A Step-By-Step Guide For Choosing The Right Best American Fridge Freezers
Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
The American fridge-freezer is the king of white goods that are made in the United States. It offers more storage than any other model, and includes a myriad of extra features such as air circulation that keeps freezer compartments frosted and fancy drawers that can be used for vegetables and fruits. For easy installation, look for non-plumbed units that don't need access to plumbing.
Storage
The good news is that there are lots of choices when it comes to storage options for small American fridge freezers. There are models that have two freezer drawers as well as large salad crispers, and zones that switch from fridge to freezer at the touch of a switch. They also have a separate door for drinks to keep your wine chilled and on hand.
Most often, you'll come across American fridge freezers that have long doors that look like cupboards, with the fridge on the right and freezer on the left. They also have side-byside fridges and freezer units. You might also come across models with a fridge on the top of a drawer for freezer or two, which are referred to as French-style refrigerators.
These models will take up more space in your home, but you'll have more space to store your groceries. There are even slim American fridge freezers that are just 70cm wide - perfect for smaller kitchens.
Look for a frost free freezer, regardless of size. This will free you from having to manually defrost it. Some models even have a speed-freeze setting that boosts freezing times, so food stays fresher for longer. There are models with adjustable shelves so you can make the most of your space. The energy rating will also reveal how efficient the appliance is as well as what it costs to run.
Convertible zones
Certain fridge freezers, like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones which can be switched from freezer to fridge and back again with the click of one button. This is a great way to store fresh food, wine, and beer, or even a large batch of ice-cream. This is especially useful for leftovers from the Christmas season that you wish to freeze or reheat.
Another great feature is to take a look at Samsung's FlexZone compartment, which can be adjusted to fit different food items - it can be set to Freeze or Soft Freeze, Chill or Refrigerate. This is a great way to keep all frozen food items in order and ready for those big dinner parties.
Other useful features include door alarms that warn you if the fridge or freezer doors are left open for too long, helping to prevent food spoilage. There are models with twin cooling systems that create a separate fridge and freezer compartments. This prevents the dry, cold air from the freezer from dehydrating food items in the fridge. It also helps you save energy.
Be sure to take a look at the energy rating of the model you are considering before you buy. 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 fridge freezers feature dispensers for ice and water so you can get chilled water and cubes at the touch of a button. They're great to have drinks available for guests or the kids. There are manual ice makers for the freezer section. Simply fill the tray that is removable with ice and turn the dial.
Plumbed American fridge freezers have to be connected to the main water supply, so they're only suitable if your kitchen is already set up and can be accommodated. However, if american fridges looking to save money or don't have enough space to install a plumbed option, there are alternatives, like refrigerators that have refillable water jugs that you can top up yourself.
If you like to entertain, then you must look for an American refrigerator freezer that comes with built-in wine coolers that can hold up to 28 bottles and is built to provide optimal cooling. It is also possible to find models that have sensors for opening doors that are smart that lets you control and monitor your appliance remotely using Smart ThinQ technology via your smartphone or tablet. There are also models with an A+ energy rating which can help you reduce 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 more than an essential feature. However they can be useful for those looking to keep track of their food and cut down on their food consumption. They let you know what's in your fridge without opening the door, which can be especially beneficial for households with busy schedules. You can also use the camera to determine the fridge if you didn't close your fridge before going shopping, for instance.
Samsung offers a few fridge freezers with cameras, including the fashionable RS50N3513WW/EU model. It comes with a huge touchscreen display that allows you to examine the contents of your fridge, locate recipes and order groceries. It is powered by Bixby, the smart assistant of the brand. It can also be used with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can control it using your tablet or smartphone and adjust the fridge's temperature settings remotely.
If you're looking for a less expensive option consider Hisense's FMN431W20C fridge freezer. It's got a huge 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge as well as front-mounted water and ice dispensers. It has no-frost technology to alleviate the pain of removing the ice by hand, and LED lighting that makes it easier to navigate through the interior space. It's frost-free as well as EnergyStar rated so should be efficient to run. It might not feature the top-quality cameras that Samsung models do, but it's still a good choice. Samsung models have but you'll be able to have plenty of food for less.