Fridge Freezers

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Jenelopy Jun 2019 10:35pm, 14 Jun 2019 422 posts	0 Jenelopy After getting some great dishwasher advice on The Dishwasher Club Thread (and developing a fear of helping to load someone else dishwasher!), I am looking for fridge freezer advice. We currently have a very old Fisher & Paykel fridge freezer, it looked pretty old when I bought it second hand 11 years ago. It still works, but the freezer needs defrosting often and isn't really big enough. We'll be rebuilding our house soon so will have a new kitchen. I want to design the new kitchen so that it will fit whatever size fridge freezer we want to end up with. There are only two of us, but we have a productive veggie garden, fruit trees, and I don't like going to the shops too often. Currently our fridge is 280l and the freezer 100l. I don't like spending money, but would spend more to get lower energy use and/or a longer lasting appliance. Does the fetch collective have any helpful advice on size, features, brands, etc?
Jenelopy Jun 2019 10:40pm, 14 Jun 2019 423 posts	0 Jenelopy Currently on our shortlist are: LG GB-450UPLX (https://www.lg.com/nz/fridges/lg-GB-450UPLX-450l-energy-efficient-fridge) which has great energy efficiency, but OH wonders if it is big enough SRS583NLS (Samsung 584L Side by Side Fridge Freezer), which looked great until we saw the energy efficiency RF522ADW5 (https://www.fisherpaykel.com/nz/kitchen/fridges-freezers/french-door/activesmart-fridge-790mm-french-door-519l.RF522ADW5.html) recommended by our architect but has poor energy efficiency, is expensive, and I've heard poor things about the reliability of modern fisher and paykel appliances
McGoohan Jun 2019 10:42pm, 14 Jun 2019 40,027 posts	0 McGoohan We're very predictable - we have a Bosch Fridge Freezer. We had a Bosch stand-alone freezer as well but it broke (after about 8 years) so I got a cheapish replacement Bush. We have lots of freezer space now, nine drawers across the two.
Jenelopy Jun 2019 10:45pm, 14 Jun 2019 424 posts	0 Jenelopy Are drawers better than shelves? We currently have 2 shelves and it is a pain getting things out from the back (though given how often I have to completely empty it to defrost, not such a big deal...) My parents have plastic drawers, but some of the handles have cracked
McGoohan Jun 2019 10:51pm, 14 Jun 2019 40,028 posts	0 McGoohan The Bosch that died, the front of the drawer cracked then fell off. It meant the ice kind of 'leaked' and resulted in its eventual demise. The drawers in the Bush are excellent. I'll take some photos.
McGoohan Jun 2019 10:55pm, 14 Jun 2019 40,029 posts	0 McGoohan Here we are: The Bush freezer with door open and this is the top drawer Lots of leftovers stored for future meals and some Charlie Bigham pies.
Jenelopy Jun 2019 10:56pm, 14 Jun 2019 426 posts	0 Jenelopy Thanks
McGoohan Jun 2019 10:58pm, 14 Jun 2019 40,030 posts	0 McGoohan You can tell that we reuse a lot of margarine tubs to store frozen meals/leftovers
Jenelopy Jun 2019 3:06am, 15 Jun 2019 427 posts	0 Jenelopy We do too, and hummus containers. The margarine ones get leftovers or crumble topping in, the hummus ones get hummus, stewed apple or falafel mix. Life got a lot easier when I made a list to go on the outside of the freezer listing what was in it and on what shelf! Also, I have my TBC memento there as well, thanks .B.
quimby Jun 2019 4:47am, 15 Jun 2019 4,300 posts	0 quimby We have a Samsung and it has lasted well (15 years I think?). But we underestimated the freezer space we needed, we are always juggling. On defrosting, though, never had to do it. Modern stuff is great.