Whether you're looking to increase your storage capacity or looking upgrade your kitchen, an American fridge freezer will certainly be the envy of your guests.

Offering lots of storage features, ice and water dispensers as well as plenty of capacity, it is important to find the best appliance for your household. 

CAPACITY

The first consideration to make is how much capacity you will need for your household. Offering a much more storage than other standard fridge freezers, you'll be able to feed lots more hungry mouths.

• 200 litres: 1-2 people and can hold up to 11 bags of shopping.
• 400 litres: 2-3 people and can hold up to 22 bags of shopping.
• 600 litres: 4-5 people and can hold up to 33 bags of shopping.
• 700+ litres: 5+ people and can hold up to 38 bags of shopping.

As American fridge freezers offer such large capacities, the models will always be freestanding. This gives you the flexibility to position the appliance wherever is most convenient for your interior.

FEATURES

Before making your purchase, we suggest you watch out for the following features to ensure your appliance works for you. 

Energy Rating

As your American fridge freezer will have to run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, you need to watch out for appliances with high energy ratings.

Ranging from A+ to A+++, you'll be able to save money on your utility bills whilst keeping your food fresh.

Water/Ice Dispenser

A popular feature with a lot of manufactures, water and ice dispensers give you an instant supply of freshly cooled water and ice cubes to create delicious drinks.

It is important to check if your appliance will need to be plumbed or uses a reservoir, as this will change the installation method.

Smart Technology

If you own a smartphone, Google Home or Amazon Alexa, it is worth looking out for Smart Technology enabled appliances. By connecting your model to the WiFi, you'll be able to remotely adjust temperatures and settings.

AMERICAN FRIDGE FREEZER FAQs

Over the years, we've been asked a wide variety of questions before purchase. Here is a list of just a few of these.

What is Holiday Mode?

You'll find that some models will have a Holiday Mode function. This makes sure that your food stays fresh whilst you're away, but reduces energy consumption by slightly raising the temperatures.

Do all American fridge freezers require a plumbed water supply?

A signature feature for lots of models, a water and ice dispenser will sometimes require plumbing into your main supply. However, some use a built-in reservoir that will need to be refilled regularly.

Are the running costs expensive?

This depends entirely on the energy efficiency ratings, but most models have a rating of A+ to A+++, so you can have peace of mind that your utility bills stay under control.

What temperature should a freezer and fridge be?

The fridge section should have temperatures at or below 4°C, whilst the freezer compartment should have a temperature of around -18°C. Keeping temperatures stable is important for keeping your food fresh and free of bacteria.

How long should I leave my new appliance to settle?

When installing a new appliance, it's important leave it to stand before plugging it in. We always recommend you leave the appliance at least 4 hours.

Fridge freezers are a great option for households looking to save space in the kitchen. Combining two appliances into one, you'll have all your favourite foods in one handy location.

Perfect for small apartments or a large family, making sure you purchase the correct appliance for your household will make your life much easier.

INSTALLATION

The first choice you'll have to make is whether you would like a freestanding or integrated fridge freezer. This will depend on your kitchen interior design and space available.

Freestanding

Allowing greater flexibility than integrated models, freestanding fridge freezers come in a larger variety of widths, height and depths. Furthermore, as they only require a plug, you can place the appliance wherever is most convenient.

Integrated

For households with seamless interiors, integrated fridge freezers can be installed into your existing kitchen units. However, these tend to be a standard width and height which can restrict the capacity.

Please bear in mind that there are two hinge types with integrated models, fixed or sliding hinge. A fixed hinge is when the cabinet door is attached directly to the appliance, whilst the sliding hinge is fixed to the door.

CAPACITY

The second consideration you need to make is how much capacity you want for your fridge freezer. This will depend on your lifestyle, household size and how often you buy food.

It is worth noting that freestanding models often have larger storage capacities whilst integrated models have restricted capacities due to the kitchen units.

• 1-2 people: we suggest 100-200 litre appliance that can hold around 5-10 bags of shopping.
• 3-4 people: we recommend a 200-300 litre appliance that can store 10-15 bags of shopping. 
• 5-6 people: we propose a 300+ litre appliance that can hold over 15 bags of shopping.

FEATURES

Making sure your fridge freezer is working for your household's need is important for making your life much easier. Here are a few features you should keep an eye out.

Auto Defrost

To keep your fridge section working efficiently, it is vital to keep ice build-up away. Auto defrost functions work by regularly warming up the back wall, ensuring optimum performance every day of the year.

Antibacterial

Preventing bacteria from growing or entering your fridge freezer is crucial for keeping your food fresh. This is achieved with a special antibacterial coating or with the door seals.

Fast Freeze/Chill

When loading up freshly cooked food or your weekly shop, the fridge and freezer sections can warm up. Fast freeze or chill functions rapidly cool down food for lock in freshness and flavour.

