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How Do I... Find the Right-Sized Fridge?
Is your fridge bursting at the seams? It may be time for an upgrade. A pro reveals how to select the right-sized model
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning design and decorating questions. Here, Colin Jones, product expert at Appliances Online, reveals how to select the right-sized fridge to suit your household’s needs.
Crunch the numbers
The size of your fridge should also suit the number of people in your household.
In terms of fridge capacity, I’d recommend:
The size of your fridge should also suit the number of people in your household.
In terms of fridge capacity, I’d recommend:
- 200-380 litres for a couple
- 350-530 litres for a family of three or four
- 500 litres plus for a family of five or more
Choose the right style
Our needs change over time and the layout of the fridge you bought 10 years ago may no longer suit your household. A top-mount fridge, for example, may have been fine for just two of you, but if you’ve now got kids, a large French-door style with plenty of freezer space might be more practical.
You should also think about how you shop and cook. Do you shop fresh every day and require more fridge and less freezer space? If so, a top-mount freezer might suit you. Do you cook in bulk? If so, a large, bottom-mount freezer might be better. Do you entertain and need to store large platters? French-door styles have full-width shelves that can accommodate large dishes.
Our needs change over time and the layout of the fridge you bought 10 years ago may no longer suit your household. A top-mount fridge, for example, may have been fine for just two of you, but if you’ve now got kids, a large French-door style with plenty of freezer space might be more practical.
You should also think about how you shop and cook. Do you shop fresh every day and require more fridge and less freezer space? If so, a top-mount freezer might suit you. Do you cook in bulk? If so, a large, bottom-mount freezer might be better. Do you entertain and need to store large platters? French-door styles have full-width shelves that can accommodate large dishes.
Seek out space-savvy features
There are some really clever models on the market today that are designed to suit small spaces – perfect if you’ve got a small kitchen. Fisher & Paykel’s ‘CoolDrawer’ compact, single-drawer model, for example, can be integrated into your cabinetry and goes from fridge to freezer to pantry drawer, just at the touch of a button.
There are some really clever models on the market today that are designed to suit small spaces – perfect if you’ve got a small kitchen. Fisher & Paykel’s ‘CoolDrawer’ compact, single-drawer model, for example, can be integrated into your cabinetry and goes from fridge to freezer to pantry drawer, just at the touch of a button.
Some fridges offer fold-away shelves so you can store taller items when your door shelves are full. Meanwhile, others have special zones that can be converted from fridge to freezer to suit your needs.
What to consider with under-bench fridges
If space in your kitchen is tight, you may have no option but to have an under-bench bar fridge. When choosing between the various models, keep in mind that bar fridges do not offer much in the way of storage. Some don’t have crisper bins for vegetables and the temperature in some models does not go low enough to freeze meat or ice cream. It’s a good idea to choose a slightly larger model than you need, with a separate freezer that can properly accommodate frozen items.
If space in your kitchen is tight, you may have no option but to have an under-bench bar fridge. When choosing between the various models, keep in mind that bar fridges do not offer much in the way of storage. Some don’t have crisper bins for vegetables and the temperature in some models does not go low enough to freeze meat or ice cream. It’s a good idea to choose a slightly larger model than you need, with a separate freezer that can properly accommodate frozen items.
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The first step is to measure the height, width and depth of your fridge cavity to make sure that your new fridge will fit. And remember, you’ll need to factor in an extra 20 or so millimetres of airspace all the way around your fridge.
You should also measure the door openings in your kitchen to make sure you can get your fridge through.
Just as your fridge shouldn’t be too big for the cavity, nor should it be too small. Choosing a 600-millimetre-wide fridge for a 1000-millimetre-wide cavity will not be aesthetically pleasing. In this situation, choosing a slightly larger fridge that fits the space might be a better option. You’ll no doubt find the extra space comes in handy when you have guests over.