Refrigerator shelves - metal, glass or plastic?

For the buyer sometimes it turns out big problem make a choice between the same type of refrigerators, equipped with internal shelves made of various materials.

In modern refrigerators, there are three main types of shelves:

Metal - consisting of bars running parallel through a certain distance.

Glass - made of special durable glass.

plastic - from different kind plastics.

Metal. In inexpensive refrigerators of the “economy” price segment, the shelves are mainly metal, lattice. In modern refrigerators, metal shelves, as a rule, have special plastic “clothes” - this is more hygienic and more aesthetic. Metal shelves in the refrigerator should be easily rearranged in height, removed if necessary.

In fact, metal is metal. Such shelves are practically not afraid of any mechanical influences. You can knock on a metal shelf, you can throw it at a neighbor.

But they also have their drawbacks:

- Firstly, a liquid accidentally spilled on such a shelf will flood everything below.

- Secondly, metal shelves from of stainless steel does not happen (well, in very chic models.) and therefore the metal from which the refrigerator shelf is made is covered with a special paint. Unfortunately, the reality is that the quality of this coating is far from always on top, and the shelf is devoid of protective coating starts to rust quickly.

glass- made of special durable glass.

more expensive and beautiful option(in refrigerators of the middle and higher price segment) - glass shelves. They are made of tempered glass, capable of withstanding loads up to 25 kg. A pleasant detail of glass shelves is a plastic or metal edging, turning into a small side. If liquid spills on the shelf, the rim will prevent it from flowing down.

Some refrigerators have glass shelves that are half the depth of the refrigerator. This is necessary for storing large-sized products, dishes (large pots, three-liter jars) in the refrigerator. It happens that such shelves are made sliding - you slide one part under the other and you get extra space, pushing apart - again in the presence of a full-fledged shelf. There are also models with Z-shaped metal shelves (Samsung RSJ1KERS), which also serve for the convenience of storing products in dishes of non-standard dimensions.

Among the many buyers of refrigerators, there is an opinion that fragile-looking glass shelves are afraid of stress and you can’t put three-liter jars of culinary delights canned in the summer on them. This is fundamentally a misconception!

Glass shelves used in modern refrigerators are made of special tempered glass and are able to withstand loads of 20 even 25 kilograms.

However, do not believe the sellers who will claim that the glass shelves do not break. Fight! And how! Try to do the same exercises with such a shelf as with a metal one, then you will have one less shelf.

Refrigerator glass shelves are much easier to keep clean than metal ones.

In addition, liquid spilled on a glass shelf will no longer spill below, unless of course its volume is measured in liters.

The main disadvantage of glass shelves is that they interfere with the normal movement of air in the refrigerator. Therefore, when purchasing a refrigerator with glass shelves, pay attention to the system of uniform distribution of air flows.

Plastic shelves in the refrigerator.

Plastic shelves are made from special food-grade plastic.

Personally, I think that this is the most dangerous view shelves from all used in refrigerators. It is dangerous not because plastic is not a reliable material. It's just that plastic is different from plastic, and the chance of running into low-quality plastic is much greater than metal or glass.

The plastic used in expensive high-quality refrigerators can be very different from the plastic used in cheap models. This can lead to the fact that your plastic shelves will suddenly begin to crack, with all the ensuing consequences.

These are the shelves in the refrigerators. And of course the choice is yours!

