If you want to buy a refrigerator, it's no longer that easy today, as there are countless innovations and models for very different needs. But at the same time you can revolutionize your own kitchen and improve its appearance. What exactly are you looking for when you want to get a new device? We have prepared tips and trends for you.
A few fundamental decisions should always precede the purchase:
– Do I want a fridge and freezer compartment in one?
– Is it worth buying an American model with storage space for a large family, i.e. a two-door car?
– Is environmental sustainability and therefore energy efficiency important to me?
– Do I want a built-in refrigerator?
– Am I looking for the latest technology, i.e. a model with an internet connection that can communicate with my smartphone?
No, that's not a joke. In recent years there have beenat the technology fairsRefrigerators with touchpads or integrated tablets that communicate with their user via Wi-Fi are repeatedly shown. That doesn't mean that we'll just buy a refrigerator that does the shopping for us - that's still a thing of the future at the moment. But they can send us photos of the cupboard contents on our cell phones and inform us which products are about to expire or are in danger of becoming empty. If we just can't think of a good menu for our evening rendezvous, that's no problem for our fridge, which provides us with quick recipes. All assuming, of course, that we have previously entered the set products manually on the touchpad.
Smart refrigerator from Samsung
The companies Samsung and LG in particular have developed models in this direction in recent years, for example theRF4289 (Samsung)andSmart ThinQ (LG). At this year's CES, for example, LG also presented a foot sensor that, when activated, opens the refrigerator door. The question remains whether the house dog or cat will also discover the trick after watching us operate it...
In any case, communication between smartphones and “smart homes” opens up completely new possibilities and it will be interesting to see how these things develop further. In any case, there is hardly any demand for such high-tech devices in Germany. The market launch in the USA remains to be seen.
How to find the right refrigerator
The decision to buy a built-in refrigerator does not necessarily depend on whether the corresponding kitchen is available. One of these can do just as well in the kitchenalso free.
However, whether it is a model with or without a freezer compartment makes a significant difference. On the one hand, the version with the integrated freezer compartment uses more electricity and is therefore less energy efficient. On the other hand, it quickly reaches its capacity limit. It doesn't offer much space except for small frozen items, especially not for storing and stocking pre-cooked food. Sometimes it even means that the actual fridge space shrinks. Of course, in some households there is simply a lack of space to set up more than one device.
However, if there is a lack of space, it is advisable to choose a taller device in which both areas are clearly separated by separate doors and which offers more capacity. The separate doors avoid the aforementioned additional energy expenditure. In this area you can buy a refrigerator comparatively cheaply.
Side-by-Side-Modell
Large families or families in areas far from supermarkets may be looking for much larger models. It should be noted that there are also so-called “side by side” refrigerators, which means that one side houses the refrigerator and the other the freezer. These are double-door models, which of course offer significantly more storage space. This refrigerator model originally comes from the USA and often has a water dispenser and an ice dispenser - whether crushed ice or cubes can be selected - on the freezer side. However, a permanent water connection is also required for such extras.
An example of a side-by-side refrigerator is the RS7528THCSLEF from Samsung. Its stainless steel look is elegant and timeless. It has a temperature control on the outside door. The integrated multi-flow system cools in a special way: the vegetable compartment is supplied with higher humidity than the other compartments. This means that fruit and vegetables stay fresh for much longer. However, it does not have an ice dispenser.
LG GS 9366 NECZ with bar compartment
Also the No Frost systemfrom LG deals with the appropriate cooling performance. The aim of this system is to provide uniform cooling; it eliminates the need for defrosting and is hygienic. The LG GS 9366 NECZ, for example, has this extra.
Some devices even have a bar compartment. Having drinks at hand in this way is a luxury that many users are happy to accept. One such specialist is Samsung's model RS7778FHCSLEF Side-by-Side, which really offers extensive comfort.
Luxury kitchen with built-in refrigerator
Of course, you pay for the luxury. On the other hand, you can save yourself a lot of driving after just one big purchase. On the other hand, the car could become superfluous in the future with the smart refrigerator that orders itself...
Image sources:
ThreeDiCube – 322219877 / Shutterstock.com
Sticky - 188281028 / Shutterstock.com
Photographee.eu – 243962401 / Shutterstock.com
