Refrigerator Buying Guide of 2024

Refrigerators have never been cooler! While it’s true that the main reason for your refrigerator is keeping food fresh, you’d be amazed by all of the latest styles, features, and storage solutions available. Whether you’re buying a refrigerator for the first time or replacing an existing one, keep in mind that with proper care and maintenance it is a long-term investment that can operate for 15 years or more. There are a variety of refrigerators to choose from. To pick the one that’s right for you, you’ll want to consider your family’s current and future needs. Try selecting a refrigerator that will fit your lifestyle for years to come. There are a few factors you should keep in mind when buying a refrigerator. We recommend you consider the following: your choice between a single or French door refrigerator, and whether you want a water and ice dispenser, are just a few key questions to ask yourself. Another thing to take note of is the counter-depth of your space. These factors are all important before you make your purchase. The following information will go over the different types of refrigerators so you will know what to look for when buying a refrigerator.

Selecting the Right Refrigerator For Your Space

Selecting the Right Refrigerator Type for Your Space

The amount of space you have, the design of your kitchen, and your budget should all factor into the type of refrigerator you select.

Refrigerator Types

Counter-depth Refrigerators

Counter-depth refrigerators simulate a built-in look for a more affordable price than built-in models. They are freestanding but have a shallower depth (less than 24”) and less capacity (on average, 22 cu. ft.), which enables a more flush fit with surrounding cabinetry. Counter-depth refrigerators can be configured as side-by-side, top-freezer, French door, or full-door bottom-freezer units. You can also add panels for a more customized look to match your kitchen's décor.

Counter Depth Refrigerators

Freestanding Refrigerators

Freestanding refrigerators can stand alone because they have panels on both sides that create a complete, finished look from any angle. They are less expensive than built-in versions, and hold a cabinet-depth size of more than 30”. Freestanding refrigerators also have larger storage capacity.

Freestanding Refrigerators →

Built-in Refrigerators

Built-in refrigerators are finished on the front and fit flush with the surrounding cabinetry for a sleek, high-end look. They are designed to fit a cabinet-depth of 23 ½” – 27” and can be customized with wood cabinetry panels to match the style of your kitchen.

Where Form Meets Function

There are various styles of refrigerators on the market, so your selection will really come down to personal preference. While reading through this refrigerator-buying guide, consider your food-buying habits. If you shop infrequently and stock up on frozen foods, you’ll need more freezer space. If you buy a lot of fresh foods, you’ll want easy access and storage space in the refrigerator.

Think about your family. Do you have children or folks in a wheelchair that need access at a lower level? Is bending down a problem? Are you on a tight budget? The answers to these questions will help determine the style you choose when buying a refrigerator.

Refrigerator Styles

Refrigerator Finishes & Handles

The Best Refrigerator To Complement Your Decor

As the largest and most visible kitchen appliance, your refrigerator should fit in with your kitchen style. Think about your existing décor and decide if your new refrigerator will match or complement the other kitchen appliances.

Refrigerator Finishes

Stainless steel is the most popular finish choice, but most brands also come in white or black in both smooth or textured finishes. Two of the most exciting new trends are black stainless and Slate. Black stainless is offered by LG and Samsung while Slate is a special color offered by GE. Consider splurging on a custom color finish or overlay panels on a built-in refrigerator to seamlessly blend it in with surrounding cabinetry.

Refrigerator Handles

In addition to finishes, handles offer another way to integrate the look of your refrigerator into your kitchen. Some higher-end brands offer a selection of handle styles – rounded, flat, straight, and curved – to match your other appliances and hardware. Other brands design models with recessed handles for a sleek, modern aesthetic.

Refrigerator Features

The Must-Have for Every Kitchen

New refrigerators have many special features and innovations that can make life easier. From convenience to storage options, to conserving energy, the features you select depend on what you're looking for in a refrigerator. Below are some of the newest or most popular features available.

Flex-Zone

Flex-zone is a compartment with multiple temperature settings (typically 4) for flexible food storage options.

Air-Filtration

Air-filtration systems neutralize bacteria to ensure an odor-free refrigerator.

Adjustable Shelves

Adjustable shelves offer more storage capacity, versatility, and better visibility of items on all levels.

Spill-Proof Shelves

Spill-proof shelves reduce mess due to spills or leaks, with a lip to prevent overflow and contamination of the shelves below.

Full-Extension Drawers

Full-extension drawers offer easy and convenient accessibility to reach food.

Full-Width Pantry Drawers

Full-width pantry drawers keep large trays of food cold for entertaining.

Transparent Drawers

Transparent drawers make it easy to see what you have on hand.

