#### Contents 1. [Types of fridges](#types-of-fridges-2) - [Top mount fridges](#top-mount-fridges-3) - [Bottom mount fridges](#bottom-mount-fridges-3) - [French door fridges](#french-door-fridges-3) - [Upright fridges](#upright-fridges-3) - [Side-by-side fridges](#sidebyside-fridges-3) 2. [What to consider when choosing a fridge](#what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-fridge-2) - [Size](#size-3) - [Design and layout](#design-and-layout-3) - [Compartments](#compartments-3) - [Features](#features-3) - [Energy efficiency](#energy-efficiency-3) - [Finish](#finish-3) - [Noise level](#noise-level-3) - [Cost](#cost-3) ![A french door fridge surrounded by wooden cabinetry.](https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/avatar/f011bd39-9773-5478-a9c7-39e25fe61aa1?width=826) ## Types of fridges There are a variety of different fridge types to suit different needs and kitchens. ### Top mount fridges • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/top-mount-fridges-refrigerators) Top mount fridges have a freezer compartment that sits above the fridge cavity, which increases the accessibility of frozen food while limiting the amount of freezer space available. Generally the cheapest type of fridge to buy. The cheapest type of fridge to run. There's a wide range to choose from. Elderly or less mobile people may find it difficult to bend down to access the fridge, which is the compartment that's used the most often. ### Bottom mount fridges • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/bottom-mount-fridges-refrigerators) Bottom mount fridges have their freezer section at the base of the unit, and tend to be more expensive than top mount designs. It has less freezer space than other types of fridges, and will require some bending and crouching to access the slide-out freezer drawers. Everyday fridge items are very accessible. Logical and ergonomic layout, as the compartment you use most is at eye level. More range as the popularity of these fridges is growing. More expensive to purchase than top mount models. Slightly more expensive to run than top mount fridges. Can take longer to chill foods. ### French door fridges • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/french-door-fridges-refrigerators) French door fridges have a bottom mount freezer below a two door fridge. These fridges are wide, spacious, and are typically the most expensive type of fridge. The two fridge doors and large bottom mounted freezer drawer allow for huge storage space. Often have many features, like ice and water dispensers. Have lots of storage. A logical fridge layout that has the most used compartments at an easy to access height. Fridge and freezer are wide enough to fit bulky boxes and large plates. Typically more expensive to buy. Quite large, so may not be able to be fit in tight spots. Features like ice makers and water coolers can take up considerable fridge space. ### Upright fridges • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/upright-fridges-refrigerators) Also called fridge-only fridges, these only have one compartment. The lack of freezer makes it cheaper than other models, and would be best used as a second unit or to fit a specific refrigeration-only need. Can be kept separate to freezer which may be handy for smaller kitchens. Good storage capacity. If you need a freezer as well, having both an upright fridge and a separate freezer take up more space overall. ### Side-by-side fridges • [See all](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/side-by-side-fridges-refrigerators) Side-by-side fridges have a dedicated fridge and dedicated freezer section that stand beside each other. They are a big, wide and expensive model of fridge, often fitted with modern design features and built-in water and ice dispensing. Often have many modern design features, such as built-in water and ice dispensers. Have large storage capacity. This type of fridge is easiest for shorter people or people in wheelchairs to access both compartments. Suitable for narrow kitchens or those with limited space where you cannot have a fridge with a large swinging door. Ice and water dispensers can take up considerable freezer space. Compartments are quite narrow so may not be able to fit things like large platters or pizza boxes. Due to their large size, they may not be able to be fit into tight spots. Temperature at top and bottom of fridge can be inconsistent. ## What to consider when choosing a fridge ### Size Most kitchens have designated fridge cavities, so you should measure this space and check it against the dimensions of any fridge you're considering buying. Ensure that the fridge can also fit through the doorways leading to the kitchen. You will need 25mm of additional free space around the top, back and sides of the fridge to allow for excess heat to escape. Finding the right fridge capacity for your household size or refrigerating needs is also crucial. It's harder to cool air than liquids and solids, and so it will be more energy efficient (and typically cheaper) to have a small fridge thats full, instead of a big fridge that you're only using half the space of. With that being said, if you're tossing up between different fridge capacities, it's a safer bet to go with the larger one. As a general guide: - [1-2 people](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?3403e180-185b-43a4-b5f9-29b34f1eaffa%5B0%5D=_321) will need 200-400L - [3-4](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?3403e180-185b-43a4-b5f9-29b34f1eaffa%5B0%5D=350_450) will need 520-600L - [5 or more people](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?3403e180-185b-43a4-b5f9-29b34f1eaffa%5B0%5D=480_) will need 700L While smaller fridges don't offer the same features as larger fridges, they're also cheaper to buy and run. ### Design and layout Make sure that the fridge door opens in the right direction for your kitchen - some models even have reversible doors. You should