How often do you walk into your kitchen, open the fridge, and stand there wondering what to eat? We've all been there. Your fridge is likely the hardest working appliance in your kitchen (after all, it's on 24-7).
Your fridge is a necessary convenience home appliance that helps you keep food safe from contamination and nearby so you can get a healthy (or unhealthy snack) anytime you need it.
Don't wait too long to replace your fridge; you'll be left with spoilt food! In no particular order, here are the top 5 reasons your next major kitchen appliance purchase should be a refrigerator:
1. You use it daily
Your fridge works 24/7 and doesn't take a vacation. It works constantly, so you can have a temperature-controlled space to keep your food.
Not only does it run constantly, but you use it constantly too! You open your fridge multiple times a day, so you know it's a home appliance investment you'll get good value from!
2. It keeps your food safe
Food safety, especially for meats and produce, is critical. Your fridge temperature can be adjusted to any temperature you need for maximum control over freshness. Health Canada recommends keeping your fridge at +4oC or lower and your freezer at -16oC or lower.
Review the Health Canada guidelines for safe food storage in your fridge and freezer. Most meats are only good for a few days in your fridge, leftovers for 3-4 days, and open milk for 3 days.
3. It encourages healthy eating habits
It's hard to eat healthy if you don't have any healthy food in your home. Having fresh fruits and vegetables encourages more healthy eating habits.
Here are a few tips to promote healthy eating at home:
- Order home delivery of local produce weekly.
- Pre-cut vegetables for easy snacking throughout the day
- Keep your produce visible in your fridge, at the front of your crisper drawers, so you can see them (produce left on the open fridge shelves will spoil faster and have a higher likelihood of getting shoved and hidden in the back of your fridge.
4. Supports household communication
Even in our digital age of smartphones and communication apps, sometimes having your grocery list and meal plans on the fridge helps them get noticed. It's also a great place to hang a whiteboard or notepad so you can leave notes for family members. Your kitchen is the hub of activity in your home, which is why so many people use their fridges for family communication and organization.
5. You have many brands (and cool features) to choose from
Fridges are more than a cold box for your food. They come with many helpful and innovative features to help you keep your food fresher, more organized, or easier to use.
Here are some of our favourite innovative features in today's refrigerators:
Conserve energy with 5-door fridges: Whenever you open your fridge and let the cool air out, it works harder to re-cool it when you close the door. That's why we love that more new fridges come with multiple doors. Kitchenaid has 2 models with 5 doors: the 2 fridge doors like a standard fridge, 2 dedicated fridge drawers separated from the main fridge, and your freezer. Because you're only opening the compartment you need, less cooled air escapes, and it costs less to re-cool it.
Wifi Enabled: Yes, some fridges are wifi enabled! Why? Well, this Samsung refrigerator can help you monitor and set cooling modes for your fridge. It also sends you temperature alerts and notifications if a door is left open. That's a helpful feature so you don't leave a door open and have the food inside spoil!
Ice and water system: Once you experience the convenience of having water and ice dispensers in your fridge door, you'll never return to a freezer bucket of ice and tap water. These features save room in your fridge and freezer and ensure you always have a steady supply of fresh, filtered water and ice (cubed or crushed).
Energy Star Certified With an appliance on 24/7, you might worry about your energy bills or the effect of increased energy use on the environment. Look for Energy Star Certified appliances for eco-friendly fridge options and operation modes.
Where you buy your next fridge
Did you know the appliances experts at West Coast Appliance Gallery can help you find a fridge with all the nice-to-haves? Your fridge is an investment in the health and well-being of your family, so you want it to be reliable and work with your busy everyday life (hence the wifi connectivity).
When it's time to find your household a new fridge, call the appliance experts at West Coast Appliance Gallery. We carry all popular household refrigerator brands, including GE, Samsung, Bosch, Liebherr, LG, and Whirlpool.
Visit our online refrigerator gallery today.