When purchasing new household appliances or trying to understand the operating instructions, owners often encounter confusion in terms. In everyday life, all elements of the internal space are usually called simply “shelves” or “drawers”, but manufacturers use a more complex and precise nomenclature. Understanding what are the storage boxes in the refrigerator called?is necessary not only for proper sorting of products, but also for proper care of the device.
Each compartment in the refrigerator compartment is designed by engineers to perform a specific task, be it preserving moisture, maintaining a certain temperature, or protecting against foreign odors. Improper food placement, such as storing vegetables in the meat area, can cause them to spoil quickly. In this material, we will analyze in detail the structure of the internal space, explain the purpose of each part and help you optimize storage.
General structure of the refrigeration chamber and terminology
The internal space of a modern refrigerator is a complex engineering system, where each element has its own strictly defined name. The main division occurs into static elements, such as shelves, and retractable ones, which we usually call drawers. It is important to distinguish main chamberwhere the temperature ranges from +2 to +6 degrees, and specialized zones.
The standard package includes several types of containers. The upper part is usually occupied by shelves made of tempered glass or durable plastic. Below are large retractable modules, which in technical documentation are often referred to as containers or trays. They occupy most of the useful volume and are intended for large packages.
- 📦 Container - deep retractable container for vegetables, fruits or frozen foods.
- 🧊 Shelf —a horizontal plane, often removable, for placing plates and bottles.
- 🚪 Basket (balcony) —an element located on the inside of the door.
Understanding these basic definitions will help you quickly navigate manual for your device. Manufacturers may use their own trade names, but the functional purpose remains the same for most models.
Vegetable compartments: Crisper Box and their features
The most popular question concerns what the bottom drawers in the refrigerator are called. In the professional environment and manufacturer documentation, they are called Crisper Box (crisper box) or simply vegetable containers. These are large pull-out containers located at the very bottom of the refrigerator compartment, often separated by a transparent plastic partition.
The main feature of these drawers is the ability to adjust the humidity. There is often a special flap or slider on the front panel or inside. In the “High” position (high humidity), the access of cold air from the main chamber is blocked, which prevents vegetables from drying out. In the “Low” position (low humidity), circulation is enhanced, which is beneficial for fruits that emit ethylene.
⚠️ Attention: Do not store vegetables and fruits in the same compartment without a partition. Fruits emit ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening and rotting of vegetables, especially leafy ones.
The manufacturing material is impact-resistant polystyrene, which can withstand low temperatures and does not crack when fully loaded. Some premium models are equipped with antibacterial coating drawer walls, which extends the life of products.
Freshness zone: Zero Zone and Fresh Box
Special compartments deserve special attention, which in different models may be called Zero Zone, Fresh Box or "Zero" camera." These are technologically advanced boxes that maintain temperatures close to 0°C without freezing the water. Such conditions are ideal for storing meat, fish and dairy products that you plan to use in the coming days.
Unlike conventional vegetable boxes, the freshness zone often has an independent cold air supply system. In some refrigerators this is a separate drawer with a sealed lid, in others it is a special shelf with increased insulation. The name may vary depending on the brand: for LG it is Multi Air Flow, for Samsung it is Cool Select Zone.
| Zone type | Temperature mode | Humidity | What is it suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular box | +4..+6°C | Adjustable | Vegetables, fruits |
| Zero chamber | 0..+2°C | Low/Medium | Meat, fish, cheese |
| Door shelf | +6..+8°C | Low | Sauces, drinks |
| Top shelf | +3..+5°C | Medium | Ready food, serving dishes |
Using the freshness zone allows you to preserve food 2-3 times longer than in a standard compartment. This is especially true for expensive delicacies that are a pity to throw away a day after purchase.
Door elements: baskets and balconies
Elements attached to the inside of the door are called door bins (door baskets) or simply door shelves in the technical documentation. In everyday life they are often called “balconies”. This is the warmest zone of the refrigerator, since it is in direct contact with the warm air of the room every time it is opened.
