Credit:
Reviewed / Frigidaire
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Credit:
Reviewed / Frigidaire
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Though it requires calibration, this fridge will offer remarkably consistent temperatures and is one of the best values we've seen. Read More
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If you're upgrading or outfitting a new kitchen, there's a good chance you're looking for stainless-steel appliances. While this finish has become the norm, it still bumps up the price on budget models that feature white or black fronts.
When it comes to getting nice aesthetics to match great food preservation, that can be a bit tougher to achieve on a budget. Fortunately, there are some refrigerators out there that have that sleek stainless-steel finish and a price low enough that your wallet won't feel empty.
After testing the best refrigerators in our labs, our favorite pick for the best stainless-steel refrigerator under $2,000 is the Hisense HRB171N6ASE (available at Lowe's) , a bottom-freezer fridge that offers big value.
Maintains consistent temperatures
Temperature-controlled drawer
Retractable shelves
Lacks through-door dispensers
Excellent temperature control
Extra freezer drawer provides organizational options
Low overall storage
No dispensers
Counter-depth
Steady temperatures
Great value
No extra features
Lower capacity
Maintains even temperatures
Low electricity demand
Lots of fridge storage
Freezer is a bit small
Steady temperatures
Inexpensive
Interesting crisper tech
Low overall storage
Freezer requires calibration
Steady temperatures
Lots of storage
Shelves and bins don't have many options for repositioning
Can maintain consistent temperatures
Flexible temperature zone
Black stainless steel finish
Have to stoop to access crispers
Not much in the way of storage
Near-perfect temperatures
Through-the-door ice and water
Excellent value
Less storage space than average
No smart features
Steady temperatures
Through-the-door dispenser
Good storage options for a side-by-side
Recommended settings are a bit warm
The typical way manufacturers state storage capacity isn't reflective of how much storage space you can actually use. Because of this, we manually measure each compartment and to calculate how much storage space you're actually getting.
We have lots of experience testing refrigerators in our labs, but we also use them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives. This gives us a great sense for what refrigerators are good values at their price points and which have really useful extra features.
To ensure that each refrigerator we test is operating at its best, we conduct our testing in a lab that conditions the air temperature to 72°F +/- 5°F and relative humidity to 50% RH +/- 15% RH. Additionally, we pack each fridge with water-filled containers because fridges operate better when there’s less empty space.
Over the course of a week, we measure each refrigerator in five areas:
We also use each fridge in a more casual sense so that we can answer usability questions about the fridge’s specs and features, like the fridge and freezer doors, shelves, controls, water/ice dispenser, and extra features.
If a refrigerator keeps the temperature at a perfect 37°F, but it’s very difficult to open the doors and the control panel makes no sense, we’re going to penalize that fridge with respect to its ease of use.
The answer to that question depends on the person. Some people have a larger budget, which gives them greater choice. Others are limited by the footprint of their kitchen.
The general benefits and drawbacks of refrigerator types could help you determine which is best for you, but if you’re looking for a stainless-steel fridge, you could find options in each type.
French-door refrigerators have a modern look and wide shelves for storage. They often have many features. They are also often more expensive than other types of refrigerators.
Top-freezer refrigerators are typically less expensive than French-door models. In general, they are energy-efficient, but some people might find them lacking in aesthetics. Bottom-freezers have a lot in common with top-freezers, except the location of the freezer.
Side-by-side refrigerators keep food at eye level. Typically, fridge storage space is more limited than with other types, but freezer space can be large. Also, temperatures are likely to vary more from top to bottom in side-by-side refrigerators.
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 a fridge gets too cold, then some food could freeze. Fridge temperatures of 40°F and higher are dangerous because that's the temperature at which bacteria really start to proliferate quickly.
If your freezer gets warmer than 0°F, it means your food isn't being truly frozen. If temperatures in your freezer fluctuate too much, then you risk freezer burn.
Use a mixture of soap and warm water, plus a cloth for day-to-day cleaning (fingerprints, smudges, and the like).
When things get grimy, you’ll need to do a little bit more to clean your stainless-steel refrigerator. Here are the basics:
Use hot water: Dampen a cloth with hot water and wipe the refrigerator down.
Kyle Hamilton
Product Tester
Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.
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.
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.
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