The internal shelves of the refrigerator are increasingly made of durable tempered glass, with edging made of plastic or other materials. So Electrolux uses wood for edging in some models of its refrigerators, while Liebherr prefers stainless steel. The edging often plays the role of a protective rim that protects the lower shelves of the refrigerator from accidentally spilling liquid on them. All shelves are removable and easy to clean. Electrolux also makes it possible to remove the edging and wash the entire surface of the glass shelf. This is very convenient, because the dirt is most difficult to remove precisely from the places of contact with the edging.
Glass shelves are able to withstand a lot of weight, so heavy pans can be placed on them without fear. If you still prefer lattice shelves in the refrigerator, then you can still find them in models from Samsung, Whirpool, LG, etc.
On the one hand, glass shelves are much more convenient than lattice ones, as they make it easier to keep the refrigerator clean, but, on the other hand, ventilation and heat transfer in the refrigerator worsen. In order for heat exchange to become normal, refrigerator manufacturers install additional systems ventilation, which slightly increases the final cost of the refrigerator.
When buying a refrigerator, you should pay attention to how the shelves are fixed in place, whether it will “ride” along with the heavy pan that you take out. In stores, the shelves in the refrigerator are often attached with tape, so you need to ask the store consultant to peel it off and show how the shelves hold up or take his word for it.
It is also important to know whether it is possible to adjust the shelves of the refrigerator in height and how great is the possibility of choosing a new place. Some models of refrigerators side walls corrugated over the entire height, so the shelves can be easily arranged depending on the size of the dishes used. But for some, usually cheaper models of refrigerators, the shelves can only be rearranged by one position, by about 5 cm, which, of course, is less convenient.
Some manufacturers (Electrolux, AEG, Liebherr) offer half-width shelves. Bosch and some other companies in their devices install a shelf in the refrigerator, divided into two parts. If necessary, the front half of the shelf is moved under the rear or removed completely, thus freeing up space for tall dishes. Electrolux offered a beveled shelf in the refrigerator. Such shelves are very convenient to use if you put a tall bottle or a three-liter jar in the refrigerator.

bottle holder

Refrigerator or bar? Bottle storage manufacturers today pay Special attention. The most common storage accessory is the bottle rack, which is mounted like a shelf and can easily accommodate up to five bottles of drinks at the same time. Such a bottle holder can be included in a set of devices from various manufacturers and is found in both expensive and fairly cheap models.
Sometimes the kit includes a bottle holder for one bottle, which is attached to any shelf. It can be lattice - (Hansa, LG - some models), or it can be plastic (Ariston, Whirpool, LG, Bosch). The plastic bottle holder in Ariston refrigerators (MBA 4041 C, MBA 3831, etc.) looks very nice, it can be bent so that it does not interfere, if in this moment it is not used, but I would not trust it with a heavy one, after all, this shelf is more intended for cans of drinks. The Whirpool holder is more convenient, but it is found only in the most expensive models (ART 735, ART 710), and for models with lattice shelves (ART 882, ART 962) on one of the shelves in half of its entire length there is a high wavy side, on the bends of which the neck of the bottle is fixed, while the bottle itself lies on the shelf. In this way, it is possible to cool drinks in lde[ large bottles at the same time.
The Bosch KGS 36310 model uses plastic holder bottles for two bottles, which can be installed under any of the shelves. The holder looks very strong and reliable. A similar holder for two bottles, only a slatted one, which is mounted under any slatted shelf, is offered by LG in its models. Some manufacturers (Hansa, Kaiser, Reeson, etc.) have regular shelves that can be tilted back. This position allows you to correctly and safely stack wine bottles. The only inconvenience is that the bottles are not fixed and can be beaten against each other when carelessly stacked.
Siemens installs shelves in its Vario appliances. On the one hand, this is a smooth shelf for storing food, but if you turn it over, you get a shelf with wavy grooves, which is designed to store bottles.
Electrolux offers a wide choice for true lovers of fine wines - in some models (ER 9096, ER 9099) a special Coolling Rack is installed, made in the form of a container filled with a solution of ammonia salts with a high heat capacity, which allows you to quickly cool drinks, and the ER 9098 BSAN model it is completed with a wooden (!) shelf with cells for bottles. In addition, some models (ERE 3900/ERE 3900 X) also have a folding Quick Chiller shelf, which is a flat plastic plate with a metal fence with which the bottle is fixed in an inclined position. An interesting bottle holder is offered by Liebherr (models KGT 4066, KGT 3866, etc.). It looks like this lightweight design made of metal and plastic with folding handle. The bottles in it can not only be stored in the refrigerator (in an upright position), but also not ashamed to put on the table. For horizontal storage of bottles, this manufacturer uses a lattice three-story whatnot (model KGT 5066, etc.), which is installed next to the vegetable trays. Regiments - lattices on a whatnot have a small slope back for safer storage of bottles. More often, the set includes a two-story bookcase with even shelves (KGB 4046, KGB 3646, etc.). The beauty of whatnots is that they are multifunctional - you can easily use them to store sausages or other products, and if necessary, put bottles of drinks.
AEG in the S 3742 refrigerator has allocated a whole compartment for storing bottles, which is located between the refrigerator and freezer compartments. True, they stand vertically in this compartment, but at a specially selected temperature. In addition to bottles, you can store greens for salads, vegetables and fruits in this compartment.

