This is nothing, though, compared to some of the 'smart' fridges made by rival firms. In 2006 LG launched one with a high-definition television built on, and Samsung now does a refrigerator complete with wi-fi (currently only in America). Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire are working on a 'self-cleaning fridge'.



In a little more than a generation we have gone from doing without fridges altogether to expecting them to organise our lives. If you want to understand how our approach to eating has changed, don't talk about sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil. Talk about fridges.