How to choose a refrigerator

The refrigerator is possibly the biggest electrical appliance in the modern home and a must-have item for every household. You need it to keep your meats frozen, your vegetables fresh and your drinks nicely chilled. Frankly, it's hard to imagine a household without a refrigerator these days. Refrigerators have also evolved from simple cooling boxes with shelves to stylish state-of-the-art appliances with compartmentalized areas optimized for storing different kinds of food. Some models today even come with built-in LCD TV screens and Internet access capabilities.

Because of its bulky size and rather substantial price tag, buying a refrigerator is often considered a long-term investment. So consider: The space you have, your food storage requirements, and your budget.

The space you have

The first thing to do when buying a refrigerator is deciding where you want to install it. This will help you determine the space available for the refrigerator and thus the maximum unit size you can consider. Keep in mind there should be allowances given for the fridge doors to open fully as well as for proper heat ventilation. Whether the refrigerator can fit through the doors leading to the kitchen is also an important consideration.

Your food storage requirements

Know your capacity:
The capacity you choose really depends on your lifestyle and, of course, the number of people in the house. Those with big households who cook often at home will need a larger fridge for the groceries, while those who hardly do so may opt for a smaller unit. If you often utilize the freezer, you may want to look out for a refrigerator with a larger freezer section for frozen foods. As a rule of thumb, check out the guide below.

Top freezer unit:
This follows the conventional style of refrigerators where the freezer unit is located on top and the fresh food compartment below. Top freezer units are generally known for their high usable capacity and affordable pricing compared to other fridges of similar size. However, the design sometimes makes it hard to reach for things in the bottom refrigerator shelves. Items also tend to get lost at the back of the freezer compartment.

Bottom freezer unit:
Refrigerators with the freezer compartment below are increasingly gaining popularity among consumers due to their more practical design. While they typically offer slightly less storage capacity than similar-sized top freezer units, the frequently used refrigerator section is now at eye level, which makes it more accessible. The freezer section is usually organized in sliding drawers and lift-out baskets for convenient retrieval of frozen food items. Bottom freezer units are also known to be more energy-efficient and provide more consistent cooling throughout.

A variation of the bottom freezer unit is the French-door refrigerator which has side-by-side doors for the refrigerator section and a pull-out drawer for the freezer.

Side-by-side unit:
Side-by-side refrigerators refer to those with the freezer on one side and the refrigerator on the other side. They are very well-received among consumers because they provide easy access to both the freezer and refrigerator, and their narrow doors work well in tight kitchens. Side-by-side models also sport popular built-in features such as water and ice dispensers. However, they are also the most expensive, least energy-efficient, and offer less usable space than the other types. Additionally, side-by-side units usually cannot accommodate large items such as pizza boxes and cakes due to their relatively narrow shelves.

Compact unit:
With their limited storage capacities and minimal features, compact refrigerators are usually designed for small families with low refrigeration needs as well as studio apartment dwellers. They can also be commonly found in dorm rooms, small offices and bar areas.

Other features:
Manufacturers usually add a lot of bells and whistles to entice users, but don't be taken in by the fancy stickers and slick video demos. Not all the features are useful or even necessary in some cases.

• Color/aesthetics: If you don't want the refrigerator to stand out like an eyesore, select a color that blends well with the kitchen decor or choose a neutral color like white, black or metallic silver. For easy maintenance, go for materials or designs that are resistant to fingerprints and scratches.
• Energy efficiency: Refrigerators are one of the biggest users of electricity in the house, contributing as much as 20 percent to the total utility bills each month. To keep running costs to a minimum, look out for models rated with Energy Star compliance certification for best energy efficiency.
• Flexible storage: Many refrigerators now come with nifty integrated features to help you better organize your groceries and optimize the storage space. For instance, height-adjustable shelves can accommodate tall items, while fully extendable trays and drawers offer easy retrieval of food items. Also found in many refrigerators today are tempered glass shelves with spill-proof edges as well as special bins for specific types of food like humidity-controlled vegetable crisper drawers and meat compartments. Other useful features include egg holders, removable freezer baskets, wine shelves and can racks.
• Built-in ice/water dispensers: While these are nice features to have in a refrigerator, ice and water dispensers are known to break down easily and may require plumbing to the water line during installation. Refrigerator models with such dispensers usually cost more, too.
• Other features: Refrigerators come with many innovative features these days, from automatic ice makers and LED display temperature control to soft-touch doors and anti-bacterial technologies. Some models are also equipped with small doors for taking out beverages without having to open the entire fridge door, while others offer compartments that can be customized for use as either a freezer or refrigerator.

Your budget

Sometimes going for the biggest model you can accommodate in the kitchen may not always be the best idea. It will not only cost you more, a larger unit consumes more electricity, meaning higher utility bills. Chances are also high that most people will simply accumulate more stuff in a larger fridge over time, resulting in expired food sitting in the unit. If you really cannot decide what to get or what capacity, make an estimation using your current fridge as a benchmark. Ideally, your new fridge should be able to contain all your food stuff, with space to spare for additional items as well as cool air circulation within the compartments.