Which Fridge Should I Buy
GE makes high-performing refrigerators. This GE Profile Series French-Door Refrigerator got top marks for temperature maintenance and uniformity. It also wowed our Kitchen Appliance Lab experts with its smart design features: You get a top-of-the-line fridge plus a built-in Keurig coffeemaker in the door. It's Wi-Fi enabled, so after you download the app you can adjust settings, preheat water for coffee and get alerts if the door is open. It works with Amazon Echo too.
which fridge should i buy
For solid fridges without the hefty price tag, Maytag is hard to beat. This model has slide-out shelves and a built-in water and ice dispenser with a filter. In our tests, fridge and freezer temps held steady and door shelves were cool enough to safely store dairy (which is a no-go with most fridges). Lettuce lasted five days in the crisper, but the controls were a little tricky to adjust so we advise that you keep the manual handy.
Maytag has also been our pick for best fridge with a top freezer for many years. We love its sleek design, bright interior and glass shelves. It also holds temperatures well and has never created any noticeably cold spots in our consumer home testing.
Samsung makes a long line of smart fridges. This Family Hub Refrigerator might just become your family's kitchen command center. You can use the built-in screen to draw, leave messages, share pictures, sync calendars and even check who's at your front door or adjust your thermometer with compatible smart devices. You can also use it to stream music or TV shows while you're cooking. When you're not home, you can peek inside to see what you need from the supermarket, or, when you are home, you can use it to browse recipes and even order the groceries you need right from the door. Plus, Alexa is incorporated, so you can operate many of the apps without touching the screen.
Our littlest testers (ages five and under) confirmed that the screen is highly responsive and fun to draw on, while our previous tests confirmed that the brand is great at maintaining super steady temperatures, which is a must to keep foods fresh. One caveat is that the bottom shelf is fixed, so it can't be removed for easier cleaning. We're eager to test one of Samsung's newest models from its Bespoke line, which looks super sleek and customizable: the panels on each of the doors can be swapped out to create a unique color pattern.
This 36-inch side-by-side model from Whirlpool continues to be one of our most popular fridge recommendations. It has excellent temperature control and uniformity, and its features include a built-in water filter, water dispenser and ice maker in the door. It also has an ice bin on the inside of the freezer door that you can access without having to wait for it to dispense. The digital controls are very quiet, but it does include a door-open alarm, so it makes noise when you need it to.
It's easy to stock its four-door bins and slide-out shelves with your favorite foods, and because it's a side-by-side, you can arrange it so that your most-used fresh and frozen ingredients are at eye level. Plus, the shelves have a smaller span than those in most French-door refrigerators, so it's harder to lose things in the back of the fridge or the freezer. That said, you do lose a little freezer shelf space to the in-door dispenser. We appreciate this model's transparent shelves and drawers that make it even easier to see all of your food without having to rummage through drawers.
The French-door Café model shown here has an internal water dispenser and is Wi-Fi enabled, too, which one of our testers, who owns the Four-Door French model, noted is helpful because when her son leaves the freezer open, she receives a notification on her phone. She also commented on how spacious her model is and how the backlight makes it easy to find things and keep them organized. After one and a half years, she said she's very pleased with it. One thing to note is that the water filters are somewhat pricey and will need to be replaced every one or two months.
This show-stopping refrigerator has a bright, roomy interior with an assortment of adjustable shelves in the main compartment as well as on the doors. It comes with an "adaptable flex bar," which lives on the interior back wall and allows you to organize extra accessories, like an egg holder, small condiment bin and bottle holder as you see fit. It also has a built-in water dispenser that barely takes up any room and an ice maker that comes with a scoop for easy use.
Our favorite part of this fridge is the middle drawer that serves as a wine chiller with wooden slats that can hold up to 17 standard-sized bottles of wine. You can program the temperature with the touch of a button to optimally store craft beer, wines and sparkling wine. Bosch's 3-Door French Door Refrigerator won a 2022 Kitchen Gear Award for its simple, but high-quality design that provides a spacious interior and lots of adjustable storage, plus an ice maker that can make up to 40 glasses of ice per day.
