Refrigerators are one of the essential home appliances used in our homes. We use our refrigerators to preserve all kinds of food items, be it raw vegetables or leftovers from last night’s dinner. In this modern, fast-paced lifestyle, refrigerators have become a necessity of life. They can be found in every household. Not every household however, has the same refrigeration requirement and so it’s important to arm yourself with the right information so you can buy the right refrigerator for your home. In this guide, we take a quick look at all the important features of a refrigerator and what you should look out for before buying one. The first thing you would probably have to decide while selecting a refrigerator is the type. There are four rough categories that refrigerators can be sorted into.
Types of Refrigerators
Single door refrigerators
Single door refrigerators are the smallest types of refrigerators you can find. They are available in capacities ranging from 50 litres to a maximum of 250 litres. Behind the single door, these refrigerators usually have a freezer compartment placed at the top and a vegetable drawer placed at bottom. They have the most basic cooling features. Single door refrigerators make for a good purchase if you want basic refrigeration without having to compromise a lot on the space.
Double door refrigerators
Double door refrigerators are the most popular types of refrigerators found in homes. Unlike single door variants, these refrigerators have a separate door for the freezer compartment. Double door refrigerators are available in different designs and sizes. The most traditional design is known as top mounted freezer refrigerator. As the name suggests, these refrigerators have the freezer placed above the fridge compartment. They are available in large capacities that can measure up to 600 litres. They aren’t very expensive to buy. 
Bottom mounted refrigerators are slowly gaining popularity over top mounted variants. These refrigerators have their freezer placed at the bottom, below the refrigeration unit. As a result, the fridge compartment gets placed at a reasonable height, making it easy for you to access it. It also keeps you from bending down every time you need to take something out of the fridge. Besides that, freezer compartments usually come in pull out drawers. This gives you a good view of all the items kept in it. Bottom mounted refrigerators are available in almost the same capacities as the top mounted refrigerators.
Side-by-side refrigerators
These refrigerators have two doors that open side-by-side, much like doors of a cupboard. They are generally available in huge capacities ranging from 550 to 700 litres. They are also bulkier than standard two door refrigerators and are known to take-up a lot of space in the kitchen. Both the freezer and the fridge compartment are placed side-by-side which means that you don’t have to bend every time you access any of the compartments. Some of the high-end models also come with water and ice dispensers.
Multi-door refrigerators
Multi-door refrigerators are also known as French door refrigerators. These refrigerators have more than two compartments. They usually have a side-by-side layout at the top and a pull out drawer at the bottom. Some even have same side-by-side layout door layout at the bottom. These refrigerators are available in capacities of 800 litres and are meant for large homes with big kitchens. These refrigerators have all the latest cooling technology such as built-in water dispenser, quick freezing compartments and much more.
Direct or Frost free refrigerators
Direct cooling refrigerator usually come in single door variants. They use a natural convection method for cooling. In this process there is no circulation of cool air within the refrigerator. As a result, there is an ice build-up in freezer compartments, which needs to be manually defrosted once or twice a week. On the flipside, direct coolers are cheaper to buy and are known be more energy efficient than frost free models. Frost free models don’t require manual defrosting; they can maintain a constant temperature in every corner of the fridge. They are known to preserve food for a longer time but are also known to consume more energy. Almost all the latest models in the market are frost free refrigerators.
Capacity
The capacity of the refrigerator determines the number of items and space these consume. You need to select a refrigerator with the right capacity based on the requirement of your family. A larger capacity refrigerator will not only cost you more money but will also take up more space in your kitchen. Manufacturers also mention the capacity of the freezer compartment. Some manufacturers mention the gross total capacity along with the net total capacity. It is always important to consider the net capacity, as it represents the actual amount of food you can store in the refrigerator. If you come across any manufacturer that only mentions the gross capacity, then you can calculate its net capacity by reducing approximately 5 to 10 per cent from the total gross capacity.
BEE star rating
Refrigerators are probably the only appliances in our home that are constantly consuming energy. They need to be working all the time. So, it’s very important to select an energy efficient refrigerator, which helps reduce your electricity bills. The easiest way to find an energy efficient refrigerator is to look out for the star rating for it. These ratings are allotted to products by the BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) after running a number of performance tests on it. It also depends on the refrigerators energy consumption in a year, which is also mentioned on the label assigned by BEE. Higher the number of stars on the label, the more energy efficient the refrigerator. As frost free refrigerators consume more energy, star rating for them is mandatory, while the direct cooling refrigerators fall under the voluntary scheme. Also note that the star rating for refrigerators falling under different capacities is different.
Inverter refrigerators
Most refrigerators today use compressors that run in a full-on or full-off states. This causes the temperature inside the refrigerator to change constantly. These refrigerators consume more energy because of the compressor having to start on very often. Inverter compressors in refrigerators can adjust its speeds depending on the temperature conditions. This helps the refrigerator to maintain a constant temperature while consuming less energy at the same time. Inverter-equipped refrigerator are also known to make less noise compared to a standard refrigerator.
Shelves
Older refrigerator models used to use grill shaped, metal shelves to store food on. These shelves were good for air circulation within the refrigeration compartment. Some entry-level refrigerators still use metal shelves. Most of the refrigerators today use toughened glass shelves. These shelves are strong enough to hold the heaviest of vessels. As glass shelves have no gaps, you can keep small food items directly on them. They also add to the looks of the refrigerator. 
If you want to move food items in your fridge, then adjustable shelf design refrigerators should be considered. These shelves can be moved up or down or can be removed completely to store large vessels or bottles.
Design
Refrigerators are one of the largest home appliances in our kitchens, so it’s necessary for them to blend in with the aesthetics of the room. Most refrigerators today come in variety of subtle colours that can help you match them with the colour of your walls. Some also have designs on the doors. It’s also good to take a quick look at size of the handle bar on the door. Some refrigerators have them embedded in the door to give them a sophisticated look.
Pockets & Deodorizer
Pockets are the storage shelves that you’ll find on the door of the refrigerator. These pockets are usually used to store bottles and other packed food items. Make sure that these pockets are big enough to store big bottles. You can also find adjustable pockets that slide out for easy access. Refrigerators are meant to store food items of all kinds. Some food items such as onions, garlic and fish have strong odours that can affect the entire fridge compartment with their smell. Deodorizers used in refrigerators usually absorb odours like these and keep the aroma inside the refrigerator fresh all the time. Deodorizers also help in increasing the life of food items stored in the refrigerator.
Water dispensers and ice dispensers
A water dispenser is a great feature to have in refrigerators, as you don’t have go through the hassle of opening and closing the door every time you want to get a cold glass of water. Waster dispensers are usually found on French door refrigerators, you can also find them on some high-end double door refrigerators. Some refrigerators also come with ice dispensers; they can provide you with ice, instantly on demand. Besides all these points, there are some other bits of information to know. Most manufacturers offer a minimum of 1 year warranty for their refrigerators. Some manufacturers also give warranties on parts like compressors. The warranty periods on these compressors usually lasts for 10 years, so you don’t have to worry about replacing your refrigerator if the compressor ever stops working. Some manufacturers also offer additional warranty on certain models. These benefits might cost you a little more, but they only help will keep a peace of mind in the long run.
