Decide on the look and layout
Refrigerators come in single, double and multi-chamber types. The first ones consist only of a refrigeration chamber. Sometimes there is a small freezer shelf inside, behind the same door. The height of a single-chamber refrigerator, as a rule, does not exceed 150 cm, width and depth - up to 60 cm.
Nowadays, two-chamber refrigerators are in greatest demand.
They have refrigerating and freezing chambers independent from each other. The first is intended for storing food at a temperature of 5–8 ° C, the second is for freezing.
The power of the freezer is indicated by snowflakes. One snowflake: temperature about −6 °C, food can be stored for a week. Two snowflakes: temperature -12 °C, food will last for a month. Three or more snowflakes indicate that the freezer temperature is −18 °C and food can be stored there for up to a year.
Two-chamber refrigerators are:
- With top freezer (“top”). Their depth and width are 60 × 60 cm, height from 1.5 to 2.5 m. They have a spacious refrigerator compartment and are affordable; the disadvantages are a small freezer and an outdated design.
- With bottom freezer (“combi”). Dimensions are approximately the same. They are distinguished by a large freezer and the fact that the food in the refrigerator is at eye level. Cons: premium models are expensive, freezer drawers loaded with food are difficult to pull out, and plastic often breaks.
- French Door (French door). Such models include a wide (from 70 cm) freezer at the bottom and a double-door refrigerator compartment at the top. The good thing is that both the refrigerator and freezer compartments have sufficient volume, and it is convenient to group food on the sides and open only one door.
- Side-by-Side (American model). The refrigerator and freezer compartments are located side by side. The width of such refrigerators can reach up to 120 cm. In height and depth, they are usually the same as “top” and “combi”. The advantages include the large volume and the ability to evaluate the contents of the refrigerator and freezer at a glance. The disadvantages are the high price and a lot of space taken up in the kitchen.
Multi-chamber (three or more compartments) refrigerators can have different layouts. A feature of such models is the presence of a freshness zone. There is a special temperature and humidity so that vegetables and herbs do not wither for a long time, and fresh meat and fish remain chilled, but not frozen.
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