The Appliances Online Ultimate Fridge Buying Guide

July 29th, 2015

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Buying a fridge but not sure where to start?

The Appliances Online Ultimate Fridge Buying Guide

Our buying guide is here to help you make an informed decision, whether you’re after a fridge to feed your family, or somewhere you can store your food and drink for parties.

Contents

What size fridge do you need?

There’s an art to choosing a fridge that’s just the right size. If a fridge is too small, it won’t hold enough food to feed everyone, and if it’s too big, it’ll cost more to run than you really need to pay for.

To choose a fridge that’s just the right size for your home, consider the number of people in your household:

fridges sizes

Remember to keep in mind that your household numbers may change over time – plan accordingly! Couples expecting children can future-proof their kitchen by upgrading from a 300L fridge to a 400L model, and likewise a family with an emptying nest may be able to downsize their fridge from 500L to something more manageable.

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Will it fit?

It seems obvious, but a lot of people forget to measure the amount of space they have available in their home for a new fridge.  This can lead to embarassing and expensive situations when they buy a fridge that’s too big for their kitchen!

800px-Measuring-tape

Always check how much room you have available, remembering to leave some extra space for airflow around the sides and rear (about 5cm should do). If you plan on choosing a fridge with a built-in ice and/or water dispenser, be sure to leave some extra room for the plumbing as well.

Also, check the width of your home’s doors and hallways – it’s no good buying a great new fridge if you can’t actually fit it inside your house!

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Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency in the kitchen isn’t just good for the environment – it can also help save money on your power bills!

Here’s how to save power and money through an energy-efficient fridge:

How to choose an energy efficient fridge

Fridges use more energy than any other appliance – so choose wisely! The larger the fridge, the more power it will need.

Look for the fridge’s Energy Star rating – the more stars, the more energy-efficient the appliance.

energy rating

If a fridge lists its Energy Consumption in kWh Per Year, you can use these to get an approximate idea of its running costs. Simply multiply the figure by the approximate price of electricity in your area (check your latest power bill, or contact your energy supplier) and you’ll have a rough idea of how much the fridge should cost to run for 12 months.

Remember that the fridge’s final 12-month power consumption figure will likely vary depending on the temperature settings you use, what kind of items you store, and many other factors.

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What is the most energy-efficient fridge design?

Generally, top-mount freezer model fridges tend to be the most energy efficient.

Energy efficient fridge

This is because the coldest part of the fridge (the freezer) is positioned farthest away from the warmest part of the fridge (the compressor, typically located at the base of the fridge’s rear), meaning it doesn’t need to work as hard to keep cool.

Also, as cool air naturally falls, the fridge can use gravity to spread cool air throughout the fridge by letting it flow down from the freezer, rather than using the compressor to force it upward through the fridge cavity.

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Our favourite features of energy-efficient fridges

holiday mode button

  • Look for a fridge with an Eco or Holiday mode to efficiently save power when the fridge isn’t being used every day, such as when you go away on a trip.
  • Fridges that use R600a refrigerant (which contains no CFCs or HFCs) are better for the environment, both during their operation and eventual disposal.
  • Some high-end fridges include a digital memory that saves the most frequent door opening times over 24 hours (such as meal preparation times), and adjusts the fridge’s settings during these hours of the day to efficiently compensate for this extra use.
  • Fridges with an Inverter Motor are also more energy efficient that those with regular motors, as Inverter motors speed up and slow down as required to maintain the fridge’s temperature, rather than slamming On and Off (cooling 100% or 0%) like other fridges.

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Running your fridge efficiently

fridge gap

  • Leave space at the sides and rear of your fridge to vent waste heat from the compressor, allowing it to operate more efficiently.
  • If possible, try to position your fridge far away from heat sources in your kitchen, including ovens, cooktops and direct sunlight, as this means it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep itself cool.
  • Check and maintain the fridge seals so that cool air isn’t leaking.
  • Keep the fridge full, so there’s less air inside for the fridge to cool. But don’t over-fill it, as this can disrupt the fridge’s airflow and lead to uneven cooling.
  • Keep hot food out of the fridge. Not only does this mess with the internal temperature, but the lukewarm period as hot food cools down is the ideal time for bacteria to grow.

