How does a refrigerator keep food cold inside?

A refrigerator works by continuously circulating a chemical called a refrigerant through a closed loop system. The refrigerant absorbs heat from inside the refrigerator as it evaporates into a gas in the evaporator coils, cooling the interior. A compressor then pressurizes the gas, which causes it to release that heat outside the unit through the condenser coils, usually located at the back or bottom. The refrigerant condenses back into a liquid and the cycle repeats. Essentially, the refrigerator is not generating cold but rather moving heat from inside the cabinet to the outside environment. The insulated walls slow the transfer of outside heat back in, allowing the interior to maintain a consistently low temperature that slows bacterial growth and food spoilage.