Storage of vegetables and fruits

Modern cellar. No less, and maybe more important things - vessels for storing vegetables and fruits. There are models with two vessels and with one large vessel with or without a partition. In some models, the partition can be moved and thus change the volume of compartments in the vessel. Usually one large vessel is installed in refrigerators with a top freezer. (For example, model Ariston MTA 401 V, Samsung RT 37 MBM). But most refrigerators, both with the top and bottom freezers, are equipped with two vessels. They may have the same dimensions, but one of them may be larger than the other (Vestfrost BKF 285 E40), which is especially convenient for storing small vegetables and fruits.
The arrangement of the vessels is most familiar - horizontal when they stand side by side. But in some refrigerators, the vessels are stacked on top of each other. IN best models refrigerators, containers for storing vegetables and fruits are transparent, which allows you to see all the stacked products without pulling out the container itself. On cheap mass refrigerators, the vessels are not transparent. On exclusive Electrolux models, baskets woven from natural vines are offered instead of plastic vessels. The combination of the coldness of the appliance and the natural warmth of wood "in one bottle" is very original and is popular with wealthy buyers.
LG bundles some models with its Magic Crisper tray lid, which has a honeycomb structure. Excess moisture collects on the lid and evaporates from it instead of dripping down, so the vegetables stay fresh longer.

Vessels for animal products

origin

Sufficiently capacious vessels with or without lids for storing dairy, meat and fish products are offered by many manufacturers of refrigerators. Usually cheese is painted on them, but the dimensions of the container for an hour are such that you can even put a whole chicken or big piece meat. Most often, these containers are made of transparent plastic and have a tight-fitting lid, which may be opaque (for example, Atlant refrigerators). You can place them on any shelf of the refrigerator that is convenient for you. Ariston, Siemens and other manufacturers in a number of models offer a retractable container, which is fixed under the shelf and has a fairly large volume.
storage box small items it is also found in some models of AEG, Electrolux, etc. It is made of transparent plastic and can be installed both on the door shelf and inside the refrigerator compartment.

refrigerator door

On inner panel Refrigerator doors are convenient to place products of daily use. Here we store bottles, and boxes of milk and kefir, and butter, and some medicines, and eggs, and mayonnaise. All manufacturers try to make the most of the usable space on the refrigerator door panel. In the very simple version three to five shelves are placed on the refrigerator door in its entire width. The top shelf is often covered with a lid like a bread box. Sometimes a form for storing eggs is installed on it. Removable shelves on the refrigerator door can be transparent and non-transparent. It is possible that some of the shelves are transparent and some are not.
The bottom shelf is usually molded on the refrigerator door panel itself. It is designed for bottles and tall bags. Unfortunately, if you put a lot of heavy bottles on this shelf at the same time, cracks will appear in its walls over time. Manufacturers often do not indicate which Weight Limit able to withstand this shelf. Often on the bottom shelf there is a movable limiter - a separator, with which you can fix one or more bottles. For some models of Electrolux refrigerators, a removable latch increases the height of the shelf, preventing bottles from falling when the refrigerator door is suddenly opened. Such a latch can be installed on the two lower shelves of the refrigerator. It should also be said that the highest bottles and cans are usually placed on the lower shelf, so the distance between it and the upper shelves is much greater than between all the others. Sometimes the shelves on the door are each in its place, sometimes manufacturers give the opportunity to change the location of some door shelves by a few centimeters (Whirpool, Hansa, etc.). Most often, you can outweigh the second shelf, setting it higher or lower, depending on the height of the bottles on the lower shelf. The use of reversible half-shelves and small boxes allows you to change the interior of the refrigerator door. In the Atlant MXM 1704 refrigerator, only the lower shelf for bottles is made in the entire width of the door. Above it are as many as 9 (!) Small shelves, seven of which are staggered. Two boxes with lids are located next to each other at the top. One of these boxes is divided into two compartments for various little things. Similar half-shelves are available for Bosch refrigerators, Siemens, Beko, LG, etc.

