Manufacturers are hot
for your dollar as they load up their latest refrigerators with more
style and features.
Most now offer French-door
models that add style and convenience by putting side-by-side
refrigerator doors above the freezer. Bottom-freezer fridges are
growing fastest in sales, since they offer the convenience of a
full-width refrigerator at eye level with the style and narrow door
swing of a side-by-side. You'll also find features such as
slide-out glass shelves and temperature-controlled compartments,
along with stainless-steel exteriors for under $1,000.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
While you’ll find an
array of refrigerator brands, only a handful of companies actually
make these appliances, with essentially similar models under several
names. Frigidaire, General Electric, Kenmore, and Whirlpool account
for some 75 percent of top-freezer sales and, with Maytag, more than
80 percent of side-by-side purchases.
Bottom-freezer brands
include Amana, Frigidaire, GE, Jenn-Air, Kenmore, KitchenAid, LG,
Maytag, Samsung, Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Whirlpool. Mainstream
companies have introduced high-end brand lines such as Electrolux
Icon, Frigidaire Gallery, GE Cafe, Monogram and Profile, Kenmore
Elite and Pro, and Whirlpool Gold. These brands cover built-ins: GE
(Monogram and Profile), Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, Sub-Zero, Thermador,
and Viking. You can also get built-in-style, or cabinet-depth, models
from Amana, Bosch, Electrolux, Frigidaire, GE, Jenn-Air, Kenmore,
KitchenAid, LG, Maytag, and Whirlpool among others.
For top-freezers. These typically cost the least and offer more space than comparably
sized side-by-sides. Widths typically range from about 30 to 33
inches. Fairly wide refrigerator shelves make it easy to reach the
back, though you must bend to reach bottom shelves and drawers.
Usable capacity is typically about 80 percent of what’s claimed
(about 10 to 25 cubic feet), which brings top-freezers closest to
their claims. Price: $400 to $1,200.
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For bottom-freezers.
These put refrigerator items at eye level on wide shelves that
provide easy access. You’ll have to bend to find items in the
freezer, but you’ll typically open the refrigerator much more
often. Bottom-freezers tend to cost more than top-freezers and offer
less space for their size, however. Widths typically range from 30 to
36 inches. Claimed capacity is up to 26 cubic feet, though usable
space is typically a bit less than for top-freezers. While most
French-door models are 36 inches wide, some are 33 inches, and some
offer through-the-door ice and water. Price: $700 to $1,500; $1,600
to $2,000 for French doors.
For side-by-sides.
These vertically split fridges have a freezer on one side and a
refrigerator on the other. They’re typically equipped with
through-the-door ice and water—among the most requested
features—along with temperature-controlled bins and rapid
ice-making cycles. Narrow doors that fit tight kitchens are another
plus, though most don’t open wide enough to fit pizza boxes and
other wide items. High, narrow compartments also make it hard to find
items at back. Side-by-sides are typically 32 to 36 inches wide, with
claimed capacity of 20 to 30 cubic feet, though we’ve found that
only about 65 percent of that space is usable. They’re also pricier
than top-freezer models. Price: $800 to $2,000.
For built-ins. These pricey refrigerators are designed to fit nearly flush with
cabinets and counters, and typically comprise bottom-freezers and
side-by-sides. Most can accept extra-cost front panels that match
other elements of your kitchen. You can even buy a separate
refrigerator and freezer mounted together in a 72-inch opening. On
the downside, built-ins are wide (36 inches or wider), yet relatively
shallow (25 to 26 inches, front to back), making them least-efficient
overall. They’ve also been repair-prone in our surveys. And at
roughly a foot taller than conventional models, they could be hard to
fit beneath overhead cabinets. Price: $4,000 to $7,000.
Cabinet-depths.
These less-shallow, freestanding refrigerators offer the look of a
built-in for less money. They are available mostly in side-by-side
styles, with some top- and bottom-freezers and French-door models
available. Many accept extra-cost panels for a custom look, but
cabinet-depth models have less usable space than deeper freestanding
models and cost more. Price: $1,500 to $3,200.
Under-cabinet
refrigerator drawers. These are among the
latest luxuries for kitchens where even the biggest refrigerator
simply isn’t enough. But refrigerators drawers tend to be large on
price and small on space. They cost little to run because of limited
capacity. Price: $1,800 to $3,000.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Even lower-priced
refrigerators now offer stainless or stainless-look exterior panels,
some with fingerprint-resistant clear coatings. Smooth under-glass
finishes are a growing alternative. More
models have also swapped knobs for electronic
touchpads. Some have a digital display that
shows the temperature setting, and a few show the actual temperature. Adjustable door bins and shelves can be
moved to fit tall items. Elevator shelves crank up and down without your having to remove the contents, while split shelves can
adjust to different heights independently. Shelf
snuggers—sliding brackets on door
shelves—secure bottles and jars. A few models have a wine rack that
stores a bottle horizontally. Glass shelves offer easy cleaning and
usually have a raised, sealed rim to contain spills. Pull-out freezer
shelves or bins improve access. An alternative is a bottom-freezer
with a sliding drawer.
Temperature-controlled
drawers that store meat and fish several
degrees cooler than the rest of the fridge are also becoming more
popular. Crispers have
controls to maintain humidity, while see-through
drawers show what’s inside at a glance.
Most models have an icemaker in the freezer or give you the option of installing one yourself,
though these eat up roughly 1 cubic foot of freezer space. The ice
bin is usually below the icemaker, though some are inside of the
freezer door and rob a bit less space. Through-the-door
ice-and-water dispensers are common on
side-by-sides and are migrating to top- and bottom-freezers,
including French-door models. Often, the icemaker and/or water
dispenser includes a water filter designed to reduce lead, chlorine, and other impurities. You can also
add a filter to a fridge’s water-supply line.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Size is usually more
important than style, since most new refrigerators must fit in the
same space as the old one. Begin by measuring the available space,
particularly the width. Include the space you’ll need to open
doors, and check that the new fridge you’re considering can fit
through halls and doorways.
Once you’ve chosen a
type that fits your space, needs, and budget, keep these tips in
mind:
Look for
space-stretching features. These include
split shelves and cranks for adjusting shelf height. Pull-out shelves
provide access to the back of the fridge and freezer. In
bottom-freezers, full-extension drawers help you find items in the
rear.
Consider efficiency. Despite advances, refrigerators still use more electricity than other
kitchen appliances, since they’re always on. Top- and
bottom-freezers are typically more efficient than side-by-sides.
Choose a model that scored well for energy efficiency in our tests.
Think twice about
multimedia models. More brands are also
pushing $3,000-plus models that include TVs, DVD players, and other
features as kitchens become the new living room. But we’ve found
you can save hundreds and get better performance by buying a separate
refrigerator and flat-screen TV.
Don’t jump at package
deals. While buying a refrigerator with other
appliances from the same brand can save you money and help coordinate
styling, you’ll probably have less choice, and you could sacrifice
refrigerator performance and reliability.