To choose a good refrigerator, you must take into account the space you have available, the use you will give it, the number of people , the amount of food and drinks you want to cool or freeze, and of course, your budget.
All refrigerator models keep food at the right temperature and typically have a lifespan of approximately 15 years.
Features of refrigerators
Refrigerator capacity. Capacity is measured in liters of usable volume. This is important to consider when calculating how much space you have available to store food or drinks.
Refrigerator dimensions. It's essential to measure the space where the refrigerator will be located, and it's always recommended to leave 5 cm of space to optimize performance.
Refrigerator noise . Although it's not generally a very noisy appliance, the energy label also lists the decibels it emits.
Refrigerator thermostats. Two-door refrigerators only have one thermostat, and they have a freezer and a refrigerator. Combined refrigerators have two thermostats and two motors. This allows the temperature to be regulated independently, and if one fails, the other can continue to operate normally.
Extra features like super freeze and super cool. Some refrigerators have some very useful features. These allow you to pack a large amount of food and achieve rapid cooling and freezing.
Special drawers. Some models include special drawers for certain foods, such as "fresh" drawers, which maintain the humidity of fruits and vegetables, or 0°C drawers designed to preserve meat or fish.
Energy consumption and efficiency . The actual consumption of your refrigerator will depend on how many times you open and close it throughout the day. If you open it frequently, it consumes more.
And when it comes to energy efficiency, it's important to look at the refrigerator label. It ranges from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and from dark green to red. Currently, the tests for assigning energy classes are more demanding and the limits are stricter, so appliances that were already on the market will be classified in lower categories than they were. Now, the most efficient appliances that until now had an A+++ rating will have a maximum of a B.
Types of refrigerators
Two-door refrigerators
Two-door refrigerators are the cheapest, simplest, and most limited in terms of features. They're smaller, making them perfect for homes with limited space.
They freeze less food and more slowly than other models such as the combi, and take longer to defrost.
In double-door refrigerators, the freezer is located on top. These refrigerators have a single compressor and a single circuit to operate the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
Combi refrigerators
These refrigerators are characterized by combining a freezer and a refrigerator. In this case, the freezer drawers are located at the bottom, and the refrigerator is located at the top.
Combi refrigerators cool and freeze very well. They have two thermostats to independently regulate the temperatures of the freezer and refrigerator.
They usually incorporate two compressors, which speeds up the freezing process, although it also increases energy consumption.
Combi refrigerators have standard dimensions to fit into spaces measuring 60 cm wide by 60 cm deep and a height between 1.80 and 2 meters. This height allows for more space to store drinks and food.
American refrigerators
The term "side-by-side" refers to American-style refrigerators. They are wider and deeper , with more storage capacity. This means slower cooling and higher energy consumption.
They have two vertical doors, one for the refrigerator section, one for the freezer section, and most of them also include an automatic ice and cold water dispenser.
It has two different thermostats to regulate the refrigerator and freezer independently, just like combi refrigerators.
No frost refrigerators
The word frost means frost, so frost-free refrigerators prevent the formation of ice sheets and frost, "without frost."
This is the most common system in refrigerators with freezer compartments. The freezer has an additional interior cavity that houses the evaporator and incorporates a heating system that removes any ice that may have stuck to the refrigerator. The result is dry air , which is passed into the freezer through ventilation.
Advantages
- Manual defrosting is not necessary.
- Food cools and freezes more quickly.
- They maintain a higher temperature inside the refrigerator than outside.
Disadvantages
- It has a slight, permanent noise, because its fan runs constantly.
- It can dry out food. It is recommended to wrap food in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or store it in an airtight container in this type of refrigerator.
Freezers. Types and ratings
The stars on freezers serve to indicate their cooling capacity. A certain number of stars is assigned based on the temperatures they can reach. Most models on the market already have a 4-star rating.
One star * : They reach temperatures of up to -6º C. They are not suitable for freezing food.
Two stars ** : They reach -12º C. They cannot freeze food.
Three stars *** : They can reach temperatures as low as -18°C. They are not suitable for freezing food, but they do preserve already frozen food. The shelf life is indicated on the packaging.
Four stars **** : Temperature between -18º C and - 24º C, they are the only ones that can freeze food.
AEG SCK818E3FS
AEG SCK818E3FS is an integrated combi refrigerator.
It includes automatic defrosting, rapid food cooling, and an audible and visual alarm when the door is open.
