Types of Refrigerators; Top Mount, Bottom Mount, Side by Side or Multi Door Refrigerator.

Are you looking forward to spending your money and purchase a new refrigerator from the market? 

Then you will get overwhelmed with the different types of refrigerators available out there in the market. Refrigerators make it easy to create menus and shop ahead for the ingredients we need for any diet, and the savings don't stop at the supermarket.

When we can prepare foods ahead of time, or use leftovers for later meals, we save time and cooking energy costs that add up over the long-term. Refrigerators make it possible for us to have a steady supply of healthy and nutritious foods, it is one of the most important appliances you find in any kitchen is usually the refrigerator.

If the home is a family's universe, the refrigerator is the sun. Gone are the days when these appliances were thought of as just being boxy and occupying space in the kitchen, technology has completely redefined the refrigerator and what it is capable of doing.

To a lot of us refrigerator owners, a refrigerator is just a refrigerator. We have probably had the same one for the best part of a decade and it’s nothing more than the big white (or silver) box that keeps our food cold.

But in truth, a refrigerator is an expensive appliance, so if you are looking for a new one, it’s a good idea to know a thing or two about what’s on offer, and the differences between them.

So whether you are a newly moved out young lady or gentleman buying your first fridge, or a grown-up looking for an upgrade, here is a list of the 4 basic types of refrigerator types available out there for you to consider. 

You can take a look at these refrigerator types and figure out which of them suits you best.

Here are the best types of refrigerators in Nigeria:

1). Top Mount (Top Freezer) Refrigerators. 

This is the model that most of us will instantly visualize if someone says the word ‘fridge’ to us. It’s a single column refrigerator, with the top third (approximately) dedicated to a separate freezer compartment. They come along with a freezer mounted at the top. You will be able to access this top freezer from a separate door.

This is the classic refrigerator style that has been a kitchen mainstay for decades, it is also the most budget-friendly among the four. This style is hands-down the most affordable option, making it a great choice for buyers on a budget. It’s also available in a variety of sizes to fit into kitchens large and small.

These basic refrigerators tend to be a little smaller than some of the other options available on the market, making them ideal for small families or people living alone. And because they usually come in smaller sizes they take up less space in your kitchen, making them a great option for smaller homes.

They appeared for the first time in the 1940s and are popular still. At first, the freezer was a part of the refrigerator and you can still find some refrigerators like that currently. A separate freezer compartment became the industry standard during the early- to mid-1960s.

If you are always reaching for the freezer, the top freezer refrigerator would be a great choice as you won't have to bend down frequently to get what you need. You would be able to keep items such as fish and meat in the freezer section. On the other hand, you can store your vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator section.

One downside of the top freezer models is that they are generally rather low on features, and less thought is given to their appearance. However, if you don’t care about features and don’t mind how your fridge looks, then this type of fridge is a good option for you.

A noteworthy advantage of the top freezer refrigerator is that they are the most energy-efficient type of refrigerator, being about 10-25% more efficient than fridges with bottom or side-mounted freezers. So if electricity bills are a concern, this could be the fridge for you!

The price of top-freezer refrigerators ranges from N80,000 to N400,000.

Below is a list of our top picks:

Nexus is one of the top 2020 Refrigerator and freezer brands in Nigeria. They make sure to deliver high quality and super durable products at very affordable prices; the Nexus 172 Liter Refrigerator is one of them. 

This top freezer refrigerator is designed to store more and keep your food fresh for longer.

With this refrigerator, you will no longer have to lose sleep over your food going bad as it is capable of holding the ideal temperature, keeping your goods frozen and fresh. The Nexus refrigerator offers a stylish addition that complements the aesthetics of your kitchen.

Another is the Haier Thermocool 95 Liters Double Door Fridge - 95BEX R6 SLV. This refrigerator offers you a lot of storage space to contain all your family's hefty dietary menu. It's also one of the best refrigerator to buy in Nigeria. 

With bigger shelves, so you can keep the bigger vessels or beverage bottles. This refrigerator is very energy efficient and has other features that make all the difference in creating a smooth-running modern home.

Hisense is another brand that is ought to be mentioned. Nowadays, top freezer refrigerators come with many amazing features like Frost free technology and super freeze function, this makes them so popular in the market.

Want to know more? Check it out HERE!

2). Bottom Mount (Bottom Freezer) Refrigerators.

The bottom freezer refrigerator is extremely popular with good reason. These models provide a large block of storage space for both the refrigerator and freezer sections, allowing easy accommodation of contents in a variety of sizes and widths. It is just like a top freezer fridge, with the obvious exception being that the freezer compartment is at the bottom.

Generally, their freezers are a little wider than some of the other models available, this makes them great for large families. The freezer at the bottom is easily accessible and has drawers instead of shelves so you don’t have to worry about your food getting pushed to the back and then forgotten.

Instead of the freezer, which many people don’t use regularly, being at eye level, your refrigerator shelves are easily scanned. And most models have freezer drawers instead of shelves, this makes it easier to access your frozen goods.

The bottom freezer refrigerators are ideal for small and upscale condos. That’s because these are narrow units.

