As we plunge headfirst into monsoon, trying to keep vegetables from wilting and leftovers from morphing into an odious pile will be the biggest headache inducers this season. Add load-shedding and we might as well give up on eating fresh food. But LG promises to add some chill to your family’s kitchen with its GL-M 252VML refrigerator.
Ever since Persian genius Ibn Sina invented the refrigeration coil more than a thousand years ago, humanity has been searching for better ways to minimise vapours. Building upon 900 years of cooling technology, LG now brings you Green Ion Door Cooling. Combining catechin, a natural preservative found in green tea leaves, with a mineral called tourmaline that releases ions to deodorise fridges and cars, the 252VML will prevent food from ageing while keeping out mould and micro-bacteria, so your fridge will not reek.
In early generation fridges, cool air swept in from the freezer and circulated inside the bottom partition in a top-down manner which meant all food had to be covered and fruits like apples developed wrinkles too quickly. But in the 252VML, cool air rushes in from behind the door and circulates into the corners of each shelf, keeping food fresh and avoiding moisture build-up all over.
LG is a pioneer in home appliances and holds the bragging rights for the fastest ice-making refrigerators. Gone are the days of preparing ice-cubes days in advance if you had guests coming over. The 252VML will take no more than 30 minutes to change liquid to frozen solid.
The secret to this, LG says, is aluminium. The shiny metal heats fast, as you might have noticed from observing huge momo-cookers across Kathmandu and it’s no surprise the reverse is also true. So go ahead, pour a jug into the aluminium ice-trays , pick up your fablet to shoot a quick email to the friend you have been meaning to write to. By the time you’re done, 252VML will have cubes of Mt Everest ready for you.
Besides these features, the fridge boasts a roomy interior illuminated by a strong, clear lamp. Trays behind the door and wire shelves inside provide ample storage space for all kinds of food and vegetable cabinets at the bottom are ideal to stock up during bandas.
Although not available in Nepal at the moment, LG is gearing up to introduce this model in the market. In the meanwhile, clean out your old set, visit the nearest scrapyard, and make some space for the double-door 252 litre capacity freezer in your kitchen (and heart).
Yantrick’s verdict: At Rs 33,990, the GL-M 252VML is a bargain you ought to strike.