Two big appliance sellers, Whirlpool Corp. and Sears Roebuck and Co, unveiled refrigerators this year that convert to freezers with the turn of a knob. The fridges also have built-in heaters so that the refrigerator sections can withstand the cold temperatures of a garage without inadvertently freezing food.
The appliances are the reverse of a traditional top-bottom refrigerator-freezer — the larger freezer sections are on the bottom, the smaller refrigerator sections up top. The smaller top refrigerator sections can convert to freezers for an all-freezer appliance. These are being marketed as a second refrigerator for a household.
The average American household spent $257 on frozen food in 2000, according to Frozen Food Age magazine. Dave Wellman, editor of the magazine, said that in a recent survey by the magazine, 75 percent of respondents said their freezers were full or nearly full.
Whirlpool’s Freezerator is designed for use in a garage and is part of the company’s Gladiator GarageWorks series, its first foray into garages. The refrigerator comes only in a metal-tread finish, a rugged raised gray metal surface that is part of the company’s overall garage look. It comes on locking wheels for easy transport for garage cleaning. The GarageWorks series includes matching shelves, bins, storage closets, flooring, tool boxes, gear drawers and trash compactors for a complete garage storage system.
“The garage is much more of a family space these days,” said Kyle Vandenburg, of Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool. “And consumers tell us they want to organize it well. Everybody’s got stuff on the floor, on the work bench, all over the place.”
The Freezerator is available now and retails for $1,299.
Kenmore’s K2 fridge, named after the world’s second-highest peak, is two-thirds freezer and one-third refrigerator, but convertible to all-freezer, the same as the Freezerator.
Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears, which owns the Kenmore brand, said research has shown that second refrigerators are in high demand, with some consumers using them to keep drinks cold, but most using them for extra freezer space.
“Consumers were loud and clear on this issue,” said Kathy Goodwin, Sears’ refrigeration buyer. “They want an appliance for the garage, basement or utility room that provides both a large freezer and a fresh-food compartment.”
The K2 is available now in white for $1,199 and in a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish called “ultra satin” for $1,399.
From chron.com