If you’ll eat cooked beetroot within two days, a suitable fridge without a freezer compartment is often enough. Make sure it has space for your usual shopping, and check that it reaches 4 °C once it’s in place. If you regularly cook more than you can eat in time, consider a freezer compartment for portions, but compare fridge and freezer capacity separately: in compact models, freezer space can come at the expense of fridge space.
If you eat cooked beetroot within two days, you mainly need a fridge where you can store leftovers in a sealed container and keep them chilled. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends setting your fridge to 4 °C.
If you make larger portions and want to eat some later, compare the usable fridge space with the freezer space. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says cooked beetroot can be kept in the freezer for three months.
If space is limited, compare not only the external dimensions but also the door, layout and room for your other shopping. Milieu Centraal recommends choosing a size that suits the way you use it.
Good for: you eat cooked beetroot in time and don’t need extra freezer space.
The trade-off: all the capacity is for chilled food, but you can’t freeze portions in this appliance.
Good for: you regularly cook more than you can eat within two days and want to freeze portions.
The trade-off: the freezer compartment takes up space that could otherwise be used for chilled shopping.
Good for: your current fridge has enough space and you can check that it reaches 4 °C.
The trade-off: you won’t get extra freezer space; replacing your fridge isn’t necessarily needed just for the occasional batch of cooked beetroot.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping cooked beetroot chilled in a sealed container, while Milieu Centraal advises choosing a fridge size to suit your needs. Then compare the capacity, freezing options and stated annual energy consumption of the models that meet your requirements.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Chilling cooked beetroot safely | Once the fridge is in place, use a fridge thermometer to check that it is at 4 °C; store beetroot in a sealed container. | If I want to keep leftovers chilled, I’ll focus on the temperature and finding a suitable spot for the container. Around 36% of consumers prioritise safe chilling. |
| Freezing portions | Compare freezer capacity separately from fridge capacity and check that your food containers will fit. | If you cook ahead and want to eat portions later, you’ll benefit from having enough freezer space. Around 29% of consumers prioritise being able to freeze portions. |
| Space in a small kitchen | Measure the available space and check the external dimensions, door opening and usable fridge capacity. | In a small kitchen, I want a fridge that fits and has room for my usual shopping. Around 21% of consumers focus on the space available and usable capacity. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the stated annual consumption in kWh for models with a suitable capacity; check the energy label too. | If I use the fridge every day, I want to take its stated annual energy consumption into account. Around 14% of consumers prioritise running costs. |
A new fridge doesn’t extend the recommended storage time for cooked beetroot. The actual temperature and how you store leftovers still matter.
Check that the fridge is at 4 °C, cool leftovers quickly and store them in a sealed container. Don’t leave them out of the fridge for more than two hours; freeze any portions you won’t eat in time.
According to the manufacturer, the Inventum KV550 has 97 litres of fridge space alongside 16 litres of freezer space; the KK550, which has no freezer compartment, has 131 litres of fridge space. This is a difference between these two models, not a general rule for all fridges.
Compare fridge and freezer capacity separately, and check that there’s room for both your everyday shopping and your food containers.
An energy rating alone doesn’t show the absolute annual energy consumption of a specific model. And a small external size doesn’t tell you how much usable fridge space you’ll have.
First choose a suitable size, then compare the energy label and stated annual consumption in kWh for the exact models you’re considering.
The KK550 and KV550 show how a table-top model can differ, with either fridge space only or an additional freezer compartment.
The Rc 1400 Pure is a table-top fridge without a freezer compartment, for anyone looking for fridge space only.
The KVV856WIT combines fridge space with a small four-star freezer compartment in a table-top model.
The KTR15NWEB is a table-top fridge without a freezer compartment, and has a door alarm.
The TSE1285N is a narrower table-top model, with no freezer capacity stated in the product information.
This selection includes compact fridges for chilled food, models without a freezer compartment and models with a separate freezer compartment. Check the capacity and dimensions against your shopping and kitchen space.
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With a capacity of 6 litres, this is an option for a small amount of chilled food; check that your everyday shopping will fit elsewhere.
Capacity: 6 litres, suitable for up to 8 cans according to the product name. Power supply: 220–240 V AC/DC.
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A compact choice if you’re mainly looking for fridge space; compare its capacity with your usual shopping.
Capacity: 88 litres. Energy rating: E.
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A model with a freezer compartment for anyone who also wants to freeze portions; check that the available fridge and freezer space suits your shopping.
Total capacity: 109 litres. Energy rating: C.
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A compact fridge with a freezer compartment for anyone who wants to store chilled shopping and frozen portions in one appliance.
Capacity: 107 litres. Energy rating: C.
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A table-top model for anyone looking for a fridge that is 54 cm wide; remember to measure the depth and space needed for the door too.
Width: 54 cm. Energy rating: E.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened cooked beetroot in the fridge for no more than two days, and in the freezer for three months. Cool home-cooked leftovers quickly, put them in a sealed container and don’t leave them out of the fridge for more than two hours.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends setting your fridge to 4 °C and checking the temperature with a fridge thermometer. Place the thermometer in the middle of the bottom shelf and check it after it has been there for half a day or overnight; adjust the fridge if the temperature is higher.
Compare the stated annual consumption in kWh for models with a suitable capacity. To estimate the annual electricity cost, multiply that figure by your own rate per kWh; actual consumption also depends on how and where the fridge is used.
EU rules on energy labels apply to household fridges. Compare the label and product information for the exact model; an old A+++ rating is not the same as the current labelling system.
If you buy a new, similar fridge as a private consumer, the retailer must take back your old appliance free of charge under the like-for-like take-back scheme. The Dutch government also explains how this works when your new fridge is delivered online.
