Refrigerator Reviews – A Comparison of Refrigeration Options

The refrigerator freezer is a critical part of any homes kitchen.  When buying a new appliance, most purchasers desire a fridge that serves them well for many years.  They seek minimal hassles due to breakdowns, combined with excellent functionality. The best way to maximize your chances of getting a model that meets their needs is to examine a range of refrigerator reviews. Read below for some basic information, or click this link for more examples.

There are many different types of refrigeration units for consumers to explore.   Below, I discuss some of the more common configurations and review their suitability for particular applications.

Counterdepth Refrigerator Reviews

If you are the type of shopper who is keen on aesthetics, you may want to consider a counter depth refrigerator for your home.  These units are built I such a way that they are the same depth as the typical kitchens cabinetry. Usually two feet, although sometimes a little more.

Since they don’t stick out past the rest of the kitchens accoutrements they don’t break up the lines of your kitchen.  Many people find this arrangement more pleasing to the eye than the form of deeper fridge freezers.

These models are usually rather expensive, and are many times only available in the premium portion of a manufacturer’s product line.  Their limited depth has the unfortunate effect of reducing the total volume of the units. Thus, the chief drawback of these models is that their capacity is often rather limited for the price.

Some of the better counter-depth refrigerator models can be found in the extensive GE Monogram refrigerator range.  Kenmore and Frigidaire may be better options if you want this style on a budget however.

Refrigerator Reviews – Freezerless All Refrigerator Models

If you have no need for a freezer, then the purchase of a freezerless refrigerator is a great option.  More commonly found in commercial settings than residential, they are nevertheless potential candidates for in home use.  Big families, in particular, may find the large capacity of these units appealing.

I would also recommend one of these units if you already have ample freezer space, but are short on refrigerated volume.  Naturally, you will need a fair amount of floor space if you are going to have multiple chilling devices in your home; but apart from that consideration, they are well worth owning.

Maytag, Electrolux and Whirlpool refrigerators all produce highly regarded Freezerless refrigerators , reviews for most of them are pretty positive – a simple refrigerator without a freezer unit has a lot less complex parts and is thus less likely to suffer a breakdown than other options.

Refrigeration Reviews – UnderCounter Refrigerators

Used mainly in kitchens with limited space, an under-counter refrigerator is installed in a similar manner to a home’s dishwashers.  They are sized to slide conveniently beneath a kitchen countertop – offering a convenient cold storage niche convenient to your food preparation area.

Since these units are installed in a tight space, they have to be specially designed to handle the lack of ventilation beneath a countertop.  This has the unfortunate effect of driving up the price of models of this type considerably.

Combine this price with the fact they are all very small – they are only a few feet tall after all – then you have a refrigeration type that cost a lot of dollar per cubic foot of capacity.  This really makes them unsuitable for most people.

If you have limited space, you can get a cheap portable refrigerator and stick it in a corner somewhere for a lot less money.  That would save you a lot of money, even if it wouldn’t look quite as classy.

I can recommend this type of unit for people who utilize a wheelchair.  Since they are low to the ground, they allow easy access for the mobility challenged.

They also are good choices for people with very upscale kitchens looking for additional refrigeration space beyond their main unit.  If you have a kitchen like this then you may find the high price of an under counter fridge to be no obstacle.

Some of the best-reviewed refrigerators of this type are from the brands U-Line and Summit.  Sub Zero also produces several models of this type as part of their collection.

Models from firms such as Summit, SubZero and U-line are frequently used as supplementary refrigerated storage beyond a kitchens main fridge freezer.

Wine Refrigerator Reviews

Not as common in homes as some of the models discussed earlier are wine refrigerators.  Reviews for these can be somewhat confusing if you are not up to speed on wine jargon, but this is not that big a deal for most.

If you don’t know your wine terminology, then odds are you are not investing in expensive vintages.  This means that most any wine fridge may be fine for you.  If you just want to cool wine so you can drink it, there is no need to purchase a fancy appliance to do it.  Even a Walmart model should suffice.

If you are the type of person who has expensive wines, then odds are you know a lot more about wine storage than I do!  Thus, I won’t try to discuss the pros and cons of various features such as light, humidity and temperature control.

I will however mention some manufacturers that are well known for their wine cooler appliances.  VinoTemp, Sunpentown and Edgestar have quite a selection, many of which have excellent reviews.

