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Storage holder for cooling and freezing

You are planning a cozy barbecue evening with delicious steaks, a crisp salad as a side dish and a cold beer. But you want to do your shopping two days in advance: No problem, refrigerators keep the food fresh and the drinks cold until dinner. The essential household appliances are available in sizes and designs to suit your needs. This guide introduces you to the different models and helps you choose the right refrigerator.

For the small household: compact refrigerators

One or two people can usually get by with compact refrigerators that don’t require much space. The usable capacity is sufficient at up to 249 l. The following compact models are available.

Undercounter appliances: the space-saving solution

If you live in a one-room apartment with a kitchenette, there is not much room for a refrigerator. Undercounter refrigerators are particularly space-saving . You can simply slide them under your worktop, as the devices are delivered without a thick cover or the cover is removable. It is important that you measure the room precisely and compare the dimensions with the dimensions of the product. The width and depth of undercounter refrigerators always range between 54 and 60 cm, while the height is 82 cm (“82 niche”). The prices for undercounter refrigerators range between €150 and €650, depending on the features.

Built-in appliances for small kitchen units

In compact kitchen units with cupboards in a uniform look, there is usually a niche for built-in refrigerators . These models are fully integrated, i.e. they are seamlessly built into the cupboard and do not have their own furniture fronts. Instead, the cupboard door is attached to the refrigerator door and, if the unit is installed all the way to the floor, the base panel of the kitchen unit is attached to the base of the appliance. You can equip decorative refrigerators with a front panel that visually matches the rest of your kitchen furniture. A frame for sliding in is attached to the door for this purpose. Depending on the height of the niche, built-in refrigerators with a height between 88 and 178 cm are available at prices between €150 and €1,500.

Freestanding mini fridges

Tabletop refrigerators can be set up anywhere and are ideal if you need a way to cool drinks in addition to your small appliance in the kitchenette. If you are thinking of moving the appliance to an unheated room for reasons of space, you should pay attention to the climate class. Most refrigerators correspond to the universal class SN-ST and can be operated at 10° to 43° C. The temperature at the installation location should therefore always be at least 10° C. The mini refrigerators are available as compact “cooling cubes” with less than 50 l usable capacity for around €100 or in a larger version as a freestanding appliance with a capacity of up to 150 l for around €300.

For the family: built-in and freestanding refrigerators with plenty of space

Three to four people need refrigerators with a capacity of 250 to 349 l. For each additional person, you should calculate an additional 50 to 70 l. For large families and shared apartments, there are models with more than 350 l of usable capacity. The purchase decision also depends on whether and how much freezer space you need.

Built-in refrigerators with and without freezer compartment

If it is important to you that your kitchen looks very uniform, built-in refrigerators are the right choice. The 165 to 186 cm high appliances are available with or without a freezer compartment, with a volume of between 15 and 35 l. Which layout you choose depends on your shopping and cooking habits. If you rarely use frozen goods, but often eat fresh vegetables and dairy products, appliances with or without a small freezer compartment offer plenty of space in the refrigerator compartment. For large pizza boxes, however, you should choose a model with a 35 l freezer compartment. Built-in refrigerators for the family cost between €350 and €2,000.

Freestanding refrigerators: flexible placement

For kitchen-diners with furniture that does not have a uniform front, upright refrigerators are a good choice. Even if you move frequently or are looking for a second appliance, you will find something in this category. You can choose the color and size according to your taste and space requirements. Just make sure that the space is not next to the heater or stove. The appliances will then work more efficiently. The same applies to the fridge-freezer layout as for built-in appliances. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, quiet appliances with an operating noise of around 40 dB are advantageous. Prices for family-friendly upright refrigerators start at €200, XXL models with high-end features cost up to €1,500.

Fridge-freezer combinations: compact double solution

Cooling and freezing with one appliance: This is always a good solution if you only have one cupboard niche or one space available and like to store food in advance. In fridge-freezer combinations you can freeze pre-cooked meals and store larger packages of frozen food. Built-in fridge-freezer combinations fit into standard fridge niches. Please note: For combi-coolers, the total usable capacity for the fridge and freezer compartment is specified, but the division can vary greatly. Cost of the two-compartment appliances with space for three people or more: €200 to €2,200

For special requirements: design and beverage refrigerators

If the appearance and convenience features of the refrigerator are important to you or if you need special drinks refrigerators, there are models with the appropriate features.

