How are the best refrigerators of 2022 helping us eat healthier?
In every form, the point of the refrigerator has been to keep food fresher and halt bacteria growth. The new fridges that tout an extra ability to achieve this may be a little better at temperature control. But, it may also be a little bit of marketing hype to feed our desire to be healthier.
Quick look at the history of refrigerators
Born thousands of years ago, one of the first attempts to control temperature was inside the little ice houses that were used to literally store ice. The technique of cooling with ice or snow was used until the possibility of another way was invented in the mid-1700s.
However, it took another 80 years before another inventor was able to use the vapor-compression technology to create a commercially unsuccessful refrigerator. Instead, the ‘ice-box’—that is more similar to the ice house—became popular. It required regularly replacing a block of ice, and was typically a handsome-made wood cabinet.
After a few more compressor-based refrigerators were created without commercial success, the General Electric Monitor-Top was created in 1927. The price was a few hundred dollars, which may sound like a lot, but it was a bargain back then. Fridges had been selling for at least three times as much, and were more expensive than a Model T. Within about a decade, 6 million fridges were purchased.
What’s making the best new refrigerators healthier for us?
Refrigerators have been evolving ever since. Among the many kinds are French door fridges, freezer-on-the-bottom fridges, wine fridges, and smart fridges. So what makes the best refrigerators of 2022 better at keeping us healthier?
There are a few interesting advances in the design and tech. You may think the following fridge features are a bit too subtle or way cool. Either way, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below.
New fridges fight bacteria
Designed to eliminate bacteria and keep food fresher longer, Panasonic released a new refrigerator called PRIME+ EDITION. It has nanoe X technology and PRIME FREEZE as features. While the names sound like superhero powers from an incredibly fit action hero, in a nerdy way, they live up to that kind of tech hype.
The nanoe X technology has nano-sized ions that contain 4.8 trillion bacteria-eliminating molecules called hydroxyl radicals. They are supposed to inhibit nearly 99.9 percent of bacteria, reduces pesticide on vegetables, and suppresses odors.
The PRIME FREEZE is designed to freeze food five times faster than regular freezing. It also has three modes that include a ‘cool down’ that saves thawing time. Now that is something a modern family can appreciate.
New fridges mimic daylight
Another interesting new fridge of 2022 is the Beko HarvestFresh fridge that simulates the natural sun cycle. Using a three-color light tech inside the crisper drawer, the artificial sun cycle is intended to preserve vitamins in fruits and veggies longer.
Beko also offers AeroFlow tech cooling system. It regulates temperature fluctuations between shelves to cool food evenly, keeping food fresher longer.
Not-so-new fridges that keep food fresher
We expect precise temperature control as essential in a modern fridge. However, fridge makers have started touting the health benefits of stable interior temperatures. For example, LG offers NatureFRESH which is tech that keeps the temperature more stable than the old way of controlling temperatures.
What do I think about new fridges?
Honestly, I love the advances in fridge tech for many reasons. It’s great that we might be able to keep food longer and without worry about bacteria growth. And innovation is a process of building upon past creations. We need 2022’s tech to create tomorrow’s tech.
However, a fridge is essentially just a cold box for storing food. Whenever I hear about a new refrigerator, I think about the wise big-picture view offered from comedian Brian Regan.
What do you think about these new fridges? Are they marketing hype or real technology advances worth buying?
