Slimline Fridge Freezer

Perhaps you, like many homeowners, have a smaller kitchen than you would like. Thankfully, there is an easy way to make your fridge seem bigger. Namely by utilizing slimline fridges and other appliances to ensure you get the maximum value out of your exiguous kitchen floor space.

What, you may ask, is a slimline fridge? While the definition is not no ifs ands or buts concrete, ordinarily and refrigerators less than 24 inches - or 60cm - wide could be considered to fall into this normal category. Some citizen might define the cap at a mere 18 inches; as you can see the definition can vary.

Refrigerator Side By Side

These fridges -- while narrow -- can sometimes be full depth, and will often be rather tall. This particular construct approach, as anything with a basic knowledge of geometry will know, maximizes the ready volume without compromising on the appliances narrowness. Sometimes slimline fridge freezers will be referred to as pantry fridges, or maybe larder fridge freezers. A different name but in reality they are very similar in size and shape.

While these appliances are very thin, this does not seem to limit the industry ingenuity in coming up with different models. Not only are they ready in isolate fridge and isolate freezer models, some firms have been able to produce a slimline fridge freezer aggregate of usable size. These ingenious designs are a great solution if the area in your kitchen you are able to set aside for refrigeration is small.

When it comes to their appearance, all the approved selections are available. They can be done in white, black or stylish stainless steel; agreeing to what you think you will look best in your homes kitchen. If you are a fan of high-end features such as ice dispensers and the like, a exiguous shopping with enough cash will find you a slimline style fridge that is highlight packed. Just because these units are small in size, does not mean they are small on style.

Unfortunately, in some places these narrow appliances can be difficult to find. If you live somewhere where most homes have large spacious kitchens adequate with the full size stereotypical side-by-side American fridge freezer, you may not find a whole lot of slimline models carried in stock.

Slimline Fridge Freezer

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Money-Saving Kitchen Tip: Turn That Old Chest Freezer Into a High-Efficiency Refrigerator

I know, it's pathetic that at age nearly-60, I know next to nothing about electricity. I do know that ageement fluorescents use less than incandescent bulbs, though Cfls are no ecological picnic. So we've changed out most of the bulbs colse to Taylor Springs, Nm.

I also know about phantom electricity, the power that you're using even when things, like the Tv, are "off." So, because I'm writing about this, I just got up and went colse to shutting down power strips, and the Ups the Tv's plugged into, and the overhead fan, and the power cord for the indoor satellite radio. None of those appliances is in use during the day, when I'm home by myself, so why should they be pulling juice.

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But the one appliance that's on all the time, that runs when it wants to, and is the biggest vigor gobbler and least productive of all is - the refrigerator. We have an old Crosley, which predates the vigor Star ratings. We don't have a Kill-a-Watt meter (available for everywhere), so we don't know exactly how much electricity we're using, but I'm sure it's over 0 a year, maybe a lot over, and it's stupid.

I have long known that refrigerators, by design, don't work well. You're development cold by removing heat using compressors and motors and coils and fans, then you vent the heat into the kitchen, which in summer helps kick in your A/C. And every time you open the refrigerator or freezer door, you dump all the cold air out of the unit, forcing it to run again. Insane.

I've read about converting a top-opening chest freezer for use as a refrigerator. They make sense: they're good insulated than regular stand-up refrigerators, and because they open from the top, the cold stays inside instead of running out onto the floor. I've seen one conversion in use, in an off-the-grid house in Indiana, and it worked great, but as I said, I'm not much of an electrician, so I've never made a chest fridge of my own. Yeah, most chest freezers are smaller than suitable household refrigerators, but we tend to keep a lot of stuff in the fridge that could, and should, be kept in the pantry instead. And we tend to just put stuff in the fridge every which way; a petite assosication and forethought wouldn't kill us, especially if it results in permanent savings.

So I had written on my to-do sheet, "chest refrigerator," and started poking colse to the internet to see if I could find a cheap meter for converting a small chest freezer to a refrigeration unit, and save a bunch of energy... And money.

And voila. Over at Mikey Sklar and Wendy Jehanara Tremayne's site, http://blog.HolyScrapHotSprings.com, "Digital homesteading & development all our stuff in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico," I found a plug-in controller unit made by Mikey, for converting freezers to refrigerators. Sklar says it'll cut vigor consumption from 0/yr. To less than /yr., so the unit will pay for itself in about six months.

And with 200 million refrigerators in the Us alone, the potential savings are mammoth, both in dollars and in costs to the environment. Let's see, that's 200 million times 0 a year; that's billion a year in electricity that we could cut to billion, just by installing a plug-in machine into a used chest freezer. That's got to be the equivalent of a power plant or two, easy. A no brainer; no household should be without one.

