The best 50/50 fridge freezers are low-noise, frost-free and energy-efficient. They're a good choice too as they cost less to run than an American-style refrigerator or a French door-style fridge freezer. We're all in a pickle with energy providers at the moment, but there are ways we can reduce our electricity bills. Positive change starts at home. By investing in newer white goods, that have the technology that makes them run more efficiently, you can save hundreds of pounds on your annual energy expenditure. Think about it, what is the one appliance that needs to be switched on 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.... Top tip: one way of identifying the best fridge freezer is to note how much kWh energy it uses per year, it can vary a lot.
Annual energy consumption aside, you'll never need to defrost again. Seriously happy days. How many of us have wasted entire mornings waiting for chunks of ice to thaw? Many a tea towel and forlorn box of soggy fish fingers have been sacrificed. The majority of new fridge freezers have a no-frost system that circulates air to stop ice crystals from forming. Additionally, they have improved airflow that helps to maintain an even temperature throughout the appliance. Microbes on raw food grow slower at lower temperatures so this actually helps to preserve food for longer.
Best 50/50 Fridge Freezer At A Glance
• Best Overall 50/50 Fridge Freezer: BOSCH Series 2 KGN34NWEAG 50/50 Fridge Freezer - View Offer at Currys
• Best Extra Tall 50/50 Fridge Freezer: Liebherr CNd5704 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer - View Offer on ao.com
• Best Small 50/50 Fridge Freezer: Candy CSC1365WEN 50/50 Fridge Freezer - View Offer on ao.com
Why choose a 50/50 fridge freezer? Again, if you're looking to save money batch cooking and freezing is the way forward. This is as applicable to single-person households as it is to families. Whether you're stocking up at Farmfoods, or freezing a glut of tomatoes from your garden, having a big freezer is worth its weight in gold. In contrast, if you need loads of space to chill your protein shakes or you're nurturing a small family of cheeses in your chiller, opt for a 70/30 or 60/40 fridge freezer. Just so you know, 50/50 fridge freezers don't tend to be under-the-counter appliances, but there are integrated fridge-freezer options.
Reduce food waste with fridges that have humidity control to preserve the quality of salad, fruit and vegetables. It's amazing that sensor technology is pretty much a standard feature on new appliances – a much snazzier feature than an egg rack. With improved air circulation the climate of the fridge can keep food fresher for longer... how long you want to preserve the bottles of wine, however, is up to you. Similarly, most freezers feature a rapid freeze function and are frost-free. For tips on how to clean your fridge, scroll to the FAQS below or take time to chill and enjoy our round-up of the best 50/50 fridge freezers.
Best 50/50 Fridge Freezer
Best Extra Tall 50/50 Fridge Freezer
ao.com
The Liebherr CNd5704 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer has an incredibly low energy consumption that stands out from the others. It stands two metres tall too, another reason why it's outstanding in its class. Boasting an enormous 350+ litre capacity this is an excellent option for shared households such as a student house. It's packed with features, including a neat dairy compartment to keep cheese from absorbing other smells. Additionally, the fridge has two EasyFresh drawers to preserve salad, vegetables and fruit in the optimum humidity.
Customer review: "This fantastic fridge/freezer has been nick named ‘the beast’. It’s enormous in comparison to our previous one and has some great features. The space inside the fridge is versatile with the included attachments, and we love the addition of the bottle holder in the door to stop large bottles from wobbling when you open and close the door. The freezer is also very spacious with good size drawers. The touch controls work really well and it’s straightforward to navigate. It’s also very quiet in comparison to others we have had. We’re really pleased with this purchase overall. It’s a fantastic upgrade and feels like good value for money."