The living space designers: retro and side-by-side models

Refrigerators with an elegant look are an eye-catcher in the kitchen and can underline a certain living style. Retro refrigerators in the style of the 1950s fit well in kitchens with a nostalgic look. Appliances in elegant silver, on the other hand, complement modern furnishings. Side-by-side refrigerators combine a refrigerator and a freezer compartment next to each other instead of on top of each other. The retro eye-catchers cost between €250 and €2,300, and you should calculate €650 to €3,700 for side-by-side models.

For wine and spirits: beverage refrigerators

Do you like drinking wine or would you like to bring a little bar atmosphere into your home? Then special drinks fridges are available. Wine fridges create a climatic environment in which wine can be stored properly. Small models are available from €120, large cabinets cost up to €2,900. Drinks fridges for cola, beer, lemonade and cocktails are compact and score points with a stylish bar design with a glass door and interior lighting. They are available for prices between €180 and €300.

The equipment: This is what matters when buying

Refrigerators come with a variety of functions and convenience features. The following information can help you identify the ones that are important to you.

Energy efficiency

Since refrigerators run day and night and are in use for many years, it is worth purchasing a low-consumption appliance. Models in energy efficiency classes A++ and A+++ use a third and more than half less electricity than A+ refrigerators.

No Frost and automatic defrost

Appliances with No Frost technology save you the trouble of defrosting regularly. A circulating air system keeps the air in the freezer dry and prevents ice from forming. In the refrigerator compartment, the automatic defrosting system continuously melts ice and directs the liquid into an evaporation tray on the outside of the appliance. This saves you work and electricity costs, as these models always work efficiently.

freezer

If there is no separate freezer, the refrigerator should at least have a small freezer compartment to store ice cubes, ice cream or frozen food. Refrigerators without a freezer compartment are a good option as a cheap second appliance or if you want to use the entire space just for cooling. Pay attention to the number of stars in the freezer compartment: you can only freeze fresh food in four-star compartments, three-star compartments are only suitable for storing already frozen products.

Alarm function

If you haven’t closed the refrigerator door properly or a defect causes the temperature inside the refrigerator to rise to a critical level, devices with an alarm function will alert you with a sound or flashing signal . You then have time to quickly close the door or store your food in cool boxes , for example .

Display

A digital temperature display allows you to set the temperature to the exact degree. If the display is on the door, you can see the values without opening the refrigerator.

Freshness zones

Different foods keep particularly well in different climatic conditions : Freshness zones ensure that everything has its place. In the vegetable compartment, for example, there is not only a slightly warmer temperature but also the right humidity so that peppers, cucumbers and lettuce stay fresh. Fish, meat and sausages are particularly well kept in a dry 0° zone. Manufacturers give these zones different names, but the principle behind “BioFresh”, “VitaZone” or “Crisperbox” is always the same. The only exception is cold storage compartments: they are equipped with their own cooling control circuit and can be regulated separately like a small refrigerator in the refrigerator. You can store very sensitive foods such as delicatessen in them.

Bottle rack, shelves and bar compartment

If you often put bottles in the fridge, a shelf will prevent them from rolling around. The practical compartments are installed between the shelves and can be folded away to save space on some models when you don’t need them. Adjustable shelves in the door provide more flexibility. A bar compartment can be found in side-by-side refrigerators: It is attached to the outside of the door and holds drinks and snacks independently of the main refrigerator compartment.

Water and ice maker

If you always want to have cold water available, many side-by-side refrigerators have practical water dispensers built into the door. Ice makers provide the ice cubes for your drinks. The water is fed into the device via a fixed water connection or water tank.

Door stop

Especially with built-in refrigerators, it is important that the door has enough room to open completely. If the door stop cannot be changed, you should make sure that the door can be opened to the right side with enough space. With a changeable door stop, you have flexibility and can simply attach the door to the left or right.

Smartphone app

If the refrigerator is app-enabled, you can monitor it with your smartphone, make settings and detect errors using smart diagnostic functions. To do this, the device is integrated into the WLAN and networked in the smart home.

Conclusion: Basic equipment tailored to your needs for the kitchen

Freestanding or built-in, small or large, with or without a freezer compartment: refrigerators are essential household appliances that can be selected depending on their location and storage space requirements. The following recommendations can help you make your purchase decision: