Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer

The American fridge-freezer is considered to be the king of white goods that are made in the United States. It offers more storage than any other model and offers a range of extra features like air circulation that keeps freezer compartments free of frost and fancy drawers that can be used for vegetables and fruits. Choose models that aren't plugged in and do not require access to the plumbing for simple installation.

Stores

The good news is that there are plenty of choices when it comes to storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models that come with two large salad crispers, two freezer drawers and zones that are able to switch between freezer and refrigerator at just a click. You can also purchase an additional drink door to keep your favorite wine chilled.

Most often, you'll come across American fridge freezers that have long doors that resemble cupboards, with the fridge on the right side and the freezer on the left, or side-by-side refrigerators and freezer units. There are models that have a refrigerator on the top of a drawer for freezer or two, also known as French-style refrigerators.

These models might take up some space in your kitchen however they'll provide more space for your food items than a conventional freestanding model. There are slim American refrigerator freezers that are just 70cm wide and are ideal for small kitchens.

Whatever size you select, look for a model with a frost-free freezer to save you the trouble of frequently defrosting the freezer by hand. Certain models come with an option for speed-freezing, which will increase the time of freezing to ensure that food stays fresher longer. There are also models that have adjustable shelves to ensure you're making the most out of the available space. The energy rating will also reveal how efficient the appliance is and the cost to run.

Convertible zones

Some fridge freezers, such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS, have convertible zones. These zones can be changed between fridge and freezer with a single touch. This is a great way to store fresh wines, vegetables, beer or even a huge batch of ice cream. This is a great idea to store leftovers from Christmas that you want to freeze and then heat.

Samsung's FlexZone compartment is another great feature. You can adjust it to accommodate different kinds of food. You can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can be set to chill as well as Refrigerate or Freeze. This is a great way to keep all your frozen foods in order and ready for big dinner celebrations.

Door alarms are a useful feature that will help you to prevent food spoilage by warning you when the door to your fridge or freezer is open for too long. There are models that have twin cooling systems to create a separate fridge and freezer compartments. This stops the cold, dry air that comes from the freezer from drying food in the fridge. It also helps to save energy.

When you purchase take note of 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.

Water and ice dispensers

Many American refrigerators feature water and ice dispensers that let you access chilled purified ice cubes and water at the push of the button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or kids. You can find manual ice makers in the freezer section. Simply add ice to the tray on here the removable tray ice and turn the dial.

American fridge freezers that are plumbed should be connected to the mains water supply. They can only be installed in a kitchen which is already set up and has enough space to accommodate them. If you're looking to save money, or you don't have enough room for a refrigerator freezer with a plumbed connection there are alternatives. For example you can buy refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you can fill yourself.

If you like to entertain, then look for an American fridge freezer that has an integrated wine cooler that can accommodate up to 28 bottles and is built for optimal cooling. You can also find models that have sensors for opening doors that are smart that lets you manage and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. In addition, you can locate models that are energy efficient and have a low A+ rating, allowing you reduce your carbon footprint and save on operating costs.

Built-in cameras

Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a 'nice to have' than an essential feature. However, they can be helpful for those who wish to keep track and reduce their consumption of food. They allow you to see the contents of your fridge without opening the door, which can be especially useful for families with busy schedules. You can also use the camera to check whether you've closed the fridge before heading out to shop, for instance.

Samsung offers a range of fridge freezers that have cameras, such as the fashionable RS50N3513WW/EU. It comes with a huge 29-inch touchscreen, which you can use to view the contents of your fridge, get ideas for recipes and even order groceries. It's powered by the company's own smart assistant Bixby and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can control the temperature of your fridge via your tablet or smartphone.

For a less costly option check out Hisense's FMN431W20C refrigerator freezer. It's got a massive 550-litre capacity across the fridge and freezer along with front-mounted water and Ice dispensers. It has no-frost technology to spare you from the daily hassle of removing ice by hand and LED lighting for better navigation in the interior. It's frost-free and EnergyStar accredited, which means it will be efficient to run. It's not equipped with the fancy cameras of the other Samsung models however, it's still able to keep you well-fed for less money.