Keep Your Cool

When its time to buy a new refrigerator, choose the right refrigerator for your needs

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 7 May 2018 – The most used appliance in a home is hands-down the fridge. Its not just an essential item for keeping drinks cooled and ice frozen, it’s absolutely vital for ensuring food safety. Today’s refrigerators are far smarter and more energy efficient than ever before and while you may be satisfied that yours is keeping the milk from going off, you’ll find the benefits of a more advanced model will make a positive impact.

The optimal temperate for food safety is 4 degrees Celsius in the fridge and -18 degrees Celsius for the freezer. If yours isn’t quite up to the job, a shopping trip may be in order. But how do you choose the right fridge for your needs? We unpack some important considerations to make your decision easer.

Space – with so much variety in fridge sizes, its important to measure the available space in your kitchen before purchasing one. Always remember that a fridge needs a few centimetres of breathing room on the sides and back for it to operate efficiently. Be sure to measure height, width and depth, especially if your fridge needs to fit in-between built-in cabinets – you don’t want it to stick out beyond the front of your cupboards. Also consider the direction the fridge and freezer doors swing – you’ll need additional space for the doors to open out.

Mike van Lier, Director of Consumer Electronics for Samsung South Africa, says, “Refrigerator technology has advanced to such an extent that choosing the right one for your lifestyle does become difficult. However, energy saving and sized-for-purpose are two important aspects. Samsung has a range of fridges that will suit any requirements and our innovative technology means you’ll get superior cooling and storage.”

What’s inside – your unique lifestyle is fundamental to the amount of storage space you require for a fridge, as well as the configuration. A basic guide to the capacity of a fridge/freezer combination is 200-380 litres for one to two people; 350-530 litres for a family of three to four; and if its over five people, you’ll need at least 440 litre capacity. When it comes to choosing a fridge that has a freezer on top, on the bottom or on the side, it does come down to personal choice. A freezer below the fridge means your fridge items are at a height that doesn’t require you to bend down to get the items at the bottom of the fridge. There are myriad choices when it comes to the interior configuration of your fridge and adaptability of drawers and shelves is vital to ensure you get the best storage spaces for your needs.^{<[i] <[ii]}

Consider the types of food you like to eat, what quantities you buy and how often. If you often stock up on frozen meals, ensure you have enough freezer space, but if you’re more likely to eat fresh produce than frozen food, make sure you choose a fridge with multiple drawers and shelves. If you love entertaining, its important to ensure your fridge can accommodate large platters or additional drinks. Avid entertainers will also love the conversion mode created by Samsung – allowing you to turn your freezer into a fridge when extra space is required.

“The Samsung Food Showcase fridge offers exceptional convenience – it is designed for the way your family lives and eats, so everyone can easily find what they want from it. It includes six generous cases to store specific types of food (cheese, sauces, drinks, snacks, kids and multi items) and is divided into three zones for different family members, so it’s really easy for everyone to find what they want,” notes van Lier.

Whatever your unique refrigeration needs are, be sure to do your research before making a purchase – from the space available in your kitchen to the space you’ll need inside the fridge, as well as energy efficiency and innovative, smart technology.

^{[i] https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/academy/appliance-questions/what-size-fridge-do-i-need/}

^{[ii] https://www.searshomeservices.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-new-refrigerator-5-questions-to-ask}