Pros
- Super energy efficient
- Enormous capacity
- No need to defrost
- Keeps food fresh for longer
Cons
- Measure carefully as it's taller, wider and deeper than other models
Best Overall 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.currys.co.uk
An ideal family-sized fridge, the BOSCH Series 2 KGN34NWEAG 50/50 Fridge Freezer can be placed snuggly next to walls, which is a great plus point if you have a small kitchen or hallway. As you'd expect from Bosch, it has a powerful and effective freezing system as well as a Multi Airflow that evenly circulates air around the fridge. LED lights the interior so you can see every inch of the fridge and it uses less electricity than conventional fridge lights. FreshSense sensors constantly monitor the climate of your fridge and freezer so that food stays just right; ice cream, for example, will be neither too hard nor too soft. It frost free too so you'll never have to defrost again. This Bosch is a superb and energy efficient appliance. Yes, it comes at a higher price but it is a quality fridge freezer.
Customer review: "The thing we love most is the amount of space it has. The drawers in the freezer are really deep so we can get plenty of food in there. The shelves in the fridge are great too. Everything fits perfectly. We can fit an entire week’s shopping for a family of four in and still have space left."
Pros
- NoFrost technology
- Preserves food at its best
- Energy efficient
Cons
- None
Best Small 50/50 Fridge Freezer
ao.com
The Candy CSC1365WEN 50/50 Fridge Freezer is one of the best value-for-money fridge freezers in our guide. It can hold 10 bags of food shopping, so it's ideal for a smaller household. The fridge and freezer are well-sectioned out with drawers. The fridge has a salad crisper, egg tray, bottle storage and dairy compartment to make organisation easier. The reversible door can be swapped from left or right opening, depending on your kitchen layout. It has a really low energy consumption and being small makes it even cheaper to run. Do note, this is one fridge freezer that will need a manual defrost from time to time.
Customer review: "Compact, just the right size fridge freezer. Hard to get one this size. Does exactly what we need it to do."
Pros
- Cheaper to run
- Value for money
- Ideal for small households
Cons
- Needs to be manually defrosted
Best All-Round 50/50 Fridge Freezer
Say goodbye to the chore of defrosting your freezer with the Hisense RB327N4WC1 Freestanding 50/50 Fridge Freezer.
The 251-litre capacity is the equivalent of 13 bags of groceries, and it's packed with several useful features. Reversible doors to best suit your kitchen layout and with its 90-degree opening door, it's designed to fit near a wall or where space is limited. The well-designed freezer drawers open wide so you can easily access food. Stay cool and hydrated with the water dispenser that requires no plumbing in. Want less droopy spinach in your life? Multi Air Flow evenly circulates air around the fridge, helping to keep every shelf at a constant temperature. Unpacking, installation and appliance collection are available for a reasonable extra cost. A brand that's better known overseas, Hisense has been making home appliances for over 50 years. This fridge freezer has received hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon and is an Amazon Choice product.
Customer review: "I like how much room there is inside the fridge, also the bottle holder which again allows more space, plus the cold drink dispenser, which I only use for water, you fill the drawer behind the door with cold water and fill your glass by pressing the lever on the front.
"The freezer has three drawers the are deep but not very wide, but fine for me. it also has a deep ice compartment which is good for bags of ice and also tubs of ice cream or I suppose could be used as an extra drawer for frozen food. overall I am very happy with this fridge freezer."
Pros
- Frost free
- Water dispenser - no plumbing in required
- Good capacity
Cons
- Not the most energy-efficient
Best Integrated 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.currys.co.uk
Here at A Modern Kitchen, we're huge fans of the innovation in Beko products. Beko's Harvest Fresh fridge freezers have a light that mimics the sun to preserve the vitamins in fruit, salad and vegetables for up to five days. In addition, their energy-efficient appliances can save you hundreds of pounds a year on your energy bills. Also, the BEKO Pro HarvestFresh BCFD4V50 Integrated 50/50 Fridge Freezer has a Fast Freeze feature that seals freshness into food. The top compartment freezes up to 10 per cent faster. This integrated appliance is more compact than a freestanding model, but the freezer section does have four drawers which is ample for most.
Customer review: "The Harvest Fresh feature keeps my fruit and veg really well. I expected it to be a gimmick soo was agreeably surprised."
