Fridges and Freezers - Buying Guide.

Before you choose an appliance, you need to carefully consider your requirements and how much space you have available to you. These are important factors in deciding whether you need a separate refrigerator and freezer or a fridge-freezer.

Fridges

Fridges are available in many sizes to accommodate various households' needs. Most have a choice of shelves and compartments designed for storing delicate items such as bottles, eggs and vegetables, and some include special features like ice-makers and drink-dispensers. Although most models are fitted with a single door, large US-style fridges often feature double doors. Most now offer reversible doors as standard, should you need to open them on a particular side.

Freezers

These also come in many sizes and you can choose from upright, chest or worktop models depending on your domestic requirements. When choosing a freezer, it is important to consider the brand and size, whether you want a frost-free or an auto-defrost model, and what the energy rating is.

Fridge-freezers

Fridge-freezers are an excellent space-saving option. When determining the size of your fridge-freezer, it's probably best to err on the side of generosity rather than underestimate your needs; it's difficult and frustrating - not to mention hazardous - to keep cramming food into an already full compartment.

Energy efficiency

efficiency A fridge or freezer is probably the only appliance that you'll have switched on all day, every day for its entire lifespan - up to 10 years in some cases. So if you can afford the initial outlay, it's best to go for a more energy-efficient appliance to save money in long-term running costs.

You can assess the efficiency of individual appliances by checking the rating shown on the energy label - A being the best, G the worst. The label will also state the annual energy consumption of the appliance. Most inefficient fridges and freezers (ie those with a D, E, F or G rating) were banned in September 1999. All those manufactured after this date have been required to have the equivalent of a C rating or better. Chest freezers are the exception - these must have a minimum rating of E.

As a result of this legislation, manufacturers have been striving to improve the efficiency of their products, and there are now more A-rated appliances available than ever before; some brands even offer an A+ rating. Although not yet officially recognised, the European Commission is expected to restructure the energy label to incorporate an A+ rating. Broadly speaking, an A+ appliance is about 25% more efficient than an A-rated one.

CFC- and HFC-free

All refrigeration appliances are now CFC-free, and many are also HFC-free, which means they do not contain refrigerant, which could contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Where will you put it?

While most people want their fridge and freezer in the kitchen, there are alternatives. Certain appliances can be stored in the garage (many people like to hide larger chest freezers out of sight), but you'll need to check suitability first. You could also consider storing a fridge in a hall cupboard, but it must have an adequate air supply and an outlet for the warm air from the condenser.

Most appliances need a minimum 50mm to 100mm clearance between the top edge and any high-level cupboard that may be above. Many worktop-height refrigerators and matching freezers have removable top panels, allowing them to fit neatly under worktops.

Dimensions

The majority of refrigeration appliances come in standard sizes of 550mm or 600mm wide by 600mm deep. You need to know the exact width, depth and height of the space available, and don't forget to allow room to open the door.

Internal capacity is measured in cubic feet or litres. A standard size under-worktop fridge will have a capacity of around five cubic feet, which is usually the minimum storage space required, even for a single-person household. Tall, upright fridges with a capacity of around 10 cubic feet should give plenty of space for the average family.

Fridge temperature

The interior temperature of most fridges will be somewhere between 0 C and 7 C - the ideal is 5 C, as bacterial activity is low. The temperature is usually controlled using an internal dial, although sophisticated fridges with electronic controls allow you to select a temperature that the fridge will maintain whatever the ambient (external) temperature.

Freezer temperature

All freezers are four-star, which means they will store food at -18 C or below for a storage period of between three and 12 months. They can also fast freeze fresh food at -26 C - the optimum temperature for retaining texture, shape and vitamins.

Some of the benefits of frost-free versions include:

Style

You can choose an extensive range of designs if you want to personalise your kitchen or follow a particular design theme. These include a variety of large American-style fridges, units of almost every colour under the rainbow and, of course, the very fashionable stainless steel look - examples of which can now be found among even the most affordable units.

Fridges

Types

You can choose from two kinds of refrigerator; standard (which has an icebox), or Larder (which doesn't). Providing you don't need the extra refrigeration capacity, an icebox can be useful - especially if your freezer is not situated next to the fridge or you don't have one at all. The icebox will have a star rating that tells you how long frozen food can be stored and whether fresh food can be frozen. Be aware though, these won't have the four-star rating of a proper freezer, and therefore won't be able to store food for anything like the same amount of time.

Cooling

Refrigerators with a fan in the rear of the cabinet circulate air more effectively and help maintain an even temperature. Frost-free fridges also have circulating cold air, ensuring even temperatures throughout.

