The refrigerator, also known as a fridge, is one of the most important appliances. It is important to take the time to find the best model. You should consider some questions before buying the right refrigerator. Make sure you know how big should be the freezer. Are you looking for a top-mount freezer or a bottom freezer? Do you need a specialty refrigerator? There are many models to choose from on the basis of size, type, and functionality. Read our refrigerator guide to know the answers to these commonly asked refrigerator questions.
Refrigerator Guide: Important Factors to Consider
It is important to consider a few factors before your final purchase. Read through our refrigerator guide to know how to choose the best refrigerator.
- You need to determine the capacity of the refrigerator
- There are various types of refrigerators in the market. You need to know the right kind of appliance for your needs.
- You need to determine the space you will need for your refrigerator.
Capacity of the Refrigerator
The capacity of the refrigerator is measured in cubic feet and it refers to the interior refrigerator storage capacity for fresh food. The refrigerator will come with an indication of the size of the shelves available. You should also consider the cubic-feet capacity of the fridge and its freezer section.
What Cubic Feet is the Right Fit for Your Home?
It depends on the number of family members, how you shop and cook. You may need more space if you cook from scratch and buy fresh food in bulk. These are some guidelines to help you choose better:
- There will be a minimum requirement of 4-6 cu. ft. of fridge space per person, plus some additional space for holidays or other occasions.
- For a couple who doesn’t cook often at home, they will need 12-16 cu. ft. Whereas a couple who cooks more often at home requires a minimum of 18 cu. ft.
- For a family of 4 members, you will need a minimum of 20 cu. ft. or maybe more.
- Refrigerators of 10 cubic feet are best for small apartments. Anything smaller than 10 cubic feet is considered to be a mini-fridge.
Refrigerator Guide: Types of Refrigerator
There are different types of refrigerators in the market based on three criteria – door arrangement, installation type, and specialty style. Continue reading this refrigerator guide to know about all the refrigerator types available and their functionality.
Types of Refrigerators: Door Arrangement:
Top Freezer Refrigerator
The top freezer refrigerator is the most common style of refrigerator. The freezer unit sits on top and the fresh-food storage unit at the bottom. Most of us remember trying to reach the Popsicles in the top freezer unit as kids. Kenmore Top-Freezer Refrigerator is a nice option that you can check out.
A top-freezer model is not for you if you are looking for something high-end, feature-rich, and modern. Top freezers are great bargains if the style is not a priority.
Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
This is a more recent design. The freezer unit is located at the bottom, with the fresh food storage unit at the top. These are great for seniors and those who have difficulty bending, as most of the contents are accessible at the top.
Bottom freezer fridges use more power because the compressor is close to the freezer. This heat source means that the freezer must work harder to cool down. It is beneficial to keep fresh food and vegetables at an upper level if you don’t eat a lot of meat/fish, etc.
Side-by-side Refrigerator
Side-by-side refrigerator arrangements are becoming popular. A side-by-side refrigerator has two doors that open like a wardrobe and separate compartments inside with the freezer on one side and the fridge on the other. Kenmore side by side freezer refrigerator is a great compact refrigerator that you can have a look at. The freezer is usually located on the left side, but this is not the norm. Temperatures on both sides are not affected by the opening of one door.
You can find them in larger sizes, ranging from 400 liters to 800 liters. Prices are also higher. Higher-end models come with water and ice dispensers outside, so you don’t need to open the doors. The reviews of Kenmore Elite Refrigerator suggest that it is one of the best-ranking refrigerators available in the market.
French Door Refrigerator
A French Door Refrigerator has a refrigerator on the top with two doors that swing outwards from the middle. There is a sliding freezer door beneath. The French Door refrigerator adds a modern touch to your kitchen. The refrigerators have plenty of fridge space, which is easy to access.
The bottom freezer setup allows for large blocks of storage and the ability to only open one refrigerator door at once, which prevents cool air escape. Some models have a drawer-style freezer. Others may also include French doors in the freezer section. French doors need a smaller swing space and, just like the standard bottom freezer models they also have a lot of flexibility in accommodating large or wide items.
The reviews of Haier French Door are positive for this model as it offers electronic temperature control and allows precise temperature settings. It has got good reviews for its active smart technology.
Freezerless Refrigerator
If you have a good standalone freezer, or your family is large, or you need more storage space, a Freezerless Refrigerator is a great option. It is also cheaper than buying a fridge/freezer combination.
The Freezerless fridge is more spacious for refrigeration because the freezer section doesn’t take up any space. The unit’s efficiency rating is also higher and power consumption is reduced as it runs at a single temperature.
