Owning one of these fridges represented having Made It In Life – if you had one, you’d reached the zenith of coolness (in more ways than one).

Fast forward to adulthood and owning a fridge with a water and ice dispenser is still a somewhat-achievable symbol of affluence that many of us aspire to. Plus, they’re genuinely quite handy.

Here’s what you need to know about fridges with water and ice dispensers. Plus, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal which ones are worth the money.

If you want to find out which fridges with ice and water dispensers come out on top in our tests, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

How much do I need to spend on a fridge with an ice or water dispenser?

Most fridges with ice and water dispensers are either French-door or side-by-side models, which are generally at the more expensive end of the market.

And you will inevitably pay more for a fridge with fancy features – no surprises there.

A fridge with a water dispenser is likely to cost you a minimum of $1269 for a freezer-on-bottom model, and as much as $4500+ for a French-door fridge. Add in an ice dispenser as well and costs goes up even further: $2199 for a side-by-side model and over $5000 for a French-door fridge.

(Prices based on the fridges in our current review.)

Do you want to give up the freezer space?

Those dispensers have to fit somewhere, and they’ll eat into the usable storage space in your fridge or freezer. 

An ice dispenser can take up almost 30% of your freezer space. For side-by-side fridges, this is an especially big issue because the freezer space is already quite narrow.

Ice trays aren’t that difficult to use: ask yourself whether an ice dispenser is actually a must-have.

Of course, if you fancy yourself as a home bartender, an ice dispenser may be a must-have for you.

If you want to get really fancy, you can now get fridges that make “craft ice” – those huge spheres of ice you get in overpriced cocktails at trendy bars. LG makes these fridges, and some Samsung fridges make ice cubes in two different sizes.

Can’t plumb?��

Fridges with these dispensers need to get their water from somewhere. Most need to be hooked up to the plumbing, which pretty well rules them out for renters. But some models can work around this.

We’re seeing more and more fridges with water and ice dispensers that don’t require plumbing. Instead, they have an internal water reservoir that does the same thing. You just need to remember to top it up.

These models typically offer only water or ice. Some can do both, but that’s not as common. We note which fridges offer these features without plumbing in our test results.

Tight on space? Options may be limited

You can find a regular-sized fridge with a water dispenser, but they’re less common than French-door or side-by-side styles. 

In our entire fridges review of more than 100 products, 19 fridges have both ice and water dispensers, 11 have a water dispenser only, and four have ice dispensers but not water dispensers.

Of those with water dispensers only, four are single width (freezer-on-bottom style), and they don’t score as well the larger fridges. Just one of the four ice-only fridges is single width.

If you’re looking for an ice-dispensing fridge for a small space, you’ll have very few options. Some freezer-on-top or freezer-on-bottom style fridges do come with an ice drawer, which is a good space-saving alternative to an ice dispenser that still allows you fast access to plenty of ice.

On the upside, single-width fridges cost less to run than French-door or side-by-side fridges. The 10-year running costs for French-door fridges in our current test range from $1248 to $2276. 

By comparison, the 10-year running costs for top- or bottom-mount fridges in our current test range from $612 to $1560. 

Australia’s best fridge brand

Which brand of fridge should you buy? By analysing our test results and taking member feedback into consideration, we’ve identified the best brands of the year. 

Here’s how the brands compare.

Best fridge brand 2025: Mitsubishi Electric

Best fridge brand 2025 scores:

• Mitsubishi Electric – 78%
• LG – 75%
• Samsung – 74%
• Fisher & Paykel – 71%
• Westinghouse – 71%

What are the best fridges with water and ice dispensers?

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

And don’t forget to measure your space – you don’t want to find that your new fridge won’t fit in your kitchen! Our fridge size and dimensions guide is a good place to start, plus our reviews list each fridge’s dimensions.

The post The best fridges with water and ice dispensers appeared first on ����Vlog.

There are a staggering number of fridges on the market – all with different features, finishes and sizes. Not to mention the huge range of prices, from hundreds to many thousands of dollars. 

It’s a big investment, and if you choose badly you could be stuck with a dud for years. That’s why ����Vlog has been methodically testing fridges for decades: to help you find the best fridge for your needs.

Our lab experts assess key criteria including how fresh they keep your food, whether they maintain a stable temperature, how much energy they use, and how much they’ll cost to run.

Over the years, they’ve uncovered some impressive fridges alongside some seriously poor performers that scored below 50%. Not only do some of them cost thousands of dollars, they’ll also struggle to keep your food fresh, costing you even more over the years.

We’ve reviewed more than 100 popular fridge models in our accredited labs to cut through the advertising spin and help you decide which to buy.

Past contenders

In the past, we’ve warned consumers to avoid a number of subpar fridges.

Some lowlights include:

• Smeg FAB38RCRAU, known as “the worst fridge we’ve ever tested”.
• Smeg FAB32RRDNA1, which failed its energy check and scored just 34% overall.
• Ikea Nedkyld fridge, which took out a ����Vlog Shonky Award.

Fortunately, these fridges have been discontinued since we named and shamed them. 

The fridges to avoid buying

Unlike the fridges listed above, these low-scoring models are still on the market – so make sure you steer clear.

Hisense HRSBS649SW

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 40%
• Temperature stability score: 21%
• Price: $1599

This is the lowest scoring fridge in our review. Not exactly a sought-after accolade – and a fridge you should definitely avoid at all costs.

It fails to rise above mediocrity in almost all aspects of our test, with particularly troubling temperature fluctuation and evenness results.

Individual performance results aren’t the absolute worst we’ve seen but collectively, they point to an incredibly average fridge with no notable redeeming features.

Not only does the overall temperature of the fridge and freezer fluctuate, there are also warmer and colder spots throughout. Your ice cream and fresh produce will really feel the heat (or cold), depending on where you put them.

