The　air-cooled　frost-free　refrigerator　has　become　the　main　power　consumer　among　household　appliances.　This　study　presents　a　new　air-cooled　household　refrigerator　that　uses　PCM　in　the　fresh　food　and　freezing　chambers.　Operational　characteristics　and　performance　test　results　are　provided　in　the　conditions　of　off-peak　refrigeration　with　PCM　and　conventional　refrigeration　with/without　PCM.　Results　show　that　refrigeration　off-peak　modes　resulted　in　the　peak　temperature　difference　between　M-packs　and　maximum　temperature　increase　of　M-packs　in　the　freezing　chamber.　The　energy　consumption　of　the　refrigerator　is　relatively　increased.　The　energy　consumption　of　the　refrigerator　prototype　with　PCM　under　the　original　control　mode　is　reduced　by　18.6%　and　the　compressor　ON-time　ratio　is　reduced　by　13.6%　compared　with　the　refrigerator　prototype　without　PCM.　Frost-free　refrigerator　with　PCM　under　original　control　type　exhibits　advantages　in　terms　of　energy　consumption　and　food　quality.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd　and　IIR.　All　rights　reserved.