I haven't given up on making a version without the fridge storage options or the increase in cooking quality but I am not making headway with that and I hope these versions are useful to people. Perhaps useful for normal kitchens where you don't want it to look like there are 2 fridges but want to alleviate the problem where one sim will start eating in front of the fridge blocking everyone else (that annoys me no end).
Also I would really appreciate any suggestions/criticism or feedback you have, just because it is working for me doesn't necessarily mean I got it right.
examples of the fridge
I have made some decorative objects into the base game Crisponix Budget Dee-Lux fridge so my outdoor living sims can use their gardening produce and make the salad recipes but where a fridge just appears out of place. They will sit on different surfaces and my sims haven't had trouble grabbing the spawned food prep item even when placed towards the back of a counter, however on a counter there is not enough room for the sim to start making the food. For small spaces like a kitchenette I recommend island counters where there is enough room for the fridge to be place toward the back and still enough food prep area in front.
There are also portable versions which can be placed into a sims inventory but you must remove all fridge contents before doing so or everything will be permanently lost when the sim travels. The portable version and stand alone version share the same id so you have to pick only one. I did that because fridges are updated occasionally (toddler and parenthood) so if the game is updated replace with the stand alone version and you shouldn't lose anything as long as it is not in your sims inventory at the time (I hope that made sense).
Stand alone normal fridges
inrez Fridge BG Baking Stuff.package
inrez Fridge BG Bowl of Fruit.package
inrez Fridge BG Cutting Board Vegies.package
inrez Fridge BG Fine Bowl of Fruit.package
Portable fridges have the electric hum, upgrade and hire npc caterers options removed, and made portable and unbreakable. You need inrez Fridge BG Bowl of Fruit - Custom Tuning MASTER.package for the "- Custom Tuning SLAVE" ones to work.
inrez Fridge BG Baking Stuff - Custom Tuning SLAVE.package
inrez Fridge BG Cutting Board Vegies - Custom Tuning SLAVE.package
inrez Fridge BG Fine Bowl of Fruit - Custom Tuning SLAVE.package
inrez Fridge OR Wolf Pytts Essential Utensils - Custom Tuning SLAVE.package
inrez Fridge OR Woodys Hot Sauce - Custom Tuning SLAVE.package
Direct Folder link and direct
album link.
EDIT: I just realised that my not having Parenthood could make the customised tuning version unsuitable for people that DO have Parenthood as I don't have the pack sack lunch option.
another edit: I removed the links because the items are not working in a new game as in a completely new The Sims 4 folder, if I paste my old The Sims 4 folder the items continue to work. I am stumped but if I figure it out I will put up new links.