Refrigerators may be large boxes but they're far from monolithic. They come in a range of shapes, sizes, and designs. Each style has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Some fridge types generally cost less but won't offer many fancy features. Others tend to have all the latest bells and whistles plus a massive price and large size.
Buying the wrong style appliance could mean bad news. You might get stuck with a bloated bill, no frills at all, or something that won't fit where you want it. Here's a rundown of major fridge styles so you know what to expect
The classic fridge design, top freezer-style models have been around for decades. They have a main chiller section for fresh food and a smaller freezer compartment above it. If you need a lot of room to store frozen items this style of refrigerator isn't ideal. They're also pretty basic appliances and lack extras such as in-door water dispensers and automatic ice makers. The upside is they tend to be more affordable and more compact than other fridge styles.
This style of refrigerator is all about compromise. Side-by-side models offer a balance between saving space and providing extra features. They're split down the middle with two doors, one for the freezer on the left and the other for the fridge on the right. Their doors are relatively narrow too since they don't swing out as far. Don't expect special drawers for quick drinks or easy access to kids' snacks. Side-by-side refrigerators do have lots of freezer and fridge storage. Some models also come with fancy add-ons such as in-door ice makers, water dispensers, and touch controls.
A combination of side-by-side and bottom freezer models, French door refrigerators try to offer it all. They usually pack in the most advanced features including smart, connected functions and special compartments. French-door models are also the most popular fridge variety so they're available in the most colors and finish options. As a result, you'll pay top dollar for them too.
No matter what fridge style you choose, one massive misstep is not checking the fit. Make sure the new appliance will squeeze into the same spot as your current refrigerator. Do that by measuring the dimensions of your old unit. Then compare them with the new fridge you plan to purchase. Ideally the replacement appliance will be identical to or smaller than the current model. This is especially important if your current fridge lives in a recessed nook within built-in cabinets.
It's equally important to measure your counter depth. Some fridges can stick out far beyond your counters, jutting into your kitchen. If you have a kitchen island, measure how much clearance you have to open the fridge doors or walk past the fridge.
No refrigerator owner is the same. Choose a fridge that fits your particular storage needs. Do you tend to keep lots of items on ice for long periods? Make sure to select an appliance with plenty of freezer space. In this case a side-by-side model is probably best. If the opposite is true then a big French-door fridge is likely more your speed.
Of course your prospective purchase might serve as secondary refrigerator. Scenarios for this are small apartments, second homes, and basement kitchenettes. Likewise if you already own a stand-alone fridge or freezer, price is probably paramount rather than storage space.
The appearance of the fridge you ultimately settle on is no small matter. Outside of its functions and features, a refrigerator's (or any large appliance) exterior can have a huge impact on a room's decor. Pick poorly and a fridge can clash with its surroundings -- giving your kitchen a random, even cluttered aesthetic.
Depending on the look you're going for, you may decide that your new refrigerator should match the color (and texture) of other nearby appliances. You could do the opposite too and select a fridge with striking colors or a retro-inspired design. As long as the rest of the room is neutral, your distinctive appliance will serve as a positive focal point.
Another trap you may fall into when shopping for a new fridge is not considering other, smaller factors. For instance you may overlook details about the interior. How easy is it to open and close the crisper drawers? Are there any sharp edges anywhere that could scrape or scratch knuckles or forearms?
Organize and store your favorite fresh and frozen items just how you like them with the right refrigerator style and configuration for your family. Learn more about pantry-style French door refrigerators, sleek side-by-side fridges, classic top- or bottom-freezer refrigerators or specialized undercounter refrigerator models to find the right fit.
French door refrigerators put refrigerated food at eye level and freezer items below. The standard French door design features two doors that open to a single refrigerator compartment on the top, plus a deeper freezer drawer on the bottom.If you have a busy household or kids, consider options with extra doors that give you easy-to-access external drawers, like this 4-door refrigerator model from Whirlpool brand. Snacks are stored where you can reach them without opening the main doors.French door fridges are a higher-end choice because they usually have the most features. Whirlpool French Door Refrigerators often offer: 041b061a72