By Erick BrownfieldThe Quick Fridge Freezers Guide
Today shopping online has become both significantly easier and more difficult. While we are able to gather data and do research quickly and effortlessly, we often suffer from being simply overloaded from too much information, as well. With the millions of options and features associated with fridge freezers, how is one supposed to make an informed decision? My goal is exactly that, to equip you with the knowledge so that when the time finally comes, you can purchase with ease knowing that it has all the features you need. So, let's get started.
Size and Dimensions
This will be our first stop when purchasing a new fridge freezer as it is probably the most important decision. Although it may seem rather obvious but you'll be surprised how many people spend days or even weeks researching all the features and specifications, only to discover upon delivery that it simply doesn't fit!
So our first step is determining where it's going to be placed and how much space we are willing to allocate.
If you are restricted by the amount of space, one viable choice would be a compact fridge freezer. This type is much smaller than the traditional fridge freezers most of are familiar with. Most can be used anywhere that has an outlet due to their small size. They may not come with the fancy features seen on their traditional counterparts, but most do a rather good job of their primary intention, which is keeping things inside cold. These can be perfect if you just need to store a few beverages and frozen products.
On the other hand, if space is not a big concern, then a more traditional-sized free-standing fridge freezer would probably be your best choice. These come in a wide range of sizes and some can be massive, so the first step would be taking a few measurements of where you intend on placing it. Don't forget to measure the height as many American ones can be larger than you would have expected. Remember to also leave some space in the back for the condenser coils and wires.
Capacity
The capacity you'll need for a fridge freezer will vary depending on many factors such as how often you eat in, how often you typically stock up on food, and the type of items you'll be storing. Nevertheless, as a general rule of thumb, you will probably need around 80 liters, (or 4 to 6 cubic feet if you live in the States) of fresh food compartment for every adult in the household.
Note: 1 cubic foot is approximately 28 liters.
Energy Rating
While focusing on the price may save you bit up front, a fridge freezer with a slightly higher price tag and a higher energy rating can easily save even more over the course of a few years. The energy rating of appliances ranges from A++ to G, with A++ being the most energy efficient. Nowadays, there are many A, A+, and A++ models out there and you shouldn't have to settle for anything less than an A. If you live in the States, try to purchase those with the Energy Star certification. Appliances with this label are certified as energy efficient-using 15 percent less energy than required by federal standards.
Freezer Star Rating
Extra Features
Don't forget to also look out for extra features! Many can save you a lot of headache and make life so much easier. Some of the more common ones include super-cool, fast freeze, and filtered-water-and-ice dispensers.
Super-cool allows you to cool the fridge compartment continuously for a set period of time, usually around six hours.You can turn it on after a lot of food has been into your fridge at once. Usually, big loads take longer to cool but the super-cool setting deals with them more quickly.
Fast-freeze is particularly handy if you're freezing fresh food. By freezing more quickly, a fast-freeze setting lets the food retain more of its nutrients. And for many types of food it can prevent the texture from changing too much. If your fridge freezer doesn't have a fast-freeze switch, you can just turn down the thermostat for a while. Remember to turn it up again, though, or you'll be wasting a lot of energy.
Filtered-water-and-ice dispensers are perhaps the most convenient of all the extra features that are current available. With it you get instant filtered water and ice at the touch of a button. Some models also have a quick fill feature to speed up the flow of the water and to quickly fill larger containers such as a stock pot. If you're worried about young kids making a mess, check out models that have a lock feature for the water-and-ice dispenser.
So, to recap, we went over dimensions, capacity, energy rating, and extra features. This is only meant to serve as a quick purchasing guide, but while there are many other things that you might consider,as well, these are by far the most important in helping you make a decision. Good luck in finding your dream fridge freezer!
For more information on purchasing please visit http://www.cheapfridgefreezer.org
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