A couple of weeks ago, I decided it was time for me to upgrade my refrigerator. The task seemed pretty simple at first until I visited one of the renowned home appliances shops:

“I am looking for a refrigerator", I told the clerk. “Any specific brand? Size? Color? French door maybe? Any particular feature? Water dispenser? Ice maker?” Too many questions for what I thought was a straightforward request. And this is how I knew that my task was not going to be easy.

After laborious and intensive research on refrigerators that involved a lot of asking around and countless advices from so-called experts namely my mother, I made an ultimate discovery: Finding the right refrigerator is like going on the quest for the perfect man to one exception: no one wants a refrigerator that is warm from the outside and cold from the inside. There are so many designs on the market, yet only a few combine all the essential features. Here are five common features between a good refrigerator and the perfect man.

1- Reliable: A refrigerator is one of the most important parts of your kitchen. No one wants a refrigerator that isn’t trustworthy. When selecting a refrigerator make sure that not only can you rely on it but also that it will not fail you or deceive you along the way.

2- Strong: A heavy-duty chassis is an important feature for sure. A good refrigerator should be made of good materials. But be careful, do not fall for the marketing tricks and be blinded by the glitz of the brands. Most refrigerators are assembled in China. Also, do not be fooled by appearances. It isn’t what’s outside but what’s inside that counts.

3- Energy Saving: A good refrigerator should not consume a lot of your energy. And the little energy that it consumes should be spent efficiently and should never become toxic.

4- Smart: There is nothing wrong with having a refrigerator that is smarter than you. It comes in handy that something can actually sense and determine your needs.

5- Warranty: Three years warranty is the maximum you can get but when the warranty expires, you alone will be in charge of maintenance. Look for a refrigerator that isn’t high maintenance and has inexpensive spare parts. Note, no refrigerator will last a lifetime.