the contents of your fridge without opening the door, which is particularly useful for households with a busy schedule. You can use the camera to determine if you forgot to close your fridge prior to shopping, for instance.
Samsung has a range of fridge freezers with cameras, including small american fridge freezers the sleek RS50N3513WW/EU. It features a 29-inch touchscreen that you can use to browse the contents of your fridge, find recipes ideas, and even order groceries. It's powered by the company's own smart assistant Bixby and can be used with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can alter the temperature of your fridge from your tablet or smartphone.
For a less costly option, look at Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It can hold 550ltr in both the freezer and fridge. Front-mounted water and ice dispensers are included. It has no-frost technology to help you avoid the hassle of chipping away the ice by hand, and LED lighting to make it easier to navigate through the interior space. It's frost-free and EnergyStar certified, which means it will be efficient to run. It might not feature the top-quality cameras that the Samsung models have however, you can find plenty of food for less money.