Abstract: A refrigerator as disclosed having a housing and an external control panel with a display for displaying storage conditions in individual or multiple compartments of the refrigerator. The controls may be programmed to set optimum conditions for the food product stored in a given compartment of the refrigerator and programmable electronic circuitry includes precise controls for controlling the storage conditions within multiple compartments. The mechanism disclosed allows food products to be stored within their optimum range of conditions to reduce the deterioration of quality and prevent the development of deleterious organisms. By providing the ability to monitor conditions on the external display and adjust the conditions in a singular or multiple zones or multiple compartments of the refrigerator, users are afforded a means to increase their control for preserving food, maintaining quality, preventing food born illnesses, and conserving energy.