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How to prevent fridge noise

Ever had an old fridge that rattled as it cooled?

800px-Ruído_Noise_041113GFDL

Chances are that the fresh compressor of a brand new fridge won’t be as noisy as these older models, but it’s possible there could still be some humming. This humming is caused by the vibration of the compressor, and it can be magnified depending on your fridge’s surroundings.

When you position a fridge in an alcove or recess, noise can echo in the space around it and come out of the sides.

Also, different kitchen floor surfaces will absorb the vibrations from a fridge’s motor differently.  A fridge on terracotta tiles will sound louder than a fridge on carpet, cork tiles, wooden floorboards or vinyl (lino).

If your kitchen has a noisy floor, consider placing your noisy fridge on a soft mat to absorb the vibrations and muffle the sound.

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What is the ideal temperature to set on my fridge/freezer?

Most Australian government health and safety organisations agree that in order to keep your food fresh and prevent the growth of germs, your fridge must be kept below 5°C.

When it comes to setting your fridge’s thermostat, a good median temperature to use is 3°C. This means the fridge’s compressor should kick in to cool the interior well before the thermometer starts climbing into the danger zone of 5°C and above, and it’s not so cold that the compressor needs to work extra-hard and use more energy to maintain a near-freezing temperature.

399px-Thermometer_(PSF)

As for the freezer, you definitely want its temperature to be below 0°C (the very definition of “freezing”), with most freezer manufacturers recommending a temperature of -18°C.

Use a fridge thermometer to test the performance of your fridge, and adjust the thermostat accordingly. Remember that different sections of your fridge may be warmer or cooler than others – typically the dairy compartment at the top will be the warmest, while the lowest shelf will be the coolest.

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What is the best way to fill a fridge?

Fridge sizes Australia

  • Keep raw foods such as meat on the bottom shelf where it is usually the coldest. This also means that if these items leak for any reason, they won’t drip onto your other food.
  • Keep dairy items such as butter and hard cheeses in the appropriate dairy compartment. This section is often a little bit warmer than the rest of the fridge, so these items should be a little bit softer when you use them.
  • Keep food in covered containers to prevent the spread of odours and germs.
  • Don’t overfill your fridge, as this will prevent proper airflow through its interior, leaving you with an uneven fridge temperature, with more cold and warm zones.
  • Throw out old food that’s past its use-by date. Don’t risk it if you’re unsure – better to be safe than sorry!
  • Don’t place food in the fridge while it’s still warm or hot. The heat it radiates may throw off the temperature for the rest of your fridge, and the longer it takes the hot food to cool down to below 5°C, the longer the food will spend in the “Goldilocks period” when germs can flourish and breed.

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How to clean a fridge

600l-electrolux-4-door-fridge-eqe6007sb-internal

  • Empty the fridge. Keep your perishables in an esky or other temperature-controlled container while you work your cleaning magic.
  • Remove all of the fridge’s shelves and drawers.
  • Give the removed sections a wash and wipe down in the sink with hot soapy water.
  • Clean the fridge’s interior. You can wipe down the surfaces with a little soap and water, or even a little bicarb soda to absorb odours. Vinegar can also be used to eliminate bacteria. Add some vanilla essence if you’d like a pleasant scent in your fridge.
  • Remember to clean the fridge’s door seals, as mould growth here can lead to cracking and weaker seals.
  • Dry the shelves and drawers off before you put them back in place.

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Fridge features to look for:

Check the following table of popular fridge features for inspiration of what to look for when selecting a fridge, or as a guide to what some fridge features actually do:

Ice and water dispenser

  • Most commonly found in the doors of Side By Side and 3-4 Door fridge designs, this is a quick and convenient means of enjoying refreshing ice and water.
  • Different models can provide crushed or cubed ice, plus chilled or distilled water (in models with a filter).
  • Many ice and water dispensers require connection to your kitchen’s plumbing, though some operate using a water tank that must be manually refilled.

