Refrigerators are one of the most necessary household appliances used in everyone's homes! We use the refrigerator to store vegetables, fruits, dairy products and even leftovers from yesterday's dinner. In today’s fast-paced life, having a refrigerator is a necessity in everyone’s household. But, not every homeowner will have similar refrigeration needs or requirements. That’s why it is crucial to have the right knowledge or information for selecting the right fridge for your home!
This article guides you through the essential features you must look for when buying the ideal refrigerator that meets your requirements and expectations:
Types of Refrigerators
You can select from the refrigerators from following types:
Single Door Refrigerators
Single-door refrigerators are the smallest and most compact refrigerator options you can find! You can select one from the capacities of 50 liters-250 litres. These refrigerators include a freezer compartment at the top and a vegetable compartment at the bottom. For those who are looking for basic features like cooling, single-door refrigerators make a simple yet effective choice. For compact kitchen spaces, rented homes, etc. go for a single-door fridge that occupies less space and serves its purposes too.
Double Door Refrigerators
Double-door refrigerators are the most common preference for refrigerators found in the majority of homes. This type of refrigerator includes a separate door for the freezer compartment. You can select a double-door fridge from various sizes and designs. The most common design for the double-door refrigerator is the top freezer compartment refrigerator which can be selected from various capacities up to 600 liters. These fridge types are budget-friendly, serve the required purposes, and suit any kitchen or home design!
Bottom-mounted refrigerators include the freezer compartment at the bottom or below the refrigerator unit. With this fringe design, it becomes feasible to access the things from the fridge compartment. It reduces the cumbersome task of bending down to take something out of the fridge. Also, freezer compartments are designed with a pull-out drawer system which makes it easier to see all the things or items kept inside the same. You can select the bottom-mounted refrigerators in different capacities offered by leading brands.
Side by Side Refrigerators
Side-by-side refrigerators as the name suggests have two doors that open side by side, similar to that of a cupboard. You can select from larger capacities in 550-700 litres. In this type of fridge option, freezer, and fridge compartments are placed side by side, which means you don’t need to bend each time you need to access things from any of the compartments.
Side-by-side refrigerators in high-end models also include water and ice dispensers. Compared to single and double-door compartment fridges, side-by-side refrigerators are mostly bulky and require a lot of space in the kitchen.
Multi-Door Refrigerators
Multi-door refrigerators AKA French door refrigerators include multiple compartments. Such refrigerators include a side-by-side design at the top and a pull-out drawer system at the bottom. Some multi-door refrigerators even have a side-by-side door system at the bottom too.
You can select them in 800-liter capacities and make an ideal choice for spacious homes or big families. Multi-door refrigerators include the latest features like quick cooling and freezing, built-in water and ice dispensers, and much more.
Frost Free Refrigerators
Direct cooling refrigerators are mostly designed with single-door options and include a basic convection cooling system. The process includes no cool air circulation within the fridge and as a result, it accumulates ice inside the freezer compartment which needs to be defrosted manually at least once or twice a week. Direct cooling fridges are more cost-convenient and energy-efficient than frost-free fridge choices.
Frost-free refrigerators don’t require the manual defrosting process and can maintain the required or constant temperature in every corner of the refrigerator. These refrigerator types tend to preserve food for a longer time compared to the direct cooling fridge options. But, these consume more energy than conventional refrigerators.
Inverter refrigerators
Today, most modern refrigerator options include compressors that run in full-on or full-off mode. It allows the temperature inside the fridge to change automatically. Such refrigerators also tend to consume more power as the compressor needs to start often which fluctuates the energy consumption.
Inverter refrigerators on the other hand adjust the speed as per the temperature conditions. It helps the fridge to have a constant temperature and utilizes less energy. Also, compared to standard fridge choices, inverter refrigerators make less noise too.
Prime Features to Look for In Refrigerators
Look for the below-mentioned features when selecting the refrigerator of your choice:
Design
Refrigerators are one of the prime and probably the largest home appliances in the kitchens. That’s why it is crucial to select them in such a way that the design or outlook of the same matches the aesthetics of the room i.e. kitchen. You can select the fridge from various color, and pattern choices which can complement well with the wall color, tiles, countertop, etc. For example, sleek gray-silver finish refrigerators make a go-to choice for modern, contemporary-style kitchens!
Capacity
The capacity of the fridge allows for how many items it can hold and how much space will occupy in a given space. Ideally, select a refrigerator with a capacity that matches your requirements. For example, a fridge with a large capacity will take up more space and will generally have a higher price point as per the capacity and features. Most refrigerator manufacturers mention the freezer compartment's net total capacity as well. It is essential to consider the net capacity as you determine the actual capacity of food you can store in the fridge.
Shelves
Previously refrigerators used to have metal shelves to keep or store the food inside. Such shelves made a good choice as they allowed for the required air circulation within the fridge. Today, refrigerators are designed with tough glass shelves and can comfortably hold even the heaviest of vessels, pots, and other objects. Glass shelves also add a modern touch to the inside design or outlook of the refrigerator.
You can also select a refrigerator model with adjustable shelves and move them up or down or remove them completely to store large-size vessels, bottles, or food items.
Pockets
Pockets are simply the storage shelves located at the door of the refrigerator. These are mostly used to store water bottles, soda bottles, juice cans, or other packed objects. The fridge models also feature adjustable pockets which can be easily slid out or removed for the required access and usage.
Deodorizer
The refrigerator is used for storing all kinds of food items. Some food items like onions, garlic, meat, or fish contain dominant odors which can overpower the entire refrigerator compartment. That’s why deodorizers in the refrigerator are a helpful feature that helps absorb the strong odors of such food items and keep the refrigerator smelling fresh and pleasant all the time.
Water and Ice Dispenser
Modern refrigerators include additional systems like a water dispenser which eliminates the hassle of opening and closing the fridge door to get cold water. Modern refrigerators like multi-door refrigerators and double-door refrigerators usually include water dispensers. Some refrigerators also include ice dispensers and provide the ice pretty instantly!
Warranty
Usually, home appliance manufacturers offer a minimum of 1-year warranty on most fridge models. Also, the warranty period of the compressor is for 10 years. So even if the compressor gets difficult to run after a few years, you don’t need to replace the refrigerator and get the compressor checked or replaced immediately.
Also Read: Dishwasher Buying Guide: 7 Key Factors To Consider For Selecting The Best One!
