Types of American-style fridge freezer
- French door: a pair of fridge doors over a pull-out freezer drawer. The full-width shelves take platters and party trays with ease.
- Quad door: two fridge doors over two freezer doors, dividing frozen food into two easy-to-reach compartments.
- Built-in: large French door and extra-wide models fitted into tall kitchen units and faced with matching panels.
Prefer separate fridge, freezer and wine columns? See large built-in cooling. For narrower models, browse all fridge freezers.
Which design suits you?
| Design | Suits | Worth checking |
|---|
| French door | Wide shelves for trays, platters and boxed party food. | Space in front for the freezer drawer to open fully. |
| Quad door | Families who like frozen food split into two zones. | How far it projects with doors open, and the full width with handles. |
| Built-in | Fitted kitchens wanting American-style capacity without it on show. | The housing size and which panels or doors it takes. |
| Plumbed ice and water | A constant supply of ice and chilled water with no tank to refill. | A cold water pipe nearby, and a filter that needs changing occasionally. |
Making the choice
Size and capacity
Most freestanding models are around 90cm wide and deeper than an ordinary fridge freezer. Leave enough room in front for the doors to swing and the drawers to pull out.
Ice and water
An ice maker either works from a tank or tray you fill yourself, or connects to a cold water pipe. Plumbed models keep ice coming without any refilling, and some also pour chilled water. The product page says which type you're looking at.
Freestanding or built-in?
A freestanding model sits in a gap with breathing space around it. A built-in model needs a housing built to the maker's measurements and takes either kitchen-matching panels or stainless steel fronts supplied by the brand.
Fridge and freezer split
The fridge usually gets the bigger share, often somewhere around 60/40 or 70/30. If you batch cook or bulk-buy frozen food, look for something closer to even. Every product page lists both capacities in litres.
Finish and features
Stainless steel is the most common finish, with black stainless steel available for a darker kitchen. App-connected models let you change the temperature and send an alert if someone leaves a door ajar. Inside, adjustable shelving and drawers that span the full width help you use every litre.
Before you order
- Measure the way in. Check every doorway, hallway and turn. Sometimes doors or handles need removing to get it through.
- Leave space around it. The manual gives the gaps needed at the sides, top and back, plus the room the doors need to open.
- Plan the plumbing. Mains-fed ice and water need a cold supply close to where it will stand; a plumber normally makes the connection.
- Check the floor. It needs to be level and strong enough for a heavy, fully loaded appliance.
The brands we sell
Our American-style fridge freezers come from Haier, LG and Liebherr. Use the brand filter to compare door styles and finishes.
Buying an American-style fridge freezer from KDH Electrical
Each one comes with the full UK manufacturer's guarantee. We deliver free on orders over £600, normally within 3–7 working days. In our installation area we can install a freestanding model, re-hang the doors if you need them to open the other way, and recycle your old fridge freezer, all priced in the basket. Built-in versions go in with your kitchen furniture, so your kitchen fitter installs those, and we can still take the old appliance for recycling.
Seen a lower price at another UK retailer? Our price match means we'll do what we can to match it. Call 01622 541312 if you'd like help with measurements, or visit our showroom in Rochester after ringing to check what's on display.
American Style Fridge Freezers: your questions answered
Will it fit through my front door?
Measure every doorway and hallway it must pass through and compare them with the product page. It's not unusual to remove the doors or handles first. If you're unsure, call us on 01622 541312.
Does it need plumbing in?
Only models with mains-fed ice or water do. Some make ice from a tank you top up by hand, and some don't make ice at all.
French door or quad door: what's the difference?
French door models have two fridge doors over a single pull-out freezer drawer. Quad door models have two fridge doors over two freezer doors.
Can I have one in a fitted kitchen?
Yes. Choose a built-in model that goes into tall units behind matching panels, or line up separate fridge and wine columns instead.
Are they frost free?
Almost all American-style models are, so there's no ice to chip away. Each product page confirms it.
How much space does one need around it?
The manual lists the side, top and back gaps. Make sure the doors can swing wide enough to release the drawers; French door models need less side space as each door is narrower.
Do they use a lot of energy?
More than a smaller fridge freezer, simply because of their size, so it's worth comparing energy classes. Shutting the doors promptly and leaving the ventilation gaps clear keeps running costs down.
