Are today’s energy-saving fridges and freezers better than their older counterparts? Yes! New fridges and freezers are much more energy-efficient than they used to be – so if your fridge or freezer is more than 10 years old, you might want to think about replacing it.

Just like a crowded room, a full fridge will be naturally warmer than an empty one. Nor will an empty fridge be very efficient. To prevent the cooling mechanism from working too hard and the fridge getting too cold, it’s advisable to keep a couple of jugs of water in the fridge to fill up space.

The most efficient fridge and freezer combination is a stacked fridge/freezer with the freezer on top. Open door alarms and easy thermostat controls are an advantage, while ice makers and door dispensers are energy eaters.

Energy saving refrigerators work by extracting heat from the interior of the unit and radiating that heat outside the unit.

Have an easy-access top-mounted freezer. Are generally more economical to run than other types.

Below, the best refrigerator brands to know when you shop:

• GE. Buy on Lowe’s Buy on Home Depot Buy on Geappliances.com.
• Frigidaire. Buy on Lowe’s Buy on Home Depot Buy on Frigidaire.com.
• LG. Buy on Lowe’s Buy on Home Depot Buy on Lg.com.
• Whirlpool.
• Samsung.
• Maytag.
• KitchenAid.
• Cafe.

Energy Efficiency Winner: Top FreezerIn general, top freezers are more energy efficient than bottom freezers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, top freezers use about 10-25% less energy than bottom freezers which equals you saving money and reduces your carbon footprint.

Side-by-side refrigerators are best for kitchens that are narrow, and they take advantage of the vertical space. Bottom freezers optimize access to the fridge, keeping food at eye-level. Because freezers are used less often, this makes your everyday routine easier.

The best time to buy appliances is when new models roll out: washers, dryers, and dishwashers in September and October, refrigerators in May, and ranges/ovens in January. When manufacturers unveil the latest models, retailers reduce prices on models from previous years at these times to create more room for new models.

Upright Freezers

• BEST LARGE OVERALL: GE Garage Ready 21.3 cu.ft. Frost Free Freezer.
• BEST LARGE VALUE: Maytag 19.7 cu.ft. Frost Free Freezer.
• BEST SMALL OVERALL: Danby Designer 5.9 cu.ft. Manual Defrost Upright Freezer.

Our 7 cubit foot chest freezer (which lives in our garage) uses on average 1.1 kilowatt hours of electricity each day. During the winter, a kWh costs 15-18 cents, depending on the time of day. In the summer, it costs about $7.50 per month to run the deep freezer.

Chest or upright freezer?

• Chest freezers have around 20 percent more usable space than a upright freezer.
• The temperature in a chest freezer stays consistent because it doesn’t have a self-defrost system.
• Air doesn’t circulate as much in a chest freezer.

SunDanzer

A 7 cubic foot will fit a quartered elk of any size and should just fit the cape of a bull also.

Short, wide chest freezers open from the top for food storage. While many are manual defrost, there are a number of frost-free models. When comparing chest freezers, look at the cost, freezer capacity, energy use and special features such as baskets and dividers, freezer locks and temperature alarms.

Good Housekeeping rated the Frigidaire FGTR2037TF the best top-freezer refrigerator for 2020. When it come to the most reliable French door refrigerators, however, GE takes over, with higher ratings, more features and more style options.

• Frigidaire 20-cubic-foot Frost-Free Upright Freezer.
• Frigidaire FFFU06M1TW 6-cubic-foot Upright Freezer.
• Kenmore 22142 13.5-cubic-foot Upright Convertible Freezer/ Refrigerator.
• Magic Chef 3.5 cu ft.
• Frigidaire 13.0 Cu.
• GE Garage Ready 7.0-cubic-foot Manual Defrost Chest Freezer.

The best fridge freezers to buy

1. Liebherr CNel4213 NoFrost fridge freezer – best value fridge freezer.
2. Miele KFN 28132 ws fridge freezer – best high-end fridge freezer.
3. Bosch Serie 6 KGN36HI32 fridge freezer – best smart fridge freezer.
4. Smeg FC182PXNUK fridge freezer – best fridge freezer for modern aesthetic.

approximately 12 years