The Ultimate Buying Guide for Fridges in 2022

Buying a fridge used to be a really simple task back in the day due to the limited options available in the market.

However, in recent times technology has advanced to such an extent that there is an incredible range of colours, features and styles available when it comes to these units.

As a result, selecting the perfect fridge for your home has become increasingly difficult and something the average person struggles with.

No need to worry though because that’s where we come in! In this extensive buying guide, we explore and explain each and every feature you should look for when finding a fridge.

In addition to that, we’ll also be providing you with the best online shops and brands where you can find the best fridge for yourself.

Lastly, we’ll also be listing down all the different types of fridges available these days so that you can pick one according to your requirements.

So, without dawdling any further, let’s get straight into it.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Fridge

1. Which Style Do You Prefer?

We know fridges are not as high-tech as smartphones or laptops but as technology has advanced refrigerator manufacturers have tried their best to bring innovations in their newer units.

These innovations have led to an increase in the number of styles available.

Some people prefer the bottom freezers as they provide more convenient access whereas others prefer the more standard top freezers.

The French door fridges have been gaining a huge amount of popularity lately as well due to them being aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Some two-door side-by-side units even contain built-in water dispensers so if that’s something that appeals to you then that’s what you should get.

Whatever your preference, it's important to research it thoroughly to find the fridge that suits you best.

2. What Size Do You Need?

Just like the number of styles, the size range of fridges has grown at an exponential rate with the advancement of technology.

Nowadays, the size of a fridge can range from a 50-litre mini fridge to a spacious 500 litre fridge which could easily be used to carry food and items for 6-7 people.

However, how do you decide what size is good for you? Well, there’s just one crucial factor that choice depends on, the number of people that will be using it.

If you’re living solo in a bedroom apartment or a hostel room, then a 50-100 litre mini fridge should suffice.

Whereas if you’re a family of 4-5 people, you could choose any fridge ranging from the 150-300 litre capacity depending on your storage needs.

Hence reviewing all the sizes of fridges available is a crucial step when selecting a fridge.

3. Frost Free or Direct Cool

A unique choice available to potential refrigerator owners is the option to buy a frost free or direct cool refrigerator.

In the olden days, only direct cool fridges existed, which is why these are the most commonly found in most households.

To differentiate between both, a direct cool fridge uses natural convection currents to cool each and every section of the fridge.

This, however, causes uneven distribution and the build up of ice. After a few days or weeks, the fridge has to be defrosted by hand which becomes quite tedious.

A frost free fridge on the other hand, does not allow the build up of ice as it possesses small built-in electric fans that circulate the convection currents evenly to all parts of the fridge.

A direct cool fridge does come with its fair share of advantages though which include being less expensive and less power consuming.

Whereas a frost free fridge is more expensive and consumes more power due to all the electric fans running inside but it has the obvious advantage of no ice building up inside of it.

So, this is another factor you should keep in mind when selecting a fridge.

4. Energy Label

Perhaps the most important factor you need to check while choosing a fridge is the energy label or the electricity it’ll consume.

A good indicator of this is the energy star ratings made by various environmental protection agencies.

In fact, if an energy star label is present on a fridge, then that automatically makes it a part of the top 25% in the market.

In addition, most modern fridges also come with energy guides or energy guide labels that display the number of kilowatt-hours of energy they consume in a year.

Hence, make sure you buy a fridge that is in your budget, has an environment friendly star rating and has a controllable energy rating.

Online Stores Where Can You Find the Best Fridges for Sale

1. Home Depot

For any and all home related items, Home Depot is your best option as they provide the cheapest but most reliable goods for your home.

On top of that when it comes to fridges, Home Depot has an excellent system to rate them in terms of price and the features they possess.

You can find all the major brands here as well which include Samsung, Bosch and Whirlpool. Furthermore, they also offer excellent deals and major discounts which can really help a customer out.

2. AJ Madison

AJ Madison has quietly made a name for itself. No wonder you can find it in most of the best shopping online reviews in the UK, especially when it comes to fridges.

While on the site you can search through a huge collection of fridges to find the fridge with the style, colour and energy label that suits you.

However, the reason it's second on the list is due to the slight difficulty people face in navigating the site and finding the fridge they need.

But if you need a top fridge like a Beko fridge freezer then AJ Madison may just be the site you’re looking for.

3. Best Buy

If you’re looking to search fridges by type, then you cannot get any better than Best Buy.

Moreover, like all the top online stores, Best Buy contains a huge variety of top refrigerators like Beko and Samsung fridge freezers.

It even contains a full category of only smart fridges, named ‘refrigerator innovations,’ that have WIFI enabled and upon visiting the list you’ll be able to find numerous smart fridges all varying in price.

And if you still have any doubts about which brand you should go for then you can get the assistance of review sites like ReviewsBird UK and read the experiences of other users.

Additional Fridge Types You Should Know About

1. Mini Fridge

Just like we previously discussed, if you’re living alone and need a place to store your beers, food and fruits a mini fridge is perfect for you.

When it comes to size, mini fridges range from under 50 litres to 100 litres and some even come with a small freezer section which might be placed at the top or bottom depending on the style of the fridge.

So, before you give mini fridges a look first before moving on to the more popular types.

2. Integrated Fridge Freezer

If you’re a family man looking for both fridge and freezer capabilities, chances are you’re looking for an integrated fridge freezer.

We’re not going to explain these too much because they’re probably the most in demand fridge these days.

Integrated fridge freezers are available in a wide range of sizes as well and three types of door splits which basically differ in terms of the space the fridge and freezer each get.

These fridges are basically standard freezers that can be fit into a cabinet and only opened through the cabinet door.

Now to know how exactly this happens, view our detailed article on integrated fridge freezers.

3. Under Counter Fridge

Our personal favourite type of fridge is an under counter fridge. Why? That’s simple, due to all the space it saves and how beautiful it is to look at.

Granted this type of fridge is just another form of mini fridge but the way it can be placed under the counter and opened up to look like it’s a part of the counter is what makes it special.

Furthermore, they’re usually used for storing fruits and vegetables in big households so that the person standing over the counter can quickly access them.

All in all, it’s a great addition to any household.

4. Beer Fridge

Who doesn’t love a good old beer fridge? Not us that’s for sure! Storing beer might have been the basic purpose for the invention of the mini fridge.

But since the mini fridge has evolved, refrigerator manufacturers have come up with separate models known as beer fridges.

So, if you’re looking to have a cold one with the boys while you hang around the house, a beer fridge is just what you need.

5. Larder Fridge

If you’re worried about your electricity bills increasing after you buy a fridge, a larder fridge may be what you need.

Not only does a larder fridge not have an ice box which gives you extra space in your freezer, but it's also significantly less energy consuming than conventional refrigerators.

So, for those of you looking for maximum refrigeration space and lower electricity bills, a larder fridge is the best option.

6. Black Fridge Freezer

A special favourite in recent times has become the aesthetically pleasing black fridge freezer.

It’s a proven fact that black looks good on anything and everything and that does not exclude fridges.

These black fridge freezers are available in a range of different styles and sizes which have all been gaining great acclaim from users.

So, if you’re someone who values style and beauty then you can’t go wrong with a black fridge freezer.

Conclusion

Buying a fridge can be a bit difficult, especially if you aren’t too knowledgeable about them.

That’s why a piece of advice before we part ways: make sure you research each unit carefully and keep a list of requirements that a fridge should have and check those requirements off one by one.

And above all, make sure you check the warranty before purchasing.