Refrigerators: we are from the future

Almost all innovations of the market of refrigerating appliances are devices with multifunctional chambers and compartments, in which it is possible to combine internal compartments depending on what products are more inside. Sometimes the vegetable storage drawer can be turned into a low-temperature compartment, or one of the compartments of the refrigerator can become an additional freezer.

LEGO-CHAMBER: BUILD YOUR OWN FREEZER

In some top models, you can turn one of the chambers into a compartment for storing wine at a temperature of +8 ° C to +10 ° C. The most diverse of all such models are represented in the range of Bosch, Siemens, Electrolux. In some Sharp refrigerators, the same compartment can operate at temperatures ranging from -18°C to +8°C, and you can also heat food at temperatures ranging from +55°C to +60°C. All these changes can be made using a special switch on the control panel.

There are interesting innovations in Samsung refrigerators of MT series. Inside, a special Cool Select Turbo zone allows selecting the optimum food storage temperature: it can be used for deep-freezing -12?C , light freezing at -5° C , freezing in the kitchen at -5° C and freezing in the pantry?C – this temperature is optimal for freezing meat without losing moisture, or for storing food in the “fresh zone” +3°C ? .

Angelina Melosh suggests a radical solution to combine freezer and refrigerator compartments. For now, however, the modular refrigerator system that it developed is only available in Europe. The buyer makes his own refrigerator from several “boxes”, each of which is designed for a particular type of food – wine, meat or fish, vegetables, frozen foods. Any of these modules is equipped with a separate control unit with an electronic display.

DOESN’T MAKE ANY NOISE AND DOESN’T SET THE COUNTER

Another trend of our time – the desire to reduce energy consumption as much as possible. Just a few years ago the market saw for the first time refrigerators of A+ energy efficiency class. The appearance of “plus” meant that the classification does not keep up with the real success of manufacturers: the real power consumption is lower than the best indicators provided by the European classification. In 2009, refrigerators of A++ and A+++ energy efficiency classes appeared on the market of home appliances Liebherr, Miele . For comparison, only 7 years ago, a freezer with the volume of 150 liters used 0.40 kW/hour while the modern model of A+++ class uses only 0.26 kW/hour!

USE A CHAMBER WITH VITAMIN C

More and more often, manufacturers endow refrigerators with very original features. For example, Hitachi Appliances has launched a series of refrigerators that use an unusual preservation technology. There is a special vacuum chamber for storing meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, equipped with an “odor filter. This means that from a special cartridge the refrigerator sprays antioxidant, a compound identical to vitamin C, onto the food. The creators of the refrigerator assure that such processing almost twice slows down the food loss of nutrients and vitamins.

In Japan there is another such novelty – a refrigerator with a system that increases the content of vitamin C in a number of products. This is the Skillfulness V model from Mitsubishi Electric. The system is based on colored LEDs with a wavelength of 420 to 690 nanometers, which affect photosynthesis and prevent vegetables from sprouting.

Refrigerators with integrated interior cleaning system remain popular. For example, Siemens refrigerators are equipped with antibacterial cleaning system based on inorganic silver compound AgION , which reliably prevents development and spreading of harmful bacteria, microbes and pathogenic fungi. The new models of Beko are equipped with a built-in complex protection system Multi Hygiene+, including anti-bacterial filter and air ionizer. The drawers for vegetables and fruits manufacturer has equipped with a blue backlight that prolongs the process of photosynthesis, thus preserving the vitamin value of products longer.

Another example of a refrigeration invention used in the refrigerator industry is the double honeycomb air freshener. Whirlpool is actively engaged in the developments in the sphere of antibacterial protection of home appliances. The essence of the company’s new antibacterial air filtration system is the use of high-tech circuit filter with built-in Microban antibacterial active components.

In this connection, it is impossible not to mention the unique PlasmaCluster technology developed by Sharp for cleaning the interior of the refrigerator. Plasmacluster ions circulate inside the refrigerator compartment and effectively prevent unpleasant odors, harmful microorganisms and mold. But that is not all: not only the air inside the refrigerator is purified, but also outside of it: Plasmacluster ions distribute throughout the kitchen and actively clean the air in the room.

The “plasma cluster ion technology” is based on the creation of a large number of positive and negative ions. Deactivation of fungi and harmful bacteria occurs because the positive and negative ions have the property to form clusters around the particles and to react chemically with them, destroying their shells. By the way, you can activate the Plasmacluster function by pressing the relevant key on the external panel of your fridge.

PLUMB THE REFRIGERATOR

The manufacturers are working no less actively on improving the interior or interior design of the refrigerators. For example, the new Play Zone design used in the latest Indesit refrigerator models helps to organise storage of cans and bottles of all sizes. If you only need to put a few bottles of wine in the fridge, the system fixes them in the right position and the design remains virtually flat.

At the same time, if more drinks need to be cooled, the Play Zone can be converted into a three-tier structure, which can easily hold bottles of all shapes and sizes wine bottles, beer bottles and cans, bottles of water, fruit juices and vitamin drinks . By the way, the Play Zone system makes drinks cool down faster by allowing air to circulate between the bottles.

Inclined shelves for convenient storage of bottles and cans with beverages are now found in refrigerators of many brands: Samsung, Liebherr, Siemens, Ariston and others.

Folding sectional shelves have also become very popular, which can be used as usual, or you can fold them and halve their width, freeing up storage space for tall bottles and other oversized products.

In the models of medium and high price category the ice maker is built in the door more often. In different models it has different capabilities: somewhere it just makes ice for food, and somewhere you can choose the form of ice: chunks or crumbs. The only disadvantage of the ice maker built in the door is reduction of the usable space on the inside of the refrigerator door. Some models have an additional built in water filtration and purification system, while others are simply connected directly to the water supply, which makes operation more convenient.

