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The best American fridge freezers for large households and busy homes
Cool in style and functionality
Tested by Blossom Boothroyd and Jasmin Joyce
With their generous capacities and sleek designs, American fridge freezers make a real statement in your kitchen. They’re a smart choice for big families and busy households, offering more space and extra practicality.
American (and French-style four-door) fridge freezers often boast extra features like smart connectivity, ice dispensers and fast-freeze functions, making them an excellent choice for anyone who likes to entertain a crowd. But of course, the size and clever add-ons come at a price, so it’s important you find the best American fridge freezer for your home and budget.
That’s where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. We’ve tested all the top brands to find the best for your home.
Best American fridge freezers to buy in 2026
Best French-style four-door fridge freezer
Samsung Bespoke AI 4 Door French Door Refrigerator Family Hub 636L
Read review
Best American two-door fridge freezer
Samsung Bespoke AI Side-By-Side Refrigerator Series 9 AI Home 621L
Read review
Best front-vent American fridge freezer
Hisense PureFlat 541L American Fridge Freezer RS3P558NMFD
Read review
Best value American fridge freezer
Russell Hobbs Frost-Free American Fridge Freezer RH90AFF201DI
Read review
Best American fridge freezer for small kitchens
Willow WSBS84DS 433L Total No Frost American Style Fridge Freezer
Read review
Our experts test American fridge freezers by analysing how well they regulate their internal temperature over 24 hours. They also look at their temperature recovery after opening the doors and monitor energy consumption throughout. You’ll find a detailed breakdown of how we test below our reviews.
If you’re looking for something a little smaller, we’ve also tested the best fridge freezers with a traditional single door design.
Samsung Bespoke AI 4 Door French Door Refrigerator Family Hub 636L
Samsung Bespoke AI 4 Door French Door Refrigerator Family Hub 636L
Pros
- Includes a water dispenser and ice maker
- Has a ‘door open’ alert
- Child lock is easy to activate and deactivate
Cons
- Expensive
- Only has two freezer drawers – the rest are shelves
Score: 89/100
This is more than just a fridge freezer – it’s a smart hub for the whole family. From suggesting recipes based on the food in your fridge, to streaming your favourite music or podcast, and keeping your whole family organised with a shared calendar on the touch screen display, it’s the most intelligent fridge freezer we’ve tested.
The performance lived up to expectations too. Throughout testing, the internal temperature stayed even, so much so that the fridge only fluctuated by two degrees at any point. Even after leaving the door open for two minutes, the freezer temperature rose by just 1.8 degrees and it recovered fairly quickly, dropping back to an optimal temperature within 24 minutes.
One of the fanciest features, the AI Vision, identifies and records groceries as you take them in and out of the fridge. While our experts loved the concept, we found it worked best when moving items slowly as the camera captured blurry images otherwise. That said, it was easy to manually add ingredients in the Smart Things App so you can still benefit from the storage and recipe suggestions.
Aside from the smart functions, there’s a lot to love. The interior is spacious and bright with helpful touches like a folding shelf in the fridge for when you need to store tall items. Plus, one section can be switched from a freezer to fridge, perfect for when you need to store your turkey at Christmas or some extra picky bits in summer. We’re sold.
Key specifications
| Dimensions | H185 x W59.5 x D66.7 cm |
|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | 386L |
| Freezer capacity | 250L |
| Energy rating | E |
| Energy consumption over 24 hours in the lab | 1.2kWh = 31p |
| Frost free | Yes |
| Features | AI vision, family hub screen, water dispenser, ice maker, adjustable shelving |
| Guarantee | 5 years |
Samsung Bespoke AI Side-By-Side Refrigerator Series 9 AI Home 621L
Samsung Bespoke AI Side-By-Side Refrigerator Series 9 AI Home 621L
Pros
- Power Freeze function can make ice cubes in 55 minutes
- Internal bottle rack, good lighting, removable door storage
- Can get personalised recipe suggestions via the display
Cons
- Can’t adjust the shelf positions
- No drip tray on the water dispenser so can be a little messy
Score: 89/100
Sharing the top spot is another impressive model from Samsung, but this one has classic American-style doors and a slightly lower price tag.
There are still plenty of premium features though, with smart connectivity, a sleek LCD display, and the option of controlling it all via voice command, which you can use to open the fridge hands-free – ideal when you’re juggling a bag of groceries or preparing food.
Our experts found the freezer maintained a very stable temperature over 24 hours and recovered more quickly than the fridge when the door was left open. The fridge did rise above five degrees but settled down to a safe temperature within 12 minutes.
With such a generous capacity across the fridge and freezer, plus ice and water on tap, this is a convenient family fridge freezer.