Easy opening/auto closing doors

  • Accidentally leaving the fridge door open, even just a crack, can be an expensive mistake, as the cool air leaks out and the compressor has to work harder to maintain a cool internal temperature, using additional energy. A door that includes a simple counterweight can be a real lifesaver, not to mention a power saver!
  • These counterweights can also help balance a fridge door for easier opening, which is ideal for the elderly or anyone else who hates having to pull open a heavy fridge door.

Manual or Electronic Controls

  • A fridge’s controls are used to adjust its temperature and humidity settings, as well as any other special features.
  • Electronic controls generally offer better performance than manual dials, though they can take a bit of getting used to if you’re not familiar with them.

Antibacterial/easy clean surfaces

  • The whole point of owning a fridge is to keep your food and drinks free from germs, and a fridge with surfaces that have been treated to prevent the growth of germs can be extra-useful in this regard.
  • Also, these treated surfaces can often be wiped clean with just a little effort.

Reversible doors

  • It can be really irritating to buy a brand new fridge, only to learn when you get it home that it doesn’t open on the side that suits your kitchen layout. That’s what makes a fridge with a reversible door so useful.
  • Some fridges require the use of special kits to reverse their doors, while others can be reversed using only your home’s toolbox.
  • Always check which way your fridge door opens before you buy, as some are fixed in place!

Bottle shelves/racks

  • These super-convenient shelves or racks are specially shaped and sculpted to store everything from chilled wine to soft drinks, leaving more room in the rest of the fridge for your other food and drinks.

Roller feet

  • If you expect you’ll need to move house or otherwise relocate your fridge for any reason down the track, rollers can make the bulky appliance much easier to move.

Quick-chill zone

  • This extra-cold section of the fridge or freezer is designed to conveniently chill a small item such as a can of drink in as little time as possible, which can be very convenient.
  • Keep in mind that dedicating a section of fridge or freezer’s real estate solely to chilling means that section can’t be used for everyday food storage.

Deodoriser

  • Helping to prevent the spread of odours throughout your fridge, a deodoriser allows your food to stay fresher and smelling great.

Air curtain

  • A flowing curtain of air helps to spread the cool temperatures throughout your fridge’s interior, maintaining consistent conditions.

Sensor cooling

  • Fridges that use sensors to monitor their internal temperature and humidity settings can usually maintain more consistent conditions throughout their interior, for additional freshness.
  • What’s more, certain models and designs will allow you to make small tweaks and adjustments to these settings to better suit your storage needs.

Door in door

  • Providing quicker and easier access to your fridge’s door shelves, this is a convenient small hatchway that’s ideal for entertainers, or anyone who enjoys keeping favourite drinks and snacks within arm’s reach, without having to rummage through the rest of the fridge.

Twist and serve ice

  • A handy alternative to an automatic ice dispenser, this consists of one or more ice cube trays mounted on a spring setup in the freezer.
  • Just fill them up, and once they’re frozen give them a turn and the springs will squeeze out ice cubes into the handy bin underneath. Great for entertainers.

LED lighting

  • Traditional incandescent lightbulbs often get hot while in use, which is a problem when they’re in a fridge that you’re trying to keep cool.
  • LED lamps produce less heat while operating, which helps keep your fridge temperature consistent so your food stays fresh.
  • LED lamps also use less energy and last for longer than most incandescent bulbs.

Silver nano

  • A system that distributes silver ions throughout the fridge’s interior, which helps inhibit the respiration of bacteria, preventing them from growing and spreading, thus helping to maintain the freshness of your food.

Chiller drawer

  • A central drawer that often includes adjustable settings for storing special treats!
  • With a few small adjustments, you can keep leafy veggies fresh and moist, meat or fish frosty, or cheese at its ideal serving temperature.

Tempered glass shelving

  • Glass shelves that have been especially hardened for added strength, so they can safely hold more items in your fridge, and resist breaking in case of accidents.

Adjustable shelving

  • Shelves that are not fixed in place can be easily rearranged to better accommodate all of your food and drinks, no matter their size or shape.
  • Look for adjustable shelves in both the fridge interior and on the door, to maximise your storage flexibility.

Medicine box

  • A lockable storage container, designed to keep important items such as medicines out of reach of curious hands while they’re being refrigerated.

