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Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
This four-door French-door is one of the best fridges we've tested. It has near-perfect temperatures, great features, and almost no downsides. Read More
The GE GDE25EYKFS has remarkably steady temperatures, useful features, and lots of storage space for a bottom-freezer refrigerator. Read More
If you’re not looking to spend thousands on a new fridge, this top-freezer is a good budget buy that doesn’t skimp on temperature performance. Read More
If you are looking for a fridge that supports Samsung's popular Family Hub smart home system, the RS27T5561SR is one of the best entry points. Read More
This French-door stunner aced our tests, maintaining unwavering temperatures. It also boasts a through-the-door dispenser and smart connectivity. Read More
Surrounded by rows of nearly identical-looking appliances, it can be difficult to find the best refrigerator for your kitchen. That’s why our experts have tested hundreds of refrigerators of all shapes, styles, and designs to determine which ones are worth the investment.
During testing, we consider temperature consistency, storage capacity, and ease of use to be the most important aspects of a good fridge. Our top-rated refrigerator is the Frigidaire Gallery Quattro GRQC2255BF (available at Best Buy for $2,049.99) . This French-door fridge is nearly perfect, offering even temperatures and tons of storage space at a reasonable price.
For those with a different budget, style, and feature preferences, we have plenty of other recommendations that will work in your kitchen.
The Hotpoint HPS16BTNRWW is inexpensive but extremely reliable where it counts.
Closed and open views of the Samsung RS27T5200SR. The freezer on the left side has five shelves and a drawer. The refrigerator on the right side has four shelves stacked over two drawers, plus five door storage bins.
Near-perfect temperatures
Through-the-door dispenser
Smart connectivity
Less storage space than average
Solid temperatures
Lots of fridge storage
Through-the-door dispenser
Its shelves only have a spill-capture lip on their front
Consistent temperatures
Backlit interior
Custom-temp drawer
Smaller capacity
Solid fridge temperatures
Flexible-temperature drawer
Customizable aesthetic
The custom-color panels are a separate purchase
Near-perfect temperatures
Lots of highly-customizable storage space
Effective crispers
A few fixtures feel cumbersome to use
Sleek and modern look
Incredible attention to detail
Flexible compartment that can be fridge or freezer
Inconsistent temperatures
Ice separate from the beverage center
Backlit interior
Flexible drawer with custom temp
Through-the-door ice and water
Maintains consistent temperatures
Interior wood finish
Through-door dispensers
Drawers feel rickety
Maintains consistent temperatures
Temperature-controlled drawer
Retractable shelves
Lacks through-door dispensers
Excellent temperature control
Large fridge compartment
Internal dispensers
Small freezer
Solid fridge temperature performance
Efficient crispers
Excellent extras
Temperatures in the freezer weren't consistent
Poor value
In-the-door Keurig coffee brewing system
Excellent temperature consistency
Humid crispers
Low on storage
We embed sensors in methylcellulose because we're more interested in the internal temperature of your food, which changes more slowly over time, as opposed to the ambient air temperature, which is constantly changing.
Reviewed's appliance testing team has spent years testing major appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers.
We test each fridge in our lab using a data-driven, objective point of view. We've got a detailed report of a refrigerating testing protocol, but we also use the appliances we test in our daily lives, as a regular person trying to get at the leftover Chinese food. These two types of experiences combine to help us recommend the best fridge for you at any price point. It also helps us determine which special features are actually beneficial.
We keep our lab air conditioned to 72°F +/- 5°F (basically, room temperature). We maintain relative humidity of 50% RH +/- 15% RH. This way, each fridge can perform at its best without struggling to function in extreme warm or cold conditions.
We spend a week putting each refrigerator through its paces. We pack them with water-filled containers, since fridges operate better when there’s less empty space. We then measure the fridge’s temperature, humidity loss, freezing time, usable space, and energy use.
A new fridge is one of the biggest investments you make in your kitchen. Here are some things to know before purchasing your new kitchen appliance.
A refrigerator is one of the most notable features of your kitchen, so form may matter to you. Here are the four main types of refrigerators and some of the benefits and drawbacks of each:
One of the most common refrigerator specs is the total capacity in cubic feet. Unfortunately, a higher capacity doesn’t necessarily mean more storage space.
Shelves, drawers, and ice makers can eat into a fridge’s capacity. That’s why we measure usable space—how much room is actually available to store your food and drinks.
If you’re looking to fit your new fridge into an existing enclosure, then getting the right measurements is crucial. The old adage about measuring twice can be applied to refrigerators, because you definitely don’t want to do any cutting to make your new fridge fit your kitchen space.
Refrigerators pull in air and cool it down to temperatures cold enough (usually around 37°F) to preserve food and limit bacterial growth. This cooling method means that fridges are very sensitive to air conditions.
In hot weather, the condenser and cooling coils have to work harder to cool the warmer air. In cold weather, the fridge condenser may not even turn on. If you have a second fridge dealing with extreme temperatures in a garage, you may notice the interior isn’t as cold as the inside of your kitchen fridge.
Ideally, your fridge should be exactly 37°F and your freezer should be 0°F. These temperatures are important because food needs to be kept within a very narrow band of temperatures to maximize its shelf life.
If your fridge drops to 32°F—just 5°F below the ideal temperature—some food in your refrigerator will start to freeze. On the other hand, temperatures of 40°F and higher are dangerous. That's the temperature at which bacteria start to proliferate quickly.
If your freezer gets warmer than 0°F, it means your food isn't being truly frozen. Furthermore, consistency is key: if temperatures in your freezer bounce around, freezer burn can become a huge issue.
While the lifespan of any appliance can vary wildly due to several factors, you should expect your fridge to last about 10 years.
Most manufacturers will at least cover the first year in a refrigerator warranty. Some companies will offer more robust programs that will cover specific parts up to five years, 10 years, or for the lifetime of the product.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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