Does an empty refrigerator use more electricity?
As long as the door remains closed, a refrigerator will consume the same amount of energy whether it is full or empty. But, contrary to what we imagine, the emptier the fridge, the more electricity it will consume.
For what ? As it does not produce cold, to reach the desired temperature, it will have to evacuate the heat circulating inside via a refrigerant to the outside.
In fact, the temperature is less variable when the appliance is well stocked. If it is empty, the compressor will be used even more to optimize the cooling cycle and will therefore consume more energy.
But if the door is opened frequently, a full refrigerator will inevitably use more energy: most of the cool air circulating inside will escape, and the refrigerator will then have to work harder to cool the hot air that enters.