Key specifications
| Dimensions | H178 X W91 X D72 cm |
|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | 401L |
| Freezer capacity | 220L |
| Energy rating | D |
| Energy consumption over 24 hours in the lab | 1.07kWh = 28p |
| Frost free | Yes |
| Features | Smart connectivity, voice control, ice and water dispenser, power cool and power freeze |
| Guarantee | 5 years |
Hisense PureFlat 541L American Fridge Freezer RS3P558NMFD
Hisense PureFlat 541L American Fridge Freezer RS3P558NMFD
Pros
- A 2-litre bottle easily fits in the door
- Freezer remained frost-free in testing
- Alarm warns you if the temperature increases
- Detailed instructions, including tips on food storage
- Non-plumbed water dispenser
Cons
- No shallow freezer drawer for an ice cube tray
- A few dirt traps on the end stops of the shelves
Score: 82/100
This sleek American fridge freezer is part of Hisense’s PureFlat range, which uses front-facing ventilation, so you don’t need to leave space at the back and sides to let heat escape. This allows it to sit flush with your kitchen cabinets, creating a more premium, built-in look without the need for a fully integrated fridge freezer set-up.
Throughout testing, the fridge maintained an average temperature of 3.4°C and the freezer stayed below -18°C over the 24-hour period, scoring full marks. When we left the door open for two minutes, the fridge compartments recovered quickly, taking around 20 minutes to get back to a normal temperature. The freezer sections warmed up quickly with the door open, creeping up to an average of -10.7°C, but it also recovered well, needing around 30 minutes to return to an ideal temperature.
With a strong performance on most tests, this is a reliable buy and with a good range of shelf positions, separate controls for the fridge and freezer, plus great internal lighting, this is a smart choice for busy families.
Key specifications
| Dimensions | H178.6 x W91.1 x D61.5cm |
|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | 344L |
| Freezer capacity | 197L |
| Energy rating | D |
| Energy consumption over 24 hours in the lab | 0.669kWh = 17p |
| Frost free | Yes |
| Features | Non-plumbed Water dispenser, super freeze function, super cool function, PureFlat design, app-connectivity |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
Russell Hobbs Frost-Free American Fridge Freezer RH90AFF201DI
Russell Hobbs Frost-Free American Fridge Freezer RH90AFF201DI
Pros
- Excellent temperature control
- Relatively energy efficient in testing
- Good value
Cons
- No water/ice dispenser
Score: 81/100
This Russell Hobbs model impressed our experts with its steady temperature control. The freezer averaged a chilly -20°C throughout testing, while the fridge maintained an average of 2.2°C, with every area staying consistently cool.
The fridge also bounced back quickly after we left the door open for two minutes with the warmest section recovering in around 10 minutes. The freezer warmed more significantly – by eight degrees – but returned to temperature in around 24 minutes.
The interior is well designed, with a good choice of adjustable fridge shelves, removable door storage (that fits two-litre bottles), a small bottle rack and bright internal lighting. It also has an eco mode, child lock and an open door alarm.
Note that the freezer drawers are slightly shallow, and despite supposedly being a frost-free model, we spotted some frost forming beneath the freezer shelves during testing. But with low energy consumption and plenty of flexible storage, this is a reliable, well-priced model that would suit a large family.
Key specifications
| Dimensions | H177 x W90 x D59 cm |
|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | 291 L |
| Freezer capacity | 151 L |
| Energy rating | E |
| Energy consumption over 24 hours in the lab | 0.742 kWh = 19p |
| Frost free | Yes |
| Features | Fast Freeze compartment |
| Guarantee | 1 year |
Willow WSBS84DS 433L Total No Frost American Style Fridge Freezer
Willow WSBS84DS 433L Total No Frost American Style Fridge Freezer
Pros
- Smart mode and child lock
- Has temperature warnings
- Easy to use the water dispenser and there was no dripping from the spout
- Freezer drawers are a good depth
- Digital temperature display is easy to read
Cons
- Adjusting the temperature of the fridge freezer sections isn’t overly intuitive
- Slightly smaller capacity might not suit big families
Score: 79/100
With slightly smaller dimensions than some of the other American and French-style fridge freezers we’ve tested, this is an excellent option for small kitchens and households. It still boasts a total capacity of 433-litres so there’s plenty of room for your weekly shop and we liked the adjustable shelves and removable door storage, which makes it more versatile.
The fridge freezer scored full marks on our temperature test, maintaining an average of 3.9°C across the fridge and -18.9°C for the freezer. However, the freezer struggled to get back to its normal range when we left the door open for two minutes. The bottom drawer took nearly 50 minutes to recover and almost an hour and a half when we opened the fridge and freezer at the same time. Remember to shut the door behind you and don’t leave it wide open when restocking and this shouldn’t be an issue.
We would have liked an internal bottle rack and a shallow drawer for ice cube trays, but overall, this fridge freezer offers excellent value for money.
