A Way to Enjoy Kimchi All Year Round

Kimchi, one of Korea's healthy fermented foods (Korean Fermented Foods and Science), is a common side dish in Korea that is served in every Korean meal. Being a side dish that is present in meals all year round, Korea has developed the Kimchi refrigerator to possess innovative and superior technology that allows the preservation of Kimchi's taste and freshness.

To better grasp the unique technology behind the Kimchi refrigerator, it is important to understand the fermentation process of the Kimchi and the best conditions for storing it. The fermentation of Kimchi starts as soon as the Kimchi is made. The speed at which Kimchi ferments depends on a variety of factors such as the temperature, exposure to air, types of spices used and more.

However, the most critical factor in controlling the fermentation process is the temperature. The temperature of the Kimchi storage space can control the speed of the Kimchi fermentation, which in turn will control the seasoning and the freshness of the Kimchi. The traditional way of storing and preserving Kimchi, burying the Kimchi deep within the ground, became incompatible with Korea's lifestyle as the country became more developed and westernized. Korea overcame this obstacle through with the development of the Kimchi refrigerator and the speed of fermentation could be controlled by customizing the storage temperature settings.

Since Kimchi is such a popular side dish in Korea, multiple Kimchi refrigerator brands with a variety of functions were established in Korea. Below is a list of 3 major Kimchi refrigerator brands in Korea.

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Winiamando's Dimchae is perhaps the most famous Kimchi refrigerator brand in Korea and manufactured the world's first Kimchi refrigerator in 1995. "Dimchae" is the ancient name for Kimchi, which was used during the Chosun Dynasty in Korea. Dimchae products can be grouped into two categories, the vertical and top-loading refrigerator. Dimchae's newest model, the DXLA361TVS, is a vertical Kimchi refrigerator consisting of 3 compartments. This model allows the users to preserve different types of Kimchis by actively monitoring the temperature of the different types of Kimchis and automatically controlling the maturation time. The independent cooling technology has been implemented into each of the 3 compartments along with the deodorization technology, which removes the strong Kimchi odor with their deodorizing carbon filter, and the automatic defrosting function which will keep the Kimchi refrigerator frost free.

In 2012, Dimchae ranked number one on the National Brand Competitiveness Index (NBCI) for the 9th consecutive year and on the Korea Brand Power Index (K-BPI) for the 13th consecutive year.

Find more details on Dimchae here: http://www.dimchae.com/eng/

 

Samsung Electronics is also a major competitor in the field of Kimchi refrigerators. Their new Kimchi refrigerator, Zipel Asak M9000, possesses 1st rate energy efficiency technology consuming only 19.6kWh a month. The word "asak" in the model name means "crispy" in Korean and that is exactly how they store their Kimchi. This new model features a triple metal cooling system that helps maintain a constant storage temperature which will keep the stored Kimchi crispy for a longer period of time. The metal cooling cover attached to the back of the refrigerator constantly supplies cold air to maintain the optimal temperature and the metal cooling shower is also utilized to provide cold air from the upper compartment. The 9 metal cooling capsules inserted on the bottom of the refrigerator ensure that the coolness is kept within the lower compartments when doors are opened and closed. The Zipel Asak comes in 4 different stainless steel patterns under the theme of "Timeless Design".

The Zipel Asak M9000 can be upgraded to have a larger storage capacity and reduce energy consumption. Featuring the largest Kimchi storage capacity, 567L, the Kimchi refrigerator also boasts of possessing the most energy efficient model, consuming only 235.2kWh a year, working out to around 40,000 won/year.

Find more details on Zipel Asak here: http://bit.ly/zipelasak

LG DIOS Kimchi refrigerator also possesses impressive storage space. The R-D573PNCR model contains 565L of storage capacity with 7 compartments and 5 doors consisting of door-in door designs which allows for more storage space for non-Kimchi food products. The door-in door design enables quick access to frequently used items minimizing the loss of cold air and reducing energy consumption. The LG DIOS Kimchi refrigerator utilizes 18 cooling holes in order to maintain optimal temperature and humidity, and the Fresh Air Filter actively removes unwanted odors. LG DIOS is Energy Star qualified which reduces the concern for energy consumption.

As food storage technology is developed, the quality of the food is not the only factors Korea has in mind. As can be seen with the Kimchi refrigerators, as storage capacity and functions become more advanced, energy efficiency also becomes more efficient. Keep watch on how Korea stays Green as their technology advances.

To find more details about DIOS, click: http://bit.ly/lgedios