egg storage

In the design of small accessories for refrigerators, the concept of "from the refrigerator to the table" is now relevant. small dishes are offered, which can also be used when setting the table. To a greater extent, this applies to butter dishes and forms for storing eggs.
A variety of devices are used to store eggs - from a simple plastic plate with holes to an elegant basket with a handle. Electrolux offers to store a large number of eggs in the package in which they are sold. And put six eggs in the basket. That's when you need to get them, it's enough to take the basket by the convenient handles and transfer it to the table. Baskets with handles can also be found from other manufacturers, for example, from Stinol, and for some Atlanta models there are two baskets, each in a row of pieces and they are placed on 2 shelves on the door of the device.
Indesit has a completely different approach. Refrigerators of this trademark are equipped with a stand for storing three dozen eggs, which seems to be specially designed for many Russian housewives who are used to buying eggs in in large numbers in markets where there is usually no special packaging.

Oil storage

To store oil in mass refrigerators, a small shelf built into the refrigerator door is used, which opens like a bread box (some Bosch, LG models). In more expensive models for storing oil, they offer a pretty box that can be put on the table. For example, Ariston makes some accessories (egg rack, jar shelf, butter dish) from blue plastic, which gives these details an extra charm.

Frozen food chambers

Vessels in the freezer are increasingly made of transparent plastic - for convenience and beauty. If not used transparent material, then it can be tinted solely for the best appearance. In refrigerators with a top freezer, vessels are usually not used, shelves are installed there similar to those in the refrigerator. In addition to large vessels, many refrigerators from various manufacturers have a shallow plastic tray for freezing dumplings, berries, small and chopped fruits and vegetables. Frozen products are then packaged and transferred to a special container or container. This tray is simply necessary if in the summer you are preparing for the winter, as it allows you to better preserve the taste, beneficial features and the shape of berries and vegetables.
Of course, freezer equipment is more standard than cold rooms. But still, something interesting can be found here. So Ariston offers a special bucket, which is located in the freezer. In it, champagne, using a special function (Ice Party), is cooled to the desired temperature, and then it can be served on the table.
An important part of all modern freezers is, without a doubt, the ability to make ice. Most often, several retractable containers with lids are fixed above the top shelf (in refrigerators with a bottom freezer), or mounted on a shelf (in refrigerators with a top freezer). Ariston for some of its models sets the forms (Easy Ice) to inside freezer doors, making good use of this normally free space. South Korean companies (Samsung, LG) in their devices have come up with special devices, making it easier to remove the finished ice cubes from the freezer. Samsung calls this device "TIT Ice Tray", LG calls it "EasyGet Ice Tray". The principle of operation of these devices is simple - you do not need to pull out the container with ice cubes and pick them out. You open the freezer and turn a special lever. At the same time, ice cubes fall into a special tray, which is located under the tray. You just have to pull out this tray and take the finished ice.
There are an unusually large number of accessories in a modern refrigerator. The main thing is that all of them are securely fixed, easily put forward, and do not have a specific smell. An unpleasant moment - a shelf or other part may break sooner or later. A pleasant moment - you can purchase a new accessory in the service center or even buy the accessory that you like, provided that the dimensions of the refrigeration units match.

Manufacturers of modern refrigerators equip products with components of different types, quality and material of manufacture. So, for the manufacture of shelves used metal, glass, plastic. The highest quality are glass shelves. They can withstand a lot of product weight, serve for a long time and are practical. But in cheap refrigeration devices ah, glass shelves are not used. This is a feature of models of the middle and high price categories.

General characteristics

For the manufacture of shelves in refrigerators Atlant, Bosch, Minsk, the manufacturer uses high-quality tempered glass. The material is durable, long term operation, the ability to withstand heavy weight. When choosing glass shelves for an Atlant refrigerator, buyers often ask sellers how much weight this product can withstand? It turns out that the strength of tempered glass is designed for 20-25 kg.

Another advantage of glass shelves for Liebherr refrigerators is the presence of edges around the perimeter of the shelves. If liquid is spilled, it will not flow down the refrigerator. The hostess only needs to carefully collect the liquid with a sponge or rag from one shelf. It is necessary to note the capacity of the shelves. Each of them is designed for almost half of the entire depth of the refrigeration unit.