Key specifications
| Dimensions | H175.5 x W83.9 x D63.7 cm |
|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | 264L |
| Freezer capacity | 169L |
| Energy rating | E |
| Energy consumption over 24 hours in the lab | 0.44kWh = 11p |
| Frost free | Yes |
| Features | Total no frost, non-plumbed water dispenser, auto defrost |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
How we test American fridge freezers
To find the best American fridge freezers, our Good Housekeeping Institute experts start off by monitoring the stability of each model’s temperature regulation over 24 hours, with the help of LogTags. These take temperature readings at regular intervals, so our experts can examine which spots are the coolest and the warmest across the whole fridge freezer.
Our experts then test temperature recovery. This involves opening the door for two minutes and then timing how long it takes for the fridge to return to a food-safe temperature. The test is repeated for the freezer, and finally for both together, opening both the fridge and freezer doors simultaneously.
They also measure the electricity consumption of each American fridge freezer over 24 hours. We’ve calculated how much that will cost you in the specs, using the current energy price cap (£0.2467/kWh).
Throughout testing, our experts assess design and ease of use, awarding points for extra features like humidity control or connected apps, helpful racks and shelves for storing food, and the responsiveness of any controls. Finally, they rate the instructions for detail and clarity before awarding a final score.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over 100 years and has been the forefront of all the most exciting innovations in the world of domestic appliances. Over this time, we've developed and refined our testing protocols to ensure we’re assessing the newest technology in the best way possible. We use each American fridge freezer just like you would at home, but we also monitor and record the data to bring you the very best buys.
Blossom Boothroyd, our homes testing manager, ensures each model goes through the same stringent testing so it’s easy for you to compare models. Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, then takes the feedback and scores and turns them into easy-read reviews. She spends time talking to all the key brands in the market, checking out the latest releases and helpful features, so she knows exactly what to look for in the best American fridge freezer.
What should I consider before buying an American fridge freezer?
As it’s such a large investment, there are some key things to consider before deciding on the right American fridge freezer for your home.
Size: American fridge freezers are large, both in terms of their actual dimensions and internal space. Some have larger fridge sections than freezer ones though so make sure you check the split before buying.
Energy efficiency: You might think that American fridge freezers use up a lot of electricity, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised. None of the models in this list used more than 31 pence (~1.2kWh) over 24 hours when tested in our lab. However, in comparison to a single door, standard fridge freezer there may be a difference. For example, our winning fridge freezer, Hoover’s H-COMBI 300, used 0.683kWh in a day, costing 18 pence.
Features: Many of the models in this list have smart features, which means they can be controlled via an app on your smartphone. When you’re busy, this means you can check in on your fridge’s contents while you’re on the move. Some other handy features you might want to consider are: Power Freeze and Power Cool, which can rapidly decrease the temperature of an area in the appliance; a ‘Switch Zone’ that allows you to change a compartment between a fridge or freezer; and a water and ice dispenser.
What's the difference between side-by-side and French door models?
On our list, you'll find both traditional side-by-side American fridge freezers and four-door models, which are also referred to as French-style fridge freezers. The latter looks more like a cube with two doors at the top for the fridge and two doors beneath for the freezer.
American fridge freezers will have two doors, with the fridge and freezer sitting vertically side-by-side. Typically, French-style models offer more usable fridge space with wider shelves as well as large freezer space without the tall, narrow drawers and compartments of the American models.
The verdict: Which is the best American fridge freezer?
Samsung’s Family Hub™ AI Vision French Style Smart Fridge Freezer is one impressive appliance with smart features that can transform the way you use your fridge freezer.
For those looking for a more affordable American fridge freezer, the Russell Hobbs Frost-Free American Fridge Freezer is a great value buy – or if you're after a water dispenser, the Willow 433L Total No Frost American Fridge Freezer is a smaller budget pick.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Jasmine is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. With a background in design, she is committed to sorting the good products from the great –and helping Good Housekeeping readers do the same.
Throughout her career, Jasmine has written extensively about product quality, craftsmanship and sustainability, and is passionate about consumer rights. She previously worked as a writer and researcher at the product longevity platform Buy Me Once.
If she isn’t reviewing the latest gadgets for your home, you can probably find Jasmine cooking elaborate meals or crafting something weird and wonderful!
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
Jasmin is a Household Product Specialist at the Good Housekeeping Institute, with extensive experience testing products across kitchen, sleep, laundry care, household cleaning, refrigeration, dish care and more. Her work ranges from detailed performance analysis of washing machines, dishwashers and refrigeration appliances to hands-on assessments of cookware, cleaning products and sleep essentials.
With a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Imperial College London, Jasmin combines technical expertise with a strong aptitude for interpreting large datasets to deliver clear, evidence-based consumer insights.
