Defrosting a fridge or freezer is one of the more tiresome chores in the home. And judging by the home-appliance industry, it's also one that belongs in the past. No-frost fridges are the future and so too are fridges with temperature zones that keep different types of food fresh for longer - at least that's what they think.
Consumer protection associations in Germany are not so sure.
Multi-zone fridges have compartments with variable temperatures and some even have different humidity zones.
The so-called zero zone, where the actual temperature is about two degrees Celsius, is best for storing fish, meat and ham, according to Claudia Oberascher from the German information portal, Hausgeraete+. Food will stay fresh there three times longer on average.
Compartments with 40 percent humidity are great for storing pre-packaged meat. Fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, tend to wilt in the zero zone.
One-person households where there is less cooking benefit from multi-zone fridges, because less food has to be discarded, according to Oberascher. This type of fridge uses more energy than a conventional model in the same energy efficiency class, "but that's compensated for in the saving on food".
Guenter Schwinn from the German Consumer Protection Agency, however, is sceptical about multi-zone fridges. He believes a conventional fridge cooled down to 7 degrees will suit most needs.
"A best-before date on a yoghurt can usually be extended by a week." The big disadvantage to a multi-zone fridge is that its compressor runs all the time.
Mandy Schossig from Germany's institute for applied ecology, Oeko Institut, says a fridge with a zero zone uses 50 kilowatts of electricity a year more than a conventional fridge.
"You should just be more conscious of what you buy. You don't have to plan keeping certain vegetables for at least five days," says Schossig.
Our panel of experts is also sceptical when it comes to the no-frost function. A ventilator circulates air inside the fridge. A condenser ensures that frozen water is regularly warmed up and can flow away.
For Oberascher it's purely a matter of comfort whether this function makes sense in the home.
"Nobody likes defrosting a fridge. With no-frost you just have to give it a wipe."
The Oeko Institut says this type of fridge needs between 10 and 30 per cent more electricity than its conventional cousin. No-frost fridges cost much more to buy.
Sensible alternatives are low-frost and stop-frost fridges that need to be defrosted less frequently but don't require more power.
Conventional fridges need to be defrosted regularly - as soon as ice begins to form on the inside. A fridge with a layer of ice thicker than one centimetre uses more electricity to stay cool. And in some cases the door won't close properly, leading to great inefficiency.