‘I like to think of my fridge as a staging area for food rather than somewhere for long-term storage,’ says Nick Nairn in his well-known cook book. ‘Some items do keep for a few weeks, but if your fridge is a cluttered mess of half-empty jars of olives and bits of mouldy cheddar cheese, you’ll find you’re chucking a lot of things out.’ Nairn says Britain wastes about a third of the food we buy – which negatively impacts the environment and the wallet.

Stocking your fridge – and a note on temperature

Don’t overload your fridge and keep it at a constant 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 5 degrees Celsius – which means it’s important to avoid placing hot foods in the fridge. When buying fresh produce, Nairn says, ‘Why put effort into shopping for tasty, high-quality produce if it’s only going to end up feeding your wheelie bin?’ He says it makes sense to shop smarter and to buy less, keeping in mind what you’re going to be cooking in the near future.

Dairy

Wrap your butter well and avoid placing it near onions or garlic – leave a little in a container outside of the fridge to allow for easy spreading. It’s best to keep your eggs in the fridge but bring them back to room temperature before cooking or baking with them.

Don’t wrap cheese in cling film – rather wrap it in greaseproof paper and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge. Note that it is possible to freeze hard cheeses.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Lemons, limes, onions, fresh ginger, chillies and fresh herbs make handy ingredients for many dishes and they all keep well in the fridge. Keep your fresh herbs in sealed bags and onions in their skins. Lemons and limes should be brought back to room temperature before squeezing them.

If you don’t have time to make homemade mayonnaise, keep some bottled mayo in the fridge ‑ as well that essential dip, good old-fashioned mustard.

For environmentally conscious consumers, living green means more than simply recycling and re-using. It also means using products and appliances that are eco-friendly such as refrigerators and freezers. These are important ways to reduce one’s energy consumption while doing your bit for the environment. They’re one of the few items in your household that are switched every day of the year. This has a huge impact on the environment. So consider replacing your current appliance with an eco-friendly version.

Testing, testing

You should take a look around your home and ask yourself a few questions. How old is your fridge? Do you own a second one or a freezer? Do you really need that extra freezer? Although a new, eco-friendly version will initially be more expensive, it will eventually pay for itself by reducing your electricity expenses.

This is only the first step

Making the decision to buy an eco-friendly fridge is only the beginning to your road to ‘greenness’. When considering a specific model, keep the following in mind: An automatic ice maker increase your energy consumption. Choose the same model without it and use ice cube trays.

Pick a model that is the right size for your household. There is no need to super-size and waste energy and space in the process.

In order from most to least, top freezer models are most energy efficient, with bottom freezer model next and side-by-side models being the least efficient.

Be an Energy Star

The Energy Star is an international symbol of energy efficiency and it should be a good starting point when considering a fridge to buy. You can safely assume that Energy Star fridges and freezers are the most energy efficient ones.

Maintenance

Once you have acquired your energy saving appliance, be sure to maintain it correctly. You should clean the coils at the back of the fridge every three to four months. You should also check the door seals regularly and replace them when they get old. Remember that the ideal temperature for a fridge is between 1 and 5 degrees Centigrade and minus 18 degrees for your freezer. And don’t forget to defrost your freezer regularly.

When you decide to recycle your old energy guzzler, make sure that it is disposed of properly. For further tips on green living you can do some research and contact various organisations that specialise in spreading valuable information freely.

No man in the world needs to be reminded the value of having your beer chilled. In fact having chilled beer close by without the need to move much is even more celebrated – Heineken knows this. As such, men need little convincing of the value of a bar fridge in the perfect location. However, it isn’t just the man cave that could use a bar fridge. Below are locations perfect for mini bar fridges.

An office

If you have your own enclosed office – something that is fast becoming a rarity – sneaking a mini bar into one of the closets, or into a nifty corner is a brilliant idea. It will let you keep refreshments on hand you can give to guests or clients when you have meetings, while also letting you store a cold one as an early kiss to the weekend on Fridays.

A man cave

Whether you’ve turned what was meant to be a ‘study’, garage or even your tool shed into a man cave, guys everywhere celebrate their escape space. While televisions are essential for being able to watch the footie, having drinks on hand is critical, too.  And in this age, crying out to the missus to bring you a ‘beer’ is Neanderthal behaviour. A mini bar fridge is the obvious solution to your problem.

