The Pros And Cons Of American Style Fridge Freezers (2024)

High on most foodies’ wish list if they are designing a new kitchen for themselves is the American style fridge freezer. As a company that offers American fridge freezer repairs, we see a lot of these in the home environment, so we thought we’d give a quick round-up of the pros and cons of these fashionable status symbols.

The benefits you get with an American fridge freezer

  • The main difference you’ll notice between one of these monsters and your average UK model is simply a far greater capacity. In fact, it’s estimated that the average American fridge freezer will hold around a staggering 30 shopping bags full of food! So they’re ideal if you have a big family, frequent house guests or like to celebrate Christmas and other occasions with plenty of home cooking.
  • They’re also versatile when you buy them – you get the fridge on one side, the freezer on the other, but when you choose your model, you can opt for a 50-50 split, a 60-40 split or even a 70-30 split. So the capacity of each side is up to you, depending on whether you tend more towards frozen or fresh food.
  • Aside from that, they are packed with the latest technology, all helping to keep your food fresher for longer by maintaining the optimum temperature. This is especially great if you’re concerned with cutting down on food waste. You can also usually get an ice and water dispenser incorporated, so you’ll always have chilled water and ice when you need it.
  • Finally, the aesthetics – you can’t beat them for style. If you want a focal point in your kitchen, a brushed stainless steel or retro coloured fridge makes an eye-catching statement.

Possible disadvantages

  • Unsurprisingly given their capacity, they are an awful lot bigger than the typical fridge freezer. You need more height, more width and more depth in your kitchen to accommodate one. So measure carefully, especially if you have a kitchen that’s on the smaller side. Even if you have a larger kitchen, if you’re hoping to insert one without doing a full scale kitchen replacement, you may have trouble fitting it in around existing units and appliances.
  • Again, talking about capacity: will you really use it all, or only on high days and holidays? If it’s going to remain virtually unfilled a lot of the time, you could end up paying more for refrigeration on your energy bills than you need.
  • Because of their many features and great appeal, they’re a lot more expensive than the standard fridge freezer. Additionally, if anything goes wrong, you may find that American fridge freezer repairs cost more than the average.

At South Cold Refrigeration, we’re specialists in American fridge freezer repairs and always aim to keep our prices affordable. We also carry out fridge repairs and freezer repairs more generally, as well as 24hr emergency call outs and fridge freezer maintenance and maintenance contracts. If you’re in the Southampton area and having trouble with domestic refrigeration equipment or you’re a company needing commercial fridge repairs, cooler repairs, chiller repairs, cold room repairs, drinks fridge repairs, display cabinet repairs, ice maker repairs or pizza prep counter repairs, call us today.

The Pros And Cons Of American Style Fridge Freezers (2024)

FAQs

Are American style fridge freezers worth it? ›

American-style fridge freezers offer you twice the space compared to an average fridge freezer making them great for large families or people looking for more food and batch-cooking storage. Not only that, but these fridges stand-out as a stylish statement in the kitchen.

Do American style fridge freezers stick out? ›

An American fridge also sticks out further than a regular fridge, being between 60cm and 80cm deep, which is something to be mindful of when thinking of the overall kitchen design.

What is the difference between a fridge freezer and an American fridge freezer? ›

An American-style fridge freezer is different to most tall fridge freezers as they feature double doors that open from the middle outwards, rather than a single door. As with any type of kitchen appliance, there are lots of different styles to choose from, many of which offer different functions from the others.

How long do American style fridge freezers last? ›

You can expect your American fridge freezer to last for up to 14 years. Proper maintenance and servicing will make it last longer than this. The parts of a fridge can still be functional for up to 20 years, so if yours is broken you might be able to salvage some parts that might be of worth to someone.

What is the most reliable brand of refrigerator freezer? ›

Which refrigerator brand is most reliable? All three of the appliance experts we spoke to for this roundup said Whirlpool and LG were the most reliable refrigerator brands due to their durability, reliability and ease of repairs. Samsung and GE were also mentioned by our experts as high-quality fridges.

Which brand of American fridge freezer is the most reliable? ›

The Best American Style Fridge Freezer Brands
  • LG. LG are a global brand, with over 60 years of trading under their belt. ...
  • Fisher & Paykel. New Zealand based brand Fisher & Paykel started off as an importation company in 1934. ...
  • Samsung. ...
  • Bosch. ...
  • Haier.

Do American style fridge freezers need plumbing in? ›

You don't need to go plumbed to experience the vast features of an American style fridge freezer. In fact: You're still able to make the most of the enormous capacity, perfect for keeping your home stocked full of food. A non-plumbed model doesn't have to mean saying goodbye to a chilled water or ice dispenser.

Are American style fridge freezers more expensive to run? ›

So, while an A-graded American-style fridge freezer will likely use more energy than a smaller fridge freezer, it is still efficient for its size. When shopping for any appliances on our site, you can filter by energy ratings to help you choose a model that's good for your household and the planet.

Why is my American fridge freezer frosting up? ›

Freezer frosting can be caused by a variety of factors, including temperature fluctuations, air drafts, and humidity levels. When warm, moist air enters the freezer, it turns into cold water droplets that freeze on contact with the walls and shelves of the freezer.

Which style freezer is best? ›

If you want to save money upfront and on ongoing utility bills, a chest model may be the best freezer for you. If you want to conveniently store and organize foods in an appliance that fits in a limited space, an upright freezer may be your best choice.

How to choose an American style fridge freezer? ›

American-style fridge freezers feature two doors that open from the middle. These doors are extremely tall, reaching all the way to the ground. As such, it's important to consider the size of the unit and the space it will occupy. Make sure to also consider the size of its internal capacity.

How much room do I need for an American fridge freezer? ›

Take into account space for ventilation. Factor in 2cm to the sides and 4 or 5cm for ventilation at the back. Make sure your doors and hallways are wide enough to get an American style fridge freezer through and into your kitchen.

Is it worth repairing a 7 year old fridge freezer? ›

Bottom-freezer refrigerators should be repaired within seven years and considered for replacement after that. Top-freezer refrigerators should be repaired within three years, considered for repair within three to six years, and replaced if older than seven years.

Which brand of refrigerator lasts the longest? ›

Here are a few brands that are known for their longevity and why their appliances are more likely to last than others.
  • Samsung: This is one of the most popular brands on the market. ...
  • LG: This brand is a competitor to Samsung. ...
  • Sub-Zero: Sub-Zero provides commercial-grade products for residential customers.
Apr 15, 2024

What is the coldest part of an American fridge freezer? ›

The bottom shelf is for raw meat and fish.

The bottom shelf is often the coldest part of your fridge. That's because cold air sinks down. However, if your fridge has an ice-cream maker at the top, your top shelf will be the coldest.

Which style refrigerator is most efficient? ›

The most energy-efficient models are typically 16-20 cubic feet. Consider purchasing a refrigerator with a top freezer. Models with the freezer on top tend to use the least energy (versus bottom freezers or side-by-sides). Consider buying a refrigerator with fewer doors.

Is it worth getting an A rated fridge freezer? ›

Fridges and freezers are required to have an energy-efficiency rating, with A being the most efficient. If your fridge is over ten years old, it may be time to consider replacing it with an A-rated model.

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