You don’t necessarily need a new fridge to store opened tofu. Use your existing fridge if it’s set to 4 °C and has enough room for the tofu in a well-sealed container, along with the rest of your shopping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened tofu sealed in the fridge for no more than 2 days, and not leaving leftovers out of the fridge for longer than 2 hours. If you regularly need extra cooling space, choose a fridge based on the space you have, its usable layout and whether you need a freezer compartment. A larger fridge won’t extend tofu’s storage life.
Wants to check before guests arrive that their current fridge can keep the tofu at 4 °C and within its storage period. Extra equipment is only worth considering if the temperature or available space isn’t sufficient. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened tofu sealed for no more than 2 days.
Needs space for ingredients or prepared dishes as well as tofu, so it’s worth comparing usable shelf layouts and dimensions. The Dutch Consumers’ Association points out that a fridge’s stated capacity doesn’t always reflect how much space you can practically use.
May be looking for extra cooling space in an under-counter fridge and should check that it will fit in the space available. Milieu Centraal notes that two fridges use more energy together than one large appliance.
Choose this option if: your fridge is set to 4 °C and has enough room for the sealed tofu and your other chilled groceries.
The trade-off: you avoid buying a second appliance, but an extra fridge won’t automatically fix a temperature that’s too high.
Choose this option if: you regularly need extra cooling space but have limited floor space.
The trade-off: an under-counter fridge takes up less floor space than a larger upright model, but generally offers less stated fridge capacity.
Choose this option if: you need extra cooling space for everyday shopping and prepared dishes too, and have room for a larger appliance.
The trade-off: more cooling space requires more room for the appliance. Compare annual energy consumption before choosing a larger model.
Choose this option if: you also want to freeze food, as well as keep it chilled.
The trade-off: the freezer compartment takes up space that could otherwise be used for chilled groceries. It won’t extend the storage life of tofu in the fridge section.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling and storage life | Check the actual temperature and keep the tofu well sealed at 4 °C for no more than 2 days. | If I’m keeping opened tofu for guests, I want to know that the fridge is cold enough and the tofu will stay within its storage period. Around 33% of consumers prioritise reliable tofu storage. |
| Usable space and layout | Measure the space for the appliance and compare shelf heights and depths with the dimensions of your containers. Capacity in litres doesn’t guarantee everything will fit. | I want room for groceries and prepared dishes as well as tofu, so I need usable shelf space. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this extra space for groceries. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the stated annual energy consumption in kWh of models that will fit your space. Also consider whether you really need a second appliance permanently. | If I buy extra cooling capacity, I want to avoid running a larger or second appliance unnecessarily. Around 20% of consumers consider energy consumption a key factor. |
| Freezer compartment | Compare fridge and freezer capacity separately, and choose a freezer compartment only if you’ll actually use it. | I want to freeze food as well as keep it chilled, and need to know how much space will be available. Around 13% of consumers prioritise having a separate freezer. |
| Noise and positioning | Compare the stated noise level in dB and measure the space. Follow the installation instructions for your chosen model. | If the fridge will be near my living space, I consider its noise level and whether there’s enough room for the door and ventilation. Around 7% of consumers prioritise noise and fitting the appliance into their space. |
A fridge set to 4 °C with enough space can store opened tofu. Milieu Centraal points out that two fridges use more energy together than one large appliance.
Check the temperature and available space before buying extra cooling capacity.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether your sealed containers and other groceries will fit practically on the shelves.
Compare the shelf layout and measure the containers you want to store, as well as checking the appliance’s external dimensions.
The Bosch KTL15NWEB has a stated fridge capacity of 106 litres and freezer capacity of 14 litres. The freezer space isn’t a fridge shelf for tofu.
Choose a freezer compartment only if you want to freeze food, and compare fridge capacity separately.
Inventum offers compact fridges without a freezer compartment, including the KK550 under-counter model for anyone looking for extra cooling space.
Liebherr’s range includes the compact Rd 1201 Pure under-counter model, designed for a limited amount of space.
ETNA offers larger freestanding fridges without a freezer compartment, such as the KKV143WIT, for a bigger supply of chilled food.
Bosch’s range includes compact fridges with a freezer compartment, such as the KTL15NWEB, for anyone who also needs freezer space.
These Joybuy products are compact fridges for anyone looking for extra cooling space. Compare their capacity and layout with the space you have and the groceries you need to store.
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Ideal if you’re looking for compact extra cooling space and want to organise food across several shelves.
88 litres net capacity, three adjustable glass shelves and a salad drawer. Energy class E. Manual defrost.
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A good fit if you want extra space in an under-counter fridge to organise groceries and containers.
129 litres capacity, two glass shelves, a salad drawer and two door shelves. According to the product description, the temperature can be adjusted using a dial.
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A good fit if you’re looking for extra cooling space in an under-counter fridge and want to organise different groceries.
107 litres net capacity, one glass shelf, a salad drawer and door shelves. The product description specifies mechanical temperature control.
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A good choice if you’re looking for a compact fridge for extra chilled groceries.
83 litres capacity. The product description lists adjustable temperature control, a shelf, door shelves and a salad drawer.
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A good choice if you need compact cooling space and want to adjust the layout to suit different groceries.
92 litres capacity, 47 cm wide, adjustable glass shelves, a salad drawer and seven temperature settings. Energy class E.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened tofu in the fridge for no more than 2 days. Keep it well sealed and don’t leave leftovers out of the fridge for longer than 2 hours. A larger or newer fridge won’t extend this storage period.
Set your fridge to 4 °C and check the actual temperature with a fridge thermometer. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a fridge temperature of 4 °C. Adjust the setting if the temperature reading is higher.
Compare the dimensions of your containers with the usable shelf space, not just the stated capacity in litres. Also measure the space where the appliance will go and check whether the shelves are adjustable.
Compare the stated annual energy consumption in kWh for models that meet your space requirements. To work out your own costs, multiply this figure by the price you pay per kWh.
Measure the space and follow the installation instructions for your chosen model, including guidance on ventilation and positioning. Don’t assume the clearances in one model’s manual will apply to another appliance without checking.
