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 regular model, as well as a wealth of extra features like full air circulation for freezer compartments that are frost-free and fancy zero-across fruit and vegetable drawers. For a simple installation you should look for units that aren't plumbing that don't need access to your plumbing.

Storage

The good news is that there are lots of options when it comes to storage options for small american fridge freezers (click for info). There are models with two freezer drawers, large salad crispers and zones that can switch from fridge to freezer at the flick of a button. You can also get an additional drink door to keep your favorite wine chilled.

You'll usually find American fridge-freezers that have long cupboard-like doorways, the fridge on the left and freezer on the right or side by side freezer and fridge units. There are also French-style refrigerators that have a fridge stacked on the top of one or more freezer drawers.

These models might take up a bit more space in your kitchen, but they'll give you more room for your groceries than a conventional freestanding model. You can find slim American refrigerator freezers that are just 70cm wide which is ideal for kitchens with limited space.

No matter what size you pick, search for a a frost-free freezer to save you the trouble of frequently defrosting the freezer by hand. Certain models come with the option of speed-freezing which will increase the time of freezing so that food stays fresher for longer. You can find models with adjustable shelves to make the most of your space. You'll also need to consider the energy rating of the appliance as it tells you how great it is for the environment and how much it'll cost to run.

Convertible zones

Some fridge freezers, such as the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS, feature convertible zones. These zones can be switched between freezer and fridge by pressing a button. This is great for storing fresh veg, keeping wine and beer chilled, or perhaps making a large batch of Ice cream. This is especially useful for leftovers from the Christmas season that you wish to freeze and reheat.

Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a great feature. You can alter it to suit different types 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 an ideal way to keep all frozen food items in order and ready for those big dinner parties.

Door alarms are another useful feature that will help you to prevent food spoilage by warning you when your fridge or freezer door has been left open too long. There are also models with two cooling systems that divide the freezer and fridge compartments. This stops dry, cool freezer air dehydrating food items stored in the fridge. This can reduce the energy consumption.

Be sure to take a look at the energy efficiency rating of your chosen model before purchasing. 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 refrigerator freezers come with dispensers for water and ice so that you can enjoy chilled filtered water or cubes at the touch a button. They are great for keeping drinks available for guests or kids. You can find manual ice makers that are suitable for the freezer section. Simply fill the removable tray with ice and turn the dial.

Plumbed American fridge freezers have to be connected to the main water supply, which means they're only suitable if your kitchen is already fitted with plumbing that can accommodate them. If you want to save money, or you don't have enough room for a refrigerator freezer with a plumbed connection there are alternatives. For instance, you can buy refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you fill yourself.

If you are a fan of entertaining then look for an american fridge freezer water and ice fridge freezer that has an integrated wine cooler which can store up to 28 bottles and is engineered for optimal cooling. It is also possible to find models that feature an intelligent door sensor that lets you 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 reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on running costs.

Built-in cameras

Fridge freezers that have cameras are more of a 'nice to have feature than an essential one. However they can be useful for those who wish to keep track and reduce their consumption of food. They allow you to see what's in the fridge without opening the door, which can be particularly useful for households with a busy schedule. You can also use the camera to check if you've forgotten to close the fridge prior to going out to shop, for instance.

Samsung offers a range of refrigerator freezers that have cameras, including the sleek RS50N3513WW/EU model. It has a large 29-inch touchscreen, which you can use to browse the contents of your fridge as well as get recipes and place orders for groceries. It's powered by the company's own smart assistant Bixby and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. You can control the temperature of your fridge remotely using your tablet or smartphone.

Hisense's fridge freezer FMN431W20C is an affordable option. It has a huge 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge as well as front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It comes with no-frost, which will save you from the annual hassle of removing ice by hand, and LED lighting to facilitate interior navigation. It's frost free and EnergyStar rated, which means it can be economical and efficient to run as well. It's not equipped with the fancy cameras of the above Samsung models however it can keep you well fed for less money.