I’ve been wrong about refrigerators my whole life.
I was always very indifferent to them and defended my “any fridge will do” attitude. Even when I first bought my own “new” fridge, I pointed at the first bottom-mount model that would fit into the hole in my apartment chanting “it will do.”
I thought the high-end models were aesthetically oriented and a bit pretentious.
And when I became a parent, the idea of having aesthetically pleasing appliances seemed like a joke, or something suitable for people in a much higher tax bracket.
Then LG called me and offered me the chance to try out their new Slim French Door Range – a selection of sexy designs made to fit into smaller holes like those found in most Metro Sydney and Melbourne kitchens.
The range starts at $2500, far more than any option I would have considered “budget-friendly.” There’s even a $3500 option with a “knock knock” feature so you can see what’s inside without opening the door.
They promised it would change my life, so I agreed, but I took note of my opinion of a refrigerator as such and asked for the cheapest option.
The elegant black four-door appliance It passed through the front door of my house and was carried down the hallway, where it fit perfectly into its designated spot in the kitchen.
I have found the refrigerator to be large enough for all of our food, and even for cooking and preparing meals in large quantities.
She also looks good, something I never set out to achieve in my years as a mother.
Three weeks later I finally realized how wrong I had been.
And it started with my fruits and vegetables.
They didn’t wrinkle after a few days, in fact they looked like they had just been washed and taken out.
A week later they were no longer slimy and disgusting. I’m used to making jokes about the less desirable fruits and vegetables that go into the fridge to die, but that’s not the case anymore.
The day I installed it, I put a red pepper in the crisper drawer. I figured the family probably wouldn’t touch it and it would serve as a perfect experiment to test the refrigerator’s promise of keeping food fresher for longer.
These photos were taken eight weeks apart. I’m impressed with how well the pepper has held up in the crisper drawer.
It’s been eight weeks and it still looks (and smells) like a pepper.
I haven’t thrown away any fruit or vegetables yet, including strawberries from the supermarket, which often went bad after a day or two.
On paper, the 506-litre fridge isn’t much bigger than the previous one – around 80 litres including freezer space.
But it feels huge, the space is well thought out and everything has its place. I’m happy to report that it even looks quite nice in there, even though everyone in the house has full access.
The freezer is a game-changer. I can put the prepared food to one side without fear of it going to waste, because I can see everything easily.
The other side offers accompaniments such as vegetables and meals for quieter nights, such as fries or meatballs.
And I don’t have to worry about making room for ice.
The ice maker makes ice as I use it – I opted for a non-mains model so I only have to keep an eye on the bin, but I like to change it every week or so, even if it’s not empty.
The ice machine was a huge hit, and for a few weeks there were five-year-old fingerprints everywhere, but we never ran out of them.
I remember the first plumbed refrigerators that came out when I was young, and I also remember how dirty they got.
But LG has combated that concern in this model.
I don’t normally have time to organize my fruits and vegetables in any way – I rinse them and then put them back in the bag, but these have lasted much longer.
The freezer drawers are spacious and I can see everything without having to take everything out.
The ice and water for the dispenser comes from this container which I wash every week.
The built-in UV LED light in the water dispenser automatically reduces up to 99.99%* of bacteria on the water spout.
Mine still looks impeccable.
Not only does the fridge save me money on food purchases, it is also very energy efficient and has a 4.5 star rating. It is expected to use only 373 kWh of electricity per year.
This is less than the fridge I previously purchased, which only had a three-star energy rating and far fewer features.
The LG model can also be linked to your phone, so you can adjust the temperature on the fly or while you’re packing groceries.
This refrigerator is a perfect size for a family of four and I think it would probably work for larger families.
Not only does it look great, but it also does its job (and I must admit, more than any refrigerator).
