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Reviewed / Beko / Haier / Samsung
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Credit:
Reviewed / Beko / Haier / Samsung
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Learn more about our product testing
The Haier HA10TG21SS is a high-performance budget fridge. What it lacks in extra features it makes up for in steady temperatures. Read More
This 18-cu. ft. fridge has spot-on temperatures for food preservation and a flexible freezer that can be made into a separate refrigerator zone. Read More
This inexpensive top-freezer combines a great look with some solid performance in a compact package. Read More
With high-end features such as a monochromatic finish on the exterior, glass shelving, and a third drawer, the Whirlpool WRT311FZDM offers more than the average top-freezer fridge. Read More
The Frigidaire FFHT1425VV is a smaller fridge that preserves your food with no muss and no fuss. Read More
When you’re shopping for a fridge, strolling through a home improvement store can be overwhelming. Surrounded by rows and rows of fridges that more or less look identical, it's easy to pick one at random—after all, they're just boxes that keep food cold, right?
We do have a ranked list of the best refrigerators we've ever tested. But, sometimes you don't want—or need—a fancy French-door fridge. When it comes to top-freezer fridges, our favorite is the Haier HA10TG21SS (available at Best Buy for $656.99) , which is a good fit for people who want a basic fridge with steady temperatures at a bargain price.
Steady temperatures
Inexpensive
Interesting crisper tech
Low overall storage
Freezer requires calibration
Energy efficient
Glass shelves
Fridge temperatures can run a little warm
Great size for smaller spaces
Good temperature consistency
No ice maker
Maintains stable temperatures
Large freezer
Freezer runs a little warm on the default setting
Steady temperatures
Good storage options
Good value for its performance
Light on features
Recommended temperatures run warm
Maintains consistent temperatures
Flexible temperature zone
Small crisper drawers
We're Reviewed's appliance testing team. Between us, we've spent years testing major appliances, and today we’ve turned our attention to top-freezer refrigerators.
We have plenty of experience testing refrigerators in our lab, and we also make sure to use them just like you’d use your own fridge over the course of a day. This combination of rigorous, objective scientific testing and subjective user experience helps give us a holistic view of how each top-freezer refrigerator behaves.
We spend a week putting each refrigerator through its paces, testing and scoring over 50 aspects of fridge design and performance.
To create an ideal testing environment, our temperature- and humidity-controlled testing chamber maintains temperatures of 72°F +/- 5°F, with a relative humidity of 50% RH +/- 15% RH.
A standardized testing environment ensures each fridge can perform at its best, as extreme hot or cold conditions can affect how the fridge disperses its heat, and therefore its performance.
We also pack the fridge with water-filled containers (since fridges operate best when stocked with objects that can hold in the cold).
Next, we use an array of sensors and meters to track the temperature consistency in both the fridge and freezer, the rate of humidity loss in its crispers, and how much energy is used. We also manually measure the usable storage space to ensure consistent, cross-comparable metrics across manufacturers.
It’s obviously important to measure before buying anything of a substantial size for your home. This rule goes double for anyone attempting to slot their new fridge into an existing cutout in their countertops and cabinetry.
A common oversight is the fridge’s height, as those tend to be more or less the same regardless of manufacturer. It’s easy to ignore this measurement up until the exact moment you realize you need to fit a 70” fridge under a cabinet with only 68” of clearance.
You’ll also want to leave an inch or more around the sides of the fridge, to help with air circulation and keep your fridge operating at peak efficiency.
The term “counter-depth” refers to how much your fridge will stick out past your cabinetry.
There’s no standardized “counter-depth” number, so measurements vary between manufacturers, but a full-size fridge could be up to six inches deeper than its counter-depth counterpart. This shallow build allows counter-depth fridges to sit more flush with your cabinetry, but also means you’ll have less interior storage space compared to a full-size model.
One more thing to consider: Despite being smaller, a counter-depth fridge will often cost more than its non-counter-depth counterpart.
If the prospect of using less water and energy is appealing to you, top-freezers are some of the most efficient options for a new fridge.
Typically, the more complicated your fridge (in features and design), the more energy it uses. Because top-freezers generally don’t have as many features or complications as bottom freezer models or side by side fridges, they also tend to have some of the lower energy requirements.
We recommend checking the Energy Star rating for any refrigerator you’re researching, to get an idea of what its resource requirements are.
While you can still find black, white, and bisque refrigerators at most stores, stainless steel is a more popular style right now. Whatever your preferences, you should be able to find a refrigerator that fits in with your kitchen.
Top-freezer fridges are among the most budget-friendly refrigerators on the market: Most hover around the $1,000 mark, with basic models generally available for less—sometimes even under $600.
While this is a general rule and not applicable to every top-freezer, if a top-freezer is in the $1,500 range it’s either packed with extras or not providing a good value.
The ideal temperature setting is about 37°F for the refrigerator compartment, and 0°F for the freezer.
It’s important for a fridge to stay at 37°F. Temperatures naturally fluctuate throughout the day, due to defrost cycles and cold air escaping whenever the door opens. If temperatures rise to 40°F or above, bacteria can proliferate quickly. If the temperature dips below 32°F, some items will begin to freeze.
Freezer temperature and consistency is also important. Temperature matters because above 0°F, some foods might not freeze properly. Consistency matters because inconsistent temperatures are what cause freezer burn.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
David Ellerby
Chief Scientist
Dave Ellerby is Reviewed's Chief Scientist and has a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester. He has over 25 years of experience designing tests and analyzing data.
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.
Leigh Harrington has more than 20 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on writing, but mostly editing, consumer ed content and product reviews.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book.
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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