The Ultimate 2023 Australian Fridge Buying Guide
A quality fridge is a key component of any great kitchen. Choosing the right one for your household is a big deal. Today’s modern fridges and freezers can do everything from keeping your vegetables fresher for longer and dispensing filtered water to alerting you when your produce is about to expire, or even playing your favourite TV shows for you whilst you cook. With so many choices available, it can be difficult to narrow down your options but don’t worry - Fridge & Washer City has got you covered! Our comprehensive refrigerator buying guide has all the information and advice you need to make an informed decision when buying a new fridge. Plus, you can always speak to our friendly team in-store and online for help finding the perfect fridge; we’re the experts in kitchen appliances!
Tips on your fridge
Check out our handy fridge buying guide for Australia, with all the best tips and advice plus all the latest products from leading brands!
Types of Fridges
Buying the perfect fridge starts with choosing the perfect configuration! Do you need a simple single door fridge or a space to store your frozen goods in a top or bottom mount fridge? Would you prefer side by side storage or are you after a small space solution like a bar fridge? At Fridge & Washer City you’ll find a huge range of fridges from leading brands like Bosch, Beefeater, Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, LG, Haier, Kelvinator, Miele, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung, Westinghouse, Vintec and more - but with so many options, how do you choose? To help you compare your options, read our breakdown of the different types of refrigerators you’ll find available at Fridge & Washer City below.
French Door Fridges
If you love entertaining, then a french door fridge is for you! French door fridges come with two side by side doors. Usually they’ll come with fridge storage at the top and a few freezer compartments or drawers at the bottom. This orientation makes it easy to access and find everything, making it simple to keep everything organised. They’re design also keeps all of your daily essentials at eye level and creates plenty of space for wide shelving, making them the perfect option for storing platters, drinks and groceries for the whole family. Some even come with a special narrow draw to chill your drinks or large platters at the perfect temperature.
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Quad Door Fridges
Quad door fridges are the perfect option for those who love to keep their fridge and freezer space super compartmentalised and organised. With four doors available, quad door fridges often feature multiple temperature zones like freezer, soft freeze and chill modes to give you more control over the freshness of the ingredients in your fridge. Often they will come with fridge shelves and drawers at eye-level, with freezer drawers down below. With large capacity options available, they’re great for families and larger households.
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Side By Side Fridges
If you can’t decide whether your fridge or your freezer should get top billing, then you may want to opt for a side by side fridge. Side by side fridges provide equal space for frozen goods, with the freezer on one side and the fridge space on the other. They often come in larger capacities, so they’re great for families but they can also be an excellent space saver for snug spaces and tight kitchens where a wide single door may get in the way.
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Top Mount Fridges
Most Australians will be familiar with top mount fridges. With a freezer up top and the fridge below, they offer a practical and easy to use configuration that works well for many households. They come in a range of sizes and are usually one of the most affordable options available when it comes to purchasing a fridge, but they’re not ideal for everyone. Whilst many families appreciate the ability to keep frozen items up high and out of reach of little ones, it’s not convenient for everyone. For those who use their fridges more regularly, bending down to access items can be an issue. If you don’t use your freezer quite frequently, then you may want to consider investing instead in a bottom mount configuration.
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Bottom Mount Fridges
Bottom mount fridges are a great choice for households who love to entertain! Keep ice and other frozen items close at hand, and all of your chilled ingredients within easy reach inside your fridge. For most people this is the orientation that makes the most sense as it allows for access into the fridge which is often used more frequently than the freezer.
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Single Door Fridges
Single door fridges or freezers are ideal for households that don’t require a fridge or freezer combo. If you want a fridge space devoted to chilling or freezing your products, then a single door fridge or freezer is your best option. They are also great if you already have a chest freezer and don’t require the additional freezer space in the kitchen. For single person households, or those tight on space, they’re a great compact option, but they’re also a great choice for homes that require a large fridge capacity.
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Bar Fridges
Bar fridges are the perfect option for those in need of a small and compact storage solution for keeping a steady supply of snacks and drinks on hand. They’re a popular option for dorms, small apartments and workplace lunch areas, but they’re also great for those who love to entertain. If you need extra capacity for drink and food storage, then a small bar fridge is the perfect option.
Wine Storage
If you’re a wine lover, then a wine fridge is a great option to consider. Wine fridges will keep your fine wines chilled to the exact temperature required for maximum enjoyment, and to prevent them from spoiling. They come in many different varieties from small and compact freestanding designs and integrated under bench wine fridges to large capacity chillers.
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Engel Portable Fridges & Freezers
Engel’s portable fridges and freezers are designed to help you get off the beaten path. Built to be rugged, durable and high performing, Engel’s fridges and freezers are the perfect choice for almost any setting. Keep your food cool or frozen for your next adventure. Purchase in-store or online at Fridge & Washer City!
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What To Consider
When choosing the perfect fridge for your household, there are a few things you should consider in addition to the layout and configuration of your new fridge:
Capacity
When choosing a fridge, it’s important to think about how much space you’ll need inside your fridge. Single person households may only require a small top or bottom mount fridge, depending on how they prefer to shop for their groceries, but larger households may need storage space. If you’re wondering what fridge size to buy for your household then it’s generally best to follow the guidelines below:
- 1-2 people: 200-400 litres
- 3-4 people: 400-600 litres
- 5+ people: 600-800 litres
Size
Fridges come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them will be suitable for your kitchen. Before purchasing a fridge, you’ll want to check that dimensions will fit into the space you have available. The standard dimensions for a fridge cavity in most Australian homes is around 90 cm wide x 180 cm high x 60cm deep but this can vary widely depending on the home, so it’s important to measure the space yourself. You’ll also want to consider whether there are any obstacles either side of where the fridge will be placed that may prevent you from opening the fridge doors to full capacity.
Colours and finishes
Another thing to consider when choosing a fridge is what kind of colour or finish you would prefer. Standard white or stainless steel finishes have been popular for a long time, but matte black and brushed steel finishes have also come into style and may be a closer match to your existing cooking appliances.
Energy efficiency
When choosing a fridge, it’s a good idea to check the energy efficiency rating of the model you’re considering. Fridges are often run all the time and so can be a large contributor to household electricity bills, so opting for a more energy efficient appliance could save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.
Smart features
Many fridges now come with smart features like in-built recipe functions, video or music streaming, in-door compartments for easy access to drinks and touch screen displays for grocery lists. Are you an entertainer? Some have quick-chill settings for drinks or compartments that can switch from fridge or freezer to suit your needs. Certain models also come with spill-proof shelves for easy cleaning or child-proof locks on temperature controls and water dispensers.
FAQs
What fridge capacity do I need?
If you’re wondering how big a fridge do I need, then it’s generally best to allow around 200 litres of capacity per person. So for a 1-2 person household, 200-400 litres, for a 3-4 person household 400-600 litres and for 5 or more people, between 600 and 800 litres.
What fridge size do I need?
If you’re trying to figure out what fridge size to buy, then the best thing to do is firstly measure the dimensions of your space, and then take into account the size of your household and your habits. If you like to entertain, have kids at home, or like to shop in bulk, then it’s usually best to opt for a larger sized fridge.
How much room do you need for a fridge?
For most fridge models, it’s generally best to allow around 50mm around the sides and rear of the fridge and around 100mm at the top to ensure the best performance of your fridge. Too tight a fit could cause overheating issues or the inability to take shelves and draws out for cleaning.
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