Humidity control

  • The interior of a typical fridge is cold, but also quite dry, with most of the humidity collecting around the base, where the crisper bins are located.
  • Certain foods require additional humidity to ensure freshness, such as leafy green veggies, which is where a fridge with an adjustable humidity control comes in handy. Customise your settings to keep more food fresh!

Extended warranty

  • All fridges sold at Appliances Online come in their original boxes, with their complete manufacturer’s warranty still in place.
  • If you want additional protection for your piece of mind, Customer Care Plans are also available for purchase along with your appliance, covering the repair or replacement of the fridge for an additional 3 years.

Door open alarm

  • Reminds you to keep the door shut, and the cold air locked inside where it belongs! This helps save you energy when the compressor goes into overdrive trying to keep a fridge cold while the cool air keeps leaking out.

If there are any other fridge features that are making you scratch your head, contact the team at Appliances Online for an explanation!

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What colour fridge looks best?

Different fridge styles look better in different kitchen styles.  for all the budding home decorators, the following table sums up the four broad fridge colours and styles, and when they look their best.

228L Samsung Fridge SR227MW

White

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • The cheapest option
  • Goes well with most kitchen designs
  • Does not show fingerprints
  • Not very exciting
  • Shows up grubby marks

801l-samsung-wi-fi-4-door-fridge-srf800wgdls-medium

Stainless Steel

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Modern look
  • Goes well with most kitchen designs
  • Easy to match with other appliances
  • Can show fingerprint marks
  • More expensive than white enamel

Electrolux has a range of black appliances

Black

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Sophisticated look
  • Goes well with most kitchen designs
  • Can be tricky to match with other appliances
  • More expensive than stainless steel

270l-smeg-fridge-fab28pink-medium

Colour

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Unique, personalised look
  • Can brighten up a dull space
  • Difficult to match with other appliances/décor
  • The most expensive option
  • Often made to order – which can incur delays

Remember that a fridge is an important investment that should last for a number of years, so it’s important to choose a design that not only suits your current needs, but will remain suitable further down the track. Even if you’re fond of a currently fashionable look, ask yourself if it’ll likely still be as appealing in five or ten years time.

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What type of fridge is best for me?

There are many different types of fridge available to suit different Aussie homes.

The following table can help you work out which one best suits your needs:

420L Electrolux Fridge ETM4200SCRH

Top Mount

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Freezer located at the top
  • Cheapest fridge option
  • Available in many sizes
  • Makes it easy to access frozen food
  • Easiest style to fit into small spaces
  • Energy efficient
  • Limited freezer space
  • Fridge section on bottom, more bending down
  • Max capacity (approx.) 520L
  • Students
  • People living by themselves
  • Small families
  • Couples

430l-westinghouse-fridge-wbm4300wbrh-internal

Bottom Mount

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Freezer located at the bottom
  • Available in many sizes
  • Fridge section on top, less bending down
  • Easiest style to fit into small spaces
  • Limited freezer space
  • Max capacity (approx.) 520L
  • Crisper bins near freezer can sometimes be too cold.
  • Small to mid-size families
  • Couples
  • Room mates

684L Samsung Side By Side Fridge SRS683GDHLS

Side by Side

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Full height fridge and freezer
  • Huge capacity (around 550 to 800 litres)
  • Easy to access both frozen & fresh food
  • Large freezer section good for bulk buys
  • Small width doors use less kitchen space to open
  • Often include ice and water dispensers
  • Limited width in freezer section – some items can be awkward to store
  • Dimensions might not fit smaller kitchens
  • Large-size families
  • Anyone that needs more storage space but has a limited size kitchen

801l-samsung-4-door-fridge-srf801gdls-med-2

3 & 4 Door


Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Fridge located at the top, with double door opening
  • Freezer located at the bottom
  • Huge capacity (around 500 to 800 litres)
  • Easy access to fridge items
  • Large freezer section good for bulk buys
  • Extra width in fridge section – good for platters
  • Dimensions might not fit smaller kitchens
  • Most expensive fridge option
  • Big families
  • People that like to host parties

empty fridge

Bar Fridges

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Small and compact fridge usually with a small freezer section
  • Small and compact
  • Low running cost
  • Easy to move
  • Limited amount of storage
  • Tiny freezer capacity
  • Studio apartments
  • College dormitories
  • Rumpus rooms
  • Home bar areas
  • Small Offices

