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Shania Shegedyn
Whether renovating or updating, anyone who has ever set foot in the world of kitchens will know one of two things. Firstly, that the options are seemingly endless, and secondly, that it is a seriously big investment, and thus one that ideally shouldn’t be taken lightly. Finding the best fridge is no trivial task!
That being said, it’s important to ensure that you go shopping armed with a wealth of knowledge about purpose, functionality and technological advancements. We spoke to experts in the field, Colin Jones, Category Expert at Appliances Online, the team at Bing Lee, and Andrew Wand, head of home appliances at Samsung Australia, to bring you the most up-to-date information.
Photo: Hannah Blackmore | Story: Real Living
What features does a fridge need?
Andrew Wand says that when it comes to picking and choosing features, you should first consider your budget, also listing storage format as one of the top considerations.
“Cooking and entertaining with close friends is becoming more popular in Australian homes, so investing in fridges with adjustable and easy storage solutions is a key feature.”
– Andrew Wand, Head of Home Appliances at Samsung Australia.
The team at Bing Lee say that it really depends on your personal needs, however most look for similar features; including temperature control, adjustable shelving and storage compartments, adequate interior lighting, freezer space, and energy efficiency. More specialised features include water dispenser and ice maker (plumbed or unplumbed), crisper drawer, dairy compartment, adjustable temperature controls, frost free, antibacterial coatings, air filter, door-in-door access, holiday mode, alarms, child lock and LED display. Though, as the Bing Lee experts point out, “One thing to keep in mind is that models with ice makers and water dispensers use more energy than those without – if you can live without these features, you will save more on your energy bills.”
What size and configuration do I need?
Unless you’re renovating your kitchen and have a lot of space to work with, one of your first considerations should be what size fridge your room will realistically allow. It’s also vital that you leave enough room around the fridge cavity space to allow for ventilation. “If you don’t have enough ventilation around your fridge it can overheat, as all the heat is trapped in a small space. This can potentially cause service issues down the line,” says Colin Jones.
The second should be family size; “a simple top or bottom mount unit can be great for a couple or small family,” says Jones, “On the other hand, French doors and side-by-side fridges are more suited to larger families, due to the large amount of fridge and freezer space available.” It’s also important to think about how you eat – do you tend to cook in big batches and freeze? Or are you always eating fresh? This will help you to determine how much freezer space you need, and what configuration will suit.
The fridges you’ll generally find in most stores include top mount and bottom mount, side by side, French door, pigeon pair, wine fridges and bar fridges, and each, of course, come with their own set of pros and cons.
2024’s top fridges
- Westinghouse 496L bottom mount frost-free fridge, $1594, Appliances Online (here’s why)
- Electrolux 425L Ultimate Taste 500 bottom mount refrigerator, $1842, Appliances Online (here’s why)
- Samsung 640L FamilyHub French door frost-free smart refrigerator, $4197 (usually $4399), Appliances Online (here’s why)
The best fridges in Australia 2024
01
Westinghouse 496L bottom mount frost-free fridge
$1594, Appliances Online
Save big on your electricity bill with this five-star energy-rating refrigerator from Westinghouse. With a spacious 496-litre capacity, this unit is perfect for larger households. Plus, with its easy-glide telescopic runners in the freezer, rummaging for your favourite frozen foods is seamless – no matter how full it is.
Key features:
- 496L capacity
- 5-star energy rating
- Spill safe shelves
- Telescopic runners in the freezer
- Full-width humidity-controlled crisper bin
Also available at:
- $1599, The Good Guys
- $1599, Bing Lee
02
Electrolux 425L Ultimate Taste 500 bottom mount refrigerator
$1842, Appliances Online
Easy to rearrange with its FlexStor system, the shelves in this bottom mount fridge can be adjusted to fit items of all shapes and sizes. Plus, this fridge is made to last with its TasteLockAuto crispers that ensure fruits and vegetables stay fresh, coupled with EvenTemp technology that minimises temperature fluctuations.