You will be able to find wide-swinging doors in these refrigerators. Hence, you will need to take a look at your space considerations and make the decision to purchase a bottom freezer refrigerator. The Bottom Freezer Refrigerators were first seen in the mid-1950s and can still be found today.

To be extra organized, use jars and containers of similar sizes that can be stacked easily, and label everything. Keeping your fridge clutter-free pays in the long run, as it means less time and energy spent rummaging through your fridge. Many people also prefer the convenience of having the refrigerator section directly at eye level, making it easier to quickly find what they need.

Our Top pick would be from the Haier Thermocool brand, the Haier Thermocool Bottom Mount Refrigerator (HT 310GF R6). This refrigerator blends optimal functionality with sophistication. 

It features a very large freezer storage capacity with drawers which makes it easier to store large items like a whole turkey.

It has a super-fast cooling/freezing function that is done in minimal time hereby reducing power consumption. This intelligent function can be used to cool large quantities of food in your refrigerator. With its inbuilt LED interior light, you can easily view and access your food items. These LED lights last longer and consume very low amounts of power.

Other features like mechanical temperature control, lock and key function, low noise operation, makes this refrigerator all the more enticing. In terms of price, it cost a little over N200,000, this is well worth all of its features and the number of years for which you would use it.

Another honorable mention is the NEXUS FRIDGE -WATER DISPENSER | NX- 340D. This bottom freezer refrigerator not only freezes your food and drinks; it also dispenses water for you. 

Isn't that great? 

You are getting a refrigerator and a water dispenser in one, for less than N200,000at that.

It has a low noise operation so there is no buzzing or humming. It also features a lock feature that prevents unnecessary opening. Additionally, it has interior lighting that helps illuminate the refrigerator for maximum visibility and easy access to foodstuffs.

This refrigerator is low maintenance and it has an interior that is so easy to clean. It is 100% HFC free and FCKW free which makes it a truly eco-friendly unit.

So you can enjoy cool drinks while keeping your environment safe too.

You can see other amazing Bottom Freezer Refrigerators HERE!

3). Side by Side Refrigerators.

If you are looking for a sleek style, side-by-side refrigerator models feature a vertical freezer and refrigerator that sit directly next to each other. These refrigerators are essentially wider than usual as they are split in half, with one half being the fridge side and the other being the freezer side. It is built so it has the left side for a freezer and the right for a refrigerator.

Because of this refrigerator's split design, it is easy to grab items from both the freezer and the refrigerator at the same time. The doors open from the center rather than the side, meaning less spatial clearance is required to swing the fridge door(s) open.

Also, since your freezer isn’t down by your feet, you can easily get items without having to bend over, making this an ideal choice for elderly people who may not have the best balance. It is also known as the American style fridge, it was introduced by Amana in 1949 and became popular in the 1960s.

Its popularity is still strong.

For those who tend to freeze leftovers in high volume, or exist on freezer food, this type of fridge may be ideal for you. They are not so expensive too, you can get one for as low as N240,000 and they offer you ample storage capacity.

If you are considering this refrigerator style and you want to know more, check our article on Side by side Refrigerators.

4). Multi Door Refrigerators

As the name suggests, this refrigerator has more than two doors. The most common model you would find here is the French door refrigerator. They come in 3-, 4-, and 5-door models, allowing you to organize till your heart’s content. They offer a lot of space inside and allows you to store everything from large platters to pizzas.

It is essentially an upsized side-by-side fridge with the freezer mounted at the bottom. It also has plenty of large humidity drawers to help retain the freshness and flavors of your meat and vegetables, with retractable shelving to items that are usually hard to reach.

Multi door refrigerators come in aesthetic and functional designs with narrow doors, so you don't need a lot of space to swing open the doors. It also features variable zones for cooling and this makes for the maximum freshness of food items. It is very energy efficient as you don't have to open all doors before you get a food item, each door can be opened individually and so limits the amount of cold air that escapes.

The 4door French-door style is a design from the mid-2000s. In the upper part, it has two French doors for the refrigerator, while at the bottom it has a freezer like a standard French-door refrigerator. The lower section has a freezer on the left and an area that can be converted between the fridge and freezer space on the right.

This type of refrigerator is the most expensive of the 4 types of refrigerators. The HISENSE 4 DOOR REFRIGERATOR + DISPENSER - 432 L | REF 56 WCB is among the more affordable option and cost a little over N350,000, it also comes with an inbuilt water dispenser. So in truth, you are getting a great deal for that price.

The Hisense refrigerator comes with premium features such as Great Internal light, Electronic Temperature Control, Multi-Air Flow, LED Display, Dispenser, and Low Noise Technology. It is environmentally friendly and works with R600 gas, it is also very easy to maintain. This is due to the anti-rust outer body and the inner body is made with galvanized metal.

Now you have a clear understanding of the 4 basic types of refrigerators available for purchase. You can go through these different types of refrigerators and invest your money to purchase the best types of refrigerator with ease.

Best types of refrigerator to buy in Nigeria? 

For very affordable options Visit Zit Electronics Store.