Getting started
Bottom-freezer models, which put the most-used refrigerator items at eye level, is the fastest growing category overall. Nearly all brands now offer French-door versions with side-by-side refrigerator doors above the freezer, along with four-door models that add an extra drawer between the double-door fridge and single-drawer freezer. You'll also find more models with slide-out glass shelves, temperature-controlled compartments, and stainless-steel exteriors for less than $1,000. This refrigerator guide will help you choose one that works best for your kitchen.
Efficiency is on the rise
Energy Star refrigerators must be at least 20 percent more efficient than the minimum required by federal standards, while some models exceed those standards by even more. Despite those advances, refrigerators still use more electricity than any other kitchen appliance because they're always on. The familiar yellow EnergyGuide labels and Energy Star symbols are a useful guide. Our energy-efficiency Ratings take usable volume into account and are more helpful, particularly when comparing across different refrigerator categories. Our tests also detail how well refrigerators perform as well as how much energy they use in the process.
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