For you, the foods you stock in your refrigerator are more than just something to eat — they’re the ingredients you rely on to make healthy, tasty dishes that transform supper with the family into a memorable experience. So, when you go to grab that bundle of asparagus, a bunch of spinach, or that punnet of berries from the farmers’ market only to find them covered in fuzz, we understand your frustration.
And while proper food storage practices help prolong the life of your produce, without an efficient refrigerator to help the process, all your freshest foods are doomed to the bin earlier than you planned. That’s why advanced food preservation systems are such a valuable feature for a refrigerator to have, and for you to have in your kitchen.
In this blog, we’ll go over two advanced food-saving features — dual evaporators and dual-compressors — and how each helps keep your foods from spoiling.
How Refrigerators Keep Foods Fresh
First, let’s go over how a basic refrigerator preserves your foods.
In order for a refrigerator to work at optimum performance, conditions should be semi-humid and 37 degrees in the chamber and 0 degrees in the freezer. On a standard refrigerator, when the internal thermometer is triggered by higher-than-normal temperatures, cold, dry air is introduced into the refrigerator or freezer by a system using a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and a fan. While this works to bring temperatures down, it may not always be the ideal way of doing it.
Disadvantages of Standard Air Refrigeration Systems
When it comes to food preservation, there are four reasons a standard air refrigeration system might be spoiling your foods.
- Harder for temperatures to remain precise.
- Inefficient cooling (if one compartment triggers the cooling system, all the compartments receive cold air).
- Less moisture control.
- Odor and tastes can transfer between compartments.
Advanced Food Preservation Systems
Unlike standard refrigerators that use a single cooling system for both the freezer and refrigerator, refrigerators with dual evaporators or dual-compressors keep foods fresher longer by using separate cooling systems between the freezer and refrigerator. While dual evaporator systems and dual-compressor systems sound similar, these two food-saving features each work differently, each providing different degrees of food preservation.
How Does a Dual Evaporator Work?
A dual evaporator system uses a single compressor and cooling system to power two separate evaporators for the freezer and the refrigerator.
How Do Dual-Compressors Work?
On the contrary, dual-compressors use two separate cooling systems — one for the freezer and one for the refrigerator — each complete with a compressor, evaporator, and fan.
Dual-compressor vs Dual Evaporator
Both dual-compressor refrigerators and refrigerators with dual evaporators are excellent solutions for keeping your foods fresh for as long as possible. That being said, the two have their own differences. Consider the following pros and cons:
Dual Evaporator Pros:
- Better food preservation than standard refrigeration.
- Dual evaporators are available on mainstream refrigerators from brands, including GE, LG, and Samsung.
- Dual evaporators tend to be more affordable than dual-compressors.
Dual Evaporator Cons:
- With a single compressor for both freezer and refrigerator, dual evaporators have to work harder, meaning potentially more servicing.
Dual-compressor Pros:
- Separate compressors for the freezer and refrigerator provide better food microclimates.
- A single compressor means less work for each chamber.
Dual-compressor Cons:
- Refrigerators with dual-compressors tend to be pricier.
- Besides the Bosch 800-Series, dual-compressors are not available on mainstream refrigerators.
- Advanced refrigeration technology may require extra maintenance.
Other Refrigerator Features That Help Preserve Foods
Humidity Control
When grocery stores spray their produce with water, it’s not just for show: It’s to replicate moist and humid environments where make vegetables and fruits normally thrive. To maintain those conditions, refrigerators often feature humidity and temperature-control drawers. Additionally, these specialized drawers also prevent new air from entering the bins and disrupting the balanced temperature conditions.
Typically, there will be one for each type of produce (vegetable and fruit), though many high-end refrigerators may include more.
Enhanced Air Flow
Stagnant air in the refrigerator could cause hot or cold zones that cause foods to spoil. Advanced air flow systems remedy this problem by effectively circulating air evenly throughout the refrigerator and freezer.
This is especially convenient in busy households where the refrigerator is frequently opened and is just as convenient for getting your refrigerator back to the right temperature after filling it up with groceries.
