If your kitchen space is at a premium, then you probably don’t have the luxury of considering a separate fridge and freezer setup. Or maybe you’ve just got your heart set on filling that space with a gargantuan American-style unit. Either way, there are plenty of great fridge-freezers on the market which can provide everything you’re looking for everything in one tidy, easy-to-get-at package.
Of course, with so many fridge-freezer models on show, working out which model to buy can be an intimidating process. Do you go for a wide American-style, two-door option, an upright 60cm, single-door model with a 60/40 split (60% for the fridge and 40% for the freezer) or a smaller stature 60cm model with a large fridge section and a much smaller freezer compartment? That all depends entirely on how much room you have, and how much you value a constant supply of fish fingers and ice cream – and, of course, whether you could even fit a 1.8 metre-tall monster in your kitchen in the first place.
To make your life a little easier, we’ve curated this shortlist of the best fridge freezer models from £250 to £2,000, which cover the whole gamut of options from more compact models suitable for the more modest kitchens, to king-sized giants suitable for the smartest of smart kitchen setups.
How to choose the best fridge freezer for you
What is an American-style fridge-freezer?
Americans like things big. Very big. They invariably buy ice cream and fizzy drinks by the gallon and meats by the pound. So it stands to reason they need all the space they can find to keep their next meal nicely chilled or frozen. Hence the ‘American-style’ moniker. These two-door behemoths are the be-all and end-all of fridge freezers and anyone with a large family, enough space and a high enough income to afford to stock it should seriously consider putting one near the top of the list. When it comes to refrigeration, you can never have too much space.
What does No Frost mean?
Frost and ice is usually caused by internal condensation hitting the freezer’s cold coils. This condensation freezes against the rear wall and, over several months, grows like mushroom, eventually engulfing the contents in an impenetrable Arctic ice floe. Frost Free or No Frost freezers get around this anomaly by using a fan to blow cold air around the interior. This cold air is then ported to a coil hidden behind the freezer’s rear wall where it turns to frost. Every so often, the coil is heated up and the melted water runs down a pipe into a tray where it is eventually evaporated. Wahey, no more long-winded defrosting sessions.
How long can I freeze stuff for?
It depends on the type of product and whether it’s cooked or raw. Most cooked foods can be safely frozen for up to three months but some items like pre-cooked sausages and hotdogs are best consumed within one to two months. Raw foods can be frozen for up to a year but again this changes from product to product. A whole chicken, for instance, can stay frozen for up to a year but chops and steaks are best stored for no longer than six months while bacon is best eaten within a month. Remember, these are only rough guidelines so it’s best to check instructions on the food packaging first.
How does the energy rating system work?
A fridge-freezer’s energy rating determines the machine’s annual running costs. In general, these energy ratings are denoted by the letters A to D followed by up to three plus signs. However, pretty much all current fridge freezers enjoy at least an A+ rating so rest assured that, despite being on all the time, they won’t present too much of a burden on your household energy bills.
The best fridge-freezers to buy
1. Zanussi ZRT27102WA: The best cheap fridge-freezer, if a small freezer suits
Price: Around £270
Let’s face it, a large freezer compartment isn’t as important as a fridge, unless of course you’re a big fan of Iceland. After all, we’ve all been through the scenario of looking in the freezer only to spot a lasagne from 18 months previous or a pizza way beyond its safe freezing date. Buy a large freezer and a certain level of grocery admin is required to keep tabs on it all.
This relatively small-statured Zanussi addresses that issue by dint of a freezer compartment that is just big enough to stock life’s true essentials like a tub of Häagen-Dazs, some frozen French fries, a packet of frozen peas and a dozen fish fingers. It’s frost free, too, which can be considered a bonus at this price. The fridge section comes with four shelves (three adjustable), a single vegetable and fruit drawer and plenty of door-mounted shelf space for a small family or a couple. At just £270, this model’s a veritable bargain.
