Best Built-In Refrigerators of 2024
Built-in fridges offer a luxurious, integrated look with extra capacity and high-end food preservation technology. Read on to learn how to pick a built-in refrigerator like an appliance expert and check out all our top picks have to offer.
As modern kitchen designs transition from work spaces to living spaces, built-in appliances are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to seamlessly integrate with kitchen cabinetry, especially built-in refrigerators. Whether you want a column suite for maximum storage or just want a built-in beverage refrigerator for a recreation room, each item in our selection offers several luxury-grade advantages over their freestanding counterparts.
As your appliance authority, AjMadison not only wants to offer you the best built-in refrigerators for your home, but also empower you to shop our wide selection of refrigeration units like an appliance pro! Let’s go through all there is to know about built-in refrigerators before checking out what our top picks have to offer.
Are Built-In Refrigerators Worth It?
Built-in refrigerators provide numerous advantages over their freestanding counterparts, not just in style options, but also in performance, longevity, and many other factors important to consumers.
Seamless Integration – Most built-in appliances are built to sit flush with your surrounding cabinetry, so doors and other hardware don’t protrude out from them and interrupt your aesthetic. Built-in units are meant to complement and enhance your kitchen’s look, not detract from it.
High-End,Customizable Designs – Since built-in refrigerators are constructed with luxury kitchens in mind, they offer numerous customization features to personalize your selection. Popular finish options for true integration are panel-ready refrigerators, which allow you to fit the door with a custom panel that matches your surrounding cabinetry. Handleless options are popular pairings with this finish option, usually being equipped with push-to-open doors to eliminate hardware and allowing your fridge to disappear into cabinetry when not in use. Select brands like Café even offer swappable handle options for their fridges, so you can change styles without replacing your entire unit!
Higher Capacities – Without the need for finished sides, built-in fridges can maximize storage space and have more internal cubic feet than their freestanding counterparts, especially since they need slimmer insulation.
Greater Durability – Since built-in refrigerators are meant to be long-term installations in your cabinetry (often requiring a new cutout to match exact measurements), they are built with extremely durable components that will help them last potentially decades.
Numerous Configurations with Flexible Storage – Built-in fridges are available in French door, side-by-side, bottom freezer, column, undercounter and drawer installation types in plenty of sizes to suit any kitchen layout. Combine a 24-in. fridge and 18-in. freezer column for a 42-in. built-in pairing or get a gigantic 48-in. built-in refrigerator with a side-by-side configuration! Many built-in models are also designed with user-friendly features such as adjustable shelves, pull-out drawers, and easy-to-access compartments for better organization.
Superior Ventilation – Many high-end, built-in fridges sport design elements such as dual compressors which help maintain consistent temperatures in each compartment and preserve food freshness more effectively.
Quiet Performance – Installation into cabinetry significantly dampens the already low noise from built-in fridge operations, rendering these units virtually silent.
Low Maintenance, Energy-Efficient Designs – Aside from more than half of our built-in fridge offerings having Energy Star certification, their compressors are often located on the top or front of these units. This makes it much easier to regularly clean coils, which can’t efficiently dissipate heat when clogged with dust, compromising performance. Many freestanding fridges have their coils on the back, requiring you to pull them out for cleaning.
Safe Installation – Built-in fridges are securely installed in your cabinets, eliminating the risk of tipping, which is particularly important in households with children.
Luxury-Grade Versatility and Convenience Features – Built-in fridges often come with advanced features tailored to the needs of modern kitchens, such as smart technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, and convertible fridge/freezer compartments to accommodate fresh fish, party platters, and deli trays.
Increased Home Value – Like all other high-grade kitchen features, the long-lasting, integrated designs of built-in refrigerators can increase your home’s value to potential buyers.
What are the Disadvantages of Built-In Refrigerators?
Depending on the customization and performance features your selected unit has, a built-in fridge can have a considerably high initial price point. On top of that, they usually require professional installation and servicing – another lofty expense – which can include cabinetry modifications, especially when upgrading to a new unit. This can result in much longer lead times, especially if you are waiting on custom cabinetry for a panel-ready refrigerator.
What is the Life Expectancy of a Built-In Refrigerator?
Most built-in refrigerators can last as long as 20 years or potentially more if properly cared for. Here are some simple maintenance tips to ensure your built-in fridge is regularly operating at peak efficiency.
