How to Pick the Perfect Fridge Freezer

Essential appliances for a modern kitchen, fridges and freezers have come a long way. No longer are you restricted to a boring, white chest freezer that needs to go in the garage, or a fridge that just keeps things a bit cold. These days, fridges and freezers come separately or combined and in such a variety of designs and features that it can be hard to make your mind up. Come and speak to us at Paul James Kitchen Design if you want expert advice on the right appliances for your kitchen…and here’s our guide to picking the best for you.

Size Matters

The most obvious consideration is – where will you put it? Most fridges will fit neatly under a work surface, or if you have a big kitchen you could opt for a tall larder fridge.  Fridge sizes are measured in litres, and the higher the litre, the more you will fit in it, something that anyone with a large family needs to think about.

Built-in or freestanding?

A built-in fridge and freezer are great for seamless looking kitchens and can be elegantly integrated into your kitchen – you could even choose a door to match your existing kitchen cupboards. Free standing fridge freezers work well for flexibility, they are easier to move about and cater for bigger families.

Features

Flexible storage, wine racks, egg trays and removable shelves are available in most fridges – just have a good look inside before you buy. Some have add-on extras too. Auto-defrosting is a must for fridges and freezers to stop ice building up and keep them working properly.

One great addition to a fridge/freezer is a temperature warning light, which alerts you if it’s getting too warm.
Jargon Buster

Deciphering the jargon on a fridge or freezer description can be tricky so here’s a handy guide.

• 4* freezer  -  this will freeze down fresh food as well as store frozen food for up to 12 months.
• Automatic defrost - this just stops frost build-up so you don’t need to manually defrost the fridge – a horrible job!
• Climate controlled zones - this feature lets you to have different temperatures within the fridge, so you can keep your meat very cold or your salad slightly cooler to keep it crisp.
• Energy rating – all fridges and freezers are energy rated, look for the lowest ratings. A++ is the most efficient and A+, A, B or C are all fine.
• Humidity controlled crisper - helps keep fruit and veg fresher for longer – just choose high humidity for vegetables and low humidity for fruit.
• Antibacterial coating - stops germs colonising your fridge and prolongs the life of your food.
• Frost free - No frost build-up, no defrosting needed.
• Air cooling -cool air is circulated by a fan for an even temperature throughout the fridge.

Take a look at our fantastic range of high quality kitchen appliances for inspiration.

Six Kitchen Tools You Need To Replace Right Now

Cooking in your own kitchen can be a great way to make healthy meals….but at the same time, the equipment used in home kitchens isn’t controlled by the health and safety laws that keep us safe from germs or other contamination with pre-cooked food. If you’re still using these you might want to consider replacing them…

Non-stick Pans

We all have a few of these in our kitchen cupboards, but did you know that heating a non-stick pan too high can release toxic fumes? OK, they won’t kill you but they can make you feel poorly. The heat needed to release the fumes is much higher than we’d usually need to cook our eggs in the morning, but older and damaged pans will start releasing fumes at lower temperatures. The solution – don’t keep old, scratched or damaged non-stick pans, and as newer versions produce less toxic fumes, if you have any pans dating back to before 2010, get rid of them, too.

Grill Brushes

It’s barbecue season, but don’t get out last year’s brush and think everything will be fine... Bristles fall off old brushes and end up in your food – not nice. Especially when you consider that bristles can puncture your throat, stomach or intestines. They aren’t exactly expensive, so just get a new one…

Plastic Food Containers

These have been under the spotlight in the media because some older food storage containers can contain bisphenol A, a compound that has been linked to all sorts of things, like cancer, heart disease and more. If your food containers are a bit old and decrepit, treat yourself to some more; experts believe that BPA can seep into your food and cause all sorts of problems. Newer containers are less likely to contain the compound.

Chopping Boards

You really do need to make sure that you replace your chopping boards regularly, whether they are plastic or wooden. Soap and water will get the surfaces clean but not the cuts and gouges that they inevitably pick up. These little crevices will be the perfect place for germs to breed, and can be very hard to disinfect. As soon as your board start looking a bit scratched, bin it and get a new, clean one.

Kitchen Sponges

The perfect place for bacteria to multiply, sponges are damp and porous.  You can try rinsing it in hot water and even blasting it for 30 seconds in the microwave, but remember to replace it regularly otherwise you’re just spreading germs around with it. Experts suggest two weeks is optimum time for sponges to be binned.

Dish Cloths

Just like sponges, these are bacteria magnets.  If you’re like many people (oops) and you also use the cloth to wipe over your kitchen surfaces, you are potentially asking for trouble. Wash them on a high temperature frequently and replace them often,