PURPOSE: To inform the amount of load with respect to the cooling capacity of a cooling store chamber to an user to permit the control of the amount of load in the chamber by the user by a method wherein the value of temperature reduction in a predetermined period of time is detected and the value of temperature reduction is compared with a reference temperature reduction value whereby the actual amount of load with respect to a reference amount of load is compared and indicated.

CONSTITUTION: When a refrigerant compressor 1 is ON condition under ON/OFF cycle operation and a door is closed for more than 1min, a temperature reducing value ΔTR in a predetermined period of time of 30sec is detected and is stored into a RAM 12 while the temperature reducing value ΔATR is compared with the reference temperature reducing value ΔTMR of existing data whereby an actual amount of load with respect to a reference amount of load is indicated in a LED 15 by the number of lightening lamps. When defrosting operation is effected or the case except above-described operation, a condition before that is indicated in the LED 15 by the number of lightening lamps. The actual amount of load with respect to the reference amount of load is informed by the indication of such LED 15 while an user judges the existence of excessive cooling capacity at that time based on the informations whereby the receiving amount of food stuff or the like in a refrigerator can be controlled.