Cooling appliances is a very vague phrase that covers a wide range of products. In this guide, we’ll talk specifically about refrigerating units. If your search for the overall best refrigerator has left you scratching your head, your worries are over. Below, you’ll find our picks of the best, most trustworthy, longest-lasting refrigerators ever.
Refrigerator Buying Guide
Even though we’ve shown you what we think are the best overall refrigerators on the market, those particular models may not be accessible to you. Instead, if you need to shop on your own, you can use the following guide to find the best model for your home or apartment.
When Should You Replace Your Refrigerator?
Here’s something many of you may not be aware of. It’s a lot cheaper to replace the refrigerator you inherited from your grandparents than it is to pay its electricity bill. Older models—those over ten years old—use ancient-civilization technology that do not meet the energy efficiency demands of today’s market.
Even if your refrigerator keeps your food cold and your ice cubes frozen, if it still dons the 1970’s pink or sea-blue hue, it’s time to upgrade. At the decade mark, you need to consider upgrading to a more recent model.
How Long Do Refrigerators Last?
Refrigerators generally have a lifespan of about ten years, though they certainly can last longer (see the previous section).
If you purchased your current refrigerator some time within the last decade, you may not need to replace it at all. If it doesn’t work as well as it did when you first bought it, you may be able to salvage it by getting it professionally checked and repaired.
However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to invest in a new refrigerator; especially one that’s ENERGY STAR certified. We’ll talk about energy-saving features later on.
Types of Refrigerators
One of the most confusing factors when choosing a refrigerator is the type. There are five types to choose from, each with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. In this section, we’ll explain in detail what each type is and why you might consider choosing it.
Top-Freezer
The most traditional type refrigerator is the top-freezer version. Odds are that your current refrigerator is a top-freezer or that you’ve come across this type more than the others.
Top-freezer refrigerators are those with low-level cooling units on the bottom and a freezer for meats and other spoilable foods on top. This tried-and-true type of refrigerator is popular for a reason: they’re the most affordable.
Taller folks may have issues bending way, way down to see whatever food is in the refrigerator portion, but it’s definitely not a deal-breaker, especially since these units come in a variety of sizes.
Bottom-Freezer
You also have the option to choose a refrigerator where the chilling and freezing units have swapped places. These refrigerators also have larger freezer units relative to its overall size compared to top-freezers.
Since the refrigerating unit, which is the more accessed part of any refrigerator-freezer combo, is at eye-level, there’s not a lot of strain on your back or neck from leaning over. This design also lets you find what you need more quickly than top-freezer versions, though this is a very-minor advantage if we’re being honest.
Side-by-Side
A side-by-side refrigerator has a refrigerating unit on one side and a freezing unit on the other. Due to its design, you might not be able to store wide items in either unit, which can be a problem if you plan on heating a box of pizza on the following day.
They’re also less energy-efficient than top-freezer models, though their price tags are very similar. One huge advantage is that you don’t need wide clearance to swing either door wide open. Also, their unique design makes them the center of attention in the kitchen.
French Door
French door refrigerators are, by far, the most appealing type of refrigerator out there. The freezing unit is found at the bottom, similar to a bottom-freezer fridge, and the chilling unit is accessible by swinging two short doors open.
Or, if you know what you’re looking for, you can open one door, leaving the other shut in order to limit the amount of chilled air that escapes. This energy-saving feature is a tremendous upside that more than pays for its higher upfront cost.
Mini Fridge
If your dorm room, bedroom, or office unit needs a refrigerator, this is the most cost-effective and space-efficient type. Mini fridges have smaller footprints, use less energy, and may even come with a slight gap for making ice cubs or freezing small items.
The tradeoff for its space-saving design is its storage capacity. These refrigerators will keep two or three 6-packs cool throughout the day with very little room for anything else. However, as a college student, that doesn’t exactly sound like a problem.
Factors to Consider when Shopping for a Refrigerator
Here are the most crucial factors to take into account when shopping for a refrigerator.
Size Matters!
Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise! The size of your refrigerator is one of the most important aspects to take into account.
You can look at the size of the refrigerator by checking its storage capacity, typically measured in cubic feet. The higher the figure, the more food it stores, and the more you should spend on your weekly grocery shopping trip to fill your fridge to capacity.
Also, you need to be aware of the fridge’s footprint or how much space it takes. A certain model may draw your eye, but if you need to renovate your kitchen to accommodate its bulkiness, then you’ve got a whole set of new problems on your hands.
Door-Swinging Clearance
Also, make sure that your kitchen has enough room for the fridge’s door or doors to swing wide open without bumping into anything. Even though the doors are incredibly durable, the plastic or metallic exterior may become warped. And believe us, any blemishes on your refrigerator is visible from a mile away.
Energy Consumption
Household refrigerators generally consume between 100 and 250 watts of energy. There are plenty of refrigerator models of various types that have lower wattage ratings, but we can’t guarantee that they’ll deliver the same chilling or freezing quality as standard 100-to-250-watt units.