Read the full Hisense HRSBS649SW review.

Bosch KFN96VPEAA

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 13%
• Price: $3299

In a previous review, we found a $2198 Bosch fridge that scored just 45% overall and rated just 5% for temperature stability.

This time it’s a $3300 French-door model that’s marginally better on temperature stability, but only just: it scored 13% in our test and couldn’t hold a stable temperature in the freezer or fresh food compartment. 

It performed worse than a number of cheaper French-door fridges, so avoid making a $3000 mistake by checking our detailed fridge reviews before you buy. 

Read the full Bosch KFN96VPEAA review.

Haier HRF420BHC

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 6%
• Price: $1399

This fridge received one of the lowest temperature stability scores of all the fridges in our review.

For context, the best fridges we tested scored 90% on this metric – so 6% isn’t just bad, it’s shockingly bad.

Our lab experts rigorously assess each fridge, measuring the temperature at 12 different points in the fresh food compartment over a period of seven days to get an accurate picture of how much the temperature changes.

These kinds of wild variations mean the fridge doesn’t do its one and only job: keep your food cold (or frozen). To keep your food safe, your fridge needs to stay between 0°C and 4°C. But if the temperature rises higher than 4°C, you’re entering the food “danger zone” where bacteria can multiply.

And if the temperature in your fridge dips below 0°C, your food could freeze and then thaw again, leaving you with limp lettuce and soggy cucumber. In your freezer, temperature changes can shorten the lifespan of your frozen food and – even worse – ruin your ice cream.

We’ve found plenty of other fridges around the same price as this Haier that will actually keep your food cold, so check our review to find the best fridges for your budget. 

Read the full Haier HRF420BHC review.

Smeg FAB32RPB5AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 0%
• Price: $4290

Smeg’s done it again with another second-rate fridge. To give credit where it’s due, this one is slightly better than its predecessors – but not much.

While you’d think the company would’ve improved upon the poor temperature stability that sealed its fate as manufacturer of the “worst fridge ever”, it seems Smeg hasn’t bothered: the FAB32 scored 0% for temperature stability.

The temperature is also not evenly distributed, with the top shelf section recording significantly warmer temperatures than the bottom.

Between the sketchy temperature stability and warm patches, your food is likely to go off faster, adding extra dollars to your grocery bill – which many of us can ill afford with today’s cost of living.

And it has a huge price tag for a fridge this size: over $4000 for a fridge we classify as “small”. So, you’re not getting much bang for your buck in terms of size or performance with this fridge.

Read the full Smeg FAB32RPB5AU review.

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Is your fridge bursting at the seams trying to accommodate enough food for your large family? 

For families of five or more, and those who entertain regularly, you’ll probably need a fridge that’s at least 440L to comfortably fit in food and drinks for everyone. 

If you’re considering an extra-large fridge, you’ll need to start saving: they cost anywhere from around $1500 upwards. The most expensive fridge we’ve tested costs $18,999 (yes, really!).

When you’re dropping that sort of coin, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying something that will perform well and stand the test of time.

And the most expensive fridge isn’t always the best: seven of the best extra-large fridges we tested cost less than $3000 – so if you want a huge fridge but have a smaller budget, you don’t have to spend at the top of the range.

We’ll talk you through how to buy the best fridge for your household, and exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal the best extra-large fridges. 

If you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

How to choose the right fridge for your family

Not sure what size you’ll need? Here’s our guide to choosing the right fridge capacity.

Expert tips

����Vlog fridge expert Denis Gallagher shares his tips for choosing a fridge for a larger family.

Choose the right type

Side-by-side fridges may seem like a good size for larger families, but we don’t usually recommend them because they’re not great for temperature evenness. 

Plus, the shelves are often quite narrow, which can make it hard to fit large items.

A ‘pigeon pair’ – a separate but matching upright fridge and freezer – gives you lots more room than other fridge styles, and you can put the freezer in a different room to free up extra space in your kitchen. 

They cost more than traditional fridge styles, but a set-up that suits your lifestyle could be worth the extra money.

A French-door fridge – a bottom-mount freezer with a two-door fridge – is a good option as it has good storage capacity, and both fridge and freezer are wide enough for large platters and bulk foods.��

Again, they cost more than standard fridges, but the extra will buy you more space and convenience.

All but one of the fridges we recommend for large families are French-door fridges – we think they’re the best option unless you have the budget (and space) for a pigeon pair.

Look for flexibility

A multi-use compartment improves your fridge’s flexibility – you can allocate that compartment as extra freezer or fridge space as you need it.

Think twice about ice

If you’ve got a large family but not much space, don’t get a fridge with an ice dispenser – it can take up almost 30% of your freezer capacity.

What are the best fridges for big families?

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our thermal lab, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge reviews include information about each model’s performance, running costs, durability and features – all important factors to also consider when purchasing a fridge.

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, to kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which fridges are the top picks for larger households.

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On this page:

• Foods you definitely don't need to refrigerate
• Foods you definitely do need to refrigerate

When you’re unpacking your groceries, you’re often working on autopilot, packing items away in the fridge or cupboard based on what you’ve always done. But do you actually know which foods do and don’t need to be refrigerated?��

Obviously things like meat and dairy absolutely need to stay cool for safety reasons, but for some food, storing it in the fridge can actually make it go bad faster.��

����Vlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair��explains which foods should be stored in the fridge, and which definitely shouldn’t.

Foods you definitely don’t need to refrigerate

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are best left on the bench.��

shows that chilling tomatoes below 12°C limits their ability to generate substances that contribute to aroma and taste. In other words, they won’t be as nice to eat.

“Tomatoes lose flavour when stored in the fridge,” says Fiona. “I always keep my tomatoes in my fruit bowl or on the window sill.