PigeonPairFridges

Pigeon Pair

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • A ‘pigeon pair’ refers to a matching vertical freezer and vertical fridge
  • Large capacity (up to 790L combined space)
  • Easy to access both frozen + fresh food
  • Large freezer section good for bulk buys
  • Takes up quite a bit of kitchen space
  • Requires a joining kit to combine the two appliances
  • Large families
  • Spacious kitchens

700L Westinghouse Chest Freezer WCM7000WC

Chest Freezers

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Available in capacities ranging from 150L to 700L
  • Ability to store your groceries in bulk
  • More energy efficient than upright freezers, as cold air is locked inside
  • Lid opens from the top, making it easy to access contents
  • Large range of sizes
  • Take up a lot of space
  • Can be awkward to load and unload
  • Requires periodic defrosting and draining
  • Big families
  • High-traffic households
  • Long-term storage

585l-liebherr-4-door-integrated-fridge-ecbn6256-medium

Integrated Fridges

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Built into the kitchen cabinetry for a seamless finish
  • The built-in look is pleasing to the eye
  • Can be completely concealed behind custom cabinetry
  • Saves space
  • No need to clean around/under the fridge
  • Sizes and styles range from integrated bar fridges to French Door models
  • Requires careful installation
  • Not easy to relocate when renovating or moving house
  • Designer kitchens
  • Offices

35 Btls Vintec Wine Storage Cabinet V30SGMEBK

Wine Fridges

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Temperature-controlled cabinets for proper wine storage
  • Available in single and multi-temperature models (for storing and serving)
  • Capacity for up to 267 Bordeaux bottles
  • Recreates the temperature and humidity of European wine cellars
  • Allows wine to properly mature, and/or chill for ideal enjoyment
  • Not suitable for refrigeration; only wine storage
  • Single-temperature models aren’t ideal for serving wine
  • Connoisseurs
  • Investors
  • Collectors
  • Foodies

360l-electrolux-upright-freezer-efm3607sdlh-med-2

Upright Freezers

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • A freezer in the size and shape of a typical refrigerator
  • Spacious capacity (up to 389L) for buying groceries in bulk
  • Can be matched with and Upright Fridge in a Pigeon Pair
  • No need to bend down to access favourite items
  • Uses less floor space (compared with a chest freezer)
  • Not as energy-efficient as a chest freezer, as cold air escapes when the door opens
  • No refrigeration section for everyday storage
  • Large kitchens (in a Pigeon Pair)
  • Garages/spare rooms

405l-liebherr-upright-fridge-skes4210lh-1-medium

Upright Fridges

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • A dedicated standing refrigerator, with no freezer section
  • Spacious capacity (up to 451L) for buying in bulk
  • Can be matched with and Upright Freezer in a Pigeon Pair
  • No need to bend down to access favourite items
  • No freezer section for long-term storage or making ice
  • Large kitchens (when pigeon-paired)
  • Garages/spare rooms

82l-lemair-bar-freezer-fr90vrn-medium

Bar Freezers

Features

Advantages

Disadvantages

Ideal For

  • Small freezer for storing and chilling food, drinks and ice
  • Compact in size
  • Fits under some benches
  • Usually inexpensive
  • Smaller capacity (max 90L) than an upright or chest freezer
  • No refrigeration section
  • Garages
  • Apartments/studios
  • Students

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Need more help?

If you ever require additional assistance when choosing a fridge or freezer, contact the team at Appliances Online on 1300 000 500. Our team of experts is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so we can always provide the advice you need, no matter when you may need it!

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Mark joined Appliances Online in November 2011 and has since learned more than he ever expected to know about appliances. He enjoys looking for new and unusual ways for to solve everyday problems using typical household appliances. When he’s not toiling at the desks of Appliances Online and Big Brown Box, he tries to find time to write the next big bestseller and draw satirical cartoons, but is too easily distracted by TV, music and video games. Mark’s favourite appliance is the Dyson Groom Tool, as he loves the concept of vacuuming your dog. Google+

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