Types of Refrigerator: Installation Type
Counter-Depth Refrigerator
Counter-depth refrigerators are closer to your kitchen countertops with a depth of 24-30inches. They are shallow as compared to traditional refrigerators that have a depth of 30 to 36 inches. Counter-depth refrigerators have a wider footprint. They are usually wider and taller than the traditional refrigerators to compensate for the narrower depth.
These refrigerators are designed to have the same storage capacity as full-size refrigerators but they don’t extend beyond your cabinets and counters. The counter-depth refrigerators’ box is meant to align with your cabinets’ front edges. The door will not extend beyond the cabinets, giving it a sleek as well as a customized look.
Standard-depth Refrigerator
Standard depth refrigerators are less expensive and have more capacity. These refrigerators are freestanding refrigerators that simply refer to the refrigerator as a separate unit. It does not attach to your kitchen’s cabinetry. These refrigerators offer greater flexibility, mobility, as well as higher depth. They do not offer the same custom-built-in look as counter-depth counterparts.
Built-in Refrigerator
Built-in refrigerators are becoming more popular in high-end kitchens. They are a great way to create a custom kitchen look. These refrigerators are ideal to install inside the cabinetry up to 24 inches in depth. They can have widths up to 48″.
Although they are expensive, many built-in refrigerators don’t have the same depth as standalone models. This means that you will often need to go wider. These refrigerators are available in many colors to choose from and not just stainless steel. You can install them with custom cabinet panels to create a seamless look.
Types of Refrigerators: Speciality Style
Undercounter Refrigerator
An under-counter is a small-sized appliance with a height of 34 inches. These refrigerators offer many of the same features as full-size refrigerators but are smaller and compact.
Under-counter refrigerators are not just for dorm rooms but also for small offices and break rooms. These refrigerators are good to use for product displays in commercial settings as well. In residential settings also the under-counter fridges are highly in demand for many functions.
You can use compact outdoor refrigerators in the patio and outdoor cooking areas. Many home entertainment areas need small refrigerators to store snacks and drinks, so you can easily access them without having to go to the kitchen. A compact refrigerator can be a useful addition to your guest rooms.
Mini Refrigerator
Are you looking to furnish your office, home theater or provide additional cooling in an area of the home like the garage? Reviews of Euhomy Mini refrigerator mark this model as one of the best compact refrigerators available on the market. A mini-fridge is a great, affordable option. They come in a variety of sizes and capacities, but they are all designed to fit under a desk. They can be either built-in or standalone, just like their full-size counterparts.
Wine Refrigerator / Beverage Refrigerator
Wine coolers are also known as wine caves. They chill wine until it is at the right temperature for serving. A wine fridge is cheaper than a whole wine cellar, but it’s smaller. You can still find them in a variety of sizes, from a small fridge to a large refrigerator.
The temperature, humidity, and vibration are the main distinguishing elements between wine refrigerators and conventional refrigerators. Wines are sensitive to temperature changes. So, a wine that you store in cold or extremely humid places could lose its flavor.
Regular fridges can quickly drop the temperature and eliminate humidity. Wine cellars and wine fridges treat their contents differently. A wine refrigerator lowers the temperature of its contents slower and maintains an ideal level of humidity for wine.
Ice-maker
An icemaker is a kitchen appliance that makes large amounts of ice at home. This allows you to save money on ice when you host parties or other special events at your home.
Chest Freezer / Upright Freezer
You can often place Freezer-only appliances in a chest or upright arrangement. You can use them as a second freezer and then set them at a low temperature to deep freeze foods for long-term preservation. These freezers are often stored in a basement or garage. You can arrange standalone freezers in the same way as a regular fridge, with one swing-opening door. You can also commonly find them in a chest shape that opens from a hinged door at the top. Although most chest freezers are rectangular in shape, some compact models can be cub-shaped. The storage capacity of chest freezers is between 10 to 25 cubic feet.
Space required for Refrigerator
Size is the most important factor to consider when shopping for a refrigerator. Measurements of height, width, and depth are only the beginning. Make sure that you consider the space needed to fit the door hinge, door opening space, ventilation space, and how the refrigerator will be positioned in the kitchen and house. You should measure the entire route that your refrigerator will need to reach the kitchen.
Refrigerator Guide: Conclusion
No matter what fridge type you choose to buy, measure the space available to ensure that you find a product that fits in your space. You should also ensure that your new fridge matches your kitchen’s overall aesthetic: handles, finishes, and general style should all be compatible with your other appliances. We hope this refrigerator guide has answered all your questions to help you buy the right refrigerator model.
Globalideas rates and reviews hundreds of kitchen appliances like bottom freezer refrigerators and beverage refrigerators on the basis of durability, capacity, and overall performance.