Key features:
- TasteLockAuto crispers
- FlexStor storage system
- TasteGuard deodoriser
- EvenTemp technology
03
Samsung 640L FamilyHub French door frost-free smart refrigerator
$4197 (usually $4399), Appliances Online
Miles ahead of the pack, the Samsung Family Hub fridge is part fridge, part personal assistant (almost). You can shop for groceries using its in-built screen, or use the associated app to see what’s inside your fridge anytime, anywhere. It’s also voice-activated, which means you can ask it to find recipes, add items to your grocery list, or set a timer without lifting a finger.
Key features:
- Family Hub to share pictures, photos, personal recipes and even to watch TV
- Food AI to see what’s in your fridge via a smart phone
- Recipe planner by Food AI makes mealtimes easy
Also available at:
- $4399, The Good Guys
04
Haier 489L French door refrigerator
$1649, The Good Guys
If plenty of freezer space is a top priority, Haier’s French door fridge is an option worth considering. It even has a super-freeze function so you can rapidly freeze fresh food to lock in as many nutrients as possible. And, for under $2000, this fridge has all the bells and whistles you could ask for including a filtered water and ice dispenser.
Key features:
- Convenient external controls to easily adjust temperature
- MyZone adjustable temperature drawer
- Non-plumbed water dispenser
- SuperFreeze function
05
Fisher & Paykel Series 9 integrated dual zone refrigerator
$3999 (usually $4499), Bing Lee
With the option to customise this fridge to your own kitchen cabinetry and its flush-fit design, this fridge from Fisher & Paykel is made for the design-forward kitchen. Plus, with its five-star energy rating, you know it’ll do wonders for your kitchen and your electricity bill.
Key features:
- 5 star energy rating
- Flush-fit design
- Customisable with your own kitchen cabinetry
- ActiveSmart Foodcare adjusts the temperature, airflow and humidity in your fridge to suit you
- Independent food zones
Is a smart fridge worth it?
With smart home techonology creeping into just about every room of the house, it should come as no surprise that fridges are often now packed full of tech-y features for those of us who like to stay synched up.
While not 100% necessary, smart tech can go a long way to making your life a little easier. According to Colin Jones, a simple “tap to view” option can be a game changer. “Some fridges are even able to provide you with dinner options based on the foods you have left in your fridge,” he says. “Smart technology in fridges can even assist with changing the temperature of your fridge from your phone, simply log in and change depending on what is in your unit.” Which brings us to the other draw card for a smart fridge: its ability to connect with your other devices. This allows your fridge to act as a family hub, giving you the ability to send or receive messages, create a noticeboard, shopping lists or reminders, and can even let you know while you’re out at the local supermarket whether your groceries are nearing their expiry date.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that tech inclusions significantly up the price, with smart fridges generally starting around the $4000 mark. Another key thing to note, as divulged by the team at Bing Lee, is that like all tech, smart fridges are not immune to time; “with technology constantly evolving, older smart fridges become a functioning fridge that has no smart functionality. A traditional fridge should last you around 15 years, while smart fridge tech functions will only last as long as the technology is at the forefront.”
How much should you spend on a fridge?
From bar fridges that only just edge over the $100 mark all the way up to the fanciest finds in the tens of thousands, there is an incredibly wide scope when it comes to price. According to Colin Jones, the answer to this question really depends on a few factors. “There is no particular price point that one should be looking at, it is about considering you and your families needs and what type of fridge would be best suited,” he says.
As Bing Lee experts point out, it should also be a considered decision. “Brand new refrigerators typically cost between $1,000 and $2,000, but what you spend depends on its future uses and in turn will dramatically change the type, price and potentially brand. Being both reasonably expensive and designed to stay with you for a long time, it’s really important to make the right decision.”
What is a fridge-freezer?
As the name suggests, a fridge-freezer is simply a unit with a fridge and a freezer component combined. They are commonly used in most modern kitchens, as buying a fridge-freezer is often more convenient, versatile, and cost-efficient (in comparison to buying a standalone fridge and a chest freezer). However, it is important to note that fridge-freezers generally have a smaller capacity than standalone units but are usually big enough for the average Australian household.
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