A zone of freshness is in the coolers of the last generation, although it was introduced long ago. From our review you will find out how the refrigerators with the freshness zone differ from the models without it. We will tell you what it is, how technology works and where it can be found.
Why you need a zone of freshness
Traditionally, the refrigerator is divided into two compartments: for cooling and freezing. In the main compartment, we put products that immediately go to the table or in the pan, and in the freezer the products are stored for a long time and require defrosting after extraction.
But there are such groups of products that none of the cameras fit, they need to be stored at a temperature of -1 to +3 degrees. Cheeses, fruits, meat or fish are destroyed during freezing, as water freezes in them, and in heat they quickly deteriorate. The ideal place - just the same "zero zone in which the temperature is kept close to zero. Even more slowly, than in other sections, pathogenic microbes multiply.
If you have a Biofresh compartment, send products to it, the freshness of which you need to keep longer. The temperature of the main compartment is usually around + 4-8 degrees - store only those products that you plan to use in the coming days.
Whose merit
A separate shelf named Biofresh was invented in the mid-90s by designers (Liebher). They said that this is the best solution for storing fish and meat without freezing and thawing, while preserving the palatability and benefit to the body. Later, other brands such as LG, Samsung, etc. began to be developed.
What other names are there?
The name of the compartment may differ significantly depending on the brand. If you ask a consultant if you have a Biofresh in your refrigerator, he can declare that there is no such option. Just the name of a similar function will be different.
Producers know their design in different ways, as they involve various unique technologies in them. So, you can meet:
- Biofresh - in Liebherr;
- Fresh Zone, Opti-Temp Zone, Miracle Zone, Fresh Converter (for meat and vegetables), Fresh Balancer or Opti Fresh Zone - in LG and AEG;
- Fresh Box - at Hotpoint-Ariston;
- Natura Fresh - in Electrolux;
- Flex Cool - in "Indesit
- Vita Fresh - in "Siemens" and "Bosch
- Zero'N'Fresh - in Gorenje;
- Cool Select Zone - in Samsung and others.
The technical characteristics indicate the presence or absence of a "freshness zone" or "freshness box so that you will not go wrong. But keep in mind that up to 20% of refrigerators do not provide such a shelf. In the Russian or Belarussian devices (Atlant, Stinol) you will not find a zero shelf either, as in budget imported models.
Where is
The real freshness zone is the compartment in which an independent cooling system is organized. In cheap models, its function is performed by a box that is inside the camera. Usually it is located near the freezer compartment or evaporator. Not the fact that there will be zero temperature - most often it's a box, in which the temperature is slightly lower than in the entire cell. It can range from -1 to +3 degrees; if it is important for you to know this, measure the values yourself with a household thermometer.
Fact! In units from Siemens, Electrolux and Zanussi, the zero compartment is located between the main compartments.
In some devices this place does not depend on any of the compartments - it is located between them and is equipped with its own door. The two-compartment refrigerator can be equipped with a freshness zone in the main chamber on the border with the freezer. So, the designers of Bosch and Liebherr have created refrigerators in which it is possible to switch the entire compartment to the operating mode "0 degrees".
How does it work
In the economy class models, the zero compartment is made in the form of a separate box - in it the products are cooled solely because of near the box to the low temperature zone, so that additional details for adjusting the temperature in the are used. These budget technologies are most often found in the technique of "Indesit". In Siemens, the cooling of the compartment is due to the intake of chilled airflows coming from the freezer - for this the manufacturers laid a separate channel in the "fresh" zone.
Engineers AEG, Gaggenau, Siemens, Liebher created a more sophisticated technology. The freshness zone has its own evaporator and is independent of the cooling systems of the other chambers. It sometimes has a fan that distributes air flows. Also, the "zero" compartment in the technology of these brands is often adjustable, since there is a temperature sensor in the design. It monitors the indicators and controls the evaporator so that the temperature values are kept within the established limits. In LJ devices with Miracle Zone, you can control temperature marks from the remote control.
Kinds
The products need different storage conditions. Greens, vegetables and fruits require high humidity, and meat or fish should be stored in absolute dryness.
If the shelf with low temperatures is only one - it is dry. It maintains a negative temperature, and humidity reaches 55%. What is stored in such conditions? Up to a week you can store fish and meat in the package, up to two weeks you can store the ham. Even longer, without loss of appearance and taste, cheese will be stored here.
In modern technology, you can find a second zone of freshness with high humidity. The "wet" zone operates at a temperature just above zero with air humidity up to 90-95%. In such conditions, the greens, fruits and berries are perfectly preserved. Apples and pears have no problems for several months and do not lose their smell, color and taste. To 10 days will be stored tomatoes, and greens will retain an attractive appearance a couple of weeks.
Important! In modern devices, the zones can be divided into several compartments with different temperature and humidity indices.
