How many times have you gone into the kitchen, opened the fridge and wondered what to eat? We’ve all been there. The fridge is probably the hardest-working appliance in the kitchen (it works 24/7).

Refrigerators are essential household appliances that protect your food from contamination and keep healthy meals (or unhealthy snacks) ready whenever you need them.

Which refrigerator is best for your home? Here in this article, I am trying to solve your problem.

Refrigerators
Refrigerators

How to choose a fridge

From its earliest days in the ice storage area, the modern refrigerator has evolved immensely over time.

If they were lucky, their grandparents and great-grandparents would use bulky ice boxes. Back then, refrigerators were little better than insulated coolers or store-bought ice, and some were even kept outside. Today, refrigerators are the natural centre of the kitchen. They can make their ice and maintain temperatures in different areas. They also offer many other features that combine convenience and efficiency, keeping food safe, fresh and ready to cook. There are many options for refrigerators, so know your needs before you choose one.

Measure before you buy

To help you decide which fridge to choose, think about the size and space available:

  • Measure the height, width and depth of your existing fridge and the space it takes up to have a reference point for your replacement fridge.
  • Measure the width and height of the fridge to determine any door openings between the hallway the appliance will need to pass through on delivery and the kitchen will need to pass through on installation. There’s no point installing the fridge in the kitchen if it won’t fit through the kitchen door!
  • There are some additional space considerations to take into account when installing a fridge, whether you are planning a new kitchen or a kitchen remodel. Installing the right fridge is more than just choosing the right position.
  • When considering size and location, be aware of walls, cabinets, kitchen shelves or open drawers that could obstruct the free movement of the refrigerator door. Add the depth of the refrigerator door hinges to the width of the appliance to account for the swing of the door when opening as well as the swing of the handle – you don’t want the door to hit the wall. For most refrigerator doors, two different-sized or a little more is best.

Make sure the ventilation system is not obstructed by cabinets or flooring where the refrigerator will be placed. Remember that poor ventilation can affect the performance of your refrigerator and shorten its lifespan, whether it is a built-in or freestanding refrigerator.

The basics

What type of space has available? Is it an open-plan kitchen? Is your fridge surrounded by cupboards and shelves? To find out what’s best for your home, you first need to ask yourself whether you need a built-in fridge or a freestanding fridge.

Built-in fridges

  • Built-in fridges are designed to fit flush into the lines of your existing cabinets or can be built into the wall, with the added benefit of allowing you to add more bespoke food storage options, such as a wine cooler or different sized freezers. It all depends on your kitchen requirements and the space needed for your kitchen layout.
  • They need to be professionally installed, with customised cabinets to suit their size and door operation.
  • Built-in fridges have top and bottom exhaust vents at the front to dissipate heat and maintain airflow to the motor and cooling system.
  • In addition, built-in refrigerators can be fitted with customised front panels to match the surrounding cabinets.

Freestanding refrigerators

  • Freestanding refrigerators are generally less expensive than built-in refrigerators and easier to install, which is why they are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners.
  • These appliances come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find one that fits your existing space.
  • Freestanding fridges cannot be customised and there are more consistent options across models, such as increased internal depth, shelves and freezer options.
  • They also do not fit into the depth of standard cabinets and can protrude into the kitchen aisle.

What is the optimum storage capacity?

Another critical factor in meeting your family’s needs is the amount of space required to effectively store and cool all your food. From less than 0 cubic feet to more than 26 cubic feet, there is enough refrigeration space to meet the needs of most families.

  • The average person needs between 5 and 8 cubic feet of space.
  • Most models have specially designed drawer systems to maximise storage space.
  • Pay attention to the arrangement of the drawers and shelves in the refrigerator. Make sure they are easily accessible and will not cause problems in the long run.

Choosing the right fridge size

When choosing a fridge, consider the type of food you want to store. If your family mainly eats vegetables or fresh food, you will need a larger fridge. If your family buys food in large quantities or stores frozen food, you should not skimp on freezer capacity.

  • The capacity of the freezer differs from that of the fridge because frozen food has different requirements. They can be stacked, packaged and stored and therefore have lower temperature and humidity requirements.
  • Modern freezers have undefined or clearly divided freezer compartments and can fulfil different food storage requirements.
  • Drawer freezers are popular because they can hold large amounts of food and utilise the space with minimal physical requirements – you don’t have to kneel or bend down to inspect the lower compartments, just open the drawer and look down.