“I like to buy a mixture of firm and slightly soft tomatoes so I have beautifully ripened tomatoes to use across the week.”��

And because they’re sensitive to ethylene – a gas that accelerates ripening – keeping them separate from ethylene-producing foods, such as bananas, apples, pears and oranges, will ensure your tomatoes stay fresh for longer.

����Vlog tip: Buy a mixture of firm and slightly soft tomatoes so you have ripe tomatoes across the week.

Coffee

Coffee beans and ground coffee shouldn’t go in the fridge, even in an airtight container.��

Why? Because coffee works as a deodoriser and absorbs moisture, odours and flavours from the air around it, making your morning cuppa taste less like the nectar of the gods and more like a nasty essence of ‘fridge’. Ew.

Instead, keep your beans in an airtight container in a dark space such as your pantry, away from sunlight, heat, steam and moisture.��

For the best flavour and freshness, buy your beans as fresh as possible and use them one to four weeks after roasting.

Some people like to freeze their coffee, but the US National Coffee Association says many experts recommend against this. If you do freeze it, use a truly airtight container and freeze in small portions. Once you take it out of the freezer, it’s best not to put it back in again.

Uncut root vegetables

��

Root vegetables, such as potatoes, onions, sweet potato and garlic, thrive outside the fridge.��

The humidity in fridge crispers can cause root vegetables to rot faster. It’s also important that you don’t store root vegetables together, as this can affect their flavour.

“Keeping these types of food out of the refrigerator is generally to avoid moisture absorption, as this can cause foods to ferment and reduce the taste and quality,” says Fiona.��

“It’s best to store them in a dark spot that’s cool and dry.”

According to Aloysa Hourigan, accredited practising dietitian and nutritionist, there are some exceptions to the rule, especially after the vegetables have been cut.

“Onions are best stored out of the fridge until they’re cut, then need to be covered or placed in a sealed container and kept in the fridge,” she says.

“Whole pumpkins can be stored out of the fridge for many weeks, but once cut, they need to be stored in the fridge.”

Oils and sauces

“Coconut oil is climate-dependent and will solidify at temperatures lower than 24°C, so it’s best to keep it in a cool, dark place like the pantry,” says Fiona.

But as a general guide, she says, nut and seed oils are best kept in the refrigerator, otherwise they’re more likely to oxidise and go rancid quickly.

As for condiments, whether or not you need to put it in the fridge depends entirely on the type of sauce, oil or spread, how much preserving salt or sugar it contains, and whether it’s been opened.

“With bottled sauces, such as soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, oyster sauce and curry pastes, it’s always best to check the label to see if it says ‘refrigerate after opening’,” says Aloysa.

Bread

Bread doesn’t belong in the fridge – it’ll go stale much faster than if you just keep it in the pantry.��

Instead, keep your bread in an airtight tin, bread box or, for hard-crusted bread, a brown paper bag. Avoid plastic too, as this encourages bread to go mouldy faster.��

Fresh bread will only last a few days before it naturally goes stale, but you can extend its life span by putting it in the freezer.��

This slows down the natural process of retrogradation and recrystallisation, and stops it going stale.

However, if you live in a humid climate, you may find that your bread turns mouldy quickly.��

“We found that if you freeze bread immediately after slicing, it remains fresh for quite some time,” says a ����Vlog Community member who lives in the tropics.��

“We just pop slices into the toaster straight from the freezer. Whole loaves or buns can be either oven heated or microwaved.”

Honey and peanut butter

Honey and nut spreads are all unique, so all need different types of storage. This is why it’s important to always check the label for advice.��

Honey is one of the few foods in the world that never spoils, thanks to its one-of-a-kind chemical make-up.��

The reason honey doesn’t go bad is because bacteria can’t grow in it, so it’s happy to sit at room temperature in your pantry, where it stays soft and easy to spread. When refrigerated, honey crystallises, but is still perfectly edible.

Honey’s longevity is legendary. When archeologists opened ancient Egyptian tombs, they found jars of honey from the days of the Pharaohs that were still good to eat.

Although bacteria-free, botulism may be present in honey. It’s not usually harmful to adults but that’s the reason why honey is not recommended for babies under 12 months old.

As for peanut butter, it’s fine in the pantry for three months or so after opening (in temperate climates). But to extend its shelf life and avoid oil separation, you can also keep it in the fridge, though this will harden it and could make it a bit more difficult to spread.

Basil and parsley

Some herbs such as coriander and mint are best kept in the refrigerator crisper, wrapped loosely in absorbent paper and put in a sealed container.��

But basil and parsley will turn a nasty shade of yuk if you keep them in the crisper.��

“These herbs seem to do better out of the fridge,” says Aloysa. “The dry air in the refrigerator causes the leaves to wilt easily.”

To store your basil and parsley, Fiona says, cut the bottom of the stems, place them in a jar with a small amount of water, then leave the jar in a cool place.��

“You’ll just need to change the water and cut the bottom of the stems every couple of days,” she says.

Warm leftovers

Putting hot food in the fridge can wreak havoc on its internal temperature, which may affect other food in the fridge as well.

But leave your leftovers out for too long and you run the risk of letting food poisoning bacteria multiply.��

Food shouldn’t be left out of the fridge in the of between 5°C and 60°C for more than two hours.

So, for the sake of freshness as well as food safety, portion any leftover hot food into shallow containers and allow to cool to around 60°C (roughly when it stops steaming) before placing in the fridge.

For more information, see .

Should you put eggs in the fridge?

