Fridges may not be the most exciting thing in our homes but they are certainly one of the most useful – something that we take for granted until they go wrong. If you’re thinking of replacing yours, a whole range of styles from contemporary to retro are available, along with colours to suit everyone. Here are a few things to look out for:
Size - Outside
Overall dimension are given in centimetres. Fridges are designed for either under the worktop or taller/American style ones to be “stand alone”. First decide which one is best for you depending on the amount of food you will need to store. The under the worktop or tall stand alone styles, can be fitted to match your kitchen whilst the American style fridges tend to be a feature in themselves! These are the most expensive and will be a considerable investment. They are usually about twice the width of a standard fridge and as tall as a regular fridge/freezer and will have two side-by-side doors.
Size – Inside
This will be given in cubic feet and will be the amount of useable space on the inside.
Larder Fridge or Fridge with Icebox
Larder fridges are those without an icebox so therefore cannot be used to store frozen foods whereas fridges with iceboxes can be used to store pre-frozen food for short periods. (Usually no more than 1 month) or even to make ice! The American style fridges will sometimes have an icebox and a built-in ice maker along with a whole host of separate compartments to keep raw food away from cooked and dairy etc.
Energy Efficiency Grading
Given from A-G. A is the most efficient and whilst models that are graded “A” might cost a little more to buy, they will cost less to run.
Energy Consumption
On most models this is shown in Kilowatts per year (kw/year). This means that you can work out the cost of running the different models on offer by multiplying this figure by the cost that you pay for your energy. Again, the most energy efficient models tend to be slightly more expensive but may work out cheaper in the longer term.
Automatic Defrost
This is useful as it prevents the fridge from icing up or puddles of water from forming amongst your food. Also, you’ll never have to empty it out to defrost it – much more convenient.
Once you have decided on your basic needs there are lots more additional features to consider;
- Chilled Drinks Dispenser – Can be filled with you favourite drink or just water – handy for the summer months although they can be really fiddly to clean properly.
- Salad Crisper – Keeps salads and vegetables at optimum temperature and separate from other foods.
- Dairy Compartment-Keeps butter/cheese etc. away from other foods avoiding cross contamination.
- Reversible Doors – Means that you can have the door opening from the left or the right – this can be a real bonus if you ever have to change the position of your fridge later on.
- Adjustable Shelving- Allows you to arrange the shelving on different levels to suit your needs exactly. Glass shelving is perhaps the best as it allows you to see what’s inside and can be cleaned easily.
- Deep Door Storage – Holds larger bottles and cartons in the door (usually up to two litres).
- Bacteria Guard: (also known as Microban, Antibacterial Protection, Hygiene + etc) This is a system of anti-bacterial enzymes contained in within the shelves and walls of some fridges which help destroy bacteria on food. It is difficult to say just how effective these systems really are when compared with regular cleaning alone. Manufacturers claim that they can reduce levels of bacteria within the appliance by up to 75%.
As with all appliances look for sturdy construction and handles/compartments/boxes that feel as though they will last as these can sometimes be flimsy. Choose a design that will be easy to clean, especially in all the nooks and crannies, and an overall styling that you will be happy to live with.
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