NO MATCH FOR THE COLOR OR THE COLD?

There are even more ideas and interesting solutions from different manufacturers. The Indesit Graffiti continues to be popular and thanks to the special coating you can decorate or paint your own picture as you wish.

Gorenje continues to produce interesting colorful models of refrigerators Chic series – “modern classics and minimalism”, Vintage – “nostalgia and romance” and Funky – “optimism and travel” . Chic is available in Bordeaux, silver and black Vintage in chocolate, coffee and champagne and Funky in raspberry pink, mellow orange and lime green.

The Ardo company also continues the popular “multicolored” series. These are Ardo Vintage Fantasy, Onlyou and Gallery series refrigerators. The door of the Gallery line refrigerators reproduces the fragments of famous works of art and the other two series give you an opportunity to create a unique refrigerator by placing on the door any picture or photo from your own archives. Bright colored refrigerators are also in the range of Electrolux, Samsung and Vestfrost.

Black is the preferred color of Candy Hoover Group: The new Hoover HVNP 4587 fridge is designed in a very modern style and comes in vibrant black color.

Asko recently released a new refrigerator series called the Sense Series. It has three types of refrigerators – the RF2583 combo fridge-freezer, the F2583 freestanding freezer, and the R2583 single-compartment refrigerator – available in black, white, and stainless steel, which won’t leave fingerprints. Fingerprint-proof stainless steel models are also available from Electrolux, Beko and Gorenje.

LACK OF SPACE – HANG IT ON THE WALL

French Door refrigerators with a single lower chamber that slides forward are increasingly appearing in showrooms of home appliances. Usually slide-out make the freezer compartment, and the refrigerator consists of two compartments and is equipped with hinged doors. Similar novelties are available in Liebherr HCS 2062 , Gaggenau RY 491 , Samsung RFG 299 , Maytag Bottom Mount Trio , LG LFD 22860SV and Hotpoint-Ariston Quadrio .

The novelty among economy class refrigerators is the narrow ATLANT XM 4014 refrigerator its width instead of the usual 60 cm is 54.5 cm . This is a sleek single-compressor model of A-class energy efficiency, with a hidden control panel.

The bold experiments of designers with the refrigerators design are also continued. For example, some Western countries have introduced the Meneghini refrigerator-sink, which can be built into any standard desktop. This model, of course, is not about long-term storage of products, but only about their temporary cooling, which is needed, for example, bottles of champagne before serving or fruit salad. Cooling system uses air or water, depending on the specific model. You just need to set the required temperature level from -1 to +8 °C and the compressor will start its work on cooling the contents of the sink.

Siemens recently made a small refrigerator in the shape of a cube. This model is designed to store small amounts of food and is mounted on the wall. “Cube” has a very original design – “nothing extra”. On the outer sides of the refrigerator, there are no handles or display, just a smooth surface. The refrigerator volume allows you to put a few bottles of drinks, some snacks and a few glasses inside – a kind of mini-bar replacement.

Wall-mounted refrigerators are also manufactured by Precision Refrigeration, a company that is as yet little known to American customers. New product is designed mainly for kitchens in commercial premises where space is limited and food doesn’t stay in the fridge for long. The design of models is such that the owner can determine whether he will have a one-, two- or three-door refrigerator. Operating temperatures of the refrigerators – from +1 to +4?C and a volume of 150 to 450 liters.

HUMIDORS – FOR CIGARS

Wine cabinets have been available on the American market for quite a while, but special refrigeration cabinets for expensive cigars are still rare. Such cabinets are called “humidors” and resemble wine fridges by their construction. So, Liebherr ZKes 453 model is equipped with three sliding and one demonstration shelf and can store cigars at the temperature from +16 to +20?C and a humidity level of 68 to 75%. Humidor equipped with a fan, activated charcoal filter to prevent unwanted odors and glass door with ultraviolet filter and LED lighting.

REFRIGERATORS WITH INTERNET ACCESS

Modern refrigerators are multifunctional and can solve many auxiliary tasks, which, frankly speaking, have little to do with food storage and freezing. Thanks to the development of digital technologies they are able to replace such appliances as TV, VCR, DVD player, radio, voice recorder and answering machine. Models with 13 or even 15 inch liquid-crystal display built in the door of the fridge became quite frequent for example Toshiba, LG, Gorenje, Samsung, Siemens . These dimensions correspond to the size of small TV sets that are usually installed in the kitchen.

Thus switching of programs can be carried out both from the control panel on the refrigerator itself, and from the remote control, and the functions of the device include even a freeze frame. To ensure the sound quality, the display is equipped with two amplifiers, and in some models for example, Samsung KG 39 MT 90 the screen can even rotate 45 degrees, so no matter what corner of the kitchen you are in, it will be convenient to watch your favorite program.

There are also freezers on the market with Internet access. With such an appliance it is possible to have a look inside and check the contents while staying in your workplace. All of the food you bring home from the store must be “registered” in the refrigerator using a small video camera. Models with built-in voice-recognition headsets have also become a reality. With LCD display in this case you can record and listen to the voice messages left by other housemates. The electronic memory of the device contains the database of terms and conditions of storage of different types of food, as well as their caloric content.

Gorenje has recently signed an agreement with Apple enabling its iPod touch players to be integrated into refrigerators. Touch-screen iPod interface with built-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect to the Internet, listen to music, view photos, movies and TV shows. Sound is played through the speakers and video is played on the iPod screen. While cooking, you can now, for example, watch videos on YouTube, look for recipes in video format and cook them, get useful tips about the house and, of course, listen to your favorite music.