Under-counter fridge

I know this sounds daft but can you just pull out the shelves?

I don’t think there is an answer. I’ve never had under counter fridge/ freezer, but have seen a few in kitchens when house hunting.
Would it be possible to remove part of the worktop and fit an upright fridge/ freezer?

I should also say that because it's built-in, the door doesn't open beyond 90 degrees, so pull-out drawers like in the freezer aren't really an option. Currently, I need to angle the shelves upwards to avoid the door storage bits when I remove them for cleaning. I don't know how I've managed with this for nigh on 30 years! I suppose I was younger and my knees didn't complain so much!

Why not put the fridge on top of the work surface. Say at the end of work surface against the end wall.
I’ve recommended that to a couple of elderly neighbours. All good. Just like opening a cupboard.

J52 That's in the new kitchen plan that my adult children keep pressurising The Boss to provide. I can't think of a solution, myself!
Dylis See my post about door-opening restrictions.

You could take the door off, it wouldn’t be pretty but it might help? Alternatively could you ask someone to lift the fridge onto the counter…..or is that not possible?

Stop struggling and ask the Boss to get things out and put them away.

I guess the new fridge will arrive promptly..

He can’t understand the difficulties while you keep managing.

Have a look at clear plastic fridge organisers online. I use these on the bottom shelf of my larder unit and find them very helpful. If you group like items together you will find it easier to organise your fridge.

What about storing items in plastic trays in the fridge, as a temporary solution? You can then pull the tray out to see what’s at the back. Wham trays are inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes. They’re widely available, Dunelm, Home Bargains, B&M or online.

I have them for cans of drink, fruit, cheeses and things that get messy, like opened jars/bottles. I use fairly narrow ones so they’re not too heavy and more easily manoeuvrable.

Ask The Boss to be fridge and freezer monitor, they can get what you need, they might understand the issue then.

Sorry Lathyrus misread your post.

I have the same problem but mainly because my fridge isn’t big enough. I’m so envious of people with larder fridges. I do have a counter top mini fridge in the utility room but can’t use it in winter as the ambient temperature isn’t high enough. And salad seems to freeze in my fridge something that doesn’t seem to happen with larder fridges.

I do use these, though. The handle makes them easy to pull out.

I was thinking much the same at the weekend when I was taking something out of the washing machine. The tumble dryer is just as awkward and I’m considering having that put on a sturdy raised base to make it easier to retrieve lost socks etc. However, that wouldn’t work for the washing machine as it frequently goes for a walk as it is…….put it up higher and it’ll be taking flight!! They’re both in a utility space btw.
Don’t know what the answer is for your fridge though DotScot.

Lathyrus3

Stop struggling and ask the Boss to get things out and put them away.

I guess the new fridge will arrive promptly..

He can’t understand the difficulties while you keep managing.

I second this.

Similar problem here. I now have two food storage boxes on each shelf which act like trays. They’re light enough for me to be able to lift them out so I can see everything in them.

I have an American style fridge/freezer that is nearly 20 years old. Whilst I am really pleased that it has lasted so long, I do wish it would die. We use our fridge differently now and this one isn't really adaptable.

Frustrating isn't it.

I would love a French style fridge freezer. The freezer portion has pull out drawers, so much easier! Sadly my kitchen is too small.

Who is THE BOSS? Husband?

It would be a cold day in hell before I referred to any partner in that manner.

Mine is an under the counter fridge. I have to sit down to put the stuff in when Tesco delivers. I get my cleaner to do it out at intervals. He is a lot more agile than I am.

I win! lol…..I have an undercounter combined Fridge/Freezer. Yes to pull out baskets or similar. We have a weekly shopping delivery so the space available suits our needs (unless we get carried away and over order, then its a bit like a game of Jenga). Mine fills the space where our Dishwasher used to live and I now have a kitchen table in our sunny kitchen where the big Fridge/Freezer used to be. My Grandson does call it the back-breaker fridge when he is getting anything out of it though! If I had space (do I need a kitchen table when the Dining table is just 12 feet away), I would buy another Big F/F.

I've just cleaned out my under counter fridge and the fridge of the fridge freezer ,which is the lower bit! So awkward isn't it? I'm 77 and quite hale and hearty, but knees aren't too good.
Just my adult daughter and me, and she doesn't notice things like fridge hygiene . I'm at home more so down to me to work it out. Usually involves throwing out a lot of old food I hadn't realised I still had.

For low down places and in the garden I have a cheap garden chair which son has reduced by half. I use the arms to lower down and push back up Works a treat

I was glad to get rid of my under counter fridge and under counter freezer. The storage in them was so minimal and bending down was a chore. When we redid the kitchen I had them taken out which gave me two more cupboards and we installed a 60/40 fridge freezer at the end of the run. So so much easier and more fridge space.

Thanks for all your replies.
Lathyrus3, ginny and Jaxjacky My strategy of complaining loudly every time I had to extract anything from the depths when The Boss was in the kitchen only earned me a very irritated response. Asking him to get things for me might impinge more.
The Boss has A Plan for our Victorian house rehabilitations. (In his working life he was an architect.) The kitchen was a priority 30 years ago although it never reached completion and lacks floor covering, tiling, and a working cooker hood. (Cobbler's weans etc and a standing joke amongst my siblings who are all on their 3rd or 4th kitchens! ) But the end of the original Overall Schedule of Works has yet to be reached, so the kitchen will have to bide its time.
friendlygingercat He only thinks he's The Boss. I think that as men get older, and see their time vanishing at an increasing rate, many of them become increasingly autocratic as a way of feeling in control. Also, although we have sufficient money to last us should we live to be 99, he still has difficulty spending what we have, as a result of difficult childhood experiences. A new fridge, while the original one still works? Extravagance!
Kateykrunch and teabagwoman Yes - I'm thinking thin pullout baskets or boxes at least at the left hand side of each shelf might work. I'm off to do some measuring. Your grandson has hit the mark calling it "The back-breaking fridge"!
Gwyllt Ours is a narrow kitchen, so the annoyance of a chair in the space, potentially getting in the way, might also impinge more!