The History of the Refrigerator

The traditional refrigeration of food creates a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions from leakage of refrigerant as well as the use of electricity. In 2019, these emissions accounted for 3.2 percent of the total UK territorial GHG emissions.

Refrigerators were not widespread in British homes until the summer of 1959. Prior to that, the majority of households relied on cold slabs that were placed in pantries. These were inefficient and did not keep a constant temperature.

The History of Fridges In The UK

Fridges are one of the most essential kitchen appliances, which allows us to keep food and drinks fresh for days at a time. They also are extremely energy efficient. It's easy, though, to forget that refrigerators were once a luxury item. In reality it wasn't until the 1950s that they began to really gain popularity. However, even then, it took a very hot summer for them to become popular in the UK.

Before fridges were invented, people used the insulated ice containers to keep their foods cool. In winter, they would collect blocks of ice on lakes and store them for warmer months. These ice boxes were far from ideal, though. They were carried around by an 'ice man', and they were very heavy. In 1918, the first electric refrigerators were introduced to the market. But, it took a while before they were widely used in homes.

Today, refrigerators are a lot more efficient in terms of energy usage than they were a decade ago. They use less energy than they did ten years ago. Some fridges use only 4 kW*h a day (equivalent of 170 W continuous). A lot of domestic refrigerators have an A+ energy rating.

In the early 1950s manufacturers introduced fridges with separate freezer compartments. They also started producing models with a chrome finish, which was extremely popular at the time. Since then, refrigerators are available in many different colors and finishes. Pastel shades, like pink and turquoise were popular in the 1960s. Earth-tone colors like avocado green and almond became more popular in the 1980s and the 1970s. By the 1990s stainless steel was a popular choice.

Fridges in the 1920s

Before refrigerators, people used wooden and insulated "ice boxes" for storing fresh food and beverages. The iceman would deliver ice blocks to fill them up, and they kept things cool all through the year. These ice boxes could be found in the posh kitchens.

The first electric refrigerator was launched in 1918 and was positioned on top of the home's current Ice box. They were noisy, bulky and expensive. The motor was on top of the cabinet. They were also referred to as monitor-tops. William C. Durant purchased the Mellowes Refrigerator Company in 1918 and founded the Guardian Frigidaire to mass-produce refrigerators. Durant was in the direction of a design created by Cistercian monk Marcel Audiffren and Swiss engineer Albert Singrun. It was an absorption refrigerator for sulfur dioxide.

In the 1920s, new refrigerators were affordable to many households. These new refrigerators were able to store plenty of food and beverages and kept them cool for a longer time than the old ice boxes.

Advertising on refrigerators was creative attractive, appealing and filled with promises of ice-cold beverages and stylish designs. The ads from the past are fascinating to read because they give us a glimpse into what life was like when they were in the past.

By the end of the 1920s, electric refrigeration was in nearly all homes. Electric utilities helped promote this trend by offering rebates on their bills to customers who purchased refrigerators. The popularity of refrigerators increased even more during the Great Depression when they were considered vital to the survival of the home.

Fridges in the 1950s

Refrigerators became more popular in the 1950s. They were still uncommon in the 1920s. In the 1960s they were a common feature in all homes.

The majority of early fridges were very utilitarian appliances with simple designs that matched the kitchen decor of the time. The refrigerators were typically smaller and were mounted on legs. They came in a range of colors (though the majority of them were pastels - think mint). In the time of this there were a lot of fridge freezer cheap manufacturers that included Whirlpool (who had recently emerged as a top brand), Gibson, Hotpoint and Tappan.

These brands were all known for their reliable and high-quality refrigerators. They also expanded their product lines, providing other kinds of household appliances. For example, Crosley was a manufacturer of radios before they moved into refrigerators in the 1940's and were known for their compact refrigerators that fit well into smaller spaces.

In the 1950s, refrigerators were more stylish and were marketed to women who were housewives to be a status symbol. They were designed to match cabinets and fridge freezers walls in the kitchen, and were usually white with chrome handles.

Then in the '60s, fridges began to morph into gadget-centric appliances that included things like separate freezers and ice cube makers. In addition, manufacturers began to use less expensive materials and were able offer them at much more affordable costs.

Fridges in the 1960s

Refrigerators became a common feature in many households in the 1960s, with many families even having two refrigerators. They were costly for a time - in America the average cheap fridge freezer cost on average $600 (that's about $7000 in 2024 dollars) however by the end of the 60s they were down to $200.

The refrigerator was a major advancement at the time, revolutionizing kitchens and changing the way we preserved food. The fridge was also a wonderful home comfort as it kept meat and dairy fresher for longer. This enabled people to purchase bulk quantities prepare meals in advance and then store them.

The first refrigerators used harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide, ammonia and methyl chloride for refrigeration. This was dangerous for humans since these gases were released from refrigerators. A number of people died from poisoning, and it wasn't until in 1929 that a more secure method for cooling food, using carbon dioxide, was created.

This means that manufacturers could create more efficient and safer refrigerators for use in homes, with certain refrigerators featuring an internal freezer compartment accessible through the refrigerator's door. These fridges were referred to as bi-door and were extremely popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

The 1960s refrigerators were sleeker and more modern. They were curved with soft curves and a sleek design that suggested a time of efficiency and freedom for the home. They still tended to be fairly large but the boxy look of refrigerators in the 1940s was beginning to fade.

Today's fridges

Today's fridge freezers come in a wide variety of styles, colours and finishes that can be adapted to your personal aesthetics and kitchen interiors. Some fridge freezer to buy freezers have intelligent features that connect to Wi-Fi. This allows you to quickly customize the settings. Others have an integrated camera to check inside the refrigerator.

French door models have taken over the market, since consumers want modern looks and features such as dispensers for water or ice, flex drawers and in some cases, a smart display. Many of these appliances are evaluated as A B, A or even A+ for energy efficiency after the revamp of the mandatory labelling system in UK appliances.

We like this Hotpoint model due to its sleek design. It includes an innovative UVNano technology that self-sterilises the fridge to kill bacteria and a pair of salad drawers with adjustable humidity sliders. It's also spacious with plenty of storage space for bottles and jars and a large utility box in the fridge door.

Fridges that don't have an ice tray that is traditional can consume up to four times more energy than models that do, so opt for one with an environmentally friendly ICE+ option that uses less energy. You can also save money by selecting one with an automatic ice maker. This will create a constant supply of ice that is ready to be used in the morning.

The best option to protect the environment is to buy a fridge best price with an energy efficiency rating of either A or A+. It's important to consider the fridge's annual electricity usage as part of your household budget when deciding on a new appliance. It is important to remember that the world is not one where we can afford to take energy for granted: everyone deserves access to reliable, affordable and abundant electricity to live an active, healthy lifestyle and preserve our planet.