Frost Free

Having to constantly manually defrost the freezer section can be a laborious task. Frost free fridge freezers prevent any ice build-up which keeps your appliance working efficiently.

Energy Rating

As refrigeration appliances have to run 24 hours, 365 days a year, utility bills can rise easily. That's why it's important to look out for the energy efficiency rating. Most fridge freezers range from A to A+++ for energy efficiency ratings.

FRIDGE FREEZER FAQs

We have been asked a multitude of questions over the years, so we've compiled a list of the most common.

What is the difference between a fixed and sliding hinge?

When looking for a new integrated model, you'll have a choice of two door hinges. A fixed hinge attaches the cabinet door directly to the appliance door which supports the full weight.

On the other hand, a sliding hinge is attached to the cabinet door which allows it to slide across when the door is opened and closed.

How long should I leave my new appliance to settle?

When your new appliance arrives in your kitchen, it is important to leave the appliance to settle. We suggest you leave your fridge freezer to stand for at least 4 hours before plugging in.

What temperature should a freezer and fridge be?

Ensuring your fridge freezer temperatures are correct will impact how long your food stays fresh. For the fridge section the recommended temperature should be at or below 4°C, whilst freezers should be maintained at around -18°C.

What is the cost of the cheapest fridge freezer?

Here at Kitchen Economy we have a selection of fridge freezers under £250.

Making sure you purchase the correct freezer and fridge for your household will make sure more of your food stays fresher for longer.

Whether you're looking to expand your refrigeration capacity or furnishing your first home, this guide will help you make an informed choice.

INSTALLATION

The first consideration you'll have to make is whether to have a freestanding or integrated model. This will determine the look of your kitchen interior and how it is installed.

Freestanding

Freestanding models offer greater flexibility with positioning and come in a variety of colours and designs. They also come in a wide selection of widths, depths and heights, so you'll be able to find the model best suited for your kitchen.

Integrated

For modern kitchen designs with seamless surfaces and units, integrated models will best suit your interior. Often coming in one standard width, these appliances will fit into your existing units.

There are two possible door hinge fittings for integrated models, a fixed hinge or a sliding hinge. It is important to check which hinge your current appliance has, otherwise your new model won't fit.

CAPACITY

After you've decided whether you'd like freestanding or integrated, you need to determine the capacity. This completely depends on your specific needs, mainly relying on the number of people in your household.

In general, freestanding models tend to offer the largest storage capacities. This is because the dimensions on the appliance can be much more varied than an integrated model.

• 1-2 people: we suggest 100-200 litre appliance that can hold around 5-10 bags of shopping.
• 3-4 people: we recommend a 200-300 litre appliance that can store 10-15 bags of shopping. 
• 5-6 people: we propose a 300+ litre appliance that can hold over 15 bags of shopping.

FEATURES

As there are lots of different freezer and fridges on the market, it's important you evaluate the features available. Here are just a few.

Auto Defrost

Have you ever noticed ice building up on the back wall of your larder fridge? You'll want to look out for an auto defrost feature that will regularly defrost the back wall.

Antibacterial

To prevent bacteria growth and food spoiling earlier than planned, some models come with especially design antibacterial door seals or coating.

Fast Freeze

If you're putting in fresh left overs or loading up your weekly shop, sometimes your freezer interior temperature can rise. That's why it's important to look out for a fast freeze option that quickly lowers the temperature.

Frost Free

Keeping your freezer working efficiently, it's crucial to keep ice build-up to a minimum. Frost free freezers means you won't have to manually defrost regularly, making it much more convenient.

FREEZER & FRIDGE FAQs

Over the 40+ years we've been in business, we get asked a variety of questions by our customers looking to by a refrigeration appliance. Here are our most common questions.

What is the difference between a fixed and sliding hinge?

For integrated models, you'll have the choice between a fixed or sliding hinge. A fixed hinge attaches the cabinet door directly to the appliance door which supports the full weight.

On the other hand, a sliding hinge is attached to the kitchen door which allows it to slide in and out as the door is opened and closed.

What temperature should a freezer and fridge be?

To keep your food fresh and flavoursome, you need to make sure your appliance is kept at the correct temperatures. For fridges the ideal temperature is at or below 4°C, whilst freezers should be kept at around -18°C.

What is the difference between a larder and ice box fridge?

There are two different types of fridge, a larder or an ice box. Larder fridges don't come with an integrated ice box, giving you more room to store chilled produce. Ice box fridges are as the name suggest, they have a separate small freezer section at the top.

How long should I leave my new appliance to settle?

Once you've installed your new appliance, we advise you leave your freezer or fridge to stand for at least 4 hours before plugging in the appliance. This is to let the gases settle inside the cooling motor.

What is the cost of the cheapest freezer or fridge?

At Kitchen Economy we have a variety of models available at under £200.