By insulating the sides and front, leaving space where the air intake at the bottom is located, and not surface up the back, where heat's vented, you can cut the vigor use even further. Have you ever felt the side of your refrigerator, and noticed that it's always slightly cool? That's because that even though the walls and door are insulated, they're not insulated enough, and a straightforward Styrofoam-and-paneling enclosure is categorically a worthwhile addition.

So, as an environmentalist and cheapskate, I've ultimately got this conversion on my Xmas wish list. There's a used appliance store up in Raton that I'm going to check out for a low-cost, working chest freezer. Free or cheap at a yard sale would be good, too.

Money-Saving Kitchen Tip: Turn That Old Chest Freezer Into a High-Efficiency Refrigerator

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Top Freezer Refrigerators for Unlimited Space

The refrigerator is one of those miracles of contemporary living that has totally changed life. Prior to refrigeration, the only way to preserve food like meat was to salt it, and iced beverages in the summer were a real luxury.

Most homes today have some type of refrigerator or the other, to keep food and beverages chilled and fresh. Over the years, refrigerators have evolved from a basic chilled box with some simple shelves to today's much more sophisticated and feature-rich models. The basic idea behind a refrigerator is very simple: It uses the evaporation of a liquid to digest heat. While it is still possible to purchase an prudent refrigerator with microscopic interior features, most manufacturers are creating upscale fridges with as many industrialized features as they can include. These can range from upgraded exterior finishes to flexible shelving and new twists on interior storehouse features.

Refrigerator Side By Side

Consumers today want intriguing seeing refrigerators, flexible food storehouse options and a selection of refrigerator configuration (side-by-side, top freezer, lowest freezer or counter depth). Due to rising energy costs, consumers are also seeing to purchase energy-efficient refrigerators that will help them keep their monthly electricity bill under control.

Top-freezer Refrigerators make good use of space and achieve well temperature-wise. They are also less expensive than other types and, in general, are more trustworthy than other styles. Most models available today are energy Star rated that can help you earn you a rebate from your utility company. They highlight an interior ice maker, spill-control glass shelves and gallon storehouse on the door. available in a myriad of colors, some high end units also have an internal water dispenser.

Top-freezer refrigerators tend to offer smaller freezer compartments than side-by-side models. They have the freezer at eye level, thus placing the refrigerator at a lower and less convenient place. These Fridge Freezer models are less expensive than side-by-side refrigerators. Another advantage of the top-freezer models is that they can hold very large horizontal items like pizza boxes and birthday cakes while the fridge compartment in a side-by-side unit might be too narrow.

Freezer-on-top Refrigerators are available in assorted sizes to store all quantities of food and beverages. The basic covenant Refrigerator Freezers are a good fit for apartments or small tight spaces. These models are inexpensive and reliable, with just enough capacity to fit in your knick knacks. It doesn't have an Ice maker, water dispenser or other extras, but it's a good selection if you simply want the basics.

Before you buy your new refrigerator, there are few questions you need to consider. How large is the space or chance in my kitchen where I can fit a refrigerator? What refrigerator configuration would I prefer? How large a refrigerator capacity do I need? What features are must-haves, and which features are less important? What kind of allocation do I have for a new refrigerator? Once you form these out, you would be able to make the perfect selection for a fridge.

There are a wide range of stores and other outlets from which you can purchase your Freezer on Top Refrigerator. Each has its own singular benefits and drawbacks, so you need to go for a store/outlet with which you are most comfortable. You can also shop for Top Freezer Refrigerators on the Internet, as this way you would have a great selection to pick from.

Top Freezer Refrigerators for Unlimited Space

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Freezer Coleslaw (Easy Recipe)

You can serve this formula without icy the coleslaw -- or you can make it up ahead of time (such as before Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner) and store it in the refrigerator or the freezer until you're ready to use it.

o 1 medium head of cabbage Or 2 to 3 packages of shredded cabbage (ever since I scraped my knuckles raw grating cabbage for 150 people for a church dinner, I have favorite to use the shredded cabbage you can buy at the grocery store )

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o 3 sticks of celery chopped

o 1 teaspoon of celery seed

o 1/2 green pepper chopped (optional)

Boil the following for 1 minute:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Then:

Pour over the cabbage, celery and green pepper mixture. (If it seems like it's way too soupy, which will depend a lot upon the moisture article of the cabbage you're using, add the third container of shredded cabbage. If you're going to freeze it, however, you do want the coleslaw to be covered with liquid.)

At this point, you can let the coleslaw sit in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours or overnight and serve, or you can put it into containers and freeze. The coleslaw will keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.

Note: this formula works very well for red cabbage, which makes a pretty side dish.

©2007 - - LeAnn R. Ralph

LeAnn R. Ralph is a reporter in Wisconsin. She also is the author of books about growing up on a small house dairy farm 40 years ago. The Midwest Book quote calls this series of books "Highly recommended reading!" You are invited to sign up for the twice-monthly newsletter from Rural Route 2 -- http://ruralroute2.com

Freezer Coleslaw (Easy Recipe)

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