According to Dadonthebrink reviewing a fridge freezer is the most boring thing possible. I have to disagree, but do click away to sunnier posts if you agree. 😉
Even with a very simple fridge freezer as our new Hotpoint, model FSFL1020, I can find features to get excited about and ones to get frustrated with.
We were sent this fridge specifically to review. Before, I also had a Hotpoint (not a review one), a wider, bulkier model; a fridge I was overall very pleased with.
The Hotpoint FSFL1020 is an A+ rated frost-free fridge freezer with a special … function.
The first thing that struck me about our new fridge freezer were the straight lines and how tall it was. It takes up a lot less space than our old one and is definitely designed to slot in neatly between kitchen units. It is a standard 600mm wide and 600mm deep.
The fridge freezer has no separate handles as such, but the grips for opening and closing are built into the door. I like this feature as it contributes to the clean lines. However, this feature also makes the freezer door top a great place for crumbs to collect and spills to pool.
My gripe with the door: I have to get used to the door not closing by itself when I give it a slight nudge from fully open position; it needs a further little nudge to go those final inches. Annoying!
Looking inside the top section, the fridge part, it has a removable wine rack for two bottles and 4 glass shelves.
The glass shelves are essential, because it is very tall & seeing behind the front row of food stored is not always easy. I often peep at the bottom of the top shelf especially to see what lurks in the depths there.
The shelf positions are at fixed heights, with the only vaiartion given to the bottom shelf. You can decide whether to give your fresh meats (usually occupying the bottom most shelf) or your cooked food a bibut so far have been the right height for storing different foods.
The door has a number of shelves too, but I’ve found that only the bottom shelf really holds taller items, as they tumble out from the little shelves above.
There are 2 vegetable drawers, which are an OK size. Initially I battled with their size, finding them too small. Now I’ve got used to them, I actually appreciate the size, because things don’t get buried and go off as easily.
Freezer is a great size with 6 drawers. The top 2 drawers are super freeze drawers. In one of the regular drawers there is a space for ice cube holders, which come depth this fridge freezer.
The controls for the fridge freezer are right at the top. Very logically laid out, with a holiday setting and super cool and super freeze buttons for when you get back from shopping. My fridge is very good at keeping its temperature (unlike my old one was).
When we got the fridge for a good couple of weeks it gave this dripping noise as if we’d left a trap on in the kitchen. I went to check a couple of times if we had indeed, only to realise that it was the fridge.
However, when we had an engine pop in to install our dishwasher I raised the issue with him & he had it fixed in seconds: apparently something has to be turned from vertical to horizontal in the back. Job done!
If you are after a well-priced fridge freezer to slot into a set space between your units, with a clean look, then this fridge is for you. If you are short, then have a stool at hand to reach the top sections. That’s the trade-off to having a decent size freezer compartment and fridge compartment, but still shooting in.
Overall I’m quiet pleased with our new fridge and would recommend it to an by friends or family too.
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