Eggs don’t need to go in the fridge, but they’ll last longer in there.��

If they’ve been washed or refrigerated before (for instance, at the supermarket) then they should also go in your fridge at home.��

Leave the eggs in their cardboard cartons (not in the egg holders in your fridge door) to stop condensation building up. The carton also helps stop eggs absorbing odours from the rest of the fridge, and is a good reminder of the use-by date.��

Aloysa also recommends discarding any cracked eggs and not washing eggs with water because shells are porous and doing so may encourage the growth of bacteria.��

“If an egg appears dirty, the advice recommended by the egg industry is that it is OK to wipe it with a dry paper towel – but if the dirt does not come off, then it is best to discard the egg,” she says.

Find out more about egg health and safety on the , and the Queensland Government has information on .

Foods you definitely do need to refrigerate

Milk and dairy products

Cheese

Keep cheeses in the dairy compartment of your fridge – it’ll stop them absorbing odours from other foods in your fridge.��

The dairy compartment tends to be the warmest part of the fridge and keeps butter and foods like soft cheeses ready to serve.��

But you can also store these foods at colder temperatures, so you can move them elsewhere in the fridge if your dairy compartment is overflowing.��

The downside of keeping soft cheeses in the dairy compartment is that they may not last as long – so if you’re not planning to eat it straight away, put cheese in the main fridge compartment where it’s colder.��

Cling wrap can cause cheese to sweat, so it’s best stored either in the paper it came in or in baking paper, so it can breathe.��

����Vlog tip: Once you’ve wrapped it, store cheese in an airtight container with a single sugar cube in the corner – it absorbs moisture from the cheese and will minimise sweating.��

Milk

Most of us store milk in the fridge door for convenience, but the door shelves can be slightly warmer than is ideal for keeping milk – it’s best stored at or below 4°C.��

If you don’t go through milk quickly and want it to last longer, keep it in a colder place in the body of the fridge.��

Meat, poultry and seafood

These should be refrigerated as soon as possible after bringing them home from the supermarket. Pop them in the chiller compartment, which should be set close to 0°C.��

If your fridge doesn’t have a chiller, keep them in the coldest part of your fridge – usually at the back, where it’s less susceptible to warm drafts from the door regularly opening.��

How long will it last?

Raw chicken and other poultry should only be kept in your fridge for a couple of days. If you’re not going to use it within that time, you should freeze it to avoid food poisoning.��

Cooked chicken can last three or four days in the fridge in an airtight container. Just make sure you heat it to at least 70°C to kill bacteria, and don’t reheat it more than once.��

Cooked rice

Unlike other leftovers, rice has a very short shelf life: you should use it within 24 hours.��

This is because rice contains a bacterium called bacillus cereus that’s commonly found in soil and plants that grow close to the ground.��

Bacillus cereus produces toxins that can make you sick, and it’s not killed off by the cooking process. Unfortunately, warm and moist cooked rice is the ideal environment for it to grow in.

Refrigeration won’t kill bacillus cereus either, but it will slow it down. So if you’re not going to eat the rice straight away, you should refrigerate it as soon as it’s cool enough, preferably within an hour of cooking.

Make sure it’s heated to at least 60°C (preferably hotter) before serving. If you haven’t eaten it within a day or two, it’s safest to toss it. You can freeze rice immediately after cooking; it will last up to two months.��

Fruit and vegetables

Generally, these should be stored in the crisper – but see the table above for any exceptions to the rule.��

Tropical fruits can deteriorate in the crisper and are better stored in slightly warmer environments, while apricots, peaches and pears prefer a colder environment with lower humidity.��

The post Foods you do (and don’t) need to refrigerate appeared first on ����Vlog.

They work around the clock to keep our supplies fresh, and what do we do for them in return?

Leave the door open too long, load them up with too much food, leave leftovers sitting in the back until they’re unidentifiable…

And still we expect them to function optimally without changing any of the settings.

It’s a pretty one-sided relationship, really.

But if you put a little more effort into your quiet kitchen companion, it’ll reward you with a long-term affair lasting a decade or more.

Here are a few simple things you can do to make sure your fridge is still giving you goosebumps years down the track.

Keep it clean

Fridges really do get saddled with some disgusting stuff: curdled milk, furry cheese, cucumbers that have sat too long and are bordering on liquid…��

Cleaning your fridge isn’t just about making it look and smell nice, it’s also a food safety issue. Food that’s well past its prime is the perfect environment for nasty bacteria that can contaminate the other foods in your fridge, making them spoil faster and potentially making you sick.��

Giving it a thorough clean once a year will preserve your sick leave and give you a chance to get rid of anything that’s borderline biohazard.��

Cleaning your fridge regularly also helps to prolong the life of its seals, which will have a big impact on its effectiveness over the years.��

And if you use it as an opportunity to use up or get rid of excess food, it’ll allow cool air to circulate more efficiently – a full fridge is an efficient fridge, but an overloaded fridge may not work very effectively.��

Winter is the best time for fridge cleaning – the cooler weather means your food won’t warm up as quickly while it’s out of the fridge, and hopefully your frozen food will stay frozen until you pop it back in.��

(Plus winter weather is perfect for stews and braises – the best way to use up all the odds and ends in your fridge.)

Use unscented detergent and lukewarm water for cleaning, not a multi-purpose cleaner – food absorbs odours and you don’t want your butter to taste like disinfectant! Also avoid abrasive cleaning products as this can damage your fridge.��

Feeling overwhelmed by the mere thought of it? We break the task down into easy steps to help you clean and maintain your fridge.

Give it space

Fridges need breathing space as much as the rest of us.��

If your fridge is squeezed into too tight a spot then the heat it creates can’t dissipate, which means it’ll need to work even harder – and that’ll definitely shorten its working life. Not to mention it’ll push your electricity bills through the roof.

“We recommend leaving at least 5cm at the back and on each side of the fridge, and 10cm on top,” says ����Vlog fridge expert David Hill.

“This is just a rule of thumb, though – check what the manufacturer recommends for your specific fridge.”

And don’t forget about what’s on the inside: fridges need internal breathing space too. A fridge that’s bursting at the seams is going to struggle to keep everything cold uniformly – some foods might be too cold, and some too warm.��

Either way, it will negatively impact how long your food stays fresh.��

Get in the habit of doing a regular purge to clear out your fridge to make sure it can still go with the flow.��

Take care of the little things before they become big things

Addressing any issues as they arise is good practice in both relationships and fridge maintenance.��

Don’t ignore the little niggles – if you take care of them quickly, they’ll stay little and will keep your fridge happy.��

Keep an ear out for strange fridge noises. It’s reasonable to expect some noise, but if your fridge is making new sounds or has become much louder, it’s worth investigating.

Some little niggles are easily fixed with a repair job.��

If you notice your fridge seals are looking a little the worse for wear, get them replaced (or replace them yourself) as soon as you can. A poorly-sealed fridge will have to work extra hard to keep its contents cold, so the sooner you can sort out the seals, the less pressure on your fridge.��

If your food is spoiling faster than usual, that’s a clear sign that something is up. If you’ve checked the temperatures and adjusted the settings but it’s still happening, it could be a problem with the thermostat.��

Replacing the thermostat could buy you a few extra years before you need to part with your fridge, so it’s worth doing.��

����Vlog tip: Your fridge’s user manual may include some troubleshooting and maintenance tips, so check it out to see if you can sort something yourself before you call a repair person.��

Buy an energy-efficient, quality model

No amount of maintenance, cleaning or begging is going to make your fridge last longer if it’s not built to last in the first place.��

Yes, fridges can be expensive to buy upfront, but if you’re careful about what you purchase it’ll pay off in the long run in the form of a longer lifespan and lower energy bills.

Spending more doesn’t always guarantee better performance, but super-cheap whitegoods��tend to be made with lower-quality components that may well fail faster than products that are built better.��

For a budget fridge, you can expect it to last around six years. A mid-range fridge should have a lifespan of around nine years, while a high-end fridge can last up to 13 years.��

While you should always try to repair where you can, there does come a point at which it’s cheaper and more practical to replace your fridge.��

Once your fridge is around eight years old (depending on the quality), you’ll probably find it’s cheaper to replace than repair.��

And since newer fridges are more energy-efficient, they’ll save you in electricity costs too.��

The post 5 ways to make your fridge last longer appeared first on ����Vlog.

A bottom-mount fridge bends the rules of fridge design and turns the traditional ‘freezer on top, fridge on the bottom’ form on its head (quite literally) to make it easier to grab those fridge faves that you reach for multiple times a day.

If you’re still not sold on flipping the script fridge-wise, our resident refrigeration expert talks top features of bottom mounts, and more importantly, which ones to avoid.

Plus, for ����Vlog members only, we’ll reveal the four best bottom-mount fridges from our rigorous lab testing. 

If you want to find out which bottom-mount fridge comes out on top, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

Why buy a bottom-mount fridge?

It’s probably important to acknowledge upfront that the term ‘bottom-mount fridge’ may be a bit confusing.

It really means a fridge with a bottom-mounted freezer – so the fridge on top, freezer on the bottom – but for better or worse, that’s been shortened to ‘bottom-mount fridge’.

Now, if you grew up with the old-fashioned freezer-on-top fridges, you might be wondering what the point is of a fridge with a freezer on the bottom. Well, it’s all about convenience.

Think about how many times a day you open your fridge to get out the milk, vegies, cheese and the like. 

How many times do you open the freezer? Nowhere near as many, right?

In a bottom-mount fridge, the things you reach for most are much closer to eye level, making them easier to find and pick up.

You’ll pay slightly more for a bottom-mount fridge – both to purchase and to run – but it’s a small price to pay for the convenience.

Bottom- and top-mount fridges tend to have around the same freezer capacity. But freezers on the bottom are generally built with sliding drawers, whereas freezers up the top generally have shelves, which can make it harder to access frozen goods buried deep at the back of the freezer.

Ultimately, which one is best comes down to personal preference.

The bottom-mount fridge not to buy

Have your heart set on a retro-style fridge? 

Despite its good looks, we recommend you avoid the Smeg FAB32RPB5AU – a sibling of the worst fridge to ever come through our labs, the Smeg FAB38RCRAU. 

The older FAB38 model received a ����Vlog Expert Rating of 22% overall and a score of 0% for temperature stability. (Yes, zero percent).

Fortunately it’s been discontinued since we named and shamed it, but Smeg’s follow-up fridge is another flop.

For a cool $4290, the FAB32 is marginally better than its predecessor – but not by much. 

It rated 43% overall, but was also roasted by our experts, scoring 0% for temperature stability due to its tendency to fluctuate by a huge 8.4°C in the fresh food compartment. 

And with a total capacity of just 331L, that’s a heck of a lot to pay for a small fridge that won’t keep your food fresh. 

If you’re looking for a similarly sized fridge that’ll actually do the job, check our list of expert-recommended models below. 

What are the best bottom-mount fridges?

The sheer range of fridges on the market can make it hard to pick the right one – but that’s where we come in.

Only members can access our detailed fridge testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which bottom-mount fridges we rate as the pick of the bunch.

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product. 

The post The best bottom-mount fridges appeared first on ����Vlog.

How does the Samsung AI Home fridge perform in our tests?

����Vlog experts carried out a full test of Samsung’s latest smart fridge, the 615-litre AI Home (model number SRS6500BA), in our accredited labs. Regardless of how smart this fridge is (or isn’t), how it performs as a fridge is obviously a significant part of the decision as to whether you put it in your kitchen.

