This fridge changed my life at 33 and made me realise how wrong I'd been about 'luxury' buys. Here's what I want EVERY Aussie to know I was 33 when I discovered how good 'luxury' fridges are READ MORE: Scientists claim most fridges are kept at the wrong temperature By Belinda Cleary For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:18, 21 August 2024 | Updated: 00:26, 21 August 2024 e-mail 1 View comments I have been wrong about fridges my entire life. I was always so blasé about them and defended my 'any fridge will do' attitude.
Even when buying my own 'brand new' one for the first time I pointed to the first lower-bracket model which would fit the hole in my apartment singing 'she'll do'. I thought the higher end models were aesthetics-driven and a little pretentious. And when I became a parent the idea of having aesthetically-pleasing white goods felt like a joke, or something suited for people in a much higher tax bracket.
Then LG called - 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 kitchens in Metro Sydney and Melbourne . The range starts at $2500 - much higher than anything I would have considered 'in budget'. 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 be lifechanging so I accepted but noted my views on a fridge being a fridge and asked for the cheaper option. The sleek black four-door appliance was squeezed through the front door of my home and was wheeled down the hall where it fit neatly in the designated spot in the kitchen. I have found the fridge is big enough for all of our groceries - and even for bulk cooking and meal prepping It also looks good, something I never really aimed to achieve in my mum years Three weeks later I finally realised how wrong I had been.
And it started with my fruit and vegetables. They didn't go wrinkly after a few days, in fact they looked like they had just been washed and popped away. A week later and they weren't slimy and revolting.
I'm used to making jokes about the less-desirable fruit and vegetables going into the fridge to die but that's no longer the case. I popped a red capsicum in the crisper the day I got it set up. I figured it would likely remain untouched by the family and serve as the perfect experiment to test the fridge's 'fresher for longer' promise.
These photos were taken eight weeks apart - I am impressed with how well the capsicum has kept in the crisper Eight weeks on and it still looks - and smells - like a capsicum. I am yet to throw out any fruit or vegetables, including supermarket strawberries which were quite often bad after a day or two. On paper the 506L fridge isn't 'that' much bigger than my last - about 80L including freezer space.
But it feels huge, the space is well thought out, and everything has a place. I am pleased to report it even looks kind-of pretty in there - despite everyone in the house having full access. The freezer is a game-changer.
I can put meal prep down one side, without fearing it will go to waste, because I can see everything with ease. The other side is home to sides like vegetables and lazy-night food like hash browns or dumplings. And I don't have to worry about carving out space for ice.
The ice maker makes it as I use it - I opted for a non-plumbed model so I just need to watch the container but I like to change it every week or so even if it isn't empty. The ice machine was a huge hit, and there were five-year-old shaped finger prints all over it for a few weeks but we never ran out. I remember the first plumbed fridges coming out when I was young, and also remember how grotty they got.
But LG has combatted that concern in this model. I don't usually have time to arrange my fruit and vegetables in any way - I rinse them then pop them back in the packet - but they have been lasting a lot longer The freezer drawers are spacious and I can see everything without having to pull it all out The ice and water for the dispenser comes from this container which I wash out every week The UV LED light built into the water dispenser automatically reduces up to 99.99%* of bacteria from the water nozzle.
Mine still looks squeaky clean. The fridge doesn't just save me money on groceries - it's also very economical and has a 4.5 star rating.
It's expect to use just 373kw/h of electricity a year. This is less than the fridge I bought previously - which only had a three-star energy rating and far less features. The LG model can also be linked to your phone - so that you can adjust the temperature on the run, or in preparation for groceries.
This fridge is a great size for a family of four - and I feel would probably work for larger families. Not only does it look great, it also does the job - and I must admit is more than 'any fridge'. Melbourne Share or comment on this article: This fridge changed my life at 33 and made me realise how wrong I'd been about 'luxury' buys.
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