Sliding Shelves

Sliding shelves provide easy access to items typically out of reach and help make room for tall items.

Oversized Freezer Baskets

Oversized freezer baskets and sliding drawers help make organization and storage a breeze.

Electric Temperature Controls

Electronic temperature controls can more accurately maintain humidity levels and temperature.

Door Alarms

Door alarms sound when the door has been open for three minutes, which can affect internal temperatures.

Door Locks

Door locks ensure child safety.

Designer LED Lighting

Designer/LED lighting provides bright, energy-efficient light in both the fridge and freezer.

Hidden Ice Makers

Hidden ice makers save more freezer space and make ice without the hassle of refilling ice trays.

Quick Tip

Replace your water filter every 6 months for optimal performance.

Specialty Refrigerators

Entertain With the Coolest

If you're a serious entertainer, have the space, and want to splurge, then a Wine Cooler, Beverage Center, Ice Maker, or Kegerator is the must-have refrigeration convenience for the coolest party host.

Wine Coolers

Wine coolers, also known as “wine refrigerators,” chill wine to the optimal temperature for serving. Designed for the true wine enthusiast, these refrigerators shield wine from harmful UV light, maintain the temperature to prevent premature aging from excessive heat, limit harmful vibration, and moderate humidity to keep corks moist and wine from oxidizing. They are available in a wide range of sizes and styles, including models that offer multiple zones that allow you to specify the exact temperature for various varietals in your collection, be it red, white, or champagne.

Built-in Wine Coolers

Built-in wine coolers are retrofitted into your existing cabinetry, closet, or wall alcove. Whether you are looking to optimize storage in a tight space or simply desire a seamless designer look, integrating a built-in wine refrigerator into your kitchen or cellar is the perfect answer.

Freestanding Wine Coolers

Freestanding wine coolers are designed with flexibility and mobility in mind. Because they stand freely in your home, you have the ability to move them from one room to another to suit your needs. These models are ideal for renters who wish to take the unit with them upon moving.

Under-Counter Wine Coolers

Under-counter wine coolers fit beneath the counter in a kitchen, bar, office, or outdoor space, providing a space-efficient, economical solution for wine storage with great aesthetic appeal. Sizes range anywhere from 6- to 20-bottle capacity.

Countertop Wine Refrigerators

Countertop wine refrigerators are ideal for wine lovers who live in a small apartment. Placed on a countertop, the unit takes up the space of a microwave oven and usually holds between 6 and 20 bottles of wine.

Ice Makers

Ice makers are the best solution if your standard refrigerator doesn’t make ice or doesn’t generate enough ice to serve the needs of your family or business. These units often produce multiple types of clear ice, ranging from standard cubes to flaked ice, crushed ice, and ice nuggets.

Under-Counter Ice Makers

Under-counter ice makers are small units that makeup to 65 lb. of ice per day. These units must be connected to a water line. Some also require a drain and are available with or without a built-in drain pump. These models are perfect for wet bars or entertaining.

Portable Ice Makers

Portable ice makers are perfect for barbecues and other outdoor events. No installation or drain is required – just plug it in and add water to the reservoir to start producing ice. Some units make up to 35 lb. of ice per day.

Freestanding Ice Makers

Freestanding ice makers are ideal when a built-in unit is not an option. They’re also useful for commercial applications.

Kegerators

Enable You to Keep a Tapped Keg of Beer Chilled

Kegerators are growing in popularity in homes as they enable you to keep a tapped keg of beer chilled for longer periods. A refrigerated compartment stores a half-barrel keg, which connects to an exterior tap for pouring.

Freestanding Kegerators

Freestanding kegerators offer mobility by way of rolling castors.

Under-Counter Kegerators

Under-counter kegerators are freestanding units that fit into existing cabinets.

Built-in Kegerators

Built-in kegerators are more complex in design, with the refrigerator compartment separate from the permanently affixed tap.

Refrigerator Sizes

Capacity Is an Important Consideration When Purchasing a Refrigerator

Capacity is an important consideration when purchasing a refrigerator. Refrigerator space is measured in cubic feet (cu. ft.), which is determined by the height, width, and depth of the unit. Generally speaking, you need 4 to 6 cu. ft. of fresh food storage for every adult in your household. Therefore, an average family of four needs 18 to 24 cu. ft. of storage. To ensure you get the right capacity to suit your lifestyle, take both the size of your family and your eating habits into account. Do you eat out often? If so you might need a bit less space. Do you cook most of your meals at home? Then you should consider a refrigerator with plenty of fresh food storage.

Full-Size Refrigerators

Full-size refrigerators usually measure from 30” to 36” wide and have more than 30 cu. ft. of storage. The majority of households use full-size refrigerators.