The door is generally cool, but not the coldest part. Items ideally stored in the door compartment include drinks, butter, hard cheese, eggs and jars. The salad crisper is usually the warmest, more humid section and is ideal for certain vegetables, fruit and salads.

Features to look out for

At the very least expect interior lights, egg-holders and adjustable shelves. If you're buying a top-end model you can choose from luxury features like ice-makers, ice-crushers, drink-dispensers, can-holders, anti-bacterial systems, door locks and shaped bottle-shelves.

On all models check that the door shelves are adjustable and that they feature bottle-grippers to hold different-sized bottles steady. Look out for fridges with solid shelves - they're not only easier to clean, but can prevent cross-contamination caused by spillages, or defrosting meat dripping through wire shelves. Newer models increasingly feature safety glass shelves that not only look good, but are also tough and designed to hold a full load. Shelves that tilt or can be folded in half to accommodate tall items are also useful.

Fridges with anti-bacterial coatings offer lifetime-protection against bacteria, micro-organisms and algae growth.

Fridges are now getting 'smarter', and many of the top models feature intelligent cooling which helps to keep food fresher for longer, maintains a safe hygienic environment and keeps energy consumption down. These models use microprocessors to monitor internal conditions, adjusting the cooling fans as required. You can even get fridges with Internet access; although this has proved to be more of a gimmick than a useful feature. Fridges are currently still incapable of figuring out that your milk is going out of date and ordering you some more from your local online retailer.

Freezers

Types

There are four main types of freezers:

Worktop-height models that often sit side by side with matching fridges

Upright ones, which are usually paired with similarly sized fridges.

Chest freezers with a top-opening lid and baskets rather than shelves (though models are now available with a lower drawer so you don't have to bend down to reach into the depths). If you have young children, a lock might be useful if you decide on a chest freezer, especially if you intend to keep it out of sight.

Microwave size-models, which are designed to sit on your worktop and are ideal if you are short of space.

Drawers

Handy for separating different types of food and helping to prevent cold air escaping when the door is opened. Transparent storage drawers enable you to find what you want more quickly.

Controls

Look for external controls that indicate on/off and fast-freeze plus a temperature warning light. An audible temperature-rise warning alarm is useful if the appliance is to be stored out of sight or in a little-used area. Some freezers have automatic sensors, so if they feel the temperature rising - perhaps because you have left the door open - they will switch into fast-freeze mode, dropping the temperature to compensate. To avoid this happening many fridges and freezers feature doors that swing back to shut automatically.

Fridge Freezers

Types

A fridge-freezer is usually more economical to run than two separate units, and is also ideal if you are short of space. There are many combinations available, the most popular being the straightforward half-and-half option. Remember to buy one where the most frequently used compartment is at the top, allowing for easy access. Some also offer a larger fridge section, sitting below a smaller freezer unit - roughly split two-thirds to one - which are ideal if you don't use much frozen food or have a larger freezer out of sight in a garage or basement. Large, American-style side-by-side fridge-freezers are also now available.

Large American-style fridge-freezers

These look great and are very practical, providing masses of storage capacity - from 500 litres to well over 700 litres. They are now more accessible and affordable than ever before, with prices starting at under £1,000. Check if it needs to be plumbed in (though some don't many will, particularly if they have ice and drinks-dispensers). It's important to make sure that you have enough space for one - and that you can get it through the kitchen door. Finally, they are very heavy, so make sure that your floor can accommodate the weight (certain companies will check this before they deliver to you).

Independent temperature controls

Although a fridge-freezer with two independently controlled compressors is more expensive, it will offer several important benefits, including saving energy and reducing the risk of the freezer defrosting if the ambient (outside) temperature drops. It will also allow you to defrost one section while the other is still on, and you will be able to switch the fridge off but leave the freezer on if you are going away.

Zoned cooling

Some fridge-freezers have zoned cooling, where different areas of the fridge and freezer are maintained at different temperatures for different foods. For example, a 0 C zone is ideal for meat, fish, and ready meals, while a 6 C zone is perfect for fresh fruit and vegetables. In a zoned freezer, low-temperature drawers will fast-freeze foods and help maintain their quality - some freezers have this facility in all drawers.

Wine racks

With the increasing popularity of wine, fridge-freezers with dedicated wine racks are becoming more popular. Liebherr is the first brand to go one step further and introduce a model where one half of the no-frost freezer is given up to a temperature-controlled wine cabinet.

Microban

Hotpoint fridge-freezers now have Microban protection against the build up of harmful bacteria.