Buy the Zanussi ZRT27102WA now from John Lewis
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Rated efficiency: A+; Gross fridge capacity: 220 litres; Gross freezer capacity: 50 litres; Frost free: yes; Ice dispenser: no; Water dispenser: no; Width: 54.5cm; Height: 159cm
2. Siemens iQ300 KG34NVW20G: The best fridge-freezer under £500
Price: Around £499
Where many fridge freezers are split 60/40 with a lot more space given over to the refrigeration area, this Germanic model appears, at first glance, to offer an equal 50/50 split. However, because the freezer compartment is encased in so much extra insulation, it only amounts to about half the capacity of the fridge. Still, 93 litres is plenty enough freezer space for most small families.
What makes this model so appealing is the high standard of its interior plastics, the overall build quality and design, and Siemens’ renowned reliability. It’s frost free, too, so you’ll never need to attack the freezer section with a pick axe, plastic bowl and a pile of towels.
The fridge section holds up to a substantial 185 litres of groceries and is comprised of four adjustable shelves and a single Crisper box for keeping fruit and vegetables at optimum humidity. The door shelves, meanwhile, provide enough space for about three one-litre bottles of water, two pints of milk, some small condiment jars and some butter and cheese. The freezer compartment’s three transparent drawers are good for about 10kgs of frozen foods, including a full size turkey. The iQ300 is highly efficient and very quiet in operation. Good value all round.
Buy the Siemens iQ300 KG34NVW20G now from Currys
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Rated efficiency: A+; Net fridge capacity: 185 litres; Net freezer capacity: 93 litres; Frost free: yes; Ice dispenser: no; Water dispenser: no; Width: 60cm; Height: 185cm
3. BEKO Select CFMD7852X: The best fridge-freezer under £1,000
Price: Around £699
Granted, Beko isn’t the most exciting of brands. Nevertheless, this Turkish-based company produces a range of budget-priced products that represent great value for money. This large 74-cm wide three-door fridge freezer is a case in point.
Why three doors? Well, let’s say you’re having a big barbecue bash – or perhaps it’s Christmas time – and you need space for extra refrigerated or frozen produce, or even some champagne and beers. Easy. Simply tap a button and the central zone is switched from fridge to freezer and vice versa. This facet alone is one of the most useful features on the market and a genuine bonus for those occasions when you suddenly need more space.
Other features include a fruit and veg drawer with an Active Fresh Blue Light that is said to keep groceries fresher for longer, a built-in anti-frost system that negates the need for defrosting, a water dispenser and an electronic touch control panel. Some owners have reported that the water dispenser leaks if you slam the door shut while others say it’s a bit slow to fill a glass. Likewise, one or two have also questioned the product’s overall build quality. Those foibles aside, the Beko performs admirably well and, given the space it offers – along with the added bonus of that excellent dual-function central compartment – it’s a very worthy contender indeed.
Buy the BEKO Select CFMD7852X now from Currys
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Rated efficiency: A+; Net fridge capacity: 264 litres; Net freezer capacity: 198 litres; Frost free: yes; Ice dispenser: no; Water dispenser: yes; Width: 74cm; Height: 185cm
4. LG GSL761PZXV: The best american-style fridge freezer under £1,500
Price: Around £1,300
This American-style, two-door behemoth provides 405 litres of fridge real estate on the right and 196 litres of freezer capacity on the left (equivalent to about 12kgs of frozen goodies). Aside from its generally huge capacity, the LG also has an energy saving ace up its sleeve in the form of an inverter linear compressor that, to coin LG’s own phraseology, ‘uses a linear piston drive instead of a conventional reciprocating drive’. Whatever that means, this high-tech refrigeration method is said to generate less internal friction, resulting in up to 32% lower energy consumption.
Let’s take a look inside. On the right you’re faced with four main shelves, two fruit and veg drawers (one with a moisture-evaporating Crisper feature) and another four shallow shelves in the door. Open the door to your left and you get four freezer shelves and a couple of decent-sized drawers. The door itself houses a couple of dinky ice lolly shelves along with a four-litre water and ice dispenser. No need to worry about defrosting this beast either as it has its own anti-frost feature. And fear not should something go awry; simply reach for your phone, place it against the unit’s Smart Diagnosis logo and, voila, instant diagnosis and, hopefully, a solution.
Buy the LG GSL761PZXV now from Currys
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Rated efficiency: A+; Net fridge capacity: 405 litres; Net freezer capacity: 196 litres; Frost free: yes; Ice dispenser: yes; Water dispenser: yes; Width: 91.2cm; Height: 175cm