How does a refrigerator stay cold?

A refrigerator keeps its interior cold not by making cold, but by continuously moving heat out of it. A special fluid called a refrigerant circulates through a loop of coils. Inside the fridge, the refrigerant evaporates at low pressure, absorbing heat from the food compartment and cooling it. The gas is then pumped to the coils on the back or bottom, where a compressor squeezes it, raising its temperature so it releases that heat into the room and condenses back into a liquid. The cycle repeats endlessly. This is why the back of a fridge feels warm — it is dumping the heat removed from inside into your kitchen.