The best fridge freezer for every household

fridge freezer

by Ellen Kinsey |
Updated on

If you are looking to invest in a new fridge freezer for your growing family or a smaller, simpler model to fit into your kitchen, having a reliable appliance is a must. Searching for a large appliance can be quite overwhelming, so we have rounded up the best fridge freezers in 2022 to save you time in your busy life.

Fridge freezers can range from £150 to over £1,000, so if you are looking for a retro unit to fit your kitchen or a more contemporary high-tech appliance there is one suitable for every budget and lifestyle needs.

What to consider when buying a new fridge freezer

Capacity
Size is an essential factor to consider. We have listed fridges with a capacity of 11 to 39 shopping bags to suit every household and kitchen size.

Design
Whether you want something retro, small and ergonomic or a double American fridge freezer, it is good to consider what design would best suit your kitchen to help you narrow your search. This also includes the fridge to freezer ratio split, where you will see a top-heavy 60/40, 70/30 or an even split at 50/50.

**Frost-free
**Many fridge freezers come with frost-freeze technology, so you don't need to manually defrost your freezer as you would normally. It'll save you time and effort and preserve the longevity of your appliance.

Dispensers
If you are looking for a water and ice dispenser, many fridge freezers now come with this exciting feature.

**Energy rating
**You may think that this large appliance will surely raise your energy bills but the more high-end your fridge freezer is, the better the energy efficiency will be. Choosing a unit with a rating of A or above makes it affordable for its size, and running costs can be as little as 15p a day. The better the energy rating, the lower the running price.

The best fridge freezers 2022

Best overall fridge freezer

Get your dream kitchen equipped with this outstanding fridge freezer. It is frost-free, has a 384l capacity with colder drawers perfect for keeping your fruit and veg tasting crisp and four shelves to store other chilled items. 

The NatureFRESH and DoorCooling+ technology will keep your groceries in the best condition. Plus, the LED Temperature Display gives you more control over what temperature your food is stored at. We also love the handy fast freeze function, which rapidly freezes your groceries - so no more melted ice cream to worry about. 

After a busy week, there is nothing better than sitting down with a glass of chilled wine and this fridge has a convenient built-in rack designed to keep wine bottles in place for easy access. 

One of the best things about this LG fridge freezer is that it saves energy when you're away. This model has a Holiday Setting which saves you energy by keeping the freezer running as usual but reducing power in the fridge to keep costs low. Just remember to empty out the fridge before you go.

Capacity: 384l
Energy rating: A
Noise level: 35dB
Dimensions: H208 x W69.5 x D66.5cm

Review: "Great stylish family-sized fridge freezer with plenty of space in both compartments. The fridge has two large fruit and veg drawers, a great wine rack/shelf, and plenty of room in the door compartment. The freezer has three large drawers. Very easy to install and adjust settings, plus it has a handy warning alarm if the door is left open."

Best energy-efficient fridge freezer

If sustainability is high on your priority list when buying a new fridge freezer, you can't go wrong with this A+ energy rating American style fridge from Hisense. Not only does it have an affordable price, but looks great with a clean, sleek design, a stainless-steel finish, magnetic doors, recessed handles and full-sized french doors.

It also has a high capacity with 507l of space for all your groceries - perfect for larger families and kitchens. The fridge section has three glass shelves, two moisture control crispers and six door shelves. There are four standard drawers in the freezer and two transparent easy-access drawers so you can easily access your frozen goods.

The Hisense American Fridge Freezer is high-tech with a responsive LED touch control panel that allows you to achieve optimal cooling temperatures due to the Super Cool and Super Freeze features. Plus, it offers a Holiday Mode that will enable you to empty the unit when you go away on holiday and save energy.

Capacity: 507l
Energy rating: A+
Noise level: 40dB
Dimensions: 79.4 x 70 x 181cm

Review: "Bought this fridge/freezer about four weeks ago, and I am delighted with my purchase. It's very quiet and has lots of space - there are even lights in the freezer, which is such a great little touch. I hadn't heard of the brand Hisense, and that made me hesitate when deciding if I would buy it or not. Glad that I overcame my apprehension about trying out the brand. I have no negative comments/feedback on the appliance. I am a very satisfied customer."

Priced under £500, this fridge freezer is excellent value for a small household. The fridge has a capacity of 190 L, and the interior is lit up by bright LED lights that ensure energy efficiency and easy navigation. Plus the adjustable shelves can be changed according to your needs. It also features Beko's HarvestFresh Salad Crisper section with three colour light technology that provides the ideal storing condition for fresh fruit and vegetables. There are also storage shelves in the door, which offers additional space for drinks or food. 

In terms of the freezer, it contains transparent front drawers so that you can reach for any frozen items with ease. Beko's Freezer Guard technology uses an electronic temperature control system to ensure the freezer works even when temperatures plummet as low as -15ºC.

There is also an open door alarm for little hands and forgetful parents that warns you if the door is left open to stop any food from spoiling. 

Capacity: 324l
Energy rating: F
Noise level: 39dB
Dimensions: 191 x 59.5 x 65.5 cm 

Review: "I really like the size and the veg crisper - it pulls out a long way so it is easy to see what is in there. The water tank takes up far less room than I expected."

