The invention provides a method for controlling a refrigerator and the refrigerator. The method for controlling the refrigerator comprises the steps that a starting trigger signal of the refrigerator is acquired; a detecting instruction is sent to a data interface, for being connected with a wireless transmission module, of the refrigerator so as to determine whether the refrigerator is provided with the wireless transmission module or not according to a response instruction responding to the detecting instruction; if not, the refrigerator is driven to operate with a first preset mode, and under the first mode, the refrigerator carries out unit operation, and a data transmission function is closed; and if yes, the refrigerator is driven to operate with a second preset mode, and under the second mode, the refrigerator carries out networking operation, and the data transmission function is started. According to the scheme, the problems that different main control panel programs need to be independently developed for different refrigerators, and consequently the development period is long, and the development workload is large are avoided, the workload of the development procedure of the refrigerator is reduced, and universalization of components is achieved.