Vintage Refrigerator Reviews

Retro is in!  Well, for some of us anyway.  Old style fridge freezers are a niche market, but there will always be certain people willing to pay for that retro look.  There can certainly be no doubting that a brightly colored refrigerator with the old school curving doors has a lot of charm.

Some people will simple get hold of a genuine vintage fridge for their kitchen.  This can potentially be a very cheap option if you can find a source.  However, if you need to go to any kind of ‘décor’ store they will probably sell at a premium.

One thing to keep in mind is energy use.  Even refrigerators that are ten years old use a lot more electricity than modern units do. If you start going back 50 years or thereabouts for your appliances, you are going to feel the pinch in your wallet when your utility bill comes.

Those seeking the retro look in a modern package can choose a refrigerator from Smeg.  This manufacturer makes brand new fridges freezers with the charming looks old.  I don’t think I would buy one of these units myself, but I willingly concede they are rather attractive in the right setting!

Fridge Reviews – Portable Options

Mobile refrigerators can easily be relocated when times call for it.  Many different styles of this fridge can be found both in stores and online, suitable for many different uses.

These include propane refrigerators, 12 Volt refrigerators and 3-way refrigerator capable of running off several power sources.  These very versatile models have many positives, but unless you are an outdoors type will be of limited use to you.

Even a typical small fridge that requires mains power can be used as a portable fridge.  You might want one of these to use in a college dorm, or maybe in your TV room.

With all these different forms of refrigerator, reviewing the different types before making a purchase decision is key to ensuring you end up with a model that is right for you.

 

Refrigerators By Size

It’s difficult for consumers to gauge what constitutes the right fridge type if in the first place they don’t even know what they really need to buy.  The wide selection of refrigerators available in appliance showrooms and retail outlets does not help either; while it is true that they provide lots of options, chances are that narrowing the selection down to the best refrigerator candidates can be somewhat exhausting.

Examining the common refrigerator sizes and types of refrigerator models may offer you a more holistic approach in determining what you really want to have from a fridge.

Probably the most distinct refrigerator size is the mini fridge design.  Most often than not mini fridges are portable, and thus very convenient for those people living alone in temporary rented spaces.

Compact refrigerators have a different defining touch to them – they are slightly bigger than mini fridges and perfect for two to three persons.  Compact fridges are likely top freezer designs, cheap and affordable although the undercounter fridge design is sometimes classified as compact due to its space efficient features.

Apartment refrigerators are those fridges that can accommodate a storage capacity up to 10 cu. ft., more or less.  They are streamlined and narrow in design and perfect for nuclear families.

Considered to be the conventional and standard among common refrigerator sizes are the types that have a storage capacity of 15 to 25 cu. ft.  This fridge can take the form of any fridge type – side by side, French door, top freezer, bottom freezer and many more.  Anything that goes beyond that storage capacity range is usually the luxury types of fridge.

You can categorize refrigerators by sizes, if storage capacity is the main focus of your fridge hunting.  According to refrigerator reviewers, choosing the right storage capacity of  fridge accounts for a huge part of customer satisfaction.  While it is true that the market is sometimes divided into small fridges and big fridges, you can go beyond this dichotomy and explore various types of refrigerators by sizes.

Refrigerator Resources

There are many great refrigeration websites on the internet, covering a wide range of topics.

This site on dormitory refrigerators is ideal for anyone who is moving to – or has a teen moving to – college.  It provides information on a variety of college refrigeration solutions.

For Spanish speakers, refrigeracionnava.com is a goto destination.  I am told it is good, but with my poor Spanish I can only take peoples word for this! For an Arabic refrigeration resource consider this Arabic refrigeration site.

If you are into freezer cooking, this once a month cooking site provides useful tips and hints on the type of freezers that work best for bulk food preparation

Free Freezers?  Yes, you can find them – check out this site on free freezers for information on possibilities in this arena.

If you want information on Sub Zero refrigerators, there are many sites to choose from.  The one this paragraph links out to is worth checking out however.

These are just a few of the many great refrigeration resources to be found online.

ARB Outdoor Refrigerators

One of the most popular brands known to produce quality and durable portable fridge freezers in the market today is the ARB refrigerators brand and model. They are quite well known and sought after in America and Australia by many outdoors men and 4 wheel enthusiasts who need a mini fridge freezer for their use while going on long road trips or camping expeditions and such.

