How to Choose the Best Refrigerator
A world-class fridge isn’t in everyone’s price range, but you still want the best you can get for your buck. We’ll help you make the decision. (Skip to the advice posts.)
Whether you’re looking for a capacious fridge for a sprawling kitchen or a tiny model for an urban galley kitchen, we’ve got you covered.
Generally, refrigerators with the freezer on top are the most affordable style. A fridge with a bottom-drawer freezer or side-by-side doors will fall in the middle of the price range, and a fridge with French doors will be the priciest freestanding style. Built-in fridges, the most expensive option, are likely to start at around $5,000 plus installation.
Your decision will be partly based on the space available. For the space-starved kitchen, we offer a range of options, including skinny refrigerators that offer generous storage while fitting into tight quarters. Many, such as those made by Liebherr, Bosch, and Samsung, come with most of the features offered by the top-of-the-line giant units. Thermador’s Fresh Food Column, a 24-inch built-in, dispenses with the freezer—not an issue if you have one elsewhere in your home.
Then there’s the undercounter dorm-size fridge. Compact models made by KitchenAid and Perlick have technology that rivals that of their bigger siblings. Many offer ample storage—and you’ll notice lower electric bills. Among our 10 options is one by Big Chill, a company in Boulder, Colorado, that makes modern appliances with retro appeal. Their mini fridge comes in eight colors–and more than 200 custom shades.
