I have to admit, I feel a little shy opening up the doors to my refrigerator and freezer for all the world to see. I consider it my private little sanctuary of sustenance and indulgence, which includes lots of cheese, condiments and maybe too many flavors of ice cream.
Ironically, while sharing the innards of my refrigerator might make me feel vulnerable, the refrigerator itself is an exquisite showpiece and focal point of my kitchen and home. I know this might sound crazy or maybe a bit dramatic, but I often stand in front my fridge counting my blessings that this gorgeous and functional masterpiece is mine. Pinch! Yep, it’s real.
If you’ve never experienced this type of love-lust for an appliance, maybe you’ve had similar feelings for a piece of adored furniture? I love my refrigerator as much as any awesome couch or beautiful chair. It really is the truth!
The Sub-Zero PRO 48 refrigerator is a part of my kitchen, not just because of its beautiful, sculpted metal appearance, but among its many features is a masterpiece of preservation. This technology allows me to stock my fridge early when it comes to preparing for holiday meals. I am no longer stuck at the market the day before Thanksgiving buying lettuce because it won’t stay fresh.
And quite honestly, since I live 10 miles out of town proper, this type of preservation comes in handy on a daily basis. I can stock up on perishable groceries and not worry about them going bad. It saves me money and time in the long run.
And back to the beauty aspect, when I entertain, the large stainless steel front casts a beautiful reflective and inviting glow over the kitchen and great room. This is especially nice during the Pacific Northwest winters when darkness comes early.
I still can’t get over the amount of room I have in this refrigerator. The side-by-side doors of the freezer and refrigerator open outward with two dedicated freezer and two dedicated refrigerator drawers beneath.
The large amount of space allows me to stock up while the preservation system keeps the food fresh. A win-win for someone like me who makes their living developing recipes, loves to entertain and has a healthy gang of hungry teens in her house at all times.
So, what is at the core of this master preservation system? Dual refrigeration. Sub-Zero pioneered this technology, allowing fresh foods to receive the cool, humid air they need, while frozen food remains in a cold and dry environment.
Instead of one compressor servicing both your freezer and refrigerator, the PRO 48 has two compressors along with three evaporators keeping the food fresher longer and preventing odors from transferring from the fridge to the freezer.
I have had lettuce in my crisper drawer for 1-2 weeks without spoilage and avocados 3-4 weeks still in perfect condition. Delicate berries even last days longer, allowing me to spend the few days before a holiday in the kitchen cooking, instead of in the grocery line.
The crisper drawer you see above is sealed tightly with a glass lid, another feature helping ensure freshness. The glass lid glides open without much effort.
By never sharing air between the freezer and refrigerator with dual refrigeration, the PRO 48 ensures your ice tastes fresh and never has a “fishy” taste. As we all know, there is nothing worse than ice melting into a beverage and giving it an “off” flavor.
As you can see, the ice drawer is also deep and roomy, allowing for six-12 ounce beer glasses to remain standing while the drawer opens and closes. We love this feature.
It is no secret different types of foods require different storage conditions, including specific areas of the refrigerator. Milk needs to be in the coldest part and Sub-Zero design does NOT even allow for a gallon of milk to be placed on the door. A good reminder to us all.
Sub-Zero also boasts antimicrobial air purification with a filter that scrubs the air inside of mold, viruses and bacteria and reduces ethylene gas given off by certain types of produce. Another reason why everything remains fresher longer.
At last count there were 11 mustards in my fridge, as well as 5 open jars of maraschino cherries (food blogger problems). It’s not a secret I have a condiment accumulation issue and yes, the PRO 48, with its wide open shelving contributes and enables me to keep a large array of fun things around. Darn.
This type of refrigerator real estate even has room for a lazy Susan to sit right on the shelf and spin freely with even more condiment options. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.
Did I mention how easy it is to change the temperature in the PRO 48? The easy-to-read digital readouts and easy to press buttons are available at your fingertips.
Now, here are a few of my favorite food items to buy ahead and save time during the holidays:
Deli items: cured/smoked cold cuts, pickles, cheese wedges, pickled veggies ~ basically anything you can effortlessly put on an antipasto/appetizer platter. These will keep in the fridge and are also great to have around for impromptu guests or invites where you need to bring a dish.
Prepackaged veggies: bags of salad, broccoli crowns, shredded carrots, chopped onions, sliced radishes, green beans and fresh herbs. The produce department is full of conveniently sliced and packaged items that keep well in the fridge and will save you so much time.
Miscellaneous items: puff pastry (keep in freezer, thaw 24 hrs in fridge), mini frozen dessert shells, pie dough, pizza dough (for quick meals during the busy season) and if you can keep it hidden from the kids….I like to have 5-7 flavors of “special ice cream” in pint containers, such as, gelato, Ben & Jerry’s or Starbucks. When I have pop in guests or I just don’t have time for a homemade dessert, I put out these pints of ice cream, bowls and spoons and everyone loves trying everything, it’s always a great way to end the night.
If any of you are planning a kitchen remodel in the future, I would highly recommend investigating all Sub-Zero and Wolf has to offer to meet your needs. Since I use their products daily and have personally met the dedicated individuals who design them, I can assure you of the very high standards that go into making these appliances a dream to use.
Time for today’s giveaway! To enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave a comment below letting me know how you would update your kitchen if you had the chance to remodel.
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Disclosure: This post was sponsored was Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances as part of their “What’s Cookin’ in My Kitchen” campaign. Thank you for supporting companies I truly love, it allows me to continue creating content I can share with all of you.
