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Using an undercounter refrigerator involves the following steps – installing the appliance in an appropriate spot, plugging the fridge in, waiting for it to reach the ideal temperature, and stocking it with perishable food products.
Undercounter fridges are small kitchen appliances that offer a space-conscious alternative to standard refrigerators. If you would like to learn more about how to work an undercounter refrigerator, refer to our detailed undercounter refrigerator use guide below.
1. Install The Undercounter Refrigerator
The first step involves picking an appropriate spot to install the undercounter refrigerator. The most common way to install an undercounter fridge is by removing a kitchen cabinet, installing the necessary trim, and sliding the appliance into place.
This process will also involve the installation of an anti-tip bracket and a countertop bracket. In some instances, the fridge will be shorter in height than the space it’s fitting into. In this case, use leveling legs to make up for the missing height.
Moreover, because most kitchen floors are not perfectly level, these leveling legs can be used to ensure the undercounter refrigerator sits plum.
2. Plug The Refrigerator In
Once you’ve installed the appliance, the next step involves plugging it in. An undercounter fridge can be used with any standard 110 – 120 volt plug. However, it’s highly recommended that you use a three-prong compatible outlet. Failure to do so could result in a fire hazard.
When you’ve plugged the fridge in, you’ll have to choose the temperature setting. Which setting you pick will depend on what items you’re storing inside. For example, most undercounter fridges are used to store soft drinks or beer. If this is the case, you should set the fridge to 34 – 38 F (1.67 – 3.33 C).
If you’re storing primarily ales or lagers, the temperature can come up a bit to a range of 42 – 48 F (6 – 9 C).
3. Wait For Fridge To Reach Desired Temperature
Now that you have installed the appliance, plugged it in, and chosen the desired temperature, it’s time to wait for the undercounter fridge to reach temperature. This process can take anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours depending on the ambient temperature of the kitchen and the make/model of the undercounter refrigerator.
4. Fill Refrigerator
When the fridge has reached the desired temperature, the only remaining step is to fill it with food products or beverages. When stocking the fridge, there are several factors to take into consideration:
The bottom shelf is always the coldest and is where food items like beef, poultry, and most dairy products should be stored.
The top shelf is slightly less cold and is a good place to store food items that are at low risk of spoiling, such as leftovers. Finally, the fridge door is the coldest, and is where vegetables and sauces are typically kept. That said, many undercounter refrigerators come with a transparent glass door, meaning no door shelves are included.
What Should I Know Before Using An Undercounter Refrigerator
What is an undercounter refrigerator? Undercounter refrigerators are small house-hold appliances that offer a space-conscious alternative to standard kitchen fridges. In many cases, undercounter refrigerators are used as auxiliary cold storage or exclusively for beverages.
The average undercounter refrigerator stands between 24 and 34 inches high and contains a total volume of between 4.8 and 5.2 cubic inches. While some undercounter freezer models do exist, refrigerator models are the most common.
What Are The Stages Of Using An Uncounter Refrigerator
Using an undercounter refrigerator can be broken down into the following steps:
- Install the fridge and plug it in
- Choose the desired temperature setting
- Stock the fridge with food products or beverages
Does The UndercounterRefrigerator Type Affect The Usage Stages
No, the refrigerator type doesn’t affect the usage stages. However, some of the best undercounter refrigerators incorporate multiple drawers, giving you the ability to better separate foods and beverages.
Is An Undercounter Refrigerator For Beers Better Than A Mini Fridge?
No, an undercounter refrigerator for storing beers is not better than a mini fridge. In fact, both appliances work perfectly fine for storing beers and there isn’t much difference between the two. There are also mini fridge undercounter available in the market.
However, some undercounter models may have specially designed shelving that makes them more suitable for holding beer cans/bottles than the standard mini fridge.
Is Using An Undercounter Refrigerator For Wines Better Than Using A Wine Cooler
No, using an undercounter refrigerator for wines is not better than using a wine cooler. Wine ages best when stored at temperatures between 55 and 60 F (13 – 15.5 C). Unfortunately, undercounter refrigerators aren’t designed to reach temperatures that high, and as a result, are not the best choice for storing wine.
Moreover, wine stored at cold temperatures tends to age prematurely. If you store your wine in an undercounter fridge, you run the risk of ruining it. Once a wine has been uncorked, it won’t continue to age, meaning there is nothing wrong with placing an open bottle in an undercounter fridge.
Nevertheless, when it comes to the question of undercounter refrigerator vs. mini fridge for storing beers, both are excellent options.
Is A Commercial Undercounter Refrigerator Better Than A Residential Undercounter Refrigerator For Storing Food
Yes, a commercial undercounter refrigerator is better than a residential refrigerator for storing food.
The average residential undercounter refrigerator comes with a total volume of roughly 5 cubic meters. By comparison, most commercial models have a total volume of between 12 and 15 cubic meters, allowing you to store over twice the amount of food.
That said, some types of undercounter refrigerators that are designed for home use do come with up to 10 cubic meters of volume, which some may find to be a happy medium.
How To Use An Undercounter Refrigerator For Other Uses Besides Storing Food
Although the different uses of undercounter refrigerators are very limited, they can be used for other tasks besides storing food. To learn more, refer to the sections below.
How To Use An Undercounter Refrigerator As A TV Stand
To use an undercounter refrigerator as a TV stand, follow these steps:
- Unplug and empty the refrigerator
- Place the refrigerator in the appropriate spot with the TV on top of it
- Plug TV in and turn it on
If you do choose to use your undercounter refrigerator as a TV stand, there’s no reason why you can’t plug it in and also use it to store beverages. This way, you get the best of both worlds.
How To Use An Undercounter Refrigerator As An AC Unit
Undercounter refrigerators cannot be used as an AC unit.
How To Use An Undercounter Refrigerator As A Storage Unit
To use an undercounter refrigerator as a storage unit, follow these steps:
- Unplug and remove all contents from the undercounter fridge
- Place the fridge in an appropriate location
- Fill it with the items you wish to store
