When you visit the farmer’s market this summer and walk away with an armful of fresh food, you’ll feel good knowing that you have supported local food suppliers, but you also want your bounty to last as long as possible. Fisher & Paykel, a luxury appliance brand carried by ADU, understands the core principles of refrigeration and storage environments, and they have designed cooling appliances that can deliver the ideal conditions to help food stay fresher for longer. Decades of innovation and a human-centered design approach have culminated in refrigeration that is flexible in its function, and precise in its delivery of temperature to suit every type of food or beverage.
Principle #1—Temperature
We know that lowering the temperature can help food to last longer. Bacteria causes the breakdown of proteins and the oxidation of fats in food. While all food contains bacteria, cold storage can either slow or prevent its growth, so the colder the better. At a temperature just short of freezing, fresh meats, poultry, and fish will last longer, retain their vital freshness, and remain ready to cook without the need to defrost. Refrigerating fruits and vegetables slows down the ripening process, helping apples stay crisp and lettuce stay leafy and green for longer.
Fisher & Paykel’s refrigeration and freezer units allow for a range of temperatures in different zones of the fridge: deep freeze, freeze, soft freeze, chill, fridge, and pantry. Separate zones allow you to adjust the temperature independently at the press of a button, and you can use pre-set food modes or make manual temperature adjustments to give you full control over the way your food is stored.
Principle #2—Humidity
Getting cooler temperatures is the first step, but getting the right level of humidity is also key. Transpiration is a plant’s sweating process and the process by which fruits and vegetables lose moisture. The more humid the environment, the less the plant will transpire. For example, greens such as lettuce, kale, and broccoli benefit from high humidity, which maintains the natural moisture in these vegetables and stops them from drying out. Keeping leafy vegetables in a cool, moisture-laden environment helps to slow the process of aging. If you back the humidity off slightly, you can achieve the perfect environment for apples, grapes, and other thin-skinned fruits. The Humidity Control System is designed to create the ideal microclimate in each produce bin to slow the natural respiration and transpiration changes that degrade fruit and vegetables.
Principle #3—Stability
Once you have the right temperature and humidity, those conditions must be maintained. The key to excellent food care is the ability to maintain a stable and consistently cool temperature—a challenging proposition given the refrigerator is the most opened door in the household. Decades of product innovation and testing are built into every Fisher & Paykel refrigerator—microprocessors, temperature sensors, independently controlled fans, and multiple air vents—to deliver excellent temperature and humidity control. Through a combination of microprocessors, sensors, independently controlled fans, and vents, ActiveSmart™ adapts to changing conditions to bring the refrigerator back to equilibrium quicker.
Using these principles, Fisher & Paykel delivers the ultimate in refrigeration and allows you to preserve your favorite farmer’s market finds longer. With a wide variety of configurations—from under the counter to quad door to integrated columns—they have the ability to deliver customized, high-quality refrigeration into any kitchen. Visit an ADU location today to see how Fisher & Paykel delivers optimal temperatures, humidity, and stability for all your cold storage needs!