If the fridge-freezer must sit beneath a worktop, measure the opening and allow for the exact model’s ventilation and door clearance before choosing a compact unit. Montpellier Appliances and Euronics list narrow under-counter models with a salad crisper and a small separate freezer; a taller integrated model is an alternative only if you have a suitable tall cabinet.
You need chilled storage for salad leaves and a small freezer beneath an existing worktop. Compact examples listed by Montpellier Appliances, Russell Hobbs and Euronics are about 45–48 cm wide and 85 cm high, but the opening must also accommodate their depth, ventilation and door swing.
You want a dedicated drawer to keep leaves separate from other groceries. A basic crisper provides that space; adjustable humidity is a separate feature to check on the exact model.
You have space for a tall built-in appliance rather than an under-counter opening. That makes models with features such as a dedicated fresh-food drawer or Frost Free operation worth considering, provided the appliance fits the cabinet.
Choose when: The appliance must fit below the worktop and a small fridge and freezer will meet your storage needs.
Trade-off: The cited compact models have roughly 59–61 L of fridge space and 24–25 L of freezer space, with Low Frost or manual defrost on models where the system is stated.
Choose when: You have a compatible tall cabinet and want to consider a more specialised produce drawer or a Frost Free model.
Trade-off: This route cannot fit an under-worktop opening: Beko lists its Frost Free BCFD4V73 at 177.5 cm high.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Physical fit | Measure the opening’s height, width and depth; check the model’s required ventilation and door clearance. | If I need to keep my worktop clear, an appliance that cannot be installed in the available space is no use to me. Around 36% of consumers put physical fit first. |
| Salad-leaf storage | Confirm the exact model has a usable crisper and check separately whether its humidity is adjustable. | When I buy salad leaves regularly, I want a dedicated chilled drawer rather than assuming every produce drawer has humidity control. For around 29% of consumers, leaf storage is the primary concern. |
| Capacity split | Compare fridge and freezer litres separately, then consider whether the shelves and drawer suit your usual groceries. | If I keep frozen food as well as fresh produce, the total capacity alone does not tell me whether each compartment is big enough. Capacity balance comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Defrosting and energy information | Check the defrost system and compare annual kWh figures alongside capacity and energy class. | I would rather know what defrosting involves and compare rated energy use before choosing a model. Around 14% of consumers make those running considerations their main priority. |
A narrow unit may still be too deep for the opening or leave too little room for airflow and the door.
Measure the full space and compare it with the appliance dimensions and the exact installation instructions. General measurement guidance suggests allowing space behind and at the sides, but the model’s own requirements take priority.
A basic drawer keeps produce together, but it does not necessarily offer adjustable humidity. Montpellier states that the MDAS2035W crisper has no humidity adjustment.
If adjustment matters to you, look for that specification on the exact model rather than relying on the word “crisper”.
Montpellier describes the MDAS2035W as Low Frost, while Euronics lists manual defrost for the IceKing IK2022EW. Neither description means Frost Free.
Check the named defrost system before deciding whether its maintenance suits you.
A model that needs defrosting also requires time to manage the process and the food stored inside.
The cited under-counter models divide roughly 84–85 L of total space into a fridge of about 59–61 L and a freezer of about 24–25 L.
Compare the separate compartment capacities with what you normally keep chilled and frozen.
The MDAS2035W is a narrow freestanding under-counter option with a salad crisper, listed by Montpellier Appliances at 45.3 cm wide.
Euronics lists the under-counter IK2022EW at 47 cm wide and 85 cm high, with one crisper.
The RH85UCFF482E1SS is a 48 cm-wide freestanding under-counter model with a stated 61 L fridge and 24 L freezer.
These choices are for considering fridge-freezers beyond a confirmed under-counter fit. The CHiQ model is a narrow but taller freestanding appliance; check the Sonlu model’s full dimensions before deciding where it could go.
No image available
Consider this model if a narrow, taller freestanding appliance suits your kitchen; at 144 cm high, it is not an under-worktop choice.
The product title states a 47 cm width, Low Frost operation and energy class E. If a salad drawer is central to your choice, confirm its layout and any humidity adjustment, as well as the installation clearances.
No image available
Consider this model if a top-mount freezer arrangement suits you, but confirm its full dimensions before assigning it a place in a constrained kitchen.
The product title specifies adjustable shelves, levelling feet and energy class E. Check the separate fridge and freezer capacities, produce-drawer arrangement, defrost method and installation clearances against your needs.
No: appliance height alone cannot establish whether an under-counter fridge-freezer will fit. Measure the opening’s height, width and depth, then check the exact model’s ventilation requirements, connections and door swing.
Not necessarily: a crisper is a produce drawer, while adjustable humidity is a separate model-specific feature. Montpellier states that its MDAS2035W has a crisper without humidity adjustment; Bosch describes adjustable humidity on selected VitaFresh drawers.
Keep the fridge at or below the Food Standards Agency’s recommended maximum of 5°C, and follow the salad packaging’s storage instructions and use-by date. A fridge thermometer can help you check the temperature rather than relying only on a dial setting.
Compare the stated annual kWh figure together with capacity and energy class, rather than judging differently sized fridge-freezers by class alone. Check the energy label and product information for the exact models you are considering.
Check the exact model’s guarantee terms and whether registration is needed. Montpellier states a two-year guarantee for the MDAS2035W, while Russell Hobbs states a two-year guarantee on registration for the RH85UCFF482E1SS.