A home work space

If you happen to be one of the many people who has converted certain parts of your home – most often the garage – into a workspace, a mini bar fridge could be a handy addition here. We’re talking make-shift work benches for carpentry and building, or any sort of area where you retreat to do extraneous work for several hours on end is the perfect spot for a mini bar fridge.

The point is these mini bar fridges are essential for any space you spend lengthy periods of time in, doing recreational tasks or heavy work. It sure beats missioning to the refrigerator every time you need something to drink, and will allow you to continue whatever it is you’re doing uninterrupted. Their uses are manifold.

Refrigerators cost a lot of money. On top of that, most people tend to have one particular model for at least five to ten years, if not longer. As such, selecting the right refrigerator when you go fridge shopping is absolutely critical. This requires understanding what you should be looking out for, what features are worth paying extra prices for, and which manufacturers to trust when buying refrigerators. Below we look at the features and requirements you should demand of all modern refrigerators you are considering purchasing.

Brand names

When it comes to foods and apparels, brand names carry very little weight to justify the high disparity in price. When it comes to electronics and kitchen appliances however, that sentiment changes dramatically. Only buy a fridge that comes with a fantastic warranty and guarantee (five years plus is advised) and buy from a reputable manufacturer, such as Whirlpool, for example. Make sure to ask around, and thoroughly research any model you settle on before buying a fridge.

Shelving

Any good refrigerator comes with adjustable shelves, with more expensive refrigerators having storage compartments built into each shelf. Make sure the spacing between the various slots is right and have a bias towards refrigerators with dedicated compartments, since

Modern refrigerators ship with spill-proof shelves that prevent liquids from going onto lower shelves and spreading through the rest of the fridge. Buying a fridge with this feature is particularly handy, especially if you have little children (or clumsy partners!) who are prone to spilling.

Storage

Most fridges all ship with at least two separate parts – the main refrigeration area, and the freezer section. Some modern refrigerators also have storage compartments and crispers, for purchasing food in bulk, and having somewhere to put the excess purchases. While you may pay a bit extra for this functionality, it may be worth doing your sums to see what your savings would be if you bought meats and the like in bulk.

If said savings would exceed how much extra you’re paying for the additional storage space, buying a fridge with the extra storage space is financially smarter.

Worthwhile features

Some refrigerators come with dedicated in-door refreshment compartments for storing beverages and the like, meaning you can grab a drink without having to open the entire fridge. While handy, this feature is most certainly overkill relative to the price you pay for it.

It is worth buying a fridge that has a water and ice dispensers that sit outside the door, though. Just run some plumbing through your fridge and your good to go. What’s better is that some fridges have built-in filters, too, to ensure you get the tastiest water possible.

Look carefully, and research everything

Thankfully the web has allowed most everybody to get a good sense of a product’s inherent value before buying a fridge. Thoroughly research your options, and if you settle upon a refrigerator model you like, always compare prices.  And remember, that warranty is absolutely critical in case you happen upon a fault.

Happy fridge shopping.

Need a beauty boost? Look no further than your fridge. You probably have all you need to make home made beauty products’ right at your fingertips. Think soothing cucumber eye gel, sweet sugar and honey body scrub, and yoghurt body mask. You’ll save money, and have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what it is you’re putting on your skin – no nasty chemicals, and, definitely, no animal testing. It’s all good.

Soothing cucumber eye gel

For a home made eye gel that will gently soothe and help get rid of any signs of a hectic lifestyle, you’ll need some aloe vera, half a cucumber, witch hazel, and a drop or two of lavender essential oil. You can buy aloe vera gel at a health shop, and witch hazel at any pharmacy. Aloe vera has fantastic regenerative properties, while witch hazel is a natural astringent. Blitz the cucumber, around half a cup of aloe vera gel, two tablespoons of witch hazel, and lavender essential oil in your blender. Store the mixture in the fridge, and apply when needed.

Sweet sugar and honey body scrub

Photo: Powerhouse Museum / Flickr

This body scrub will moisturise your skin while exfoliating just as well as any scrub you’d get in the shops. Take a cup of sugar crystals (try muscovado sugar for its colour and sticky texture) and mix in two tablespoons of honey. Add a little olive oil, and the essential oil of your choice. Lavender essential oil is calming and healing, citrus oils like neroli are uplifting and energising, and tea tree is a natural antiseptic that will help with problem skin.

