Refrigerators, which are indispensable fixtures of a house, are one of the household appliances that have the most impact on our daily pace and health. A wrong choice or wrong use, it doesn’t only cause kilograms of food to be wasted but also does damage our budget and nature with unnecessary energy consumption. So, what should we pay attention to when buying a refrigerator for our home?
The main task of the refrigerator is to keep the food fresh. The most important issues to consider when choosing a new refrigerator are that food is easily placed, easily available when needed, and has innovative technologies that help keep the food fresh for a long time. In this aspect, we need to choose the most efficient product by paying attention to the positioning in our kitchen and the size of the area where the refrigerator will be placed.
The same volume of the two compared refrigerators doesn’t mean that we can always load the same amount of food. In this respect, the choice of the refrigerator should always be considered net, not gross. At the same time, instead of evaluating the total net volume, considering the volumes of the refrigerator and freezer compartments separately according to the needs will bring you one step closer to the right refrigerator. For example, if you have a freezer that you use independently, the freezer compartment may also see your need for a smaller refrigerator.
Spoiled food causes waste and leaves a bad smell in the refrigerator. With such models with anti-bacterial features, your refrigerator will not smell bad, as it wouldn’t be forming mold and fungi. The most important point to be considered when purchasing anti-bacterial system products is that the anti-bacterial coating is on the entire interior of the refrigerator.
Shelves and baskets in the refrigerator should be useful as well as technologies that will prevent your food from spoiling. It is beneficial to choose models that can easily fit pots, large plates, and large fruits such as watermelon in the refrigerator you will buy.
What About a Smart Fridge?
Smart refrigerators have a touchscreen interface and the ability to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi to provide a host of additional features. Smart refrigerators have built-in cameras, more flexible user-controlled cooling options, and allow you to use your smartphone or tablet while away from home. It can even connect with other smart devices in your home such as some smart speakers, smart TVs, and even your smart dishwasher.
To keep in mind that every smart refrigerator has different features, there are some things in common with some models. Some of them are listed like this;
- Coordination programs for each member of the family,
- Study recipes and have your refrigerator read the steps while cooking,
- Create grocery lists that sync to your smartphone in real-time,
- Set expiration dates and get notifications to use food while it’s fresh,
- Upload photo for image,
- Create individual profiles to send personal notes and to-do lists for each family member,
- Use a whiteboard option to leave a message for your family,
- Transparent touch screens allow you to look inside the refrigerator without opening the door,
- Giving a heads up when the door is left open.
Refrigerator Door Styles
The Bottom Freezer: This refrigerator type is one of the classic double-door refrigerator models in which the freezer compartment is at the bottom. It has been designed based on the eye level and easy accessibility for an adult individual. In terms of ergonomic usage and comfort, it’s efficient to have the cooler compartment at the upper part since it will be required more during the day. The bottom-freezer would be a rational solution as that section is used less frequently and the access distance remains at the lowest level in terms of ease of use.
Compared to top freezer refrigerator models, the bottom freezer models have a larger storage area. One of the disadvantages is that they are often more pricey compared to the top freezer models. If there is a vegetable section just above the freezer, the freezing effect coming from the bottom can cause problems in contrast with the temperature of the crisper.
The Top Freezer: Top freezer models are the classic type of refrigerators that come to mind when talking about double-door refrigerators; freezers on the top and the coolers just below them. They are cheaper compared to other models, and this is one of the features that make this type of model stand out. You can find more alternatives for this type, therefore, they are models where you can collect the most data about the space and volume allocated in your kitchen, and evaluate the options. Accessing the part where the crisper and fruits are located in the fridge compartment may be more troublesome than other types of refrigerators, as a matter of fact, it will be necessary to lean to the ground level. Compared to the bottom freezer refrigerator types, the freezer compartment capacity is limited.
Side-by-Side: As the name suggests, this type of refrigerator is split down the middle with side-by-side doors. With this model, there is usually more space available on the fridge side. Because the door clearance area is significantly less than a more traditional refrigerator, these refrigerators are a great fit for homes with a narrower kitchen. However, the freezer might cause a little bit of a problem as the shelves tend to be narrower, making it hard to get what is in the back without pulling everything out.
