Start with the shared fridge. If there’s room for a well-sealed container and the temperature where you store it is 4 °C, you generally won’t need an extra appliance for tofu you’ll use within two days. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened tofu refrigerated for no more than two days. Only consider getting your own fridge if there isn’t enough room in the shared one. If you want to freeze fresh portions, check that the specific freezer compartment has a four-star rating.
You want to store opened tofu neatly without buying a second appliance straight away. A sealed container and a temperature reading where you plan to store it will help you decide whether the shared fridge is up to the job. The Voedingscentrum recommends storing food chilled at 4 °C.
You’re considering a compact fridge of your own because the shared shelves are full. Compare its external dimensions, layout, stated noise level and annual energy consumption. Milieu Centraal points out that a second fridge takes up extra space and uses more electricity.
You want to freeze portions rather than use them chilled within the recommended storage period. The Consumentenbond says a four-star freezer is suitable for freezing fresh food, so check the rating for the specific model.
Choose this when: there’s room for a sealed container and the temperature there is 4 °C.
The trade-off: you won’t need to buy another appliance, but you’ll depend on having a free shelf and getting on with your housemates.
Choose this when: the shared fridge is regularly too full and there’s space for a separate chilled storage area.
The trade-off: you’ll have your own fridge space, but the appliance takes up room and uses electricity. You won’t be able to freeze portions in it.
Choose this when: you want to freeze fresh portions of tofu and the specific freezer compartment has a four-star rating.
The trade-off: in a compact fridge-freezer, the freezer compartment takes up space that could otherwise be used for chilled groceries.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Chilling temperature | Use a fridge thermometer where you plan to store the tofu and adjust the setting to 4 °C if necessary. The Voedingscentrum recommends 4 °C for chilled storage. | If I want to keep opened tofu chilled, I need to know how cold the shelf actually is. Around 36% of consumers prioritise a reliable chilling temperature. |
| Your own space in the shared fridge | Check there’s room for a sealed container, and agree where it will go and who will clean the fridge. | If several housemates use the fridge, I want to be able to put my container somewhere separate and easy to identify. Around 29% of consumers mainly want their own clearly organised fridge space. |
| Placement and energy use | Compare the exact model’s external dimensions, required ventilation space, door clearance, noise level in dB and annual energy consumption in kWh. The European Commission explains what information is shown on fridge energy labels. | If I’m considering a second appliance, I want to know whether it will fit in the kitchen and how much electricity it’s stated to use. Around 21% of consumers see placement, noise and extra energy use as their main considerations. |
| Freezing | Check the separate fridge and freezer capacities. The Consumentenbond says a four-star freezer is suitable for freezing fresh food; the Voedingscentrum recommends storing tofu in the freezer for up to three months. | If I want to keep portions of tofu for longer, I need to know whether the freezer compartment is suitable for freezing them. Around 14% of consumers make this a priority. |
If the existing fridge reaches 4 °C where you plan to store the tofu and there’s room for a sealed container, it may already be suitable for tofu you’ll use within the recommended two days.
First, check the temperature and available shelf space. Then decide whether you need a fridge of your own.
An extra appliance takes up space and uses electricity.
The presence of a freezer compartment doesn’t, by itself, mean it’s suitable for freezing fresh food.
If freezing is one of the reasons you’re buying a fridge, check the specific model’s four-star rating.
Depth, door clearance and the ventilation and placement instructions also determine whether the appliance will fit where you want to put it.
Measure the available space and check the manual for the specific model before buying.
If the space isn’t suitable, you may need to change the layout or choose a different model.
The KK471W is a slim fridge for a separate chilled storage area; the KK550 is a larger table-top model with no stated freezer function.
The KTR15NWEB is a table-top model without a built-in freezer compartment, for anyone looking for extra fridge space.
The KVV856WIT combines a table-top fridge with a small freezer compartment, for anyone who also wants to freeze portions.
The Rd 1400 Pure is a table-top model worth comparing if its stated noise level and fridge capacity without a freezer compartment are relevant to you.
These are compact fridges for a separate chilled storage area; some also have a freezer compartment. The stated product specifications don’t confirm that a particular shelf will reach 4 °C after installation, so measure the temperature where you plan to store the tofu.
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An option if you’re looking for your own chilled storage space as well as a separate freezer compartment.
The product description lists 95 litres of fridge space, glass shelves, a salad drawer and door shelves. The stated information doesn’t confirm a four-star rating for the freezer compartment.
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An option if you want to combine extra fridge space with a separate freezer compartment.
The product description lists 107 litres of fridge space and 13 litres of freezer space, glass shelves and a salad drawer. The product name states energy rating C and a five-year guarantee.
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An option if you’re looking for your own fridge space with room for a range of packaging sizes.
The product description lists a capacity of 129 litres, two adjustable glass shelves, a salad drawer and two door racks.
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An option if you’re looking for a compact fridge of your own with a separate compartment for chilled items.
The product description lists a total capacity of 90 litres, three adjustable glass shelves and temperature control. The product name states energy rating E.
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An option if you’re looking for a separate fridge in a small space.
The product description lists a capacity of 92 litres, a width of 47 cm and seven temperature settings. No freezer capacity is listed.
The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened tofu in the fridge for no more than two days, or for up to three months in the freezer. Keep the tofu well sealed and set the fridge to 4 °C.
The Voedingscentrum recommends placing a fridge thermometer in the middle of the bottom shelf and leaving it there for half a day or overnight. Adjust the fridge if the reading is above 4 °C, and follow the placement and ventilation instructions for your chosen model.
No. Don’t assume that a freezer compartment is suitable just because it’s there. The Consumentenbond says a four-star freezer is suitable for freezing fresh food, so check the rating of the specific freezer compartment.
Compare the stated annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label and factor in the extra electricity used by a second appliance. For statutory guarantees on products bought in the Netherlands, the Rijksoverheid says to contact the retailer; a manufacturer’s guarantee is separate.
The Rijksoverheid describes energy labels as mandatory for household appliances. For fridges, the European Commission lists information including the energy class, annual energy consumption, capacity and noise level. The label doesn’t tell you what temperature a particular shelf will reach.