Yoghurt body mask

Yoghurt is very good for skin irritation and sunburn, and is a very gentle exfoliator, suitable for the most sensitive skin. This home made body mask is an excellent summer treatment, and it’s very easy to make. Add three tablespoons of pureed carrots ( a great source of vitamin A) and three tablespoons of honey to a quarter of a cup of yoghurt. Mix together thoroughly, and apply to your body before soaking in a warm bath for around 15 minutes.

For more natural beauty recipes, have a look at sofeminine.co.uk.

The UN is urging the world to opt for a vegan diet to help to combat global warming and environmental damage. Eating less meat and dairy, according to the UN, is absolutely vital to combat climate change. Agriculture, especially meat and dairy farming, accounts for 70 per cent of global fresh water use, 38 per cent of total land use, and a substantial 19 per cent of the planet’s greenhouse emissions.

What the report says

The UN report, released yesterday, says that a global shift towards a vegan diet is essential to putting a stop to world hunger, a lack of fuel, and the worst of climate change. It’s expected that the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion by 2050, and feeding the world on meat and dairy will just no longer be sustainable. This is according to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) panel.

Increasing impact with population growth

UNEP says: ‘Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.’

Photo: Stock.Xchng

The report’s lead author, Professor Edgar Hertwich, adds: ‘Animal products cause more damage than producing construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals. Biomass and crops for animals are as damaging as burning fossil fuels.’

Experts agree

These UNEP recommendations follow on advice from Nicholas Stern, former advisor to the Labour government, last year. His claim that a vegetarian diet is better for the planet is backed by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s chair, who urges people to eat no meat at least one day a week, to help curb carbon emissions.

If you’re thinking of opting for a vegan diet, start off by making a few changes in your fridge. Opt for soya milk instead of cow’s milk, try tofu for a change, and think about replacing hamburgers and sausages with vegetarian options.

When you’re short of space and if you own a bar or restaurant, then it might be time that you looked at the option of buying an under the counter bar fridge. The spatial issues, electricity bills, constant maintenance problems and repair costs associated with owning a large fridge are non-existent when you purchase a bar fridge.

Space Saving

All under-the-counter bar fridges are space-saving and will ensure that the owner never has to worry about where to place the fridge. They are often very compact and light in terms of weight considerations, they can easily be placed in a concealable place, and for bar owners, a product like the Beko MR52 Minibar would provide efficient and uninterrupted service.

Adjustable Temperature

Most fridges come with adjustable temperature control and allow the consumer to control the climate in the fridge. Depending on what sort of drinks or food the fridge is stocked with, this is a vital feature to have.

Capacity

Bar fridges come with a relatively impressive capacity considering the work they do and their size. Although specific capacity varies according to the type of work you want to use the fridge for, there is no doubt that for the amount of space you save, a bar fridge’s capacity is largely good. The Matsui MTT667WS has a great capacity, at 75 litres.

Energy Consumption

Most under-the-counter fridges are low on power consumption and often have little effect on the owners pocket in terms of electricity costs. They have maximum refrigerating capabilities at a fraction of the cost of having an ordinary size fridge; this is especially evident in the range of fridges produced by LG, which have all the positives of having a fridge without the hassles.

Actually fairly advanced

The Proline PLC55FFS is one of the most advanced refrigerators available in the market. This device is equipped with a number of features which makes it a high quality refrigerator. It is divided in two different segments and each of them is very important. The Proline PLC55FFS fridge freezer has more than enough space to store each and everything you want. While buying any electronic product you should check the energy rating because it indicates the amount of energy consumed by a device. The Proline PLC55FFS is provided with an “A” energy rating which proves that this refrigerator is one of the most energy efficient devices available in the market.

Low energy consumption

The annual energy consumption of this device is around 313 KWh which is quite low in comparison with other refrigerators available in the market. The width, height and depth of this device are 55.1 cm, 171.8 cm and 62.9 cm respectively which enables you to easily store it. It is a freestanding type of refrigerator which is pretty easy to use. The Proline fridge is available in a stylish colour and a glossy finish which protects it from abrasion and gives it a sophisticated look. You can easily buy this Proline product at affordable prices from a store near your home.