Types of refrigerators:

With these basics in mind, you’ll have a good idea of what your family needs from a fridge. Next, you need to decide on a style. What do you want your fridge to look like? Which design will best suit your needs and match with the rest of the kitchen?

Top freezer compartment

  • The freezer compartment is separate from the freezer section.
  • The freezer compartment is located above the larger fridge section.
  • Wide shelves provide plenty of storage space.
  • The vegetable compartment is located underneath to optimise the use of space.
  • The most common model and usually the cheapest option.

Bottom freezer compartment

  • The freezer compartment is separate from the freezer compartment.
  • The freezer compartment is located above the freezer compartment.
  • Fresh food is stored at eye level so that it is easily accessible.
  • The freezer compartment is equipped with pull-out drawers.
  • Shelves or baskets can be used for easy sorting and storage.
  • A popular style in modern households.

Fridge with French door

  • Two separate fridge and freezer compartments.
  • The fridge is located above the freezer compartment.
  • Fresh food is stored at eye level and is easily accessible.
  • Pull-out freezer drawer and humidity zones.
  • Shelves or baskets can be used for easy sorting and storage.
  • Narrow door design fits into narrow kitchen spaces.
  • More interior space than a French door fridge.
  • Ideal for storing large items and organising food.

Hinged door fridge

  • Two separate fridge and freezer compartments.
  • The freezer compartment takes up the entire vertical space from top to bottom.
  • Fresh food is stored at eye level and is therefore easily accessible.
  • The fruit and vegetable compartments are mainly located at the bottom to optimise the use of space.
  • The narrow door design is suitable for small kitchen spaces.
  • Energy-efficient design.
  • Narrow interior shelves.

Refrigerators for the counter

  • There is a wide range of designs, from French door fridges to counter height fridges.
  • They are designed to match existing cabinets and have the same depth as most modern worktops.
  • Less space inside, but more floor space and aisles.
  • Ideal for smaller layouts or kitchens.

Drawer fridge

  • Fridges with drawers are suitable for freezers and fridges.
  • Smaller in height, width and depth.
  • Choose between free-standing, built-in or under-counter fridges.

Under counter fridges

  • Designed for installation in an existing counter or as a free-standing appliance.
  • Front-opening systems can be installed indoors.
  • They are usually designed for storing drinks.

High-quality refrigerators

  • Available in a wide range of models and with different storage capacities, with hinged doors or as side-by-side fridges.
  • For larger storage capacities and more space in the kitchen, professional installation is usually required.
  • These luxury fridges can be supplied with customisable surfaces such as tops or covers.
  • They are very well organised and can be subdivided to store different products, dairy, meat and even wine and lemonade.

Smart Storage Fridge

  • Separate fridge and freezer compartments.
  • Energy efficient design
  • Door-to-door refrigerator
  • Choose from a variety of models and storage capacities, including a French door fridge or a French door fridge.
  • Choice of hinged or sliding shelves to make food storage easier.
  • Multiple humidity and temperature zones for optimum storage of different types of food.
  • New technological functions that save you time and energy or simply enhance your kitchen experience.

Some possible smart functions are

  • Setting individual temperatures or monitoring energy consumption to match defrost cycles to the times with the lowest energy consumption in your area.
  • With door-in-door storage, you can store frequently used items such as spices or drinks in the door and then access them through the smaller outer door without having to waste the cool air of the fridge searching for them.
  • A built-in camera allows you to view the contents of your fridge via the touchpad screen on the door or even via an app on your mobile phone when you’re out shopping, without having to waste energy opening the fridge door.
  • App notifications for changes in energy consumption, e.g. power cuts or when it’s time to change the water filter.
  • Voice control and Wi-Fi functions so you can listen to internet radio in the kitchen directly from the fridge.

Where to buy your next refrigerator:

Did you know that the appliance experts at the Lahore Centre can help you find a refrigerator that has everything you need? Your refrigerator is an investment in your family’s health and well-being. You want it to be reliable and able to handle your hectic daily life (hence the need for a Wi-Fi connection).

If you need a new refrigerator for your home, contact the appliance experts at Lahore Centre We carry all major refrigerator brands, including Dawlance, Signature, Gree, PEL, Orient, Homage and many more. We are offering a wide variety of refrigerators in Pakistan not only in one payment method but also in easy installments for the ease of their customers.

Visit our online refrigerator showroom today at lahorecentre.com