Modern refrigerators carry many icons whose purpose is not always obvious, and one of the most common is the snowflake, according to Slashgear. In most cases it marks the maximum cooling or freezing setting.
Turning the temperature dial toward the snowflake makes the fridge cool more intensely. Some models offer several cooling levels, shown as numbers or multiple snowflakes, with higher levels meaning lower temperatures.
Meaning varies by brand
The symbol's meaning can differ depending on the manufacturer. On some models it indicates Power Freeze, a rapid-freezing mode that quickly lowers the freezer's temperature to keep food fresh or speed up freezing. On certain brands, including Samsung, this mode also helps produce ice faster.
The snowflake sometimes appears alongside other images. Next to a fruit icon, it can mark a special compartment with higher humidity and lower temperature for storing fruit and vegetables, while a snowflake on a container image usually points to a section meant for long-term storage of frozen food.
Because labelling varies between models, experts advise checking the refrigerator's instruction manual to use all its functions correctly and extend its lifespan.
