Buying a refrigerator is not as easy as it may seem. There are many different models and features to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you? In this guide we will go over everything you need to know before purchasing a new refrigerator.
What’s the point of owning a house if your fridge can’t keep up with your culinary skills? We’ll get into that in just a minute, but first let’s talk about what really matters when shopping for an appliance.
Refrigerators are among the most essential kitchen appliances for many people. With cold beverages and snack foods for when you’re thirsty or starving, a nice refrigerator will make your day so much happier. Since you need to find a model that matches your requirements and budget before you buy, it is important that you pinpoint one that fits those specifications.
Three main types of refrigerators
There are three main types: side-by-side, top freezer, or bottom freezer.
Side-by-sides are best for people who have limited counter space but want more room inside their fridge compartment. They have two large doors on both sides of the fridge.
Advantages of side-by-side refrigerators are that they allow for easy access to both the fridge and freezer sections; meaning you can get ice cream out of the freezer and eggs from the fridge without having to open both doors.
Bottom freezers are better for people who want to store items in bins and containers because it is more difficult to see what you have stored inside.
Top freezer refrigerators have two doors that open at the top with a compartment underneath, which means they take up less space than side-by-sides but may not be as good for getting into the back corners of your refrigerator easily.
Top freezers work well if you’re short on space but still want a place to store beverages on top; and bottom freezers are perfect for people who want extra storage in the fridge.
Features to consider before buying a refrigerator
How do you know which refrigerator is right for you? The answer to this question really depends on your personal needs, but we will try to guide you by highlighting some features that are more important than others.
Look at the size of your space and the number of people in your household before buying a new refrigerator. How much storage room do you need? What appliances would be good additions or replacements? What’s your budget like? All these questions should be considered before deciding.
Size of the refrigerator
The first thing you’ll want to think about is the size of your space. The average kitchen has a refrigerator that’s 30-inches wide, but there are models available for those with tighter spaces as well. Take into account how much room you have and then take a look at what types of features may or may not be helpful for your situation.
Choose a refrigerator that will fit into your kitchen and provide enough space for everything you need to store. The freezer compartment should be deep enough to accommodate a whole pizza box, and the fridge should have three or more shelves inside.
A large capacity refrigerator might sound like it would offer the most storage space but this is not always true. A lot of manufacturers make “large” refrigerators by just making them taller, meaning they have less storage space than what they could if they were wider.
Temperature control
The next thing that is important when looking at a refrigerator is whether or not it has controllable temperature settings. All refrigerators will have the option to set a default temperature for both the fridge and freezer.
Some models, however, allow you to adjust these temperatures separately or even split them into two separate zones that can be controlled individually. Most refrigerators have three main temperature settings: warm, cold, and fresh food storage. Look for one with different drawers to give you more options on how to store your groceries at the perfect temperature.
Some people want their freezer as cold as possible so they don’t lose ice cream or milk while others need more room in their refrigerator for fruit and vegetables which means they might prefer a warmer setting so that food doesn’t spoil before it is eaten.
If you live in an area that has very hot summers or cold winters, a climate controlled refrigerator will help keep your food at the right temperature year round.
Storage space and capacity
Most refrigerators come in one of three sizes: 18 cubic feet, 27 cubic feet, or 33 cubic feet. The size you need depends on the number of people in your household and how much food you typically buy each week. Smaller homes might not need a large refrigerator because most families only use the fridge for storing drinks and some leftovers so it doesn’t take up much space but for those who want to store more food they should opt for a large one.
Refrigerators vary greatly also in terms of customizability of the storage space. Refrigerators have a number of shelves and drawers, some of which are perfect for storing everything from bottles to condiments. If you or your family eats of a lot of vegetables, you should pay attention to the size of the deli drawer. A deli drawer should be wide enough to fit a whole cucumber or a large tomato.
If you want to keep a lot of items in your refrigerator, you will need shelves that are deep enough to store more than just milk and eggs. If you’re looking for a new refrigerator, it’s important to measure the depth of what will fit in order to make sure it will work with your existing shelving or cabinets.
Energy efficiency
Most new refrigerators come packed with energy saving functions that save you money on your energy bills and even let you know when the refrigerator needs to be defrosted.
Noise level
Modern refrigerators are much quieter than the older models. The sound of a refrigerator can be very annoying and you should look for one that is as quiet as possible. The sound of a compressor kicking in is especially loud, and if you live in a small apartment it could even wake you up at night. A standard volume level for a new refrigerator is around 40 decibels.
Water dispenser
Many new refrigerators have a built-in water dispenser. This is great for convenience and it also gives you the ability to filter your own water, which may be healthier than using bottled water.
Some refrigerators have ice dispensers, which could come in handy in the summer. Side-by-side refrigerators often have an ice maker that makes about 5 pounds of ice per day.
Freezer
If you eat a lot of frozen food, you need to make sure that the freezer compartment is up for the task. The biggest freezer storage is generally found on side-by-side or French door refrigerators.
Adjustable shelves
Adjustable shelves are great for maximizing space. For example, if you only want to buy a few packages of deli meat and cheese each week, adjustable shelves will allow you to put them in the door rather than all on one shelf where they’ll take up more room.
So, how do you know which one you should choose?
These are some of the questions you should ask yourself when considering a new refrigerator.
- How much space do I have in my kitchen?
- How much do I want to spend on a new refrigerator?
- Do I need extra features like water and ice dispensers or energy efficiency?
- How quiet do I want my refrigerator to be?
We hope this guide was helpful! Thank you for reading and good luck in finding the refrigerator that best suits your needs.