Choosing your Hotpoint fridge freezer
Your fridge or fridge freezer is likely to be one of the most permanent inhabitants of your kitchen, lasting longer than other appliances and less likely to be replaced on a whim. So you need to buy carefully. Here are some things you should take into consideration.
Convenient storage space - take a look inside your current fridge. What size containers do you use most often, and would you like the option of using larger ones? Do you store lots of bottles, or bulky items such as casseroles? Make sure that the storage space in your new fridge is big and flexible enough for your needs. Here, millimetres can count!
It is not always true that the bigger the appliance, the more space there is inside. So don’t be misled by external dimensions. Unfortunately, you can’t always trust manufacturers’ claims about internal dimensions and usable space, either. Some are just inaccurate, probably including space in their calculations that really isn’t usable. This is difficult to assess over the internet, but bear it in mind.
Quiet running - you (or, worse, your partner, who will blame YOU) will be driven mad by a fridge or freezer that sounds like a distant chainsaw. Unless you can listen to the fridge in action before you buy (usually not possible in a shop, let alone over the internet) this is probably a risk you need to take. Just be prepared to change your mind and send it back if it’s too noisy for you.
Good temperature control and cooling - well, this is what a fridge is for. But it’s surprising how much they vary. Some fridges are better than others at keeping a constant, low temperature. Inside others, the temperature can fluctuate, which damages the texture of delicate foods.
Energy efficiency - your fridge and freezer are on the whole time, so it makes sense to buy the most efficient you can find, for the sake of your fuel bills and the planet. After the central heating, refrigeration appliances are most people’s next biggest consumers of energy.
Fridges and freezers are given a rating to indicate their energy efficiency. The scale goes from A to G, with A the most efficient. Some fridges and freezers can now be given an A+ or A++ rating. A++ appliances are rare but there are more A+ models available all the time.
Anti-bacterial coatings - many manufacturers offer antibacterial coatings on their appliances, but the jury is out on whether they are a good thing or not. One opinion is that the more antibacterial products we use, the more we encourage new strains of bacteria to develop and multiply that are resistant to antibiotics. What you can depend on, though, is that no amount of antibacterial coating will make up for poor general food hygiene. It is more important that you adhere to simple rules such as keeping raw and cooked meat on separate shelves, using clean containers in your fridge, wiping the shelves regularly and jettisoning old food.
Ice-makers - no self-respecting American fridge would be without one but it seems less necessary here in the UK. To begin with, an ice-maker might feel like a luxury until, like so many other things, it becomes part of life and you wonder how you did without. But bear in mind that an ice-maker can be greedy on space in your fridge or freezer, and you might prefer to go without, and have more space available for, er, keeping stuff cold.
Rollers or castors - if your new appliance has these, it will be MUCH easier to move it and clean behind it. So, no more excuses.
Shelves - solid shelves are easier to keep clean than wire ones, and will prevent drips onto food below. (This can be dangerous if uncooked meat juices drip onto cooked food, for instance.)
Colour and finish - it’s tempting to go for something more interesting than plain white… You can buy appliances in different colours and finishes, to tone with your décor, or to stand out and look groovy. But, though it might sound boring, consider how your tastes might change over the next decade. Today’s funky might be tomorrow’s embarrassment. In any case, try to see a sample of the exact shade of the appliance. Pictures can lie, if only by a shade or two. You might want to check that the finish doesn’t look or feel plasticky, too, when seen in close-up. This can be especially true of metallic finishes such as chrome or brushed aluminium, if they are done cheaply.
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