Thanks to LowFrost technology , hidden circuits facilitate defrosting, minimizing the creation of frost, making defrosting easier and not requiring frequent defrosting.
TwinTech® technology creates two completely independent cooling conditions, one for each compartment. This way, the refrigerator maintains the high relative humidity necessary to keep ingredients fresh, while the freezer enjoys the icy, dry environment ideal for frost-free freezing.
Its ColdSense technology protects food quality. It cools faster and maintains a more stable temperature with its cold sensors. These sensors monitor the temperature of the refrigerator and stove, reacting immediately to adjust the temperature precisely. It cools 40% faster and has less temperature fluctuation for your food.
With Dynamicair, your food will be at its optimal temperature. It maintains a constant flow of air, ensuring a stable cooling temperature throughout the entire refrigerator. Each shelf is cooled consistently and evenly to prevent hot spots, prevent the growth of bacteria, and better preserve ingredients.
Manage functions and temperature with the electronic control . This control gives you the ability to make precise adjustments to the temperature and other storage functions.
Regarding the refrigerator measurements: (height x width x depth): 1780 x 560 x 550 (mm).
Balay 3FAF494XE
It has two large-capacity Big Box drawers for fruits and vegetables , and a water, ice, and crushed ice dispenser via an internal tank. It produces 112 cubes per day and has a height for jugs up to 27 cm.
It features LED lighting inside, which consumes less, lasts longer, and illuminates better. Touch electronics are integrated into the door, so all controls are designed to be practical and useful.
High-performance inverter compressor technology , and the shelves are made of safety glass.
Its handles provide maximum comfort when opening your refrigerator, and it features No Frost technology . It also includes a display and intelligent sensors to control the refrigerator's temperature . Automatic defrosting and evaporation. "Super" cooling with auto shutoff and "Super" freezing with auto shutoff.
It has an optical and acoustic alarm for an open door.
Its width is 908 mm and height is 1,787 mm. Net refrigerator capacity (2010/30/EC): 368 l Net freezer capacity (2010/30/EC): 165 l
Energy efficiency class (2010/30/EC): A++
Bosch KGN36VIEA
This Bosch KNG36VIEA is a free-standing combination refrigerator.
Its VitaFresh drawers preserve the freshness and vitamins of your food for longer thanks to its lower temperatures for meat and fish and optimal humidity for fruits and vegetables.
It incorporates interior LED lighting, uniform and efficient, with long durability.
It has EasyAccess extendable glass shelves for convenient loading and unloading of food with adequate visibility.
Its "Super" cooling function cools freshly purchased food even faster and protects already refrigerated food.
"Super" freezing increases the temperature for better and faster freezing of food.
Both the refrigerator and freezer are equipped with No Frost technology.
Regarding the dimensions of the product: (Height x Width x Depth): 203.0 x 60.0 x 66.0, and the total useful capacity: 368, useful refrigerator capacity: 279 and useful freezer capacity: 89
Energy rating: E
UNIVERSALBLUE Double-door refrigerator
It features 3 glass shelves, 1 drawer, 4 door baskets, and a vegan box , so you can easily store and organize food. Plus, its freezer is located at the top, with 2 compartments.
It has a 4-star freezing rating. It allows you to freeze fresh products safely and quickly, ensuring perfect storage until you're ready to eat them. Plus, with its 42 dB quiet system , you won't be disturbed at all.
It has a total capacity of 208L. The refrigerator has a capacity of 168 liters, allowing you to store a multitude of products, and the freezer has a capacity of 40 liters.
This refrigerator has low energy consumption thanks to its A+ classification.
UNIVERSALBLUE 4-door American Refrigerator
The KIVU 4026B model offers the spaciousness you need. Its four doors allow you to see everything at a glance and store a large amount of food. Its elegant black glass design will provide you with the efficiency and durability you need.
It has a capacity of 482 liters, divided between the refrigerator and freezer, with capacities of 321 liters and 161 liters respectively. Thanks to its generous height and depth, food can be distributed comfortably. It's ideal for large families or those who love order.
Thanks to its 3 glass shelves, you'll have plenty of space to store your food, plus its 2 drawers, 6 baskets in the door, and 1 vegan box, as well as a large freezer divided into 6 large drawers.
Its No Frost system and 4-star freezing rating allow you to freeze fresh products quickly and safely, while ensuring perfect preservation of all your food.
It has a silent system of 42 dB and energy efficiency F.
