Refrigerator Types – Which Should I Buy? How To Determine The Best Style For You!
No, not the fridge! Not the divine preservation box of all things perishable! …A moment of silence for those fallen comrades of modern convenience. If you are here as a result of losing your refrigerator to the march of time or irreplaceable parts, our condolences go out to you. Though whether you are looking to get a replacement asap or just browsing what’s out there, this information will help you on your hunt for a new refrigerator.
For starters, it’s good to know what is available and what your needs are so you can narrow the scope of your appliance hunt. Read on to learn more about the different refrigerators types to help you determine which behemoth is up to the job of safe-guarding your cuisine, snacks, and raw ingredients.
Types of Refrigerators
The 4 most common types of refrigerators include: top freezers, bottom freezers, side-by-side, and French door. These styles offer you different ways to organize your refrigerator and freezer items. Think about what best suits your needs based on the space you have, your cooking habits, and the amount of storage you need.
Top Freezer/Top Mount
This style is the most common one, and it is both more wallet-friendly and offers good storage space for its size, which tends to be a bit smaller compared to other styles. A top freezer style might be ideal for you if your food lifestyle involves less cooking, or if you commonly use pre-made frozen meals or eat out often.
Bottom Freezer
Do you cook often and need easy access to ingredients? A bottom freezer would likely suit you better since you’ll be using your refrigerator more often to grab vegetables or meat that you’ve defrosted. It will also provide you with easy access to your leftovers. As it is similar to a top freezer type, it also lies on the more affordable end of the spectrum.
Side-by-Side
Perhaps you go to your freezer as often as your fridge. A side-by-side type is a refrigerator that has two long doors, where the freezer is on one side and the refrigerator is on the other. The narrow doors allow this fridge to work well in tight spaces. This type tends to be pricier, but on the plus side, this type also commonly has special features like a water dispenser and ice maker. The side-by-side type also tends to be available in larger sizes, which is better suited to bigger families or places with multiple occupants.
French Door
A French Door refrigerator combines the elements of a side-by-side and a bottom freezer fridge. These refrigerators are pricier compared to the top or bottom freezer types but are also ideal for storing larger refrigerator and freezer items. With the ability to open one door at a time, the amount of cold air that escapes is reduced in comparison to a single full-width door. French door refrigerators may also feature sliding drawers within the fridge, freezer, or both. This style is also the most modern and can come with a variety of features to suit your