Today's tricked-out refrigerators are cooler than ever

Refrigerators may lack the sex appeal of other swanky kitchen appliances, but that doughty image is changing.

Homeowners now have numerous options when it comes to keeping food cold or frozen. These sure aren't your grandmother's refrigerators.

Door alarms, computerized digital controls, slide-out storage and TVs are a sampling of the bells and whistles that make this essential kitchen appliance ultra-cool.

Whereas refrigerators once stuck out like sore thumbs, the trend is cabinet-depth appliances with a built-in look. This flush-mount approach integrates the fridge with cabinets and other appliances.

Virtually all manufacturers give homeowners the option to attach door facades to match kitchen cabinetry.

Yet some behemoth units cling to commercial grade, stainless styling that marks gargantuan refrigerators as conspicuous status symbols. Of course, you'll pay handsomely for the privilege, easily $7,500 or more.

High-tech options

Technology is everywhere in tomorrow's refrigerators.

Dacor (ww2.dacor.com) and Sub Zero (www.subzero.com) use microchips to adjust defrost cycles to usage patterns. Dacor's top-line unit is $6,900, while the Sub Zero 736 TR model is $6,400. Sensors activate the defrost mode in Bosch's (www.boschappliances.com) $1,949 to $2,499 models.

For $2,799, a Samsung (www.samsung.com) "convertible" refrigerator has a 10-inch LCD touch screen with a digital memo pad to set expiration dates to remind you when food is a bit too ripe. LG ups the TV ante with a 15-inch screen with DVD capability on one door, while a second 4-inch screen shows local weather information, digital photo album, recipe book and calendar. All for $3,699.

Digital-temperature displays are common. All the better to regulate compartment temperatures within a degree or two as well as humidity levels. Thermador (www.thermador.com) has sealed humidity-controlled crispers for fresh foods in upper-end models ranging from $6,499 to $7,899. Other makers offer individual drawer-by-drawer temperature controls.

Easier and prettier

On the low end of the tech scale, now on the market are shelves and drawers that roll out with a gentle pull or the touch of a button. This lessens bending and stooping to reach into the depths of your refrigerator or freezer. Makes for easier cleaning, too. Halogen lights brighten foods far better than a single dingy bulb.

Filtered water is a standard feature, but Whirlpool (www.whirlpool.com) takes it a step further with "Fast Fill" capability. A pullout shelf holds almost any size pot. You set the amount of water and walk away. In seconds the pan is filled to the desired amount. The price: $1,899 to $2,199.

As kitchens evolve into entertainment centers, no self-respecting host wants guests to see yesterday's leftovers during trips to the fridge. And it's easier for kids to grab-and-go with a quick drink box or healthful snack. Hence, undercounter refrigerator-freezer drawers that blend with surrounding cabinetry have grown in popularity.

U-Line's top undercounter freezer pumps out a whopping 60 pounds of clear ice per day. And if kids don't shut the 15- or 24-inch refrigerator drawers, an alarm will sound. The U-line (www.u-line.com) price: $1,103 to $2,849.