As technology becomes more pervasive in every aspect of our lives, we're starting to see innovation in personal technology sectors beyond smartphones and computers. One of the most surprising places we've found new tech is in the kitchen.
We're not just talking about browsing the web on your fridge; the truth is that most kitchen tech is focused on making your appliances work better.
We've tried out a wide range of new refrigerators, all of which are making strides toward improving your kitchen life. While temperature control and energy efficiency remain an important aspect of fridge design, appliance makers are also focusing on new technologies that keep fresh foods from spoiling and allow items to be stored at different temperatures within the same fridge compartment. In cases like this, better technology leads to less wasted food.
Crisp And Ripe
Refrigerator crisper drawers are designed to regulate humidity, which is key for foods like carrots and grapes that spoil when they get too dry. The best fridges have crisper drawers that keep their contents cool but won't let them dry out.
Among the most innovative fridges in this respect are from Whirlpool's KitchenAid division. It debuted the Preserva series of refrigerators last year, which feature a unique food preservation system that keeps food fresher for longer. While they all have high initial purchase prices, scientific tests performed on the KitchenAid Preserva KSC24C8EYY showed that foods stored in that fridge's crisper drawer lost between four and six times less water than traditional crisper drawers.
This same KitchenAid fridge features a FreshFlow filter that absorbs the release of ethylene, a gas that is released by ripening plants and—when captured in most fridges—causes fruits and vegetables to ripen more quickly. The KitchenAid's filter can slow down over-ripening and help keep food fresh for a few more days.
Selective Storage
Of course, the best fridge in the world won't keep fruits and vegetables from going bad if they aren't supposed to be refrigerated in the first place. The USDA reports that ripened tomatoes, for example, are at their best no cooler than 55.4?F. Throw them in a 37?F refrigerator and they're at risk of losing flavor.
Similarly, lemons, mangoes and oranges require an ideal temperature of between 45 and 50?F—much warmer than the ideal refrigerator temperature. That's why some high-end fridges like the Samsung RFG297HDRS have temperature-controlled drawers that let you choose just how warm contents should be. These drawers are walled off from the main fridge compartment and feature independently controlled vents that can be shut for a slightly warmer temperature.
And it's not just produce that benefits from these pricey fridges; climate controlled drawers are also good for storing deli meats and cheeses that may suffer more from variations in temperature.
The Big Chill
Whether you enjoy a cold glass of milk with your cookies or want to keep your Sauvignon Blanc at exactly 40?F, you'll appreciate fridges like the Maytag MSD2576VEM, which features a beverage chiller. It's a separate, vented compartment on the side of the refrigerator door with its own temperature controls, allowing users to customize how warm or cold their bottled beverages are stored.
If you can't wait for a cold beverage, there's also the LG 31935ST—a French door fridge with a "Blast Chiller" inside the refrigerator compartment. It uses technology developed from LG's expertise in air conditioners to rapidly chill beverages with frigid, swirling air. A 12-ounce can takes just five minutes to cool, while a 750ml bottle of wine is chilled in eight minutes. We haven't yet tested the "Blast Chiller" fridge, but this LG is expected to go on sale in May.
To read Reviewed.com's in-depth reviews of the latest refrigerators, check RefrigeratorInfo.com. Reviewed.com is a division of USA Today.