{"id":334,"date":"2022-10-13T10:17:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kitchendodo.com\/?p=334"},"modified":"2022-11-11T05:12:16","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T05:12:16","slug":"can-a-wine-cooler-replace-a-refrigerator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitchendodo.com\/can-a-wine-cooler-replace-a-refrigerator\/","title":{"rendered":"Can A Wine Cooler Replace A Refrigerator? Find Out!"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you have a party at your home, and for that, you need to stock up on food in your fridge. However, your fridge doesn’t have enough space, which makes you wonder if you could use your wine cooler as a refrigerator.<\/p>\n

Okay, the answer is \u2013 it varies according to different foods. This is because the temperature setting and humidity levels are different for every food.<\/p>\n

US Food and Drug Administration<\/a> states that the ideal temperature for food storage is 40\u00b0F<\/strong>. Since the lowest temperature in a wine cooler is around 46-50\u00b0 F<\/strong>, it is very warm for storing most of the foods.<\/p>\n

Don’t go anywhere because, in this article, we will answer all your questions regarding using your wine cooler as a refrigerator. <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can a Wine Cooler Be Used as a Refrigerator for Food, Beer, etc.?\"wine-cooler\"<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Often, people think that a wine cooler functions just like a refrigerator. However, both appliances aren’t the same.<\/p>\n

The main difference between both appliances is that they have a temperature range.<\/p>\n

Most foods have an ideal storage temperature for maintaining their quality.<\/p>\n

For example, dairy products need colder temperatures for preservation, while wine is best stored at warmer temperatures.<\/p>\n

Therefore, storing wine in a regular refrigerator can deteriorate its quality. Similarly, keeping food in a wine cooler will make it stale.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned because later in our article, we will also inform you what foods can be kept in a wine cooler.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Standard Refrigerators Vs. Wine Coolers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here’s a quick comparison between the features of a standard refrigerator and a wine cooler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Standard Refrigerators<\/strong><\/td>\nWine Coolers<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Keep the food & drinks cold and dry.<\/td>\nAre warmer than regular refrigerators.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Operate at around 40\u00b0F.<\/strong><\/td>\nOperate at around 52\u00b0F-60\u00b0F.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Have separate compartments, shelves, and trays.<\/td>\nHave different compartments for storing different types of wines.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Have a freezer at the top\/bottom for storing meats, ice cubes, ice cream, etc.<\/td>\nFunction in a high humidity environment to keep the wine and the corks damp.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Come in different sizes \u2013 from compact to large, double-door refrigerators.<\/td>\nHave a compact size.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Are relatively cheaper.<\/td>\nAre more expensive than refrigerators.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Consume less electricity.<\/td>\nConsume less electricity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Standard Refrigerators\"Refrigerators\"<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The main features of standard refrigerators are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • They keep the food and beverages cold and dry.<\/li>\n
  • They operate at around 40\u00b0F to prevent food from spoiling.<\/li>\n
  • They have separate compartments, glass shelves for storing vegetables, and an egg tray.<\/li>\n
  • They have a freezer at the top\/bottom for storing meats, ice cubes, ice cream, etc.<\/li>\n
  • They come in different sizes \u2013 from compact to large, double-door refrigerators.<\/li>\n
  • They are cheaper as compared to most wine coolers.<\/li>\n
  • They relatively consume more power and can thus increase your electricity bill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Wine Coolers\"Wine-Coolers\"<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The main features of wine coolers are:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • They are warmer than regular refrigerators (their temperature range doesn’t go beyond 46\u00b0F).<\/li>\n
    • They operate at around 52\u00b0F-60\u00b0F to preserve wine.<\/li>\n
    • They have different compartments for storing different types of wines. For example, there is a warm compartment for strong wines and a cold compartment for light wines.<\/li>\n
    • They operate in a high-humidity environment to keep the wine and the corks damp. Otherwise, air can enter a dried cork and spoil the smell and taste of wine.<\/li>\n
    • They have a compact size.<\/li>\n
    • They are more expensive as compared to refrigerators (especially the mini ones!)<\/li>\n
    • They consume less electricity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Storing Food in a Wine Cooler<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Wine coolers are not a good choice for storing food. Why!? Because they operate at a warmer temperature as compared to standard refrigerators. Therefore, if you store your food in a wine cooler, it can get spoiled, which will be the last thing you want.<\/p>\n

      For example, dairy products like milk, butter, etc., and eggs need to be kept at a temperature of around 40\u00b0F<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      However, a wine cooler doesn’t reach a temperature below 46\u00b0F<\/strong>, so it is too warm for storing food.<\/p>\n

      Nevertheless, you can still keep some food in your wine cooler. For example, you can use your wine cooler for storing leafy greens like lettuce, coriander, mint, cheese, bread, and even some fruits.<\/p>\n

      Although you don’t have to refrigerate the fruits, this will help maintain their quality.<\/p>\n

      Some best fruits you can store in your wine cooler are bananas, apples, pears, grapes, etc.<\/p>\n

      Author’s Note<\/u><\/strong>: Don’t keep foods such as onion, garlic, ginger, etc., in your wine cooler. The reason behind this is that these foods have a very strong odor, and this odor can be absorbed into your wine. <\/u><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Storing Beer in a Wine Cooler<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      \"beer\"<\/p>\n

      Now that you are aware that you cannot store every food in your wine cooler, you must be thinking if you can still use it to stack up your beer bottles.<\/p>\n

      But you would be disappointed to know that most of the beers can’t be stored in a wine cooler, except for the lighter ones.<\/p>\n

      This is because, like foods, beer also has an ideal temperature requirement. Let’s get into more details:<\/p>\n

      Here are ideal temperature ranges for beer<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Stronger Beers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Stronger beers such as the red ones have an optimal storage temperature of around 55\u00b0F-60<\/strong>\u00b0.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Standard Beers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Standard beers are neither too strong nor too light. They are best stored in a wonderful cooler at a temperature of around 50\u00b0F-60\u00b0F<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Light Beers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Light beers have a lower storage temperature requirement than strong and standard beers. They need to be kept at 40\u00b0F-50\u00b0F<\/strong>. Therefore, you can easily store them in your standard refrigerator.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Do You Need a Separate Wine Cooler for Beers and Wines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

            If you’re wondering whether you need a separate wine cooler for beers and wines to adjust the temperature according to requirement, the answer is \u2013 No!<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Instead, we recommend you invest in a dual-zone wine cooler; it has<\/strong> separate compartments and can operate on different temperature settings.<\/p>\n

            For example, red wines have a storage requirement of around 58-65\u00b0F<\/strong>, and white wines are best at 45-52\u00b0F<\/strong>. The lighter the wine, the warmer the temperature must be for storage.<\/p>\n

            This means you can keep your red wine in a warmer compartment and your white wines in the cooler location of your dual-zone wine cooler.<\/p>\n

            Not just this! If you’re a wine collector, you can also store and age your wines in a dual-zone wine cooler at the same time \u2013 One compartment can be used for storing and the other for aging wine.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Alternative Uses For Wine Cooler<\/strong><\/h2>\n

            Apart from storing wine, there are many other alternative uses for a wine cooler. Let’s get into more details!<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Storing non-alcoholic drinks in a wine cooler<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Yes, you can even keep your favorite non-alcoholic drinks in your wine cooler if your refrigerator lacks space.<\/p>\n

            Some examples of these drinks are:\"water-bottles\"<\/p>\n