Refrigerator Energy-Saving Features
The 100 to 250-watt consumption stated earlier roughly translates into just under $200 on electricity annually. Admittedly, that’s pretty affordable (less than $20 per month), but there are several things features that can help lower your yearly energy bill without spoiling your food.
ENERGY STAR Certification
In order for a household appliance to legally carry the ENERGY STAR label, it needs to meet the strict environmental requirements set by the EPA.
Basically, any appliance—AC, fridge, etc.—sporting the blue-and-white ENERGY STAR sticker is rated safe(r) for the environment. They consume less energy while delivering equal or similar results as their non-ES counterparts.
Generally speaking, an ENERGY CERTIFIED refrigerator uses between 5 and 10% less energy than non-certified models. This means you potentially save between $10 and $20 on electricity consumption annually, which ain’t half bad.
Adjustable Temperature Range
If you take a peek inside of a refrigerator, you might have noticed one or two dials. These dials can also be found in the freezing unit.
These dials help set the internal temperature of the chilling and freezing units. The more you turn the dial to the right, the cooler it gets, and the more energy it consumes. Conversely, if you turn it to the left, it doesn’t use as much power, but meats and other perishable food items can spoil quicker in the chilling unit.
Energy Saving Mode
Some newer refrigerator models come with an energy-saving mode that, as the name suggests, reduces energy consumption. This mode typically cuts overall energy usage of the fridge by 10%, though it varies from model to model.
PRO TIP. Refrigerator doors can swing closed, but they have yet to come with an auto-shutting feature. However, you can adjust the feet of your refrigerator so that it slants backward at just one or two degrees. The force of gravity will slowly draw the refrigerator door closed. Do this at your own risk.
What About Stand-Alone Freezers?
Now, let’s talk about stand-alone freezers since some of you may only be looking for a freezer unit for your home. There are four types of stand-alone freezers to choose from: chest freezers, drawer freezers, upright freezers, and portable freezers. Here are quick descriptions of each type.
Chest
Chest freezers are the most economical type. They also take up the least amount of floorspace in your kitchen, but they’re storage compartments are large enough to store large items like meats and frozen vegetables. Their door swings upward, and it can take some time to rummage through the contents before finding what you’re looking for.
Drawer
Drawer freezers are typically found in commercial kitchens. They’re much larger and have several drawers where different types of food items are stored. The drawers are used to separate meats, vegetables, ice, ice cream, and other items to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. You might not need to consider getting a drawer freezer unless you have the floorspace to spare and if you’re tired of digging elbow-deep into chest freezers.
Upright
Upright freezers are another residential-grade freezer. They’re roughly the same size as chest freezers, but their doors swing forward instead of upward, thereby requiring clearance in front and to the side for the door. This type of stand-alone freezer comes with racks to separate food items.
Portable
As the name suggests, portable stand-alone freezers are easy to transport due to their smaller size. This, however, means they store fewer items, but they’re great to have in small apartments, dorms, and garages.
Should I Get a Stand-Alone Freezer?
Assuming you already have a refrigerator to keep your food items thoroughly chilled, then yes, it won’t hurt to have a stand-alone freezer at home. These units are a lot more economical than fridge-freezer combos in terms of price, how much floorspace they take up, and energy costs.
However, because they’re freezers, they’ll chill everything inside of them until they become rock-solid. This is not the right appliance to have for storing milk, juice, leftover pizza, and other items you wish to partake in in the near future.
FAQs
1. When should I replace my refrigerator?
After 10 years. As refrigerators get older, they consume more energy to maintain lower temps, which in turn can spike your energy bill. There’s a huge different in costs between maintaining a decade-old fridge for two or three years and purchasing a new refrigerator with energy-saving features.
2. When is the best time to purchase a refrigerator?
If price is your biggest concern, then you should know that manufacturers typically roll out their latest models in between September and January. This is also the ideal time-frame to get a discount on older models since retailers will need to clear up inventory space for the latest releases. However, you should always keep your eyes peeled for price slashes at random times.
3. What are signs that my refrigerator needs to be replaced?
Even though we established that refrigerators should be replaced after ten years, this is only a rough estimation. Indicators that your fridge has passed its prime include accelerated spoiling of food due warmer inner temps, huge blocks of ice forming on the inner lining of the freezer unit, the motor is running at full speed most of the day, the fridge’s exterior is hot to the touch, and an excess of condensation buildup in the chilling unit. Before the ten-year mark, you might be able to get it fixed, but after that, it’ll be pricier to repair than to replace.
4. Is a bigger fridge better than multiple smaller ones?
Yes, but you should try and utilize as much of the storage space available. For instance, a 20-cubic-foot fridge is wasting energy on unused potential by storing only 10 cubic feet of food items. Two 6-cubic-food refrigerators would be better in this case. However, a 10 or 12-cubic-foot fridge would be ideal in this situation.
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Sources:
Safe Food Handling. FDA.gov, 2021.