]]> http://www.home-living-news.co.uk/uncategorized/980/proline-plc55ffs-cheap-but-decently-sized-fridge-freezer.html/feed 0 http://www.home-living-news.co.uk/uncategorized/975/matsui-mc170gwff-very-cheap-and-barebones-fridge-freezer.html http://www.home-living-news.co.uk/uncategorized/975/matsui-mc170gwff-very-cheap-and-barebones-fridge-freezer.html#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:00:53 +0000 Lindsey http://www.home-living-news.co.uk/?p=975 A refrigerator is one of the most common kitchen appliances which are used to store food. There are various companies that are manufacturing some of the most advanced refrigerators. Matsui has been manufacturing refrigerators for the past many years and it has produced some bestselling models as well. The company has recently launched Matsui MC170GWFF which includes both fridge and a freezer. A fridge and a freezer have a basic difference but most people fail to understand it. The basic difference is that a fridge maintains the temperature a little above the freezing point of water and a freezer maintains the temperature a little below the freezing point of water.

Energy efficient

The Matsui MC170GWFF is equipped with two separate compartments in which one is a fridge and the other is a freezer. Most of the refrigerators available in the market are frost free and Matsui MC170GWFF is nothing different as it is also a frost free refrigerator as well. If you want to know as to how much electricity does the refrigerator consume then you should check out the energy rating. This refrigerator is provided with an “A” energy rating which means that this device is very power efficient and will save lots of power. Most other refrigerators available in the market consume more electricity than the Matsui MC170GWFF fridge freezer.

Small capacity

The total capacity of the Matsui MC170GWFF fridge is around 170 litres which is quite enough for a standard family. The fridge capacity of this device is around 115 litres and the freezer capacity is 50 litres. Even in the case of a power failure this refrigerator will keep food fresh up to 5 hours which is quite a long time. The door hinging is reversible which enhances the comfort of the user. The dimensions of the refrigerator are 49.1 cm, 152.0 cm and 56.7 cm respectively which enables you to easily store the device. The refrigerator is efficiently painted in order to protect it from abrasion.

Very affordable

For best results you must read the user manual provided with Matsui MC170GWFF. You can easily buy this device from at affordable prices from a store near your home. This is a refrigerator which is specially designed for standard homes. It is a very power efficient device which makes it a best selling product. The Matsui MC170GWFF is also provided with a warranty which makes it a reliable buy. There are various online stores that are offering Matsui MC170GWFF at reasonable prices.

Protective Bioshield feature

The LG GWL227HBQA American Fridge Freezer provides a bioshield feature which is an exclusive part of its design. Even more, the space-saving ice maker of the fridge freezer is also very helpful. If you want to keep fruits and vegetable in the fridge freezer for a longer period of time, you can do that easily as the LG fridge freezer comes up with a unique feature known as moisture balance crisper. This facility has made the fridge freezer desirable for all of its users.

Ice and water dispenser

The model from LG boasts a 30.5 cm ice and water dispenser with which users can easily get ice and water without opening the door. Moreover, the LG refrigerator also boasts of its exclusive door mounted ice maker. The total storage capacity of the fridge freezer is 538 litres among which its refrigerator is of 365 litres and its freezer is of 173 litres.

Included LED display

Look wise, the fridge freezer is chic and elegant and it is coming with 88 LED digital display and external filteration facilities. You can also avail of a safety feature with the LG American Fridge Freezer and it is the child lock facility of the model. The refrigerator of the LG GWL227HBQA American Fridge Freezer comes up with the features including tempered glass shelves, wine rack, door bins for bottle guide and door bins for gallon storage facilities. In the freezer compartment, an ice maker, freezer shelves and plastic drawers are available as well.

Fairly movable

The LG GWL227HBQA American Fridge Freezer is 123 kg and it can be fit anywhere. It is true that all the features of the fridge freezer will be a great help for the users. Especially if you want to store fruits and vegetables in the fridge freezer for a longer period of time, the LG GWL227HBQA American Fridge Freezer model will never let you down.

Readily available

If you want to buy the fridge freezer, you can find the model in the nearby market. You can also search on the Internet where many online shopping portals are offering great deals on the fridge freezer. However, all those people who are willing to buy the LG GWL227HBQA American Fridge Freezer are advised to make a comparison of various deals and after that, purchase a model. By making a comparison, they will be able to get a deal that is lucrative for them.