The AI Home fridge is a side-by-side model with a plumbed water/ice dispenser (which means you need a tap nearby). The fridge volume is around 400 litres and Freezer around 215 litres, which would be considered suitable for a family.��

Our expert tester David Hill ran the fridge through the full ����Vlog fridge test in a large thermal room at 10 degrees and 40 degrees to see how well it handled variations in ambient temperature.��

Performance in warmer ambient temperatures over 30 degrees was very good with low temperature fluctuations, which means your fruit and veg is more likely to stay fresher for longer.

Overall, the fridge performed well, particularly for a side by side fridge which can be difficult to keep uniformly consistent due to the large areas of air flow that need to be kept at a consistent temperature throughout the various shelves.

A touch-to-open sensor, where a light tap on the side of the door opens it automatically, can be handy when carrying a full load of groceries.��

How smart is the AI Home fridge?

So, the fridge is perfectly acceptable as a fridge, but how smart is it and will it control everything in your home?

Firstly, unlike most fridges which use a simple set of basic temperature controls for the fridge and freezer area, the Samsung AI Home is controlled by a 9-inch tablet touch display embedded in the right-side door.��

For those worried about more pointless tech being introduced to add extra complexity the operation of a fridge, you can rest easy.��

Our tester David found the interface for operating the primary fridge control functions incredibly easy,both with and without any Wi-Fi or smart connectivity.

Simply navigate to the ‘Fridge Manager’ on the control panel to change the fridge settings or control the ice maker as well as get instant feedback on current temperatures for the fridge and freezer section.��

It’s also a simple process to do things like change the water filter or monitor energy usage from month to month.

Once you integrate the fridge into your home network through a wireless connection��(2.4 or 5GHz), you can operate many functions as you would when using a standard smart tablet device.����

Our tech expert Elias Plastiras examined the smart credentials and found a lot to like. Downloading Samsung’s SmartThings app and creating an account is essential to making the most of this fridge but you don’t need to be using a Samsung smartphone – a standard Android or Apple iPhone will deliver a similar experience.��

The ability to control the fridge functions either from the SmartThings app on your smartphone or the tablet display on the fridge can be surprisingly useful.

The default display for the fridge display can be just a clock, artwork or a carousel of information such as your calendar, recipes, the weather or ongoing energy consumption. You can also log into a Google Calendar and view upcoming appointments or reminders on the screen.��

While there are a variety of aspects to the AI Home fridge in controlling your smart home, the interface also allows you to easily change fridge settings such as temperature (fridge and freezer), internal light settings, enable or disable the ice maker, reset the water filter, view current energy consumption and compare to previous periods.��

You can also turn on ‘holiday mode’, which keeps the freezer running normally while raising the fridge temp to a higher level (around 15 degrees) to save energy when you’re away for an extended period. This is only suitable of course if you’ve emptied out the contents of the fridge section so there is nothing in there that will spoil at the higher temperature.

Smart features: recipes, shopping lists, grocery tracking, speakers and more

One of the more useful smart app recipe features can help you decide�� what to cook using the food that’s in your fridge and/or about to expire.

Unfortunately, this information isn’t magically collected by the fridge as you need to log your food in manually as you put it in the fridge.��

This process can be tiresome but there is a menu selection for various fruit, veg and other common items such as milk and yogurt so if you are diligent, the result could be a much better awareness of what you have and what you need to use before it spoils.

The recipe feature is very useful when you are feeling uninspired and lets you browse various recipes to be followed in a step-by-step process.

Simply swipe the screen for the next step and you can add ingredients for a recipe to your shopping list, which will then be accessible through the SmartThings app when you’re out shopping.����

If you want to cook multiple recipes and send the ingredients to your shopping list, then you’ll need to sort the list by recipe to make it easier to buy the necessary ingredients.

If you enter an expiry date for a food item, then the tablet can let you know when something needs to be used and suggest recipes for it (though you may need other ingredients for it).��

Apart from that, it’s nice to be able to control the fridge functions from the screen or the SmartThings app on a phone, and the tablet displaying a clock or calendar information on the fridge can be useful.��

There is no central security for the tablet, but you can add a PIN to the apps individually. The recipes seem to always be accessible without a PIN, as they are not personal info.

While the fridge includes speakers so you can interact online or listen to music, don’t expect a great audio experience as the speaker is at the bottom of the door and sounds distant and muffled.

Looking for a new fridge?

If you’re not wowed by fancy features associated with smart fridges, the good news is you don’t have to spend several thousands of dollars to buy a top-performing fridge.

Our expert testers rate and compare more than 80 fridges from leading brands at different price points so you can find the best model for your kitchen. View ����Vlog’s latest fridge reviews.

The post Is this latest Samsung smart fridge a clever kitchen addition? appeared first on ����Vlog.

If you’re ready to slash those power bills, it’s time to get forensic with your appliances and your fridge is a good place to start.��

Sure, it’s not the hungriest beast in the house (your heating and cooling system gobbles up 40% of your energy), but your fridge still chews through 8% of your total energy use.

If your fridge is older or needs repairs, you could be spending a lot more to run it than you would if you had a newer, more efficient model.��

How much does a fridge cost to run?

The size of your fridge, and the type, can have a big impact on how much it costs to run.��

Unsurprisingly, large fridges cost more than smaller fridges to run because of the larger space they have to cool, and newer models are generally more efficient than older ones.��

Your massive French-door fridge may look sleek and be the life of the party when you’re entertaining, but depending on the model you own, it could cost twice as much to run as a more modest bottom-mount model.

For instance, in our most recent fridge review��we found that one fridge model costs as little as $62 per year to operate, while some more expensive, larger fridges cost up to $227 per year to run.��

Our fridge reviews include a 10-year running cost for each model, so you can easily compare how much each one will cost you over the lifetime of the fridge.

