Q. Do refrigerators use more energy when filled with food?

A. Not once the food gets cold. Government and commercial experts agree that the cooling section should be kept full, with enough room for some cool air to circulate for even cooling, and that the freezer compartment should be tightly packed, so the frozen foods can keep one another cold.

If there is not enough food to fill the freezer, many suggest putting in more ice trays or some containers of water. Frozen food in a fully packed freezer will survive a power failure for quite a while if the door is kept shut. Some extra water containers in the cooling section will also minimize the amount of inrushing warm air that has to be cooled when the door opens and shuts.

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There are other ways to keep your refrigerator's condenser from working overtime. It is permissible to let hot food cool somewhat before refrigerating it, as long as the cooling period is not long enough to permit bacterial growth. Never use warm or hot water to make ice cubes. Cover moist food, so the refrigerator does not waste energy evaporating the moisture.

Check for the recommended temperatures, 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the cooling section and under 5 degrees Fahrenheit in the freezer compartment. Clean the condenser coils behind the refrigerator the way the manual says, and make sure there is enough room behind and above them for the warm air to escape. Make sure the door seals are tight; test them to see if they hold onto a dollar bill when you tug it.

And most important, keep door opening to a minimum. Replace several items at a time rather than making separate trips.