How does a refrigerator actually keep food cold?

A refrigerator works by continuously cycling a refrigerant fluid through a closed loop system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from inside the fridge as it evaporates into a gas in the evaporator coils, then gets pumped outside to the condenser coils where it releases that heat and returns to liquid form. This cycle repeats constantly, effectively moving heat from inside the cabinet to the outside environment. The compressor is the key component driving this process, pressurizing the refrigerant gas so it can release heat outside. The insulated walls slow heat from re-entering, and the thermostat triggers the compressor to run whenever the interior temperature rises above the set point. So the fridge isn't generating cold, it's actively removing heat.