It's so cool...

Time was when you would run to the corner drugstore or grocery, pockets jingling with loose change, to get your cold thrills in simmering summer. Before GE invented home refrigerators in 1911, preserving food at home was a laborious, if not impossible, job. Today, the refrigerator has become a ubiquitous feature of any home.

Keeping food cold slows down the bacterial activity present in all food and keeps it fresh longer. Fresh milk that spoils in two or three hours at room temperature, keeps fresh for at least a week when refrigerated. Freezing the same milk completely inactivates bacteria, keeping it for months. Refrigeration of meats, fruits, vegetables, beverages and dairy products barely has any effect on its taste or texture.

Choosing
While selecting a refrigerator, you need to consider several factors – family size and lifestyle, satisfaction with
your current model, size of the kitchen and a firm eye on the budget.

Features of refrigerators
Size is the volume of the refrigerator measured in cubic feet. Typically, a refrigerator's fresh-food space accounts for about two-thirds of its capacity, while the freezer accounts for about one-third.

Remember: Larger refrigerators increase kitchen space requirements and energy bills. "Those used to cooking every day need smaller fridges. Those with large families or who cook every other day require larger sizes. Typically, bachelors buy a 6-litre double-door fridge," explains Abdul K. Saudagar, showroom in-charge, Juma Al Majid Est. He offers a few tips on:

Defrosting
* Partial defrost refrigerators have two doors and separate refrigerator and freezer compartments. These are not very popular as they require manual defrosting.

* Frost-free refrigerators prohibit the condensation that causes frost on the inside of a freezer, saving you the time and hassle of manually defrosting your freezer. However, they consume more energy than others.
Freezer location in relation to the fresh food compartment is really a personal preference. Remember, the compartment on top is the easiest to view.

* Top-mount refrigerators (TMRs) have the freezer located above the refrigerator and are the most commonly found. Almost all models have two doors, but some economy-priced TMRs feature a single door and contain a 'short-term frozen food storage compartment' inside.

* Bottom-mount refrigerators (BMR) have the freezer located below the refrigerator compartment. Bottom-mount refrigerators have slide out bins rather than shelves. Side-by-side refrigerators have the greatest storing capacity and the largest freezers but cost more. "We call them LMFs (lower mount freezers). Research proves that most housewives wants to access vegetables, milk and eggs more than other items in the freezer," states Jin Soo Kim, senior manager, White Goods Division, Samsung.

Downsides to BMR:
* Limited sizes because few models are currently manufactured.

* More expensive than TMRs

* Full-width doors require ample room to swing open.

* Side-by-side refrigerators (SSR) feature a full-height freezer adjacent to a full-height refrigerator with separate doors for each. SSRs provide a convenient height for refrigerated foods unlike TMRs. This is ideal for bulk buying and discount supermarket shopping. Ice and water dispensers are available on many models. "Three years ago, we were the first to launch SSRs in Korea and today, we sell 200,000 there," says Jin Soo Kim. He outlines the following:

Downsides
* Narrow compartment dimensions do not accommodate larger items.

* Requires wider kitchen space.

* Built-in refrigerators are custom made and typically feature electronic controls. They are very hi-tech and as the name suggests, integrate impeccably within built-in or modular kitchens.

Twin Cooling Systems
Have two separate evaporators, fans and controls for the fridge and freezer. "Twin cooling keeps humidity out of the freezer and does not mix the air or odours," says Jin Soo Kim.

Colour
The typical baked-in enamel colour of the outside of the refrigerator includes white, off-white, beige, black, glass and stainless steel. For an
additional cost, some models offer special door panels and trim kits in a variety of colours or a wood finish. These allow you to customise your refrigerator with your kitchen décor. "People here normally prefer white, and steel is preferred by those who want to have built-in kitchens," says Abdul Saudagar.

Controls
Most models have simple knobs or a slider to set the temperature. Newer models feature digital panels with push buttons to display and change temperatures, put on vacation mode, operate door-mounted water/ice dispensers and even operate the Internet.

"Panels are simple touch systems. You can see what is going on inside the fridge even without opening it!" enthuses Saudagar.
Adjustable shelves can be removed and replaced to maximise storage space. Typically constructed of plastic, glass or wire, they add flexibility and make cleaning easier and more convenient. It's a standard feature of all refrigerators and higher-priced models offer more positions. Glass shelves are easier to clean than wire racks but also increase the weight of the refrigerator.

The refreshment/snack centre has a small pull-down door that doubles as a counter, inside which is stocked snack foods and beverages. Available only on SSRs, it eliminates the need to open the refrigerator for small snacks.

Anti-Sweat controls prevent moisture from forming on the inside or outside surface, especially when the weather is humid.
Kim of Samsung adds, "We have options not normally found in other refrigerators – deodorisers that absorb food odours. a) Vacation mode in SSRs that switches off the fresh food side and keeps only the freezer zone active, whereby not only can all your food be safely stored but you can also save energy; and b) Quick Freeze mode which makes ice three times faster, child lock that prevents children from tampering with temperature controls."

Warranty is the period of time a manufacturer will cover a product from defect and varies between manufacturers. In general, most models come with a full year of coverage on the overall appliance (usually including all parts and labour).

Samsung also has an Internet refrigerator which has three broad options – communication (Internet access, video telephone and messenger); entertainment (with TV/Radio Reception, External Input from VCR and DVD and Digital Album); and information (cook helper, refrigerator manager and schedule manager). Says J. S. Kim: "You need a high-speed internet connection to use this refrigerator!"

Hygiene tips
Richard Reynolds, director of health, safety & hygiene, Jumeirah International, has a few suggestions on how to optimise the use of a fridge:

Energy
Efficient, well-insulated refrigerators and freezers, which are on the higher end, save electricity. You can also buy and install plug-in devices that are linked to the compressor motor. When the motor starts up, it uses more energy; this device monitors and adjusts the amount of current. Indivi