The French Door: Most French door options have at least one lower drawer that stores frozen items. Some models have multiple drawers below the fridge that is temperature-controlled, from chilled to frozen. You can store larger items like trays and pizza boxes without a vertical divider in the fridge. In that way, French door models typically offer a little more room in the fridge section than compared to side-by-side models. There are additional storage bins on the shelves as well.
What About Energy Efficiency?
The higher the energy efficiency rating, the lower the energy consumption. When buying a refrigerator, the efficiency is achieved best when considering freezer placement since maintaining the ideal temperature is directly related to energy consumption.
To give an example, the top freezer models are farther away from the compressor, which means they can maintain ideal temperatures using less energy.
French door refrigerators are also energy-efficient since you open one side at a time. With one door open, only one side needs to cool back down instead of the entire fridge. This causes less energy to be required to keep the refrigerator cool on a daily basis.
Best Refrigerator Brands and Reviews
LG LSXS26366S Side by Side Refrigerator
This is one of the best side-by-side refrigerators and we will tell you why. The door-door-in door technology gives you more room to keep your goods cool. The interior of the main fridge features humidity-controlled crispers that provide the perfect space to keep fruits and greens fresh and in perfect condition while a smart cooling and multi-air flow system that maintains fridge conditions to keep your fresh food at optimum temperature. There is also a LED lighting which gives you an energy-efficient way to see what’s inside without heating up the interior light. This model comes with brilliant storage space, gallon door storage, dairy center, and deli meat drawers. Spill-safe glass shelving is adjustable to make the most of your space.
RCA RFR835-Black 3.2 cubic ft. 2 Door Fridge and Freezer
We have suggested traditional-sized refrigerators but what about the smaller ones? With 2 reversible doors for both the freezer and the cooler, this compressor-cooled refrigerator will keep your products cold no matter what the exterior temperature is. The fridge includes pull out shelves and a vegetable drawer compartment while the side of the door includes a beverage can dispenser. You can use this model in your office or dorm room but also if you have a small space, don’t use your kitchen often
or if you want to make an extra addition to your already existing refrigerator, RCA’s mini fridge is ideal for you.
Haier HRF15N3AGS 28 Inch French Door
Spacious enough to fit all of your groceries, this is not so ideal for a large family. This refrigerator runs wonderfully, holds up well to smudgy fingerprints, and also runs quite silent. Two of the bins are fixed while one is adjustable. It has convenient freezer storage, dehumidifier, and pocket inset handles.
Samsung RF28HMEDBBC Energy Star French Door Refrigerator
The FlexZone drawer gives you 4 temperature options and a smart divider, making it perfect for storing everything while keeping the items on every shelf evenly cooled. LED lighting is designed to beautifully light up the interior of your fridge so you can quickly spot what you want without worrying about the cool air escaping the fridge for too long. The fridge has an external ice dispenser and a water dispenser for chilled and filtered water. Samsun doesn’t only offer large capacity with this 28.2 cubic feet
refrigerator but also offers 2 humidity-controlled crispers, 5 spill-proof shelves with one of them being adjustable, and 6 door bins. Practical, stylish and energy-efficient!
Summit 28 in. 14.8 cubic ft. Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
This easy to use counter depth model brings incredibly efficient solutions with full storage convenience to small kitchen spaces. The stainless steel doors with pocket handles offer a clean look. Easy temperature management is provided by the digital control panel. When not in use during vacation or other extended periods of inactivity, Summit offers a holiday setting which allows the refrigerator to run at warmer temperatures to help save energy. The glass shelves are adjustable, which gives you the control to space management.
Frigidaire 22.1 cubic ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator
There are two-paddle design water and ice dispenser in the left door which is pretty convenient and easy to use. With gallon door storage, crisper drawers for fruits and vegetables, this side-by-side model makes it easy to stay organized with a large capacity. The 2-door model offers the freezer on the left and the refrigerator on the right. The shelves are spill-free, containing the spill and preventing spillover which makes it easier to clean the interior.
