Refrigeration Basics

What is the difference between a refrigerator, a beverage cooler, and a wine cooler?
A wine cooler is set to a higher temperature range than a refrigerator or beverage cooler because wine is not stored as cold as other products. A beverage cooler and refrigerator are similar, but refrigerators often have adjustable shelves and door storage while beverage refrigerators do not, but they do often have glass fronts to display their contents. Wine and beverage coolers have wide temperature ranges so they can be interchangeable; but if you want to store both wine and beverages at the same time in the same unit, you’ll want to keep in mind that the wine might be too cold or the drinks might be too warm.

What is the difference between a freestanding and a built-in unit?
A freestanding unit is meant to stand by itself or on top of counters. Built-in units (also called zero-clearances or undercounters) can be built into counters and cabinetry because of the front venting, which also causes them to be more expensive.

Can I build in a freestanding unit?
The only way you can build a freestanding unit into cabinetry is to leave 2-3 inches of space around the sides and top, as well as 3-4 inches of space in the back so that it can vent properly. If you do not leave this venting space, the inside will not be cold and your unit will overheat (and possibly break). Keep the extra space in mind when building your cabinetry or shopping for a new unit to go into existing cabinetry.

Can I use my refrigerator outside?
It is not a good idea to use a regular refrigerator in an environment that is not insulated or climate-controlled. The compressor will burn itself out running constantly, and the unit will never get cold. However, there are units specifically designed to be used outdoors. They can be more expensive, but they will perform much better than a regular indoor unit would. Look for "outdoor" in the product title to see these units.

Can I store red and white wine in the same wine cooler?
Dual zone wine coolers are specifically designed for holding red and white wines separately. Whites should be stored at lower temperatures than reds, so these units have separate sections with independently controlled thermostats to accommodate this. Some wine coolers feature three zones, so you can keep your ready-to-serve whites and reds at their appropriate temperatures (40-45º F for white and 60-65º F for red) and the middle zone keeps wines aging at their correct temperature (50-60º F). Whites and reds can both be kept in a single zone cooler if the reds are on top, since the top will be warmer than the bottom. However, this temperature difference is only 5-10 degrees, so you will end up with either white wine that is too warm or red wine that is too cold.