also make sure that the handles are accessible and that the fridge is easy to open for everyone in your household. Think about whether the layout of the fridge the ratio of fridge to freezer space is right for you and your food. The shelves should be easy to remove for cleaning or repositioning. ### Compartments Fridges will usually have a range of compartments suited to different types of food, such as: - A **crisper**, which is a well-sealed compartment that keeps vegetables fresh. - A **dairy compartment**, which is slightly warmer than the rest of the fridge and is useful for keeping butter and harder cheeses slightly soft. - A **chiller**, which is used for storing meat, fish, and poultry, and is usually close to 0°C and has its own temperature control. - A **quick-chill area or compartment** that's used to cool down food and drinks quickly. ### Features Some fridges have functional features that can make them easier to use. - **Adjustable shelving:** This lets you choose your own layout configuration so that you can make the most of the space depending on what you specifically need to refrigerate. - **Child lock:** Some fridges have a child lock that prevents little ones from tampering with temperature controls and keeps them out of certain compartments, such as medicine compartments. - **Anti-bacterial coating:** This is sometimes found on fridge walls and doors, and helps prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria in your fridge. - [**Water and ice dispenser:**](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?340c9311-5430-4348-8a1b-07292dbd560c%5B0%5D=3969b27c-68da-4a88-9e81-64e7c0473d1e&340c9311-5430-4348-8a1b-07292dbd560c%5B1%5D=b8407ec4-fdc0-43d7-8746-babd047c32d5) These are a common additional feature, and are able to be plumbed in or not depending on your preference. - **Internal LED light:** This illuminates the fridge's contents so that you can easily see what you've got, particularly at night. - **Temperature controls:** While most fridges have variable temperature, some give you the option of quick cooling, or will automatically adjust its temperature settings to save power. - **Rollers:** Rollers or adjustable feet make the fridge easier to move. For those looking for the ultimate luxe appliance, a few very expensive [smart fridges](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?611e1d4f-1c3f-4636-9260-f55e15f6208d=true) are also Wi-Fi connected, can play music, show what's inside the fridge when you're away, and show online recipes. You don't need a fridge that's decked out with *all* the features on offer; choose only the additions that make sense for your needs and budget. ### Energy efficiency Larger fridges will use more energy than smaller ones, but a fridge's energy star rating can tells you its relative energy efficiency based on its size. The more stars it has, the less it will cost you to run. The energy efficiency of your fridge will be clearly marked in the product's information. Typically, top and bottom mount fridges are more efficient than French door or side-by-side models. The number on the energy rating label will also tell you the energy consumption in kWh per year (circled in the image below). Multiply this number by the cost of your energy per Kilowatt hour to give you a rough estimate of what your fridge will cost you to run per year. ![An energy efficiency label marking 2.5 out of 6 stars and an energy consumption of 458kWh per year.](https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/avatar/4806ddd3-db94-5b02-93b4-f33f0813168f?width=400) *Image source: energyrating.gov.au.* ### Finish There are a variety of finishes to choose from to suit your kitchen's aesthetic. - [**Stainless steel**](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?08a36c0f-dcf1-4291-af5a-996af55174f1%5B0%5D=e72beeda-55b9-4540-8a75-791ba36893db) is a sleek fridge finish, but it more easily shows fingerprints and other marks, although some are advertised as fingerprint-resistant. Stainless steel fridges are generally more expensive and are usually not magnetic. - [**White**](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?08a36c0f-dcf1-4291-af5a-996af55174f1%5B0%5D=c549efb2-16f1-44bc-a868-29de5575ad14) fridges are easier to keep clean than stainless steel ones, and are usually cheaper. - [**Black**](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators?08a36c0f-dcf1-4291-af5a-996af55174f1%5B0%5D=cceefcbf-cf5d-4830-b76d-5248f6a3e099) fridges or dark finish fridges are gaining popularity, and don't tend to show fingerprints as much as stainless steel. - **Glass** fridges are a very new kind of fridge design which uses glass instead of metal - and no, these don't let you look into your fridge when it's closed. These don't show fingerprints as much as stainless steel finishes. ### Noise level Not all people see fridge noise as an issue - whether it's an issue will depend on the layout of your kitchen and how close it is to your lounge and bedrooms. Fridges generally make around 35 decibels of noise, which is comparable to whispering. ### Cost Fridges can cost anywhere from $250 (for bar fridges and more basic models) to upwards of $5000. Generally speaking, the more money you fork out, the more features and better energy efficiency you'll get. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.productreview.com.au/c/fridges-refrigerators" }, "headline": "Best Fridges", "description": "A guide explaining the different types of refrigerator and which one would be best for you.", "image": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/avatar/f011bd39-9773-5478-a9c7-39e25fe61aa1", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isabella Garrido" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "ProductReview.com.au", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/assets/public/og_logo_1a8a64.png" } }, "datePublished": "2020-12-10", "dateModified": "2024-02-19" }

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