Refrigerator Dying? Here’s What You Need To Know to Pick A New One, Fast

Side-By-Side Refrigerator

A side-by-side refrigerator has two doors that open from the center. The freezer is one side, the refrigerator on the other. This style is good for small spaces because its short doors need less room to swing open. Side-by-sides usually have more storage capacity than a more basic style, and top-to-bottom shelving that lets you put frequently used items (hello, milk, ice cream and eggs) at eye-level while storing less frequently used items (sorry, kale and frozen carrots) near the bottom.

French Door Refrigerator

French door refrigerators have two doors on top that open from the center to the refrigerator, and a single drawer on bottom that opens to the freezer. This style has less freezer space than refrigerator space but allows you to store wider items in the fridge. French door refrigerators have a pantry-style layout, more storage capacity, and more features than other models. They’re desirable because they make it easy to see all your food.

Stacked Refrigerator and Freezer

This style has two doors, one on top and one below it. The freezer may be on the bottom or on the top of the refrigerator. Stacked fridges include the classic top-mount refrigerator style with the freezer on the top third and the refrigerator on the bottom two-thirds and two doors that open from the side. Top-mount refrigerators are usually the most affordable models and the best pick for a small space. Bottom-mount refrigerators have the freezer on bottom that’s accessible either by a side-open door or a pull-out drawer. Stacked refrigerators have more refrigerator space than freezer space and wide door openings that allow easy access to items in both compartments.

Counter Depth Vs. Standard Depth

Refrigerators come in two depths. The one you choose affects the way the unit looks in your kitchen. Counter-depth refrigerators are a way to get a customized built-in look at a lower cost. This type of fridge is around 24- inches deep, and it is flush with the front of the kitchen cabinets. It mimics the appearance of a refrigerator permanently installed into the cabinets, a premium look. Counter-depth fridges are usually a little wider than freestanding fridges, to make up for their shallow depth.
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Standard-depth refrigerators are as much as a foot deeper than counter-depth, ranging from 30 to 36 inches, the same depth as kitchen counters. They are several inches narrower and jut out from the cabinets by a few inches. They do not look custom. They look like just what they are – a freestanding appliance of standard size placed into the room.

Finishes

Stainless steel continues to be the most popular refrigerator finish because most of us love the sleek modern look that’s reminiscent of a commercial kitchen. But there’s been a resurgence of colorful appliances in a range of hues. White or black refrigerators are timeless and go with most any interior décor style. Black and slate stainless steel are updates on classic silver stainless steel. They are just as sophisticated as stainless but have a dark, matte finish that hides smudges and fingerprints better than its shinier counterparts.

Smart Refrigerators

Smart refrigerators connect to the internet and offer a range of hi-tech features. They’ll let you see inside your fridge from anywhere, in real-time, so you can check to see if you need milk while you are at the grocery store. Some smart refrigerators can track the expiration dates on the food inside so you can eat your yogurt before it goes bad. You can get smart fridges that send an alert to your phone when the water filter needs changing or the inside temperature drops, play cooking videos on a screen that’s hooked to Wi-Fi, or keep a family calendar on a screen on the refrigerator door. Some smart fridges can be networked to other smart appliances like a doorbell camera or voice-activated assistant, so your fridge can answer the door or play music.

Ice Makers

Built-in ice makers and filtered water dispensers are a popular feature on refrigerators. There are two kinds: internal dispensers with filtered water and ice dispensers inside the refrigerator, and through-the-door dispensers you can use without opening the refrigerator. Both keep ice and chilled, filtered water on hand. 

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Child Lock

This feature prevents your children from accidentally changing a refrigerator’s temperature settings. Push a button, and you don’t have to worry about your child accidentally turning up the freezer and melting all your steak and ice cream. You can also use a child lock to turn off an ice maker so your toddler won’t accidentally dump the contents of your icemaker on his head.

Door-in-Door

Door-in-door designs are available on French-door refrigerators. They are just what they sound like, an internal door that’s behind the external door. They’re great because they keep cold air in the fridge while you stand there with both doors open looking for the jelly. Less cold air loss means your food stays colder and your fridge uses less electricity.

ENERGY STAR^® Certification

The Environmental Protection Agency sets federal rule on how energy efficient appliances must be. The EPA awards an ENERGY STAR^® certification to appliances that are 10 percent more efficient than the federal standards. If cutting your energy costs and lessening your impact on the environment are important to you, look for a refrigerator with this certification.