If your "Samsung" refrigerator (or other brand) has two "fresh" zones, and such branches located independently of the main or freezer, have their own cover - one will be wet, the second - dry. To verify this, check with the information in the data sheet.
Sometimes there are three such compartments:
- For storage of meat, fish and cheese products - with low humidity;
- Under vegetative food, which will be eaten soon - with high humidity;
- For long-term storage of vegetables and fruits - with high humidity and zero temperature.
disadvantages
As such minuses, this structural feature does not exist, and it can not be said that a refrigerator without a freshness zone is better. They are simply created for different needs.
For those users who store on the shelves almost single semi-finished products or are used to use products within a couple of days from the date of purchase, this technology will not be fundamentally important. Choosing the technique, you can not navigate it. But if you buy a refrigerator without a freezer, it's the fresh-zone that can compensate for its absence.
To the subjective disadvantages can be attributed a high price for technology with additional technologies. Especially expensive are those options in which the zero compartment operates on its own cooling system and does not depend on the main ones. Sometimes the mark-up can be up to a quarter of the total cost of the device. If the technique is from a low price category, the presence of a zero shelf at a cost is most likely not affected. As we found out above, often the temperature and humidity indicators are close to the real Fresh Zone of famous brands.
Fact! The difference between models equipped with a "zero zone" is that often in the door opposite this compartment there are no cells or shelves. They simply can not fit there.
Also, users who have a dry type of freshness zone in their refrigerators are informed in the reviews that the products sometimes freeze. In fact, this is not reflected in the quality of meat or fish. Pick up a reliable package so that the crust of ice appears on it, not on food.
Overview of refrigerators with freshness zone
We present to you a small rating of the units equipped with a "zero" compartment. It included both built-in and stand-alone models, as well as models with two cameras and three-camera (side by side).
LG GR-N309 LLB
This model is built-in type, the freezer is located below. An electronic control system is provided. The energy efficiency class is A (330 kW per year). In the construction of one motor-compressor. The type of refrigerant used is brand R600a. Only 2 compartments and 2 doors. Dimensions of the case: 5, × 5, × 17, cm.
Features:
- Presence of a zone of freshness.
- No Frost is provided in both compartments.
- Autonomous preservation of the cold with power outages within 12 hours.
- The power of freezing is up to 10 kg of products per day.
- Additional functions: super-cooling and super-freezing.
- There are indicators of temperature conditions.
Specifications:
- The total volume is 245 liters.
- The volume of the main compartment is 181 liters.
- The volume of the freezer is 64 liters.
The appliance is also equipped with an ice generator. The shelves are made of durable glass. The door can be moved to the other side. Reduced noise - up to 37 dB. Weight - 73 kg.
The cost, according to YandexMarket (October 2017), is 5, 90 rubles.
Sharp SJ-F95STBE
Equipped with three chambers and has a lower freezer compartment. Electronic type management. Only one compressor is provided. Doors - 4 pcs. The dimensions of the body in width, depth and height, respectively - 89x7, x183 cm. The energy efficiency class is A (573 kW per year).
There are two zones of freshness: both dry and wet. "No Frost" is also provided in each department. The possibility of autonomous storage of heat up to 17 hours is realized. There is a mode of "Vacation".
Important! In the "Holiday" mode, you can switch the main camera's operation to the energy-saving mode.
In a day you can freeze up to, kg of products. There is an audible signal of the open door. The technique is completed with a cold accumulator. The panel provides temperature indicators.
Volumes:
- Freezers - 211 liters;
- The main branch is 394 liters;
- The total is 605 liters.
The shelves are made of glass. Noisiness is 37 dB. The climatic class is SN, T (for details,what does it mean and what is important for the climate class, read in a separate review). The weight of the appliance is 107 kg.
The price is 89 135 rubles.
Bosch KGN39SW10
Stand-alone with two cameras and one motor. The location of the freezer is from the bottom. The energy efficiency class is A, the electronic type of control. Dimensions are 60x64x200 cm (WxDxH).
Freshness zones - 2 pieces: dry and wet. In both compartments there is No Frost. Storage in stand-alone mode - up to 18 hours. There is a mode of "Vacation". Freezing capacity - up to 14 kg per day. When the temperature rises, the bulbs on the control panel are activated, with the door open, an audible warning. In addition, there are modes of super-cooling and freezing. The volume of the freezer is 94 liters, the main compartment is 221 liters, the total volume is 315 liters.
The equipment is equipped with a display, glass doors and shelves. Hinge the door - from either side. Noisiness - up to 42 dB.
The cost is from 55 000 rubles.
Now you know where the fresh-zone is located, why it is needed, what to store in it and how it can be called, depending on the brand. It remains to make the right choice and buy the best refrigerator with a full set of necessary functions.