The design of door shelves usually allows you to change their height or remove them completely. The lower tiers are often equipped with high limiters for bottles, and the upper ones with small cells for tubes and jars.
- 🥛 Upper tier - for sauces, tubes, small packages.
- 🍺 Middle tier - for bottles with drinks, cans.
- 🧈 Lower tier - often has a lid and is intended for butter or cheese.
Some manufacturers install special ones on the door closed containers for eggs or butter to protect them from temperature changes and foreign odors. This is more hygienic than storing in standard cardboard packaging.
Why can’t you put milk on the door?
Milk and eggs are the most sensitive products to temperature changes. They deteriorate faster on the door than on the shelves of the main chamber, where the temperature is more stable.
Freezer: trays and baskets
In the freezer compartment, the terminology changes slightly. Here, storage boxes are often called freezer drawers (freezer boxes) or trays. They are made of more frost-resistant plastic, which does not become brittle at temperatures of -18°C and below.
The design of freezer boxes often includes a top lid or a dividing grid. This is done so that cold air, which is heavier than warm air, does not escape when you open the top drawer while you are removing food from the bottom. This system is called cascade cooling inside the freezer.
In horizontal chest freezers, drawers can be called baskets (baskets) and hung on hooks. Their task is to divide the space into zones so that the food does not freeze into a single lump. Regular cleaning of these baskets is essential to prevent ice buildup.
⚠️ Attention: The plastic of freezer drawers becomes very brittle at low temperatures. Never hit them or try to break off the ice with a knife - the drawer may crack.
Specialized shelves and holders
In addition to the main drawers, there are many small elements in the refrigerator, each of which has its own name. For example, bottle holder (bottle holder) is often a round recess in a shelf or a separate retractable structure in the shape of a wave.
Also found accordion shelves, which can be folded to free up space for tall pans. In expensive models you can find wine rack (wine shelf) - a special wave-shaped shelf that fixes bottles in a horizontal position, which is necessary for storing wine with a cork stopper.
Separately worth mentioning Ice Bank or ice molds. In modern No Frost systems this can be an automatic ice maker, and in classic models it can be removable plastic trays. Their correct location affects the rate of water freezing.
☑️ Checking the condition of the shelves
Care for plastic and glass elements
Knowing what the storage boxes in the refrigerator are called, it is easier to choose products for cleaning them. Glass shelves (often tempered glass with a polymer film) require care. A sharp change in temperature, for example, washing with hot water immediately after removal from the cold, can lead to destruction of the structure of the material.
Plastic boxes, especially Crisper Box, tend to absorb odors and be stained by beets or carrots. To clean them, it is better to use soft sponges and neutral detergents. Abrasive powders can leave micro-scratches, in which bacteria can then multiply.
Regular washing of removable elements is the key to health. It is recommended that once every 3-4 months you completely empty the refrigerator, remove all shelves and drawers, wash them with warm water and soda and dry them thoroughly before putting them back. This will prevent mold from appearing in hard-to-reach corners of the guides.
Can glass shelves be washed in hot water?
No, it is not possible. Tempered glass used in refrigerators is sensitive to thermal shock. If a cold shelf (around +4°C) is placed in hot water (+50°C and above), it may burst instantly. Allow the shelf to warm to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before washing.
How to replace a broken vegetable drawer?
Using homemade replacements is not recommended, since the dimensions and fastening system are unique for all models. It is better to order an original spare part using the catalog number (P/N) indicated on the inside wall of the box, or contact the brand’s service center.
Why are the drawers in the refrigerator sticky to the touch?
The stickiness of plastic is a sign of aging of the material or exposure to fats and acids from foods. This is a signal that the plastic has begun to deteriorate. It is better to replace such boxes, since dirt gets clogged into microcracks and cannot be washed out.
What is the name of the grate above the vegetable box?
This element is usually called the “vegetable compartment lid” or “heat-insulating panel”. It prevents condensation from falling from the top shelves onto vegetables and helps maintain the microclimate inside the box.