What's inside a refrigerator?
Refrigerators come with much more than ice-cube trays and plastic egg holders. Though manufacturers often trademark the name of their refrigerator technologies and other features, here's an overview of what you'll find inside:
Creative storage: From door bins that can hold gallons of milk to built-in soda can holders and produce drawers that are not only climate controlled but can be opened from the top, most models come with an array of storage options. One freezer compartment even comes with a pizza pocket to keep frozen pies from getting smashed. Side-pocket bins that tilt are another new feature that make it easier to remove bulky frozen items from the freezer door.
Chill options: At least one side-by-side model allows you to swap the bottom two drawers of each side to convert them into fresh food or freezer storage as needed. For example, the freezer drawer can be programmed to cool wine, or the fresh food drawer can be dialed down to store frozen food. Or some models have a special compartment or shelf that lets you quickly thaw, freeze, or chill items--like that celebratory bubbly.
Climate control: Though basic models always come with at least two crisper drawers for fruit and vegetable storage, feature-stocked models include bins designed to keep specific foods fresh. In essence, your refrigerator can have a half dozen different climates inside with compartments that allow you to regulate humidity, temperature, and storage time. For instance, there are bins to store dairy and fresh meat at optimum temps. Crispers come with a humidity gauges and sensors these days to stave off wilt and sogginess.
Customizable shelves: Gone are the days when a flimsy shelf collapsed under the weight of a party-stocked fridge. Now some models come with steel-reinforced hinges to support door storage. Shelves are not only vertically adjustable, many now slide side to side or in and out for easy access. Bins often are moveable or touch and slide versus pull and push. And most models come with so-called spill-proof shelves, which are made from glass with a rim at the edge to prevent spills from saturating your entire fridge. Some shelves also fold in half to make room for taller items.
Wine rack: If you don't have the space or dollars to splurge on a free-standing wine cellar or under-counter unit to keep your bottles chilled, plenty of refrigerators come with horizontal wine racks inside.
Ice-makers: For tastier ice and water, many come with filtration systems. You can get ice in all shapes and sizes. There are models let you make extra ice fast for your parties and holiday feasts, and some put the ice-maker inside the door to save valuable freezer space.
Other extras you might find:
- Quieting systems that mean less humming and other fridge noise (patented names vary).
- A built-in deodorizer compartment so you can say goodbye to that box of baking soda.
- Antibacterial coatings that attempt to keep germs out of the fridge.
- LED lighting so you can see your late-night snacks clearly.
- A no-frost feature to keep your freezer cold but not icy.
