Upright freezer

Tidy life, tidy mind? If that’s how you roll, you’ll welcome the extra storage options and versatility that an upright (or vertical) freezer can offer. Basically a fridge that freezes, the roomiest single-door styles can hold up to around 380 litres. Most models are frost-free and don’t need defrosting (hurrah!). They’re ideal for stockpiling meats, pasta sauces, casseroles or homemade soup stock for the convenience of food in a flash. Bigger broods can also pigeon-pair a single door upright freezer with a matching fridge in the one sleek and seamless dream appliance for the ultimate in food storage and bulk-buy power.

Features To Look For In An Upright Freezer

Partial to an icy OJ with brekkie, or a scotch on the rocks sundowner? Go for a model with a plumbed ice maker for ice cubes on demand. Transparent drawers will help you remember that leftover curry you slung into the freezer last weekend. Versatile adjustable shelving and baskets will assist in maintaining law and order. Touch controls and digital display mean you’ll always know what’s going on inside your freezer. Auto fast freeze (or quick freeze) will snap freeze your freshly cooked meals to seal in their goodness.

Fridge freezer

Not in the market for a standalone freezer? Upgrading to a fridge freezer with greater freezing capacity and the latest features can revolutionise family mealtimes (and happy hour!). Here are some top tips when it comes to choosing the right fridge freezer for your home.

Features To Look For In A Fridge Freezer

The number one feature that people look for when upgrading their fridge or freezer is an ice dispenser. Some models can make you cubed and crushed ice – even ice balls – at the flick of a button. Having a dispenser on the outside of the fridge also means you don’t have to open the door, so the cold air stays inside.

Along with auto fast freeze, the smartest fridges can now split temperature controls across various compartments so you can boost your fridge or freezer space to cater more easily for family needs or forthcoming festivities.

Why should fridges have all the fun? Some freezer models now come with fashionable matte black finishes, too. However, most standalone freezers are either classic white (it won’t show fingerprints), or the chef’s favourite: slick stainless steel. Fridge freezers are another story. Shake up your kitchen energy with anything from matte or gloss black, to stainless steel and vintage-inspired gelato shades – even a racy red.

Fridges and freezers are on 24/7, so it’s no surprise they’re one of the biggest energy zappers in your home. And if you have an old model, with outdated cooling technology, it could be costing you hundreds of dollars a year to run. Factor energy savings into your budget when weighing up the price of a new freezer by comparing the energy-efficiency rating of each appliance. More stars equals more ongoing savings.

Don’t skimp on your pre-shop measurements. It’s essential to allow enough clearance space around your new freezer for it to regulate its temperature and function to its full potential (failure to do this could even invalidate some warranties). The amount of space needed will vary from model to model but aim generally for an extra 50mm at the top, back and sides. Factor in your freezer doors as well. They’ll need some wiggle room to swing fully open without encountering the surrounding walls.

An entry-level standalone freezer will get you a chest freezer with a capacity of about 145 litres, temperature control, adjustable wire rack, hover door (spring-lid) design, water drain for convenient defrosting and a four-star energy rating.

A top of the line model comes with a 300 litre-plus capacity, upright single door design with transparent drawers, frost-free technology (no defrosting needed), quick freeze function and a 3.5 star energy rating (5 stars when switched to fridge mode).

Looking for extra freezer storage? Visit us in-store or online to browse the biggest range at the best prices from quality brands, such as Westinghouse, Haier, Hisense and ChiQ.