Apartment Refrigerators

Apartment refrigerators are smaller than full-size refrigerators and usually measure less than 30” wide with less than 12 cu. ft. of storage. Also available are models that are narrower but taller than standard refrigerators. These models provide additional capacity in tight spaces.

Compact Refrigerators

Compact refrigerators are your best bet when space is limited. This size is ideal for a dorm room, small office, bar area, or under-the-counter location and generally has about 5 cu. ft. of storage.

Sizing Your Refrigerator

The first and most important step in purchasing a refrigerator is getting accurate specs of the space your unit will occupy to ensure a proper fit.

Measure from floor to top of hinge. Allow 1" clearance.

Include possible condenser coils behind the fridge. Do not include door/handles. Allow 1" clearance.

Add door depth to refrigerator depth to allow for an open door.

STEP 1.

Measure the height, width, and depth of the opening where the refrigerator will go. For proper ventilation, allow at least an inch of space between the unit, walls/cabinetry, and surrounding sides (poor ventilation will affect unit performance). Repeat this to ensure your measurements are correct.

STEP 2.

Measure your home’s entry and the narrowest doorway/hallway the refrigerator will have to move through to reach the place you plan to install it. You don’t want to purchase a unit that won’t fit through your front door.

STEP 3.

Check that the appliance you’re considering fits the measurements you took in Step 1.

Sizing Tips & Considerations

Will It Fit?

Refrigerator Installation, Use, and Maintenance

Your New Refrigerator

Follow the easy checklist below and consult the manufacturer's manual for specific instructions on how to safely install your new refrigerator.

Transportation

Location

Electrical Power

Water Supply

Positioning

Leveling

Energy Star Refrigerator

The Energy Guide Label?

The sample below from the Federal Trade Commission explains what can be learned from the Energy Guide label:

1. Key features of the appliance you’re looking at and the similar models that make up the cost range. The cost range helps you compare the energy use of different models by showing you the range of operating costs for models with similar features.

2. The cost range helps you compare the energy use of different models by showing you the range of operating costs for models with similar features.

3. The national average cost of energy. The cost appears on labels for all models and brands to compare energy use just like you would compare the price of other features.

4. How much electricity the appliance uses in a year based on typical use. Multiply this by your local electricity rate on your utility bill to better judge the actual operating cost.

5. The ENERGY STAR® logo means the product is better for the environment because it uses less energy than standard models.

6. Make, model, and size tell you what product this label describes.

Earning the ENERGY STAR® means products meet strict energy
efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. By choosing ENERGY STAR® it’s easy for you to identify and purchase energy efficient appliances that help save on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

If you’re shopping for a new appliance it’s important to make sure you look for the Energy Guide label. That’s the yellow tag you’ll find attached to most appliances. It lets you know how much energy an appliance uses. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run, and the lower your utility bills might be. Equally as important is that by using less energy, you can help reduce air pollution and conserve natural resources.

Energy Guide labels are not all the same (rather, they are specific to a type of appliance). However, they all provide a way to compare the energy use of similar appliances. Look for these labels on clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, ductless heating and cooling systems, and dehumidifiers. Energy Guide labels are not available on ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers because they consume large amounts of energy.

So help yourself (and help save energy and water) by cashing in that clunker and upgrading to a new ENERGY STAR® appliance.

Energy Star Refrigerators

Average Energy Star Savings by Appliance Type

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can cut your utility bills with a certified appliance compared to standard models. Average savings are:

Find out how much you'll save with this Savings Calculator

Website for Federal Tax credits for purchasing energy efficient appliances

Keeping Refrigerated Food Fresh

Storing Your Fresh and Frozen Food Items

You can buy a brand new fridge with the best storage features, but to keep your food optimally fresh, it’s important to know (1) what temperatures to store your food at and (2) how long you can safely store different types of foods.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables often require special storage conditions. Some fresh fruits need especially low temperatures and high humidity to slow down the ripening process and prevent premature decay. If you store a lot of fruit and vegetables, it is important to have a refrigerator with humidity-controlled crisper drawers so you can set the optimal storage conditions.

1. Temperature

Most vegetables, apples, and berries should be stored around 32 °F. However there are many fruits that should be stored at between 40-55 °F, including citrus fruit, melons, and tropical fruits, as well as eggplant and squash.

2. Humidity

The majority of fruits and vegetables thrive in high humidity environments (85% or higher), however there are exceptions. Pumpkins, squashes, peppers, garlic, and onions thrive in drier conditions and should not be stored with high humidity foods.

