A crisper drawer (also known as a crisper) is a compartment within a

refrigerator A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so th ...

designed to prolong the freshness of stored

produce Produce is a generalized term for many farm-produced crops, including fruits and vegetables (grains, oats, etc. are also sometimes considered ''produce''). More specifically, the term ''produce'' often implies that the products are fresh and g ...

. Crisper drawers have a different level of humidity from the rest of the refrigerator, optimizing freshness in fruits and vegetables. Some can be adjusted to either prevent the loss of moisture from produce, or to allow

ethylene Ethylene (IUPAC name: ethene) is a hydrocarbon which has the formula or . It is a colourless, flammable gas with a faint "sweet and musky" odour when pure. It is the simplest alkene (a hydrocarbon with carbon-carbon double bonds). Ethylene i ...

gas produced by certain fruits to escape in order to prevent them from rotting quickly.

Etymology

The first known use of the word "crisper" in relation to a crisper drawer was in 1835.

Design and operation

Crisper drawers operate by creating an environment of greater humidity than the rest of the refrigerator. Many crisper drawers have a separate humidity control which closes or opens a vent in the drawer. When the vent is in the closed position, airflow is shut off, creating greater humidity in the drawer. High humidity is optimal for the storage of leafy or thin-skinned vegetables. When the vent is in the open position, airflow keeps humidity in the crisper drawer low, which is beneficial for the storage of fruits. Additionally, because some fruits emit high levels of

gas, the open vent allows the ethylene gas to escape, preventing these foods from rotting. The ability to separate low-humidity fruits from high-humidity vegetables using the different crisper drawers also prevents ethylene gas from damaging the latter. Crisper drawers which do not have a humidity control are, by default, high humidity crispers.

Reported public confusion

Appliance manufacturers have reported that many refrigerator owners are unaware of the purpose or operation of crisper drawers. A 2010 survey commissioned by

Robert Bosch GmbH Robert Bosch GmbH (; ), commonly known as Bosch and stylized as BOSCH, is a German multinational engineering and technology company headquartered in Gerlingen, Germany. The company was founded by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart in 1886. Bosch is 9 ...

found that 55 percent of surveyed Americans "admit to not knowing how to use their crisper drawer controls". In the UK, sources often use the term "crisper drawer" in conjunction with a nearby explanation, like the Vegetable Expert advice website calling them "special compartments or 'crisper drawers' to store fruits and vegetables", the consumers' organisation ''

Which? ''Which?'' is a United Kingdom brand name that promotes informed consumer choice in the purchase of goods and services by testing products, highlighting inferior products or services, raising awareness of consumer rights and offering independen ...

'' calling it a "salad crisper drawer ..for storing your fruit and veg", and some appliance companies calling it a "fridge/freezer salad crisper".

References

{{Home appliances Food preservation Home appliances Refrigerators

Etymology

Design and operation

Reported public confusion

See also

References