Choosing a Fridge
Fridges come in a range of sizes and styles and can also be integrated into the cabinetry (with a panel that matches your cabinetry) to be hidden or blended into the kitchen. Stainless steel is a popular choice, but fridges are also available in coloured vinyl or funky retro shapes and colours. Consider the style of your kitchen and your cool storage needs before choosing a fridge. A fridge can make or break your kitchen experience.
Fridges come in three main configurations.
- Freezer on top with refrigerator underneath
- Refrigerator on top with freezer underneath
- Refrigerator side by side with the freezer
 Freezer On Top Refrigerator |
 Freezer on Bottom Refrigerator |
 Side by Side Fridge / Freezer |
Fridge Configuration
Fridge size and configuration are a personal choice. If you have a large family you will need a larger fridge to keep the number of shopping trips per week to a minimum whilst keeping perishable items for as long as possible. Freezer on bottom models generally have more space and are one of the most commonly available and energy efficient configurations. Adjustable shelves are handy for when storage needs change periodically. They are also removable for cleaning. While side by side fridge/freezers may take up a lot of space, they do not necessarily offer more storage. Ice and water dispensers often included in the side by side models eliminate space that could otherwise be used for storage.
Drawers work very well in freezers. They allow most of the items to be seen and accessed without emptying the entire freezer to get that one item at the back (if you can even remember that it is there!) If you store a lot of bottled drinks, drink racks are available in some models to keep your white wine crisp and your soft-drinks cold.
You might like to also investigate child locks, alarms if the fridge is open too long (helps keep running costs down), water chillers and ice dispensers, separate temperature controls for separate compartments and separate compressors for the fridge and freezer.
Fridges are typically an energy-hungry appliance. Energy ratings are an important consideration for such appliances, not only to keep your energy bills low but to help reduce your carbon footprint.