����Vlog tip: Energy star ratings aren’t just for show – they tell you how efficient your fridge is compared to others of a similar size. Choosing a 385-litre fridge with a four-star energy rating could��compared to a similar-sized one-star energy guzzler.��

How to slash your fridge’s running costs

Want to stop your fridge burning a hole in your pocket? There are things you could be doing to help keep your energy costs in check, from ensuring it’s placed in a shady spot in your kitchen so it doesn’t have to work hard to stay cool, to minimising how often you open the fridge door.

Staring into the fridge while pondering life’s mysteries? That’s a surefire way to inflate your energy bill. (Looking at you, teenagers.) Find out more ways to slash your fridge running costs.

When to say goodbye to your old fridge

Your fridge might be costing you more than you think, especially if it’s seen better days.��

If you notice your energy bills are climbing or your fridge isn’t in the best of health –��perhaps it feels very hot to the touch or your milk is curdling well before its use-by date –��a bit of maintenance or repair might be needed to keep things in order.��

For optimal performance and efficiency, your fridge’s temperature should be set to 3°C in the fridge and -18°C in the freezer. Check the temperature with a fridge thermometer and check it regularly – if your fridge doesn’t respond well to the change in the temperature of your kitchen, you may need to adjust it manually.��Learn more about fridge temperatures.

If tweaking the temp doesn’t work, the seals or thermostat may need replacing. Depending on the age of your fridge, this could be a good or bad investment: here’s how to figure out if it’s cheaper to repair or replace your fridge.

If you’ve tried everything to save an older, power-hungry fridge and the cost of potential repairs just doesn’t add up, it might be time to say goodbye. Upgrading to a newer, more efficient model might hurt upfront, but your wallet (and your groceries!) will thank you in the long run.��

If you’re in the market for a new fridge, don’t forget to check ����Vlog reviews to ensure you’re getting the best performing model for your money.��

The post How much your fridge is costing you to run – and how you can make savings�� appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• Signs your fridge isn't working properly and what to do��
• How to figure out if a fridge is cheaper to repair or replace
• When is it cheaper to replace your fridge?
• What to consider before repairing or replacing your fridge

If your fridge is acting up or – worst case – has completely broken down, there are a few things you can do before deciding whether you need to buy a new one.

A DIY repair or service from a professional could fix the problem, saving you from having to shell out anywhere from $500 up to $5000 or more for a brand-new fridge. Or, if it’s still under warranty, you may be able to get a free repair or replacement (even if it’s not, your consumer rights may still entitle you to a free remedy – more on this below).��

We help you work out whether it makes sense for you to organise a repair or whether it’s better to replace it.��

Signs your fridge isn’t working properly and what to do��

It’ll likely be obvious if your fridge isn’t in the best of health – if it feels warm inside, very hot to the touch (on the outside), or if your food is spoiling quickly, these are all signs your fridge may not be functioning to the best of its ability.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that the seals have deteriorated or it’s making some seriously loud noises (����Vlog experts say the noise should only be as loud as a continuous hum, like a relatively quiet motor, and much quieter than a vacuum cleaner).��Or if you’ve experienced a huge jump in your energy bills, a dodgy fridge may be the reason.

If the worst has happened and your fridge has just stopped chilling completely, you need to act fast. Follow our advice on what you should do��to save your food when your fridge breaks down, then, your first step is to find out if you’re entitled to a free repair or replacement.

Repair or replacement under warranty

If your fridge is still under warranty, you should contact the retailer or manufacturer to ask for a repair or replacement (you’ll need your receipt or proof of purchase).

The typical manufacturer’s warranty that comes with a new fridge is two years, although they do vary, so it’s important to check. Even if the fridge is outside its warranty period, you may still be able to claim a free repair or replacement under the Australian Consumer Law.

Under consumer guarantees, Australians are entitled to a��repair, replacement or refund��if there’s a major problem with a product or service. These consumer rights apply automatically to every product purchased in Australia, and a product needs to last for a reasonable period of time – which depends on the type of product and how much you paid for it.

For example, if you have an expensive, high-end fridge that breaks down after just a few years (and you’re outside the warranty period), you may be entitled to a refund, replacement or repair as you would reasonably expect a pricey product like this to last longer.

Has the fridge model been recalled?

If a fridge manufacturer receives enough complaints about a certain problem, they may issue a recall. If you have a model that has been recalled, you may be entitled to a free repair or replacement – regardless of how old it is. To find out if your fridge has been part of a recall, check the brand, model and serial number and check current recalls at the ACCC website.��

How to figure out if a fridge is cheaper to repair or replace

If you can’t get the retailer to send out a repair person for free or offer a replacement, your next step is to try some troubleshooting and potentially sort out the problem yourself – it might be easier than you think!

Check the appliance instruction manual as it will likely have some advice, and also check our guide to fixing common fridge problems��such as if there is a layer of ice at the bottom of your fridge or your water dispenser has stopped working.

If you can’t resolve the issue yourself, follow these steps.

1. Gather information about the problem. Before contacting tradespeople online or in person, ensure you can describe what the issue is, where the problem is, when it started, when it occurs etc. You could take a photo, video or audio recording if relevant in order to help the tradesperson make a potential diagnosis to get as accurate a quote as possible.

2. Get at least three quotes. You could start with the repair department of the retailer you bought it from, if they have one, an official repairer recommended by the manufacturer and an independent repair professional. Many tradespeople will likely give you an estimate for the cost of the work which may not be the final price depending on what the issue is. Ensure you understand the price for the call-out fee and initial labour, and whether they will potentially charge you more for materials or spare parts before you agree. If possible, get confirmation via email so you have it in writing.

3. Compare and assess the quotes. Make sure you understand what each quote does and doesn’t cover, and if it includes parts, extra labour if the job lasts longer etc. Don’t automatically choose the cheapest quote. Choose the one that is the most comprehensive and covers everything you think you will need.

