Buying a Small American Fridge Freezer
The American fridge-freezer is the top model of white goods that are made in the United States. It provides more storage than any other model and comes with a variety of extra features like full air circulation to keep freezer compartments free of frost and fancy drawers that can be used for vegetables and fruit. To make installation easy, look for non-plumbed units that don't require access to your plumbing.
Storage
The good news is that there are lots of choices when it comes to storage for small American fridge freezers. There are models that have two freezer drawers, large salad crispers and zones that can switch from freezer to fridge with the flick of a button. You can also purchase an additional drink door to keep your wine chilled.
There are a lot of American refrigerator-freezers with long, doors that resemble cupboards, with the fridge on the left and the freezer on right or side by side freezer and fridge units. You may also find French-style refrigerators that have an stacked fridge on the top of one or more freezer drawers.
These models can take up some space in your kitchen but they'll leave more space for your grocery items than a conventional freestanding model. There are slim American refrigerator freezers with only 70cm in width ideal for kitchens with small spaces.
No matter what size you choose, look for a a frost-free freezer to save you the trouble of frequently defrosting it manually. Some models have the option of fast-freezing, which can increase the time to freeze to ensure that food stays fresher for longer. You can also find models with adjustable shelves to ensure you're making the most of your available space. The energy rating can reveal how efficient the appliance is and the cost to run.
Convertible zones
Some fridge freezers like the Fridgemaster MS83430FFS have convertible zones. These zones can be switched between fridge and freezer by pressing a button. This is great for storing fresh vegetables, wine and beer or even a large batch of ice cream. It can also be useful during the holiday season when you have plenty of leftovers to freeze and then reheat.
Samsung's FlexZone compartment is a different great feature. You can alter it to suit different types of food items - you can set it to Freeze or Soft Freeze. It can be set to chill or Refrigerate, or Freeze. This can be an ideal way to keep all your frozen food items organized and ready for those big dinner celebrations.
Other useful features include door alarms that alert you if doors to the freezer or fridge were left open for too long, helping prevent food spoilage. You can also find models with twin cooling systems which divide the freezer and fridge compartments. This prevents cool, dry freezer air dehydrating food items in the fridge and can cut down on the energy consumption.
Before buying take note of the energy rating. The higher the rating is, the more efficient it will be. You can also examine the yellow Energy Guide label for an estimate of operating costs.
Water and ice dispensers
Many American refrigerators are equipped with water and ice dispensers that let you get chilled filtered ice cubes or water at the touch of an button. They are ideal to keep drinks on hand for guests or kids. There are also models with manual ice makers in the freezer department where you fill up a removable tray and then turn the dial to release crushed ice.
Plumbed American fridge freezers must be connected to the mains water supply, so they're only suitable for use if your kitchen is already installed and you can accommodate them. If you're looking to save money or don't have enough space to fit a plumbed model, there are alternatives such as refrigerators that have refillable water bottles that you can fill yourself.
If you enjoy entertaining, then you should look for an American refrigerator freezer that has an integrated wine cooler that can accommodate up to 28 bottles. It is designed to ensure optimal cooling. You can also find models that have sensors that sense the moment that the door is opened. This allows you to website control and monitor your appliance remotely with Smart ThinQ via your smartphone or tablet. Additionally, you can find an energy-efficient model with low A+ rating that will allow you to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on operating expenses.
Built-in cameras
Fridge freezers with cameras are a nice feature to have', not an essential feature, but they can be useful for people who like to keep track of their food items and help reduce the amount of food consumed. You can see what is in your refrigerator without opening the door. This is extremely helpful for busy families. You can use the camera to determine if you forgot to close your fridge before going shopping, for instance.
Samsung offers a few refrigerator freezers equipped with cameras, including the fashionable model RS50N3513WW/EU. It's got a 29-inch touchscreen display, which you can use to browse the contents of your fridge, find recipes and place orders for groceries. It's powered by the brand's own smart assistant Bixby and can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too. It can be controlled via your tablet or smartphone and also alter the temperature of the fridge remotely.
For a more budget-friendly option check out Hisense's FMN431W20C fridge freezer. It has a huge 550ltr capacity across the freezer and fridge along with front-mounted water as well as ice dispensers. It features no-frost technology that will alleviate the pain of breaking ice by hand and LED lighting to help you navigate the interior space. It's frost-free, and EnergyStar rated so should be efficient to run. It doesn't have the flashy cameras of the other Samsung models however it can keep you well fed for less.