The Candy CCT3L157EWK-1 is a 176cm tall, 50/50 freestanding fridge freezer designed to give you solid everyday cooling without the premium price tag. With 252 litres of space split evenly between fridge and freezer, it’s sized for smaller families or couples who like to batch cook.
Candy typically sits in the value end of the market, and this model follows that brief: a straightforward spec with a few modern touches like Low Frost and a quick-chill function. It skips fancy displays and Wi‑Fi, focusing instead on usable space and simple controls.
With a 4.8 out of 5 rating from over 500 owners, it’s clearly doing the basics very well, especially if you want a narrow, no-fuss fridge freezer that fits into tighter gaps.
This Candy is ideal for smaller households who need a proper 50/50 split but don’t have room for a full-depth, American-style appliance. At 54.5cm wide and 55cm deep, it’s noticeably slimmer than many rivals, so it works well in galley kitchens, flats and older properties where space is at a premium.
If you’re on a budget but still want enough capacity for a weekly shop, the 252-litre total space (around 14 bags of food) is a good fit for couples, young families or house shares of two to three people. The generous freezer with four drawers will also appeal if you like to keep a good stock of frozen meals and ingredients.
It’s well suited to first-time buyers, landlords kitting out rental properties, and anyone upgrading from a small under-counter fridge. The simple dial controls, adjustable shelves and reversible door make it an easy, fuss-free option.
If you’re looking for advanced features like full NoFrost, multi-airflow cooling or app controls, this isn’t the model for you. But if reliability, practicality and price matter more than bells and whistles, it hits the brief nicely.
The 252-litre capacity is generous for such a slim footprint, comfortably handling around 14 bags of shopping without dominating the kitchen. The true 50/50 split and four freezer drawers make it practical for anyone who freezes a lot of food.
The Low Frost system is a big step up from older static freezers. You’ll still need to defrost occasionally, but ice builds up more slowly, so you’re not constantly chipping away at it. Pair that with auto-defrost in the fridge and day-to-day maintenance stays fairly light.
Fast Freeze and Super Cool functions are useful real-world features. They help protect food quality when you bring home a big shop, quickly pulling the cabinet back down to temperature so ice cream, meat and dairy stay at their best.
Storage flexibility is good for the price. Three adjustable glass shelves, an XL salad crisper and door bottle storage make it easy to organise everything from milk and juice to veg and leftovers. LED lighting keeps the interior bright while using less energy.
Noise is rated at 39 dB with a C noise class, which is reasonably quiet for a budget model and unlikely to be intrusive in an open-plan space.
The main compromise is the lack of full NoFrost technology. Although Low Frost reduces build-up, you will still need to manually defrost the freezer from time to time, which some rivals now eliminate entirely.
Energy efficiency is only E rated with an annual consumption of around 218 kWh. That’s acceptable at this price, but not class-leading, so running costs will be a touch higher than the very best modern models.
The feature set is fairly basic: there’s no digital display, no dedicated fresh zone drawer for meat or fish, and no multi-airflow system to even out temperatures in the fridge. For most users this won’t be a deal-breaker, but it does underline that this is a value-focused appliance.
Finally, the manufacturer warranty is only one year. Many competitors now offer two years or more, so it’s worth considering extended cover if you like longer peace of mind.
Living with the Candy CCT3L157EWK-1 should be straightforward from day one. Installation is simple: it’s a standard freestanding model with a 1.8m power cord and adjustable feet, so levelling it on slightly uneven floors is easy. The reversible door lets you choose which way it opens, helping it slot into more awkward kitchen layouts.
Inside, the layout is practical. The fridge’s three glass shelves are height-adjustable, so you can rearrange them to fit taller items like bottles or large casseroles. The XL salad crisper keeps fruit and vegetables together at the bottom, reducing clutter on shelves and protecting delicate produce from getting squashed.
LED lighting means you can see everything clearly, even at the back of the top shelf. Door balconies provide space for milk, drinks and jars, freeing up the main shelves for larger items.
Noise levels at 39 dB are relatively low for a static-cooling fridge freezer; you’ll hear the compressor hum occasionally, but it shouldn’t be distracting in a typical household. Routine upkeep is manageable: the fridge defrosts itself, and the Low Frost freezer will just need an occasional manual defrost, which is made easier by the reduced ice build-up.
Controls are intentionally simple, with adjustable temperature rather than complex menus. That makes it easy to use for all ages, though you miss out on the extra precision of a digital display.
For day-to-day performance, this Candy focuses on doing the fundamentals well. The 151-litre fridge and 101-litre freezer capacities strike a good balance, giving you enough fresh and frozen storage without needing a huge footprint. Static cooling keeps the design simple and reliable, and the fridge’s auto-defrost prevents icy back walls.
The Low Frost system in the freezer is one of the key features. Evaporator elements are designed to reduce moisture and ice formation, so frost accumulates more slowly than in old-fashioned freezers. That means your drawers are easier to open and usable space doesn’t shrink as quickly between defrosts.
Fast Freeze and Super Cool modes are valuable when you’re loading the fridge freezer with warm groceries. Fast Freeze helps lock in nutrients and texture in fresh foods by dropping the freezer temperature quickly, while Super Cool brings the fridge back down to its optimal range after the door has been open for a while. Both are especially handy after a big weekly shop or when prepping meals for the freezer.
Storage flexibility is another strong point. The three glass shelves are sturdy and easy to wipe clean, the door balconies handle bottles and condiments well, and the XL salad drawer gives plenty of room for fresh produce. The four freezer compartments keep foods separate and easy to find, which reduces the time you spend rummaging with the door open.
The climate class of N–ST means it’s designed to work reliably in typical UK home conditions, from cooler rooms up to a maximum ambient temperature of 38°C. Combined with a 4-star freezer rating and 11 hours of safe storage in a power cut, it offers reassuring food safety for everyday use.
At its price point, the Candy CCT3L157EWK-1 offers strong value for anyone who prioritises capacity and practicality over premium extras. You’re getting a tall, slim 50/50 fridge freezer with a decent 252-litre capacity, Low Frost, quick-chill and quick-freeze functions, plus a flexible interior layout.
While the E energy rating isn’t cutting-edge, the overall running costs remain reasonable, especially given the modest purchase price compared with many larger or more feature-rich models. For most households, the slight extra energy use will be offset by the lower upfront cost.
Owner feedback is a major plus. A 4.8/5 rating from over 500 reviews suggests that, in real kitchens, it performs reliably and meets expectations. That kind of user confidence is rare at the budget end.
If you’re willing to spend more, you can certainly find models with full NoFrost and extra technology, but at this level the Candy delivers a lot of practicality per pound, making it an appealing option for cost-conscious buyers.
The Candy CCT3L157EWK-1 is a well-judged fridge freezer for households that want solid performance, decent capacity and a slim footprint without a hefty price tag. Its 252-litre 50/50 layout, Low Frost freezer and quick-chill functions cover the essentials for everyday family life.
It does make some compromises: there’s no full NoFrost, the energy rating is only E, and the feature set is deliberately basic, with a short one-year warranty. But these trade-offs are reflected in the price and won’t bother buyers who simply want a reliable, easy-to-use appliance.
If you have a narrow kitchen, are upgrading from a small under-counter fridge, or just need a good-value all-rounder backed by very strong user ratings, this Candy is a smart, sensible choice. Those wanting the latest tech and completely frost-free convenience may prefer to look higher up the range, but for most everyday users it represents excellent, no-nonsense value.
