The main goal of any refrigerator is to keep your food fresher for longer. Sub-zero refrigerators are considered some of the best in achieving this, thanks to their advanced cooling technology and superior build quality. However, there’s often confusion when comparing sub-zero refrigerators to standard models, and it’s time to clear up those differences once and for all.
In this article, I’ll take a closer look at what sets sub-zero refrigerators apart. We’ll explore how they work, what makes them unique, and how they compare to regular fridges in terms of performance, design, and cost. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of which option suits your needs (and your budget) best. Let’s dive in!
- What Does a Sub-Zero Fridge Do?
- Why Is It Called a Sub-Zero Fridge?
- Who Makes Sub-Zero Refrigerators?
- What Does a Sub-Zero Refrigerator Cost?
- Does Food Last Longer in a Sub-Zero Refrigerator?
- Main Differences Between Sub-Zero and Regular Refrigerators
- Factors to Consider When Buying a Sub-Zero Refrigerator
- Conclusion
What Does a Sub-Zero Fridge Do?
A sub-zero refrigerator helps maintain food freshness for longer by providing optimal humidity and temperature levels. These advanced fridges achieve this by using separate compressors and evaporators for the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
By eliminating air exchange between the compartments, each section can maintain its own precise temperature and humidity settings. This separation prevents odor transfer and creates ideal conditions for storing different types of food, ultimately extending their shelf life.
Refrigerators in general work to preserve food by slowing the growth of bacteria. When the internal temperature is kept below 40°F (4.44°C), bacterial growth is significantly reduced. Since bacteria thrive between 41°F and 140°F (5°C to 60°C), sub-zero refrigerators maintain a consistently low temperature that creates an environment unfavorable for bacterial activity, ensuring your food stays fresher, longer.
Why Is It Called a Sub-Zero Fridge?
It’s called a sub-zero fridge because it can maintain temperatures below the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F). A sub-zero fridge uses a cooling system that cools the air below the freezing point without turning it into ice.
This type of refrigerator is also called a frost-free fridge because it doesn’t form ice on the evaporator coils. Frost-free refrigerators have a defrost cycle that melts any ice that forms on the coils.
Who Makes Sub-Zero Refrigerators?
Sub-Zero refrigerators are manufactured by the Sub-Zero Group Inc., an American company known for producing high-end refrigeration and kitchen appliances. Founded in 1945 by Westye F. Bakke in Madison, Wisconsin, the company remains privately held, with its headquarters still located in Madison.
In the 1950s, Sub-Zero made a significant impact on the industry by introducing the first-ever built-in refrigerator—a pioneering move that set the standard for premium kitchen design. Since then, the company has maintained a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and durability, with its Sub-Zero refrigerators serving as a prime example.
After the passing of founder Westye Bakke, his grandson, Jim Bakke, took over the company. Under Jim’s leadership, Sub-Zero expanded its product line to include other kitchen appliances, such as wine storage units and dishwashers, which are now sold under the Wolf brand. Today, Sub-Zero continues to be a leader in luxury refrigeration, offering cutting-edge technology and timeless design.
What Does a Sub-Zero Refrigerator Cost?
Sub-Zero refrigerators typically start between $4,229 and $9,299, with the price reflecting their high-end design, advanced features, and exceptional build quality. These refrigerators are known for their seamless built-in appearance, dual refrigeration systems, and spacious interiors — all of which contribute to their premium cost.
However, the exact price can vary depending on the size, configuration, and model type. Below is a table showing the most common types of Sub-Zero refrigerators and their approximate starting prices:
| Refrigerator Type | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Built-In Bottom Freezer | $9,299 |
| Built-In Side-by-Side | $9,019 |
| Built-In Column (All Fridge) | $8,579 |
| Built-In Column (All Freezer) | $8,579 |
| Undercounter Refrigerator | $4,229 |
| Wine Storage Units | $5,545 |
These starting prices can increase depending on custom paneling, additional features, or installation requirements. Sub-Zero refrigerators are a long-term investment, combining performance with style for homeowners seeking premium kitchen appliances.
Does Food Last Longer in a Sub-Zero Refrigerator?
Food lasts longer in sub-zero refrigerators because these appliances are engineered with a dual compressor design. This design helps eliminate air mixing, which in turn reduces the rate of food spoilage.
Additionally, sub-zero refrigerators feature two evaporators that help maintain optimal humidity levels. This is important because too much or too little moisture can cause food to spoil quickly.
Other reasons why food lasts longer in sub-zero refrigerators than in regular refrigerators include:
- Patented vacuum door seal system: The doors have a two-piece slit valve seal system that eliminates air leaks. This system helps keep the cold air in and the warm air out.
- Multi-flow air vents: Vents located throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments that help ensure even temperature distribution by circulating cool air. The circulation prevents hot spots that can cause food to spoil quickly.
- Separate cooling systems for the freezer and refrigerator: Sub-zero fridges have separate cooling systems for the freezer and the refrigerator. These evaporation and compression systems ensure that each compartment is cooled to the perfect temperature for storing any type of food.
- Exceptional insulation: Insulation is an essential feature of any refrigerator as it helps keep the cold air in and the warm air out. Sub-zero refrigerators have thick and well-insulated walls to prevent heat loss.
- Integrated refrigeration: This distinguishes sub-zero fridges from their traditional counterparts. Sub-zero refrigerators have compressors, evaporators, and condensers integrated into the central unit. This design helps reduce vibration and noise while also saving space.
Main Differences Between Sub-Zero and Regular Refrigerators
It can be challenging to choose between a sub-zero or regular refrigerator. The best way to make the choice easier is by knowing the key differences between these refrigerators.
