Do you need to have a RV fridge

Following last month's article on the Steam Oven, we thought we speak to refrigeration next. Food storage is a big deal and both how food is kept fresh as well as how units are designed can make a huge difference. .

First of all, what do we mean by an RV fridge. For years, RV life meant exclusively 12 volt power. You could plug in at a pedestal to get 110v (and in some cases 220v through a 50amp service), but as soon as you traveled on to the next stop, you were back to 12v. This meant that in order for the food in the fridge not to get spoiled, the fridge either needed to run on 12v, and hopefully you had enough 12v lead acid batteries to last the trip, or you could use some other source. Many RV refrigerators had a switch over for propane. Keeping it cold, highly efficient, using potentially multiple power sources, and at a low cost, were all objectives that were kept in balance. As older RVs were smaller in size, so were all the appliances as well.

Today, with higher end RVs being larger in size, residential size refrigerators are more common. Many times they do still offer multiple power sources, and items such as ice makers are even an option. Solar and battery back-up systems have even enabled true residential brands running only on electric to be made available.

Yet, just as in a traditional sticks and bricks home, the choices for refrigeration are plentiful. While any refrigerator can keep food cool, high-end refrigerators are often able to do so to a higher degree, with more advanced technology. Many have dual compressors and evaporators, ensuring optimum food preservation for frozen and refrigerated items. Air filtering, higher quality door seals, and drawers with individually controlled temperatures also provide improved refrigeration. Perhaps an overriding consideration has to be the construction and reliability. After all, this kitchen often does not stand still and the impact of the constant movement will have a severe consequence. High end materials, design, and manufacturing will ultimately result in a product that lasts

Design flexibility can also have a significant impact on the choice. In our CTH34 design, we specifically did not want a traditional up and down or side by side refrigerator freezer. The reason was to maximize counter space. A traditional refrigerator would take at least 24' of space, if not more. Instead, we chose an under-counter design for both the refrigerator (with a door) as well as the freezer (using drawers). Separate units have separate compressors and evaporators and we were even able to get panel ready units, further making them seamlessly integrate into our design.

As you upgrade your existing RV kitchen or design your new dream chefs abode, know that you have a number of choices to choose from. Remember space is at a premium, quality of workmanship and materials will be of utmost importance, and with higher end units, you will provide a better place to store your ingredients.