How we test fridge-freezers

Here's the full list of what we consider when we test models.

Overall score

Our overall score is made up of the following:

Fluctuations (30%)

Measures how much the temperature inside the fridge fluctuates (or swings) as the compressor starts and stops. The higher the score, the less the temperature fluctuates.

Combinations (25%)

Where we measure the temperature in the fridge and freezer compartments at the same time. A high score means the temperature in both compartments are managed well, for example if the freezer is set to its coldest setting, the temperature in the fridge isn’t affected.

Uniformity (20%)

A measure of how uniform the temperature is throughout each compartment. The higher the score, the more uniform the temperature is in each compartment.

Seasonal change (20%)

A test of how well the appliance deals with changing temperatures outside. We test in a temperature-controlled room. We adjust the temperatures to simulated winter and summer conditions while monitoring the temperature inside the fridge. The higher the score, the better the fridge dealt with the changing temperatures, meaning little adjustment would be needed throughout the seasons.

Recommended settings (5%)

A test of how well the fridge performs on the manufacturer's recommended settings. Many people will only change the temperature setting once, so we test with this setting. If there isn’t a recommended setting, then we test using the factory set or mid-setting.

What about energy use?

We assess energy usage based on the manufacturer’s claimed energy usage as well as measured energy usage. A pass means the measured energy usage was no more than 7.5% higher than claimed, anything over that is a fail. Once a fridge fails, we stop measuring. In previous tests, we would have kept testing to find a maximum energy usage reading. By changing our test we can now test more fridges each year than ever before.

Claimed energy use is the amount of energy (in kW/h) the manufacturer says its fridge uses. If a fridge uses more power than claimed, it’s not necessarily bad, just not as efficient as claimed.

If you're ready to buy, see which fridge-freezers topped our test.