I've got an old Biryusa without a defrost system, and the new ones with NoFrost cost almost twice as much. Is it true that they don't need defrosting for several years, or is that just marketing?
NoFrost isn't just marketing - the system actually works. But whether it's worth paying twice as much really depends on your patience. If defrosting an old Biryusa is just a chore you do once every six months to a year and you don't stress about it, then there's no point overpaying. Your fridge will keep running for 10+ more years anyway, and you'll just waste extra money.
But here's the thing: if your kitchen has high humidity, you're constantly opening the freezer door, or you live somewhere with temperature swings, then ice builds up fast and heavy. In that case NoFrost actually makes life easier - the ice layer grows slower, the cold stays more stable, the compressor doesn't work as hard. Don't believe the hype about "years without defrosting," but once a year instead of twice? That's legit.
Practical tip: before you fork out the cash, check if your current Biryusa can still last another couple of years at least. If it'll run longer than you'd be paying for the price difference between a basic model and a NoFrost one, wait it out. And when you do pick a new one, don't just look at whether it has the system - check the freezer capacity too. NoFrost models often come with a bigger freezing compartment, which can actually be more useful than the system itself.
How often do you defrost your fridge these days? If it's turned into a regular pain - NoFrost is worth the money, I ran into this when I got one two years ago. The system actually works: ice barely forms, and I defrost maybe once a year max, sometimes even less.
But if you're used to defrosting a couple times a year and it doesn't bother you, there's no point in overpaying - I didn't notice any difference in how food keeps.
No point in overpaying twice just for convenience if your Biryusa is working fine. NoFrost really does work - I only defrost like once a year now, whereas before I had to do it every six months, but the prices have come down over the years, so check out the mid-range instead of the premium models.
It's really not so much about marketing as it is that NoFrost is just a different level of convenience, and paying twice as much only makes sense if you actually hate defrosting your current fridge 😅 The system works - ice buildup is way less, that's a fact. But "several years without defrosting" is still an exaggeration, though the intervals between defrosting definitely do stretch out quite a bit.
Here's the thing in practice: if you've had a Biryusa for ages and defrosting's become your regular ritual, you can hang in there a bit longer. But if your fridge has started icing up a lot, freezing unevenly, or you need to defrost it like every month - that's when NoFrost comes in handy. Plus new fridges usually have other perks too - better insulation, they use less power, the compressor runs quieter.
Bottom line, if you're watching your pennies and your old Biryusa is holding up - keep living your life as is. But if frozen ice has gotten on your nerves and you can afford to spend more - go for the NoFrost, you'll be happy with it 👍
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