These types of refrigerators are also frequently used in boats and recreational vehicles, providing the most basic and important function of preserving and keeping food fresh for consumption and use.  Buyers usually have glowing reviews for these refrigerators.

ARB offers three types of models for their portable fridges which are as follows:

  • 33 quarts model – these types of model weighs 46 pounds, stands 16 inches in height, 24 inches in width and 14 inches in depth which provides for plenty of storage space.
  •  42 quarts model – these models weigh 50 pounds, stands 20 inches in height, 24 inches in width and 14 inches in depth, which only differs a few inches from the 33 quarts model, allowing for more storage space.
  • 63 quarts model – which weighs 70 pounds and stands 17 inches in height, with 31 inches in width and 19 inches in depth, which is the largest model that the company is offering in the market today.

These different models come with new and improved features that can greatly benefit the users. For example, they have new and improved model seals which assure the users that the units are properly sealed thus guaranteeing maximum cooling effectiveness of the unit.

Another benefit that the user is offered is that the unit can be charged or connected to the car battery or a solar setup to provide the power it needs to operate properly and effectively in case the battery runs out. This can come very handy especially when going on long trips like camping and fishing.

Best Buy Refrigerator Collection

There’s no more highly recommended appliance store than Best Buy if open box and clearance sales in refrigerators is what you are looking forward to.  Best Buy refrigerators have always been widely explored by many potential buyers because they have always had many fridges on offer for very reasonable prices, many of them heavily discounted and marked down as bargain sales.

No less important than an affordable price range is the fact that the refrigerators available at Best Buy are guaranteed, and covered by a manufacturer warranty.  Here are some of the things that you may want to know about Best Buy in connection to your goal in finding the right fridge model for you.

  • A  huge variation of refrigerator types are available from this appliance store, including bottom freezers, top freezers, counter depths, French doors, side by side refrigerators, compact refrigerators, refrigerator drawers, and beverage coolers and dispensers.  Even refrigerator parts and accessories such as refrigerator water filters and ice makers are also accessible at Best Buy.
  • Best Buy refrigerators can be easily categorized according to brands.  GE and Whirlpool are considered to be the top brands in terms of the number of models, closely followed by Frigidaire, KitchenAid and Samsung.  Other brands available include LG, Electrolux, Danby and many more.
  • You can also shop at Best Buy by highlighting some of the notable refrigerator features.   If you want a counter depth fridge then there are available designs for you.  Other features that are oftentimes kept in tab by consumers are Energy Star, LED lighting, magnetic doors, water and ice dispensers and many more.
  • Some of the fridge units are eligible for free shipping and delivery, enabling you to save money.  Even more, Best Buy is known for its predilection for open box and clearance sales so watch out in case there are some for this holiday season.

As with any purchase, be sure to check refrigerator reviews for the model you are interested in before handing over your hard earned cash.

GE Refrigerators – Many Options

GE is probably the brand of appliances that can offer you the most comprehensive collection of refrigerators, from the most common ones like top freezers and compact fridges to the most exclusive types like side by side and French door units in various configurations.

Still, the brand is not only known for its all-encompassing fridge collection, varying in GE refrigerator dimensions and sizes, but the brand also has quite a reputation in refrigerator reviews for the high reliability scores of their fridges. That is why it doesn’t come as a surprise that the brand has stayed dominant for so long in the refrigeration industry.  It is that enduring in terms of quality and performance.

As for the GE refrigerator collection, you can get the idea about the brand’s main market interest and style flavor just by skimming over some of GE’s most popular refrigerators.  Aside from quality products, what you get from GE refrigerators is that it’s all about choices.

GE gives you the power to choose refrigerators based on your cooling and storage needs, as well as your stylistic preferences.  Even though there are lots of GE refrigerator dimensions and sizes to consider, there’s always this one GE fridge that looks as if it’s made especially for you.

While it is true that GE fridges are distinctive for their decent refrigeration techniques, design simplicity and cost-effectiveness, what you may not have known yet is that the brand actually has a range of luxury fridge designs that go beyond the usual consumers’ expectations about this brand.

Some of the most impressive designs of GE refrigerators are those that are classified as either French-door or side by side, usually included in the GE Profile design line. The GE monogram range is even more exclusive.

From freestanding refrigerators to built-in fridges, open box fridges to new fridges, Energy Star rated, counter-depth and even wine refrigerators – GE has them all in their showroom.