Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or sanitizer assembly may include a heating plate and a storage container. The heating plate may be mounted on a door of the refrigerator appliance. The storage container may be disposed on the heating plate and extend between a bottom end and a top end. The storage container may define a sanitization chamber above the heating plate and a container opening at the top end to permit access to the sanitization chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes monitoring humidity within a food storage compartment of the refrigerator appliance and comparing the monitored humidity level with a predetermined humidity threshold. In response to the monitored humidity level dropping below the predetermined humidity threshold, a mist of water is sprayed into the food storage compartment for a predetermined spraying time. The method also includes activating an ultraviolet light source to direct ultraviolet light into the food storage compartment for a predetermined lighting time. At least a portion of the predetermined lighting time is concurrent with the predetermined spraying time. The method also includes waiting a predetermined rest time before repeating the step of spraying the mist of water into the food storage compartment in response to the monitored humidity level below the predetermined humidity threshold.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or sanitizer assembly may include a heating plate and a storage container. The heating plate may be mounted on a door of the refrigerator appliance. The storage container may be disposed on the heating plate and extend between a bottom end and a top end.