These differences include:
Dual Refrigeration System
All refrigerators are built to keep food fresh by preventing the growth of bacteria. A regular fridge uses a single cooling system to achieve this. A single cooling system works using the same compressor and evaporator in the freezer and refrigerator. Such a system is inefficient because it entails sharing air between the freezer and the refrigerator.
Mixing the air between the freezer and refrigerator causes the freezer to work harder. As a result, it struggles to maintain the set temperature, and this causes fluctuations in the refrigerator’s temperature. These fluctuations are not ideal as they can cause food spoilage.
On the other hand, a sub-zero refrigerator uses two cooling systems: a separate evaporator and compressor for the fridge and another for the freezer. The two cooling systems prevent air from mixing between the freezer and refrigerator.
As a result, each compartment can maintain its set temperature without affecting the other. The lack of air mixing also helps keep food fresh for longer as there are no temperature fluctuations.
Duration of Food Preservation
The duration of food preservation varies greatly between sub-zero and regular refrigerators. Regular refrigerators can keep food fresh for up to five days. On the other hand, sub-zero refrigerators can preserve food for up to three times longer.
The extended duration of food preservation in sub-zero refrigerators is attributed to the following features:
- Optimal humidity levels: Sub-zeros have two evaporators that help maintain optimal humidity levels. They also have a humidity-controlled draw that allows you to choose the desired humidity level.
- Dual refrigeration system: The dual refrigeration system ensures no temperature fluctuations. As a result, food can stay fresh for longer periods.
- Exceptional insulation: Sub-zero refrigerator walls are thick and well insulated to prevent heat loss. The insulation helps to keep the cold air in and the warm air out.
Type of Food Stored
Sub-zero refrigerators are not only designed for long-term food preservation; they are also ideal for storing delicate items such as wine and cheese. The ability to store delicate items is attributed to the following features:
- Separate cooling system: Sub-zeros have a separate cooling system for the freezer and refrigerator. This allows you to set different temperatures for each compartment based on what is stored there.
- Sabbath mode: This feature allows you to turn off the lights and display of the fridge while still maintaining the set temperature. The Sabbath mode is ideal for storing food items sensitive to light, such as wine.
A single cooling system in regular refrigerators does not allow for such customization. As a result, you cannot store delicate items in regular refrigerators without risking them going bad.
Price
The price is one of the most significant differences between sub-zero and regular refrigerators. Sub-zero refrigerators are notably more expensive than their regular counterparts. The high cost can be attributed to the use of high-quality materials and the inclusion of unique features.
Despite the high cost, sub-zero refrigerators are worth the investment as they offer exceptional performance. The extended food preservation duration and ability to store delicate items make them ideal for those who only want the best. You can rest assured that the food in the fridge will be safe and last longer to prevent food poisoning in your family.
Customization for Aesthetics
Aesthetics is an essential factor in kitchen decor. You want all your appliances to be in harmony with one another. However, this is much more difficult with regular refrigerators.
With regular refrigerators, you walk into an appliance store and buy one that you think fits your kitchen. However, in such a situation, sometimes the appliance might either be too big or too small, the color is off, or it just doesn’t fit with the theme of your kitchen. The only way to solve this issue is by hiring a professional to customize the fridge for you. This option is not only expensive but also time-consuming.
Sub-zero refrigerators are fully customized to fit your house. In this case, the company ensures that the refrigerator and your kitchen become one. How do they achieve this?
You place your order before the fridge is designed and delivered to you. This way, it’s customized to meet your needs and house.
When placing your order, you should specify:
- Cabinetry: The type of material and color for your refrigerator.
- Finish: The level of gloss, matte, or even textured finish.
- Door style: Whether you want a French, single, or double-door fridge.
- Appliance size: How big or small do you want the fridge to be?
After the customization, you’ll get an aesthetically pleasing refrigerator that fits your kitchen perfectly without the need to hire a professional.
Built-in Antimicrobial Scrubbers
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it’s not uncommon to find mold in regular refrigerators. The growth of these molds is attributed to air impurities, viruses, and bacteria. If not removed, they can cause serious health problems such as food poisoning.
Sub-zero refrigerators come with built-in antimicrobial scrubbers to prevent mold and bacterial growth. The antimicrobial scrubbers also help remove bad smells from the fridge.
The built-in antimicrobial scrubbers are a significant advantage of sub-zero refrigerators over their regular counterparts. With such a feature, you can be sure that the food in your fridge is safe and free of contaminants.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Sub-Zero Refrigerator
Buying a sub-zero refrigerator is a considerable investment you don’t want to make without prior research. The following factors will help you make an informed decision:
- Size: How big or small do you want it to be? The fridge size will determine how much food you can store at a time and how often you’ll need to restock.
- Customization: Do you want a customized fridge to fit your kitchen? If so, be ready to spend more.
- Installation: Are you comfortable installing the fridge yourself, or will you need professional help? The installation process is quite complicated, and if you’re not familiar with it, it’s best to hire a professional for a smooth installation process and to avoid damage.
- The type of shelves: These refrigerators can have either adjustable or fixed shelves. Consider which one will work better for you.
- Cost: Sub-zero refrigerators have varying price tags depending on the type. Their undercounter models are the cheapest and best if you’re on a tight budget. Otherwise, you can choose the French-door option, the most expensive version.
Conclusion
Sub-zero refrigerators are high-end appliances that offer a wide array of benefits over regular refrigerators. They’re an excellent choice if you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing fridge that will fit perfectly in your kitchen. They also come with built-in antimicrobial scrubbers, ensuring the food stored in them is safe and free of contaminants.
