If you own a GE refrigerator or are considering purchasing one, you may have noticed that certain models have “TurboCool” and “TurboFreeze” modes.
But what do these settings actually do? And when would you want to use them?
Both TurboCool and TurboFreeze work by activating the refrigerator’s compressor and running the fan at full speed. TurboFreeze will automatically turn off after 150 minutes and TurboCool will turn off after 8 hours. These settings can quickly cool down your fridge after a power outage or if the doors have been left open.
The rest of this article will go into more detail on each setting, how they work, how to turn them off, and when they might be useful.
What You Should Know About TurboCool
What Is Turbo Cool?
The TurboCool setting turns on your refrigerator’s compressor and sets the fan to its highest speed setting.
How Does Turbo Cool Work?
You can activate the TurboCool setting by pressing the Fridge pad and holding it down for 3 seconds. The setting is on whenever you see the symbol “tC” on the temperature display.
When activated, TurboCool turns on your refrigerator’s compressor and switches the fan to its highest speed setting. This evenly distributes consistent, cold air throughout the refrigerator compartment.
How Long Does Turbo Cool Work?
The TurboCool setting will automatically turn off after 8 hours of operation. You can also manually turn it off at any time.
When Should You Use Turbo Cool?
The TurboCool setting can be very useful when you have guests over or while having a large party or gathering, where people are constantly opening and closing the refrigerator. It will maintain a consistent temperature.
Also, instead of leaving warm leftovers out on the counter to cool down, you can put them directly into the refrigerator and activate this setting to maintain a safe operating temperature and to cool the food down quickly.
Another handy use-case for this setting is to quickly recover your refrigerator temperature after a power outage. Just turn on the TurboCool setting once the power comes back and breathe easy!
How To Turn Off Turbo Cool
To deactivate the TurboCool setting, simple press and hold the Fridge pad on your control panel for 3 seconds. You will see the “tC” symbol disappear once the setting has been turned off.
Does Turbo Cool Turn Off Automatically?
The TurboCool setting is intended for occasional use and will automatically turn off after 8 hours. This is usually more than enough time for the refrigerator compartment to completely cool down, even if you’ve left it open overnight.
If you want to run it for longer than that, you will need to manually turn the setting back on.
What You Should Know About TurboFreeze
What Is Turbo Freeze?
Similar to TurboCool, the TurboFreeze setting allows you to rapidly cool down your freezer. This can be useful if someone accidentally leaves the freezer door open or if you want to quickly chill wine or popsicles for later.
How Does Turbo Freeze Work?
You can turn on the TurboFreeze mode by pressing the Freezer pad and holding it down for about 3 seconds. The control panel will display “tF” when the mode is on.
Similar to TurboCool, the TurboFreeze setting works by turning on your refrigerator’s compressor and setting the fan to its highest speed setting.
Also, unlike during normal operation, the fan will continue running even when you open the freezer.
How Long Does Turbo Freeze Work?
The TurboFreeze setting will run the freezer at the coldest setting possible for exactly 150 minutes before it automatically deactivates. You can also manually disable it by pressing the Freezer pad and holding it down for three seconds.
When To Use Turbo Freeze
TurboFreeze is great if you frequently throw large parties where people are going to be opening and closing the freezer a lot. That’s because it helps to keep the fan running and maintain a cold temperature in the compartment.
It can also be useful if someone ever accidentally leaves the freezer door open for more than a few minutes, as it can quickly return the freezer compartment to a safe temperature for your food.
You can also use the TurboFreeze setting to quickly cool down a bottle of wine or freeze a room-temperature container of leftovers.
Does Turbo Freeze Make Ice Faster?
Unfortunately, the TurboFreeze setting does not affect the ice maker directly and it likely won’t result in faster ice production like LG’s Ice Plus mode can. This setting is intended to rapidly cool down the entire freezer compartment.
How To Turn Off Turbo Freeze
You can turn off TurboFreeze at any time by pressing and holding the Freezer pad for about 3 seconds. If you don’t see the “tF” symbol on the temperature display anymore, it means that the setting is turned off.
Can You Run Turbo Cool And Turbo Freeze At The Same Time?
You can activate both the TurboFreeze and the TurboCool settings at the same time to rapidly cool down both compartments in your refrigerator. This will use more power than normal since it runs the compressor and fan as long as the settings are active.
One of the most popular uses for these settings is to recover your refrigerator’s internal temperature more quickly after a power outage. This reduces the likelihood that you will have to throw away food due to spoilage.
Patrick Ward