Best budget fridge freezer

If you are on the hunt for an under the counter fridge at a low price, then this Cookology fridge freezer is an excellent choice. This two-door fridge freezer fits underneath your worktop in the kitchen and has reversible doors, so it will fit all kitchen layouts.

The fridge features one full shelf and one half glass shelf over the vegetable drawer and storage space in the door. The freezer compartment has a door to fit your frozen foods.

Of course, it goes without saying that this model is only helpful for those who have a relatively small amount of food to store. It would be perfect as a secondary fridge freezer or for a small home.

Capacity: 87l
Energy rating: A+
Noise level: 42dB
Dimensions: 50.5 x 47 x 85cm

Review: "This little fridge freezer does wonders. Easy to install. I was surprised to see how big the freezer/ice side is. Yes, I recommend it! I am happy from order to delivery and having my fridge at home. Thank you."

Best slim fridge freezer

If you are on the lookout for a narrow fridge freezer that won't take up too much space in your kitchen, then the Russell Hobbs Freestanding Fridge Freezer is a great pick. It features reversible doors so that it can perfectly fit into every kitchen, no matter the layout.

The ergonomic design of the fridge means it has a larger capacity than it seems. It contains four glass shelves (three of which are adjustable), three fixed door racks and three freezer drawers, making it easy to amend the layout to your needs. Plus, the manual temperature control gives you the ability to set your fridge to the perfect temperature.

One thing to note however is that this Russell Hobbs fridge freezer has an F grade energy efficiency.

Capacity: 262l
Energy rating: F
Noise level: 39dB
Dimensions: 55 x 54 x 176cm

Review: "Excellent fridge freezer actually does what it says it does no problems with it the added space for the fridge is so good. The freezer is also excellent."

Best American fridge freezer
Sharp SJ-EX820F2-SL
Price: £1,249

ao.com

You can stock up on all the groceries you need with this American fridge freezer from Sharp. It has a massive 605-litre capacity and holds 33 bags of food shopping. Not to mention it has a sleek design and American style doors.

It has frost-free features which stop ice build-ups in the fridge and freezer, plus the salad drawers are great for keeping fresh produce in good condition for longer. It will be easy to spot where things are with bright LED lights illuminating the fridge. The deep, spacious bottle shelves inside the doors are big enough to hold five one-litre drinks bottles, ideal for larger households. One thing to note is that this fridge freezer has relatively poor energy efficiency, so keep that in mind for future energy bills.

Capacity: 394l
Energy rating: F
Noise level: 36dB
Dimensions: 183 x 89.2 x 77.1cm

Review: "This fridge freezer is fantastic. Cavernous capacity, practically silent and all the latest technical innovations you could ask for."

Best retro fridge freezer

If you are all about the retro look, we have to bring your attention to this fridge freezer from SMEG. Although it looks old school, it has all the features a modern-day appliance has to offer. The fan cooling keeps your shopping evenly chilled and prevents ice build-up in the fridge, so you don't have to bother with defrosting. There is a controlled temperature drawer at the bottom of the refrigerator, which ranges from -2 to +3°C to keep your meat, dairy, or fresh produce in good condition for longer. 

There is no shortage of space either with 222 litres of fridge space; you get plenty of storage for a family-sized shopping list.

Of course, we have to talk about the design. Not only does it look like it came straight from the 50s with the bold red and chrome finishes, but on the inside, it boasts an up-to-date performance that you need in a fridge freezer. 

Capacity: 222l
Energy rating: D
Noise level: 37dB
Dimensions: 172 x 60.1 x 72.8 cm

Review: "Beautiful to look at outside and inside when the light is on. We love the red, and I love the colour and shape, exactly what I was looking for. Enough space for our small family. It makes no sound at all. It is expensive but expected for Smeg. I love it, glad and proud I bought it."

Best fridge freezer with ice dispenser

If you want to splurge on a new fridge freezer, this Samsung unit is worth the price tag. This investment is perfect for large households and fervent home cooks and even features an ice and water dispenser.

The best part about this appliance is that it has loads of space for all your freezing and cooling necessities and can hold 39 shopping bags or 634l worth of food and drink. 

This unit has all the necessary features you'd expect in a high-end fridge freezer, such as an open door alarm and impressive energy efficiency. The appliance also boasts other features such as Samsung's Digital Inverter Technology, which controls the internal temperature, plus Twin Cooling technology, which keeps your food fresher for longer and stops odours. The SpaceMax design means that the fridge is designed with thinner, sleeker doors to allow for more space inside the unit. Plus, if you are away for a while, you can switch your fridge to Holiday Mode, and it'll reduce its energy consumption until you return.

Other nifty features include the power freeze option, LED internal lighting and the power cool to keep new food super fresh. 

Capacity: 634l
Energy rating: A+
Noise level: 40dB
Dimensions: 178.5 x 92.5 x 72cm

Review: "Been using this for a couple of weeks now and love it. So much space in the fridge and freezer, and I love the on tap iced water and ice for drinks. I drink much more water now. Highly recommend."

What to read next

8 of the best wine fridges for your favourite vino

Mrs Hinch inspired fridge storage ideas to keep your fridge fresh and tidy

The best books for mums to sink into

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.