3. Ethylene Gas

Some fruits and vegetables give off a high level of ethylene, a ripening agent that can speed the decay of ethylene-sensitive produce. Make sure that your ethylene-emitting produce is stored in a separate compartment from ethylene sensitive foods.

Apples, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Cantaloupe, Guavas, Kiwi, Mangos, Melons, Honey Dew, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Prunes, Quinces, Tomatoes

Apples, Apricots, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Peas, Guavas, Herbs, Kiwi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mangos, Melons, Mushrooms, Okra, Papayas, Parsnips, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Persimmons, Plums, Potatoes, Precut Vegetables, Prunes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Salad, Mixes, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes,Turnips, Watermelon

Of course, even at ideal temperatures, you need to closely monitor how long you store your food. Closely follow “Sell By” dates on your food, especially meat and dairy. Try to eat leftovers within 3 to 4 days of refrigerating them, as the longer you leave them after that, the greater the risk of contamination

Life Span of Frozen Foods

Your freezer should generally be kept at 0 °F. This helps ensure the food is kept cold enough to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and adequately preserves your food. Most frozen foods will keep for at least one month, and some foods last up to months at a time. The type of foods in your storage will determine the food's freezer life. Generally, uncooked food lasts longer than cooked food.

Preventing Freezer Burn

Freezer burn is caused by exposure to oxygen, specifically when water molecules in the outer layers of the food evaporate into the freezer air and leave dry spots behind on the surface of the food. Reduce the chance of freezer burn by following these tips:

Maintaining Your Refrigerator

Helpful Tips

If you maintain your refrigerator well, it can serve you and your family for years to come. Here's how:

Vacuum Your Refrigerator’s Condenser Coils

Condenser coils are vital for keeping your refrigerator cool. Over time, build-up of dust within the coils can negatively affect their performance. Neglecting to maintain your coils could mean a shorter lifespan for your refrigerator. To clean the coils, pull the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum them with an ordinary home vacuum cleaner. You can also purchase a coil brush for under $10 to give them a more thorough scrubbing. Owners should clean their refrigerator’s coils at least once or twice a year; households with pets should clean them more regularly.

Check Door Seals

A loose door seal means cold air is constantly escaping from your refrigerator. Owners should check the seals regularly with this simple test: Insert a dollar bill between the door seal and the refrigerator case and close the door on the dollar. If the dollar is easily pulled loose, then it’s time to replace the seal (which can be ordered from the manufacturer).

Replace the Water Filter

To avoid a foul taste in your ice and water, change your refrigerator water filter every 6 months. By using the same water filter for too long, you run the risk of unhealthy mold build-up. Certain models feature a Filter Indicator that alerts you when it’s time for a replacement. For all other models, follow the six-month rule for clean, fresh filtered ice and water.

Empty the Ice Maker

Ice can absorb odors in your freezer and affect not only the smell of your freezer but also the taste of your ice. Completely empty out your ice maker once a month and wash the ice bin with a simple solution of 1 quart of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda.

Clean the Interior Weekly

Check out our curated series of videos that feature a variety of refrigerators to meet your kitchen appliance needs.

Adjustable Shelves

Adjustable shelves offer more storage capacity, versatility, and better visibility of items on all levels.

Dual-Cooling System

Dual-cooling system means the fresh and frozen food sections of the refrigerator have separate cooling systems and don’t share air, ensuring ideal temperature and humidity conditions in both areas.

Climate-Controlled Drawers

Climate-controlled drawers allow you to control both the temperature and humidity within each drawer to best suit the foods they contain.

Adjustable Door

Adjustable door storage bins save shelf space. Some models can even fit gallon jugs.

Refrigerator Through the DoorWater and Ice Dispensers

Once a convenience feature for a quick glass of water or ice, today’s technology has so much more to offer. Take a look at how far through-the-door dispensers have evolved and you’ll see many new easy-to-reach choices to enjoy including sparkling water dispensers.

Built-in WiFi LCD Screens

Built-in WiFi-enabled LCD screens have special apps for leaving notes, ordering groceries, displaying photos, staying organized, accessing recipes, streaming music and video, and getting the news and weather right from the fridge door.

Door-In-Door

Door-in-door allows you to get in and out with easy access to beverages and snacks without opening the main refrigerator door.

Autofill and Measured Fill

AutoFill and measured fill allow you to set the dispenser to the specific amount of water required for your favorite sports bottle or morning coffee, press one button, and walk away. The water dispenser automatically stops once it dispenses the set amount of water.

Keurig K-Cup

Keurig K-Cup, which is unique to GE, not only dispenses hot water for tea, but also includes an accessory that allows you to enjoy your favorite coffee and beverage selections by Keurig right from your refrigerator door.