GE GTS22KGNRBB Top-Freezer Fridge Review

The GE GTS22KGNRBB is a fridge with a pretty clear identity. If you’re looking for the latest smart features, dispensers, or luxe extras, this one is definitely not for you. But, if you just want a solid fridge without the fluff, this GE model is a pretty solid pick at its price point.

About the GE GTS22KGNRBB top-freezer fridge

Dimensions: 66.38” x 32.75” x 34.5” (H x W x D) Finishes: White, black, slate ($100 extra), black slate ($100 extra), stainless steel ($100 extra) Measured capacity: 10.12 cu. ft. fridge capacity, 5.56 cu. ft. freezer capacity Dispensers: None User manual: GE GTS22KGNRBB top-freezer fridge manual

What we like

Stable temperatures keep your food fresher, longer

In our lab, one of our most important tests checks the fridge’s temperature consistency. Between regular use, which allows warm air to rush in, and its own defrost cycles, a refrigerator's temperatures can vary quite a lot. This poses a danger in that temperature shifts invariably reduce the lifespan of your food. A warm fridge promotes bacterial growth; likewise, frozen items warming slightly before refreezing is what creates freezer burn.

Fortunately, the GE GTS22KGNRBB has surprisingly stable temperatures in both of its compartments. Its fridge compartment had about half as much temperature oscillation as the average refrigerator; its freezer temperature wandered about 67% less than average.

The freezer can cool down pretty quickly

Taking our lab's temperature test a bit further, we discovered that the GE GTS22KGNRBB takes 93 minutes to get down to an ideal temperature from a starting point of room temperature. For context, it takes the average freezer somewhere between 90 and 100 minutes to do the same task, so the GE GTS22KGNRBB performed quickly.

These stats matter because whenever you open the door to your freezer, cold air escapes and warm air infiltrates its main compartment. In order to prevent these temperature spikes from affecting your food's integrity, a great fridge is able to quickly cool everything back down again.

There's a lot of freezer space

An average top-freezer typically doesn’t offer much in the way of usable storage in its coldest compartment. On average you’re only able to access somewhere between 3.5 and 4.0 cu. ft. of space.

However, the GE GTS22KGNRBB one-ups its competition by giving its owners a full 5.56 cu. ft. of prime real estate. This gap isn't huge, but if you use your freezer a lot, you'll value every cubic inch of viable storage space.

Large families and households that buy and store in bulk may be in the market for a truly massive freezer, and the GE GTS22KGNRBB isn't quite there. Instead, we'd forgo a top-freezer and recommend checking out a side-by-side or French door style.

Crispers will keep your veggies fresh

One of our tests investigates how good the crisper drawers are at retaining humidity. Prematurely-wilted greens can be easily prevented by a good crisper, which helps stop food waste.

In the case of the GE GTS22KGNRBB, the crisper retains moisture 75% better than the average fridge. If your diet tends to consist of a lot of fresh veggies, this fridge keeps produce perky.

What we don’t like

The freezer runs a little warm on the default temperature

We calibrate fridges to manufacturer settings for our tests. Ideally you’d use a thermometer to precisely calibrate your specific fridge, but most users don’t do that.

When we measured temperatures in the freezer section, we found they tended to hover around the 4°F mark. This is warmer than the ideal 0°F temperature and can lead to problems with freezer burn.

Fortunately, the fix for this is pretty simple. Simply calibrate your freezer a notch colder than the recommended settings.

What owners are saying

Owners typically like their GE GTS22KGNRBB, awarding it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars across major retailers. Many users said it was a great “garage fridge,” but otherwise their praise was fairly nonspecific.

The most common complaints were that it was noisy, lacked features, and didn't have many customizable storage options.

Warranty

GE covers its major appliances for one year of parts and services. This is the standard warranty in this product space. Other manufacturers will sometimes ensure different parts for longer.

Should you buy the GE GTS22KGNRBB top-freezer fridge?

Yes, if you want a solid, no-frills fridge.

While some fridges try to cram in every available extra feature and sometimes need to make trade-offs for performance, the GE GTS22KGNRBB instead focuses on just being a solid fridge. It doesn’t have some of the usability features we sometimes like to see, like flexible shelving or storage options, but it is capable of maintaining steady, cool temperatures. Its lack of extra features probably helps knock down its purchase price.

While we’ve reviewed other bare-bones fridges that are cheaper, those sometimes have performance issues that can result in end unexpected food spoilage. The GTS22KGNRBB doesn’t suffer from these problems, and though it does cost a bit more, we still think it’s a pretty good value for what it offers.

If you just want a cheap fridge, there are alternatives out there. For example, the Insignia NS-RTM18WH7 costs almost half what the GTS22KGNRBB does and still manages a solid performance, and the Whirlpool WRT318FZDB offers some better storage options.