The Coolest Choice... Choosing a Fridge
The first thing you must decide is whether you want to buy a new fridge with an ice box, or a fridge and a freezer. The amount of frozen food you use will determine your choice.
Then consider the amount and type of space you have available. Do you have one narrow but tall gap suitable for an upright fridge freezer, or more space but with less headroom which would best suit a separate larder fridge, and stand alone freezer. If you have lots of space, you could buy a separate tall fridge and a separate tall freezer, or an American style fridge freezer. Compact fridges and specialist drinks coolers are also available.
If you have a fitted kitchen, you might choose to integrate your appliances with doors to match the rest of your kitchen.
Once you’ve decided what type of appliance you want, you need to consider which features and specifications you’d like it to possess:
Energy ratings of items are displayed within stores.
The highest ratings are category
A, which are the most energy-efficient. Everything else being equal, a C rated fridge will generally be cheaper than an A++ one , so you might want to ask the salesperson some key questions about whether the initial price saving could compensate for a potentially larger energy bill. Actual energy consumption will also depend on how well the appliance is stocked, its location, and how well ventilated it is.
To ensure your food is stored safely, you need a fridge or fridge freezer that has good solid insulation, and a robust door that seals well. So do take a look at the build quality of the appliance.
separate drawers at the bottom of the fridge for meat or salad products, to help prevent bacterial cross contamination.
Getting more specific, you could choose to seek out fridges with antibacterial coatings
30 To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
to give further protection to your food, and only consider those with glass rather than wire shelves, as the former avoid the potential danger of drips from food on a higher shelf contaminating food below.
Some fridges now have a built in fan that circulates the cold air, and ensures a more even temperature is obtained throughout the appliance.
American style fridge freezers have become increasingly popular. These offer massive storage space, and filtered cool water and ice dispensers, but they also take up a lot of room. They can be expensive to buy and to run, especially as the water filters have to be replaced regularly.
Whichever fridge you buy, remember to keep it upright at all times during installation, and allow at least 6 hours for the gases inside to settle before switching it on.
It can also be beneficial to have
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