When is it cheaper to replace your fridge?

A fridge repair could cost anywhere from around $50 up to $500 depending on what the issue is.��

The average cost to repair a fridge is around $300. As fridges are quite expensive appliances, it often makes sense to do simple repairs if the repair price remains around this level.��

Also, think about how much you initially spent on your fridge and how much longer you think it’s going to last, and therefore whether you should repair or replace it.��

����Vlog experts estimate that fridges can last anywhere between six and 20 years, depending on the quality of the fridge, but the average life expectancy is around 10 years.��

To figure out whether the cost of the repair is worth it compared to the cost of buying a new fridge, you can do a rough calculation.

Divide the price you originally paid for the fridge by 10 (the average life expectancy of a fridge), then multiply this by the remaining years you expect the fridge to last.��

So, if you paid $1500 for your fridge, divide by 10 to get a value of $150 per year. If your fridge has broken down after five years, it potentially has another five years of life left in it, so the appliance has a rough value of $750. If you’ve been quoted repairs of around $300, it would likely make sense to consider repairing.��

If your fridge is more than six years old and suffers a major fault (such as compressor failure), then consider replacing it, because a new one will be more efficient and have lower running costs.��

And if, after speaking with several tradespeople, the cost estimate to fix your fridge’s issue is more than $300–500 and edging closer to the price of a completely new and more efficient fridge, it may be time to consider buying a new one.��

What to consider before repairing or replacing your fridge

Before you make your final decision, ask yourself the following questions.

• How long will the repair last and is the issue likely to reoccur? If it’s only a year or two, you may be throwing good money after bad (this is a good question to ask a tradesperson when they quote you).��
• What else could go wrong? You may replace one part only to have another one fail soon after.��
• How long will spare parts be available for the model of your fridge?
• What are the logistical challenges? Can repairs be carried out in your home? Will retailers charge delivery fees? How long will you have to wait for parts?
• Have your fridge needs changed? Swapping out a faulty large fridge for a smaller, more efficient one that suits your needs, for example if you’ve downsized, might be a good option. New fridges are likely to have technological advancements you’ll enjoy and make use of, and a new product warranty.
• You may be concerned about the environmental impact of disposing of an old appliance that isn’t quite dead, but weigh that up against the environmental benefits of a modern, more efficient appliance.

Can you recycle your old fridge?

If you decide to buy a new fridge, the next thing on your mind is probably how to dispose of your old fridge. Old fridges and freezers must be disposed of correctly so they can be degassed. This is important because they contain harmful refrigerants that can leak when they are dumped or sent to landfill without being degassed.��

For this reason, it’s illegal to leave your old fridge on the curb outside your house or dump elsewhere. Instead, enquire with your council about pick up or recycling services for whitegoods.

Some retailers offer take-back schemes when you buy a new fridge with them, so keep this in mind when you’re considering who to buy your next fridge from. Ask whether they’ll take your old appliance when you purchase a new one, and if it will be recycled.��

Depending on where you live, there may also be independent recycling services you can book to pick up your old fridge. They may charge a fee, but it can be an easy way to ensure your old fridge doesn’t end up causing environmental damage in landfill.��

If you have decided to replace your fridge, start your research at our��buying guide. ����Vlog members can view the��top recommended models��in our expert fridge review.

The post Is it cheaper to repair or replace your fridge when it breaks down? appeared first on ����Vlog.

Favoured for their stylish looks with multiple doors, good storage capacity and added features (always dreamt of having a built-in water dispenser?), these fridges are billed as a great option for large households or keen entertainers.

But here’s the catch: they’re among the priciest models on the market, with some costing more than $5000.

So, are French-door fridges worth it, and which is the best to buy?

Price doesn’t always equal performance

����Vlog experts have put French-door fridges through their paces in our labs and note that each has slightly different features and performs differently.

And price doesn’t always equal performance – some that cost several thousand dollars failed to impress our testers.

Here we explain some pros and cons and, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we reveal which ones came out top in our tests.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

What is a French-door fridge?

French-door fridges have double doors that open outwards to reveal wide shelves inside. You can open a single door at a time or both doors at the same time. They may have one or two large freezer drawers on the bottom, or another ‘cupboard-style’ freezer.

French-door fridges are typically larger than other types:

• Average width: 920–960mm
• Average height: 1700–1800mm
• Average depth: 900–960mm.

Best things about French-door fridges

• Modern and stylish: If you’ve spent thousands on a luxe kitchen renovation and want a top-of-the-range fridge that looks the biz, a French-door fridge fits the brief.����
• Large with good storage capacity: It’s easier to fit wide platters or dishes in both the fridge and freezer than in a single-door unit, and they usually have larger door bins than traditional fridges.
• Multiple configurations and styles available: Their large size means they have many options for shelving configurations based on your needs, and you can opt for a drawer-style freezer or cupboard-style freezer.��
• Lots of added features available: These include built-in ice and water dispensers and multi-use compartments. One brand’s French-door fridges also include an ‘auto-fill’ water jug.

Disadvantages of French-door fridges

• They’re bigger so they use more energy and cost more to run: The 10-year running cost for French-door models in our current test ranges from $1280 to $2276. By comparison, the 10-year running cost for top- or bottom-mount fridges in our current test ranges from $620 to $1820.
• Ice makers and water chillers can take up a lot of fridge space: Ice makers, for example, can take up to 30% of your freezer capacity.��
• Large physical form: They can take up a lot of space and can’t fit in a tight corner.
• More expensive than other styles: The French-door fridges we’ve tested in our labs range in price from $1599 to $5099, with the average price being about $2900. By comparison, the top-mount fridges in our test cost from $599, with bottom-mount fridges starting at $749.

What are the best French-door fridges?

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which French-door fridges are our experts’ top picks.

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