Four Standout Dual-Compressor/Dual Evaporator Models
Bosch 800 Series 21 Cu. Ft. Stainless-Steel French Door Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator (B36CT80SNS)
As the only mainstream refrigerator with a dual compressor, the Bosch B36CT80SNS is able to provide food preservation unlike any other refrigerator in its class. While that alone is impressive, when you consider this refrigerator is about half the price of a Sub-Zero refrigerator with similar features, there’s even more reason to celebrate. At a roomy 21 cubic feet of storage, with a counter-depth design and ample flexible shelves and storage, this mid-end refrigerator delivers high-end performance and detail.
The standout aspect of this Bosch French door refrigerator is the exclusive FarmFresh System that preserves foods in four distinct ways.
- VitalFresh Pro uses preset settings that automatically adjust humidity and temperature.
- FreshProtect absorbs ethylene, slowing down the natural ripening process of produce.
- AirFresh filter technology circulates fresh air and never needs replacement.
- MultiAirFlow distributes even air temperatures throughout the entire chamber.
Plus, with SuperCool and SuperFreezing technology, the inside of the refrigerator and freezer quickly return to optimum storage temperatures even after frequent use, cleaning, or stocking foods.
Café™ 22.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator (CYE22TP2MS1)
Available in stainless steel, matte-black, or matte-white, the Café CYE22TP2MS1 gives your kitchen modern character, with advanced food preservation technology inside that gives your foods the treatment they deserve.
Exclusive TwinChill Evaporators (available on many Café, GE, and GE Profile models) work by creating ideal temperature environments in both the freezer and refrigerator. Filling up your freezer doesn’t have to be a race when you have Turbo Freezer technology that rapidly returns the freezer chamber to ideal temperatures after the door has been open for extended time.
Inside the refrigerator space, a full-width temperature-controlled drawer provides ample room with LED lighting that saves you time and energy looking for your favorite foods. And for a complete user experience, this Café refrigerator features a hands-free, in-door water dispenser with hot water option, so you can access water without letting cold air out of the refrigerator.
LG 22.5 Cu. Ft. PrintProof™ Stainless Steel Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator (LRMVC2306S)
LG has long been a pioneer of innovative technology that is smart, efficient, and effective — and the LG LRMVC2306S is a prime example. With a sleek, counter-depth design and LG’s ThinQ monitoring technology compatible with the smart Alexa and Google Assistant, this refrigerator has been intelligently designed to satisfy the modern appliance shopper.
And it’s not just the looks — this mid-end refrigerator is decked out with a combination of food-saving features unmatched by few other refrigerators in the same class, including:
- InstaView Door-in-Door design — just two knocks and you get access to the inside of the refrigerator without opening the door, keeping cold air in.
- Door Cooling+ releases a blast of cold air when the door is open, keeping cold air inside the refrigerator.
- The Smart Cooling feature utilizes a series of vents and sensors for complete cooling control.
- A middle Full-Convert drawer is fully adaptable — just one touch and you gain more storage to freeze or refrigerate foods from five preset temperatures.
Samsung 22.4 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator (RF22R7351SR)
For those who prefer a completely seamless look, the Samsung RF22R7351SR provides similar performance to our LG pick at a fraction of the cost. While the Samsung won’t deliver the same storage flexibility as the LG LRMVC2306S, its modern, counter-depth design and food-saving features are worthy of mentioning.
Boasting “near-commercial grade humidity levels,” Samsung’s exclusive Twin Cooling Plus dual evaporator technology keeps climates at their prime, preventing foods from spoiling in the refrigerator and freezer burn from forming in the freezer.
The discreet Food Showcase Door is handy for accessing favorites like soda, condiments, eliminating the need to open the entire refrigerator, keeping cold air and energy inside. Similarly, the FlexZone Drawer with four refrigerator settings (for meats, drinks, deli items, and wine) provides another easy-access area to store refrigerated foods that doesn’t require opening the main doors. And for even more temperature retention, this Samsung refrigerator is equipped with stainless-steel paneling that helps lock in cold air.
Money-Saving, Too!
Grand Appliance and TV is your destination for refrigerators with dual-compressors and dual evaporators at unbeatable prices. With over 25 locations throughout Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, our wide catalog of appliances with top brands has a selection that suits you and your home. Shop online or in-store today!