Then You've Found Your Fridge Freezer ... Now What?

How to Choose a 50/50 Fridge Freezer A 50/50 fridge freezer is divided into two compartments of equal size to store chilled and frozen food items. Freestanding fridge freezers are available in different sizes and colours to match your kitchen. You can also pick a tall integrated model which can be incorporated into a housing unit, fronted with modern doors. These are often hinged on the left or right side to make sense for the layout of your kitchen. Capacity One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a fridge freezer is its capacity. This is measured in litres, and is helpful when comparing models. At AO, we convert this into bags of shopping, making it even easier to compare fridge-freezer sizes. Consider your family's needs to determine the right size for you. A refrigerator freezer that is 50:50 is perfect for households who prefer to store fresh food. With plenty of shelf space, these appliances come with adjustable shelves, door racks and an ice-cream drawer to keep your fruits and vegetables fresher for longer. The refrigerator section is equipped with a wine rack with chrome wire that makes it easy to keep your favorite bottles. If you're a huge fan of frozen foods then a fridge freezer with a 60/40 is the best choice for your needs. These models are great for busy households who often purchase bulk quantities of frozen food items and prefer to keep their fridge space free for yoghurt, milk and freshly cut fruit. They have more freezer space than their 50:50 counterparts, with large drawers and a clear-fronted design for easy finding. A fridge freezer that is integrated is built into your kitchen, so it's crucial to measure the available space prior to buying. You'll want to ensure that it's a good fit within the cabinet doors, and doesn't interfere in any way with other appliances. In addition, you might need to leave some space around the appliance to allow for ventilation. Candy's Integrated Fridge Freezer is a stylish, practical option for your home. The compact appliance has the capacity of 87 litres inside the fridge compartment. It has four shelves and two racks for doors, and a salad crisper for all your favorite groceries. The EcoAirflow technology and LED lights that are low-wattage to regulate the temperature and humidity. To make things easier it has a Party Mode setting that activates the Super Cool function to chill drinks and makes extra ice cubes. Energy efficiency Refrigerator freezers consume a significant amount of energy, so it's a good idea to select models with high energy efficiency ratings. A higher energy rating on your appliance will lower your electric bill and also help reduce carbon emission. These fridges may cost a little more upfront however the savings they make on your energy bills will pay for themselves in the long run. The energy efficiency of a fridge-freezer is determined by its energy consumption as well as how much heat it produces. To find out the efficiency of a fridge-freezer, look for an energy label with a general rating ranging from A to G. Examine the icons on the label to determine what the compartments for frozen and chilled are rated as. The most efficient refrigerators have an A+++ rating. They use less than 150 kWh each year, which is considerably less than the UK average of 85 the kWh. A+++ models also consume less gas than other fridges and freezers which means they're better for the environment. You can also make use of the EU's EPREL database to determine the efficiency of a device. To do this, hover your smartphone over the QR code on the label that indicates energy consumption. You will be directed to a page for the product in the database that gives you detailed information on the fridge-freezer’s energy consumption and emissions. Other important factors to consider are whether a model is frost-free, and how easy it is to clean. Refrigerators that have a frost-free setting don't require defrosting, which can save you the hassle and mess of getting rid of and cleaning the ice. You should also select an appliance that has the ability to deep freeze. This will help to keep frozen food fresher longer. Refrigerators that have smart technology features can monitor how much food you have in the fridge and let you know when you're running out. Some even come with cameras in them so that you can look through your fridge without opening it. These are great to keep an eye on leftovers, or even when shopping. There are also innovative features like LG's NatureFresh Technology, which circulates cool air to keep food from spoiling. Design The design of the refrigerator freezer is vital when deciding on which model to buy since it will determine how easy it is to store and access your food items. Certain models come with features that help keep food fresher longer and help reduce food waste, for instance humidity controls or LED lighting. You can also find an easy CrispZone or salad drawer that can be adjusted to fit various types of food. This is especially useful when you plan to use your integrated fridge-freezer in a garage or outbuilding where temperatures may be lower than in the kitchen. Models also differ in the arrangement of the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Some fridge freezers allow users to select a 50/50 split, while others offer a 70/30 split where the freezer is bigger than the fridge. Some fridge-freezers have reversible door so that you can place them in any location your kitchen will allow. This is particularly useful in the case of a small space in your kitchen since it allows you to make the most of the available space. For instance the frost-free fridge freezer from Beko comes with a huge capacity of 185 litres that can accommodate around 14 bags of grocery and features reversible glass shelves that you can move upwards or downwards depending on the type of container you have. It comes with an area for salads that holds the humidity to keep your fruit and vegetables fresher longer. You can also adjust the door tray to ensure that it accommodates taller containers and bottles. Another fantastic feature of this fridge-freezer is that it features the NoFrost technology. This means that you don't need to manually defrost it, which saves you time and energy. It also has a Super Cool function to quickly chill freshly prepared food and drinks. It's a smart refrigerator freezer available in different styles to complement the decor of your kitchen. It also comes with handy storage compartments, including a BigBox in the freezer, VitaFresh fruit and veg drawer and an EasyAccess shelf. Stores One of the most important factors to take into consideration when choosing a fridge freezer is storage capacity. You need to make sure that the freezer in your fridge is large enough to hold your food and drinks. Interior space can vary significantly between models therefore it's a good idea to look at the specifications carefully. You might find that some have more drawers, shelves or doors than other models. You should also look at the versatility of this storage, as some can be moved to accommodate various sizes of bottles and containers. This Hisense model boasts the capacity of 236L in gross storage despite its small size. It is divided across four glass shelves with three door racks as well as a more compact drawer in the fridge compartment. The shelves can be adjusted to accommodate tall items like milk bottles. This fridge freezer boasts Total No-Frost technology, a handy feature that removes the necessity of an ice scraper and allows you to reduce energy and time. There's even a slide-out shelf at the top of the freezer, ideal to store ice cube tray storage. If you host a lot of parties you can also choose to activate Party Mode which rapidly chills drinks and also makes additional Ice. The fridge has a salad drawer that keeps moisture to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. Holiday Mode is perfect for families who are on the move. It helps keep energy costs down and eliminates odours even when you're away. This is a stylish refrigerator-freezer that will look great in any kitchen. You can choose from a wide range of colors and finishes to match your home. Stainless steel and chrome models are modern and stylish and classic white fridge freezers are a budget-friendly option. Many of these models come with either a one or two-year manufacturer's warranty that gives you security in the event of any issues. You can also choose from a wide range of features, including air quality sensors and led lighting. However, certain of these features increase the total cost which is why it's worth weighing your budget and personal preferences before you make the purchase.