What to Consider
There are thousands of refrigerators on the market, which can make it a bit overwhelming when you’re shopping. Consider these important factors to narrow down your options and find the best appliance for your kitchen.
Style
There are several different refrigerators styles, each of which offers its own benefits and potential drawbacks:
- French door: With two doors on top and a freezer on the bottom, French door refrigerators generally have a large overall capacity and can accommodate wider items.
- Side-by-side: These fridges have two full-length vertical doors, and they often offer more freezer space than other models. However, side-by-side fridges can’t always accommodate wide items.
- Top freezer: A classic, budget-friendly fridge style, top-freezer appliances have an upper freezer that’s easy to access. However, they require more door clearance and typically don’t include a water dispenser or ice maker.
- Bottom freezer: With a freezer drawer on the bottom, these refrigerators make it easy to access fresh items and are often affordable. They do require more door clearance, though.
Capacity
The capacity of a refrigerator, or how much food it can hold, is typically measured in cubic feet. It can be a little hard to conceptualize, but the general rule of thumb is to allot four to six cubic feet of space per person in the household, plus a little extra. As such, a two-person household would likely be fine with a 12 to 15-cubic-foot fridge, while a four-person family should look for an appliance larger than 20 cubic feet.
Depth
Refrigerators come in two depths: standard and counter-depth. Standard refrigerators typically stick out a few inches from average countertops, while counter-depth models are designed to sit flush with cabinets. The latter option typically offers less storage space.
How We Selected
To find the best stainless-steel refrigerators, we researched highly rated models from trusted brands like Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Samsung, and more. We also checked out tested reviews from our colleagues at Good Housekeeping and referenced trustworthy publications like Wirecutter. We narrowed down our selection to include refrigerators in the most popular styles, as well as a variety of price points, ensuring you can find an option that works for your home and budget.
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This Whirlpool four-door fridge is sleek and modern, and it’s available in either classic stainless-steel or black stainless finishes, both of which are fingerprint-resistant to prevent smudging.
The standard-depth design has a 24.5-cubic-foot capacity, and it features a refrigerated exterior drawer, adjustable door bins, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, and spill-proof glass shelves.
The fridge has a water and ice dispenser on the door, and the high-tech design has a measured fill option that fills up your glass with the right amount of water automatically.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 24.5 cubic feet |
| Style | French door |
| Water Dispenser | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
Pros
- EasyCare stainless-steel finish
- Auto-close doors
Cons
- No ice maker
If you’re shopping on a budget, the Frigidaire 18.3-cubic-foot top-freezer fridge is an affordable option that comes with a sleek, stainless-steel exterior. The top-freezer design has great capacity for a small household, and the exterior resists smudges for easy maintenance.
The fridge also features a half-width deli drawer, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, and auto-closing doors. The only downside is that this appliance doesn’t include an ice maker, so you’ll have to break out your ice cube trays.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 18.3 cubic feet |
| Style | Top-freezer |
| Water Dispenser | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
Pros
- Affordable
- Adjustable drawer
Cons
- Ice maker sold separately
If you’re looking for a basic, affordable fridge, the Whirlpool 17.6-cubic-foot top-freezer fridge is a highly rated option that’s ideal for smaller households. It has a freezer compartment on top, and the fridge compartment features frameless glass shelves, humidity-controlled crispers, and adjustable door bins.
You can even move its Flexi-Slide bin to make space for taller items between the shelves. This fridge can be set up with the Whirlpool EZ Connect ice maker, but this component is sold separately.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 17.6 cubic feet |
| Style | Top-freezer |
| Water Dispenser | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
You can monitor the GE Profile smart fridge right from your smartphone thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi—it even sends you notifications if the door is left open and has an internal temperature monitor.
This high-end fridge has a French door design with an extra drawer that’s perfect for storing drinks, snacks, and more. You can even adjust the drawer’s temperature to suit its contents. Other features of this appliance include hands-free water dispensing, soft-close drawers, easy-clean liners, and a door-in-a-door design with a unique rotating bin.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 27.9 cubic feet |
| Style | 4-door French door |
| Water Dispenser | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
This KitchenAid French door fridge sits flush with your countertops, creating a seamless appearance in your kitchen. The sleek fridge offers a variety of useful features, including an interior water dispenser, a produce preserver that absorbs ethylene gas, humidity-controlled crispers, and a removable wine rack.
Plus, the inner shelves roll out to more easily access items in the back, and they’re stable even when they’re loaded up with food. The only downside is that the stainless-steel exterior isn’t fingerprint resistant, so it’s prone to smudging.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 20 cubic feet |
| Style | French door |
| Water Dispenser | Internal |
| Wi-Fi | No |
If you have a large household, the Samsung French door fridge is an extremely spacious and modern appliance with an attractive stainless-steel finish.
It’s available in both standard and counter-depth models, but the standard-depth option has the larger capacity. This fridge has a unique, four-door design, and the lower-right storage space can be used as either a fridge or freezer compartment.
Other features include an ice maker that makes two styles of ice, an internal beverage dispenser with an auto-refilling pitcher, and a built-in UV deodorizing filter to prevent odors.
Key Specs
| Capacity | 29 cubic feet |
| Style | 4-door French door |
| Water Dispenser | Internal |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she’s tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.
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