Pros
- Keeps fruit and veg fresh for longer
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Be aware this is an integrated appliance
Best Budget 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.very.co.uk
At just 33dB, this Candy CCT3L517FBK 50/50 Fridge Freezer is whisper-quiet. It features a fresh zone that is the ideal environment for storing meat and fish. Additionally, this compact fridge freezer has a multi-air flow system and supercooling in the freezer. It can hold the equivalent of 14 bags of grocery shopping, making it a great option for a small household. A great plus-point is the freezer has five drawers, and the fridge has a large salad crisper. This Candy model does need to be manually defrosted, and while it doesn't go large on the bells and whistles, it is a very reasonable price.
Customer review: "I only bought this a week ago .. great service from Very delivery was so quick only two days. The delivery team were friendly but professional she was in the kitchen in no time. Love the bright ice-white light in the fridge .. and plenty of space .. easy controls... only downside is, one of the door shelves was not in the fridge door .. watch this space I’ve complained to hopefully they will arrange for a replacement. The freezer looks like plenty of space draws seem sturdy.. all good up to now. .. if the food shelf arrives I would recommend it."
Pros
- Value for money
- A great number of drawers and shelves
- Good airflow
Cons
- Manual defrost
Best Mid-Range 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.currys.co.uk
This INDESIT IBD 5517 W UK 1 50/50 Fridge Freezer self-regulates its humidity and temperature to keep your food preserved at its best. It purrs at just 44dB and has above-average energy efficiency and capacity. We think it's an excellent price for a new fridge freezer. Additionally, we liked the inclusion of anti-bacterial liners, which seems an essential feature in a fridge but is not always mentioned. This model has received thousands of positive reviews and would be a super choice for a family on a bit of a budget.
Customer review: "Excellent fridge freezer. Plenty of storage capacity in both sections. Strong freezer drawers. Very pleased with it overall."
Pros
- Quiet
- Anti-bacterial liners
- Well reviewed
Cons
- Manual defrost
Best 50/50 Fridge Freezer With Water Dispenser
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
Fridgemaster 251 Litre 50/50 Freestanding Fridge Freezer has a powerful frost-free system that circulates cold air and prevents ice crystals from forming. Some people can be put off fridges with a water dispenser as they think they'll be more expensive to run and require maintenance to keep the water reservoir mould-free. This model has a very simple dispenser. The water storage box can be filled with up to 2.5L of water that gets wonderfully chilled. The box will need occasional cleaning but it's low maintenance compared to fancier water dispensers. It has easy-access freezer drawers and adjustable shelving in the fridge. Compared to other models in this guide, it's one of the less energy-efficient appliances at a mid-range price.
Pros
- Low noise
- Water dispenser
- Frost free
Cons
- No customer review
Best High-End 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.johnlewis.com
Bosch Series 2 KGN34NLEAG Freestanding 50/50 Fridge Freezer, Inox Look has a contemporary stainless steel exterior.
A whopping 300-litre capacity equates to 18 shopping bags of groceries, making this fridge freezer a superb option for families. It's frost-free and has all the features to freeze food fast and preserve chilled food for longer using sensor technology. Unlike older models. this appliance can be positioned tightly next to walls. Also, it has low-energy LED lighting. Four fridge shelves and a three-drawer freezer provide ample room for packed lunches, leftovers and lots of frozen pizzas.
Customer review: "Just bought this lovely Bosch Fridge very impressed it's just big and spacey. Bosch products and appliances are always quality. Will be buying something again soon."
Pros
- Technology to preserve food better for longer
- Large capacity
- No need to defrost
Cons
- A little fiddly to swap the reversible door
Best Slim 50/50 Fridge Freezer
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
The CDA 246 Litre 50/50 Integrated Fridge Freezer is designed to be integrated into a tall kitchen cabinet. It's quiet and has a generous number of shelves in comparison to other models. However, because it's an integrated appliance, it is slightly more expensive. Also, this is the least energy efficient fridge freezer, but still within the F band for energy rating. If you're looking for an appliance to fit a slim and tall kitchen cabinet, this is the best option.
Pros
- Good amount of shelving
- Slimline integrated appliance
Cons
- No customer review
Our Verdict: Best 50/50 Fridge Freezer
We recommend the BOSCH Series 2 KGN34NWEAG 50/50 Fridge Freezer. Make defrosting a thing of the past. This model boasts a generous 300-litre net capacity, which makes it a top choice for large families or shared houses. It's an energy-efficient freezer that freezes fast and has a special airflow system to keep food fresher for longer.
In addition, LED lighting lasts for the appliance's lifetime and has low energy consumption. Make your fridge a calm and organised haven with Bosch's MultiBox system too - perfect for locating the eclairs for your next midnight feast. Invest in the best with this next-level fridge freezer.
FAQs
What should I consider when buying a new fridge freezer?
First, your budget dictates what you can afford. The price of a fridge freezer ranges between £200-£2000. Also, space is a critical consideration. A freestanding fridge can be 130cm-200cm in height with a standard width between 55cm-60cm. Next, the ratio of fridge to freezer.
We recommend making good use of the freezer space, which is why 50/50 fridge freezers are the ideal choice for households who don't have room for a separate chest or freestanding freezer. It does depend on your lifestyle too, and quite simply you may prefer having lots of chiller space that a 60/40 or 70/30 fridge freezer provides.
Why is having an energy efficient fridge freezer so important?
A fridge freezer is switched on all of the time. It is constantly consuming electricity. So, it's important to get the most efficient model. The energy-efficient rating that came into effect in 2021 means that appliances that were previously rated A have been reclassified and rated D on an A-G scale. So do not be horrified if the appliance is rated D–F, these are efficient models.
Mira Yordanova from London End of Tenancy Cleaning company shares some compelling findings on the cost of running a fridge: "Depending on the energy rating, these can cost between £70 and £138.72 per year to run". If you have an older appliance Mira suggests giving your fridge freezer a thorough clean can help it to run more efficiently, therefore saving money.
"Cleaning the coil in your refrigerator can be done in as little as 15 minutes. This will increase energy efficiency because too much dust can sometimes make your refrigerator work harder to maintain a temperature that is safe for food without releasing heat.
“Remove the rear panel, then thoroughly hoover off all the dust. Use baking soda or white vinegar and warm water to clean the inside of the refrigerator. Rub the interior with a soft cloth and then rinse for the best results.”
How do I defrost my freezer?
When you open the freezer door, it lets in heat and moisture. This turns to frost and builds up into ice over time if your freezer doesn't have an auto-defrost function. Ice can cover air vents and temperature sensors, meaning the freezer's motor has to work harder.
Turn your freezer off at the mains to defrost it, otherwise, the ice won't melt. Pop all of your frozen food in a cool bag or cool box with ice packs to prevent the food from thawing. Alternatively, ask a neighbour if they can store your food.
Prepare the area. Place newspapers around the freezer to stop any water from spreading on the floor as the ice melts. Put dry towels inside your freezer to soak up water as it defrosts. Keep an eye on the towels and wring them out every hour or replace them with dry towels.
Remove all the drawers and shelves and put them to one side for cleaning. If they're frozen and stuck to the inside of the fridge, leave them until the ice has melted. Don't be tempted to force them as it could break the shelf and damage the fridge. Check to see if your freezer has a drainage hose to assist with removing the water. Or there might be a tray underneath to check and dispose of the water as the ice melts.
Never use an appliance to speed up the thawing process. And don't attempt to prise the ice away with a knife. Also, never use a de-icer inside a freezer as it's a hazardous chemical. Once the ice has melted, dry the freezer cavity with towels. A dry freezer gives less chance for ice to build up when you switch it on again. Allow your freezer time to cool back down before re-adding food back into it. If food has partially defrosted, don't put it back in your freezer.
The process should take around two hours to let the ice melt naturally. However, if the ice is really thick, it will take longer - as much as 24 hours. Make sure you set aside a day where you can commit to staying home if it takes a bit longer.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in kitchen appliances. When she's not testing coffee machines, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.