Housewives note the ease of care for the glass components of the Bosch, Vestfrost, Liebherr refrigerators. Indeed, glass surfaces are much easier to keep clean than the metal grills of refrigeration units. This material does not accumulate grease, dust and other contaminants. Regular cleansing with water, and detergent will be enough to keep the refrigerator clean.

Choosing shelves

No refrigerator is complete without internal parts. Shelves, containers, drawers and stands are indispensable for any model of refrigeration unit. But there are situations in which you need to purchase a new component part. Often the shelves become unusable.

This happens due to various reasons:

In case of accidental overturning of the shelf on the floor.
In case of careless handling of equipment.

To purchase a replacement, you need to measure the dimensions of the broken part. Great option- take the old shelf with you to the store and pick up a similar model at the point of sale. But, if the order is made via the Internet, it is necessary to take accurate measurements and indicate the manufacturer of the refrigeration device. After all, each manufacturer equips equipment with original components.

Differences of shelves of popular manufacturers

For example, glass shelves for Atlant refrigerators are made of high-strength hardened opaque material. white color. But also, depending on the unit model, the shelves can be transparent. In both cases, the shelves are equipped with special rubberized sides. The peculiarity of the new shelf options is the framing of each detail around the entire perimeter. Previous models had bumpers only in the front and rear.

LG refrigerator glass shelves are available in various configurations. The fact is that the peculiarity of refrigeration devices is the presence of several compartments for storing and cooling various products. Each branch is located at a certain height. At the same time, a single shelf has its own configuration, repeating the shape of the inner chamber.

When choosing glass shelves for Bosch, Vestfrost, Liebherr refrigerators, you should also take into account the dimensions and exact location of the part. In the assortment of any store you can find shelves intended for:

for doors
freshness zones,
for the freezer compartment
bottle storage.

Given the nuances of the characteristics, you can easily choose the right component.

In custody

If the glass shelf of the Atlant, Bosch, Minsk refrigerator accidentally breaks, it will not be difficult to purchase a replacement. If you choose a shelf made of high-quality, tempered glass, then there will be no doubt how much weight this part can withstand. Branded spare parts from leading manufacturers household appliances always meet the standards and requirements of operation. When choosing, do not forget to measure exact dimensions products, and remember the location and method of attaching the shelf in the refrigerator.

In modern refrigerators, there are three types of shelves:

Metal - consisting of bars running parallel through a certain distance.
Glass - made of special durable glass.
Plastic - made from various types of plastic.

For the buyer, it sometimes turns out to be a big problem to make a choice between the same type of refrigerators, equipped with internal shelves made of various materials.

Let's try to deal with this "unsolvable" problem.

Metal shelves in the refrigerator.

In fact, metal is metal. Such shelves are practically not afraid of any mechanical influences. You can knock on a metal shelf, you can throw it at a neighbor, you can even beat the carpet on the street with it, and then calmly put it back in the refrigerator (do not forget to wash it first, of course).

But they also have their drawbacks:
- Firstly, a liquid accidentally spilled on such a shelf will flood everything below.
- Secondly, there are no metal shelves made of stainless steel (at least I have not seen it) and therefore the metal from which the refrigerator shelf is made is covered with a special paint. Unfortunately, the reality is that the quality of this coating is not always up to par, and a shelf devoid of a protective coating begins to quickly rust.

Glass shelves in the refrigerator.

The glass shelves used in modern refrigerators are made of special tempered glass and are able to withstand loads of 20 even 25 kilograms.

However, do not believe the sellers who will claim that the glass shelves do not break. Fight! And how! Try to do the same exercises with such a shelf as with the metal one, which I wrote about above, and you will have one less shelf.

Refrigerator glass shelves are much easier to keep clean than metal ones.

In addition, liquid spilled on a glass shelf will no longer spill below, unless of course its volume is measured in liters.

Plastic shelves in the refrigerator.

As I already wrote at the very beginning, plastic shelves are made from special food-grade transparent plastic.

Personally, I think that this is the most dangerous type of shelves used in refrigerators. It is dangerous not because the plastic is not reliable material. It's just that plastic is different from plastic, and the chance of running into low-quality plastic is much greater than metal or glass.

These are the shelves in the refrigerators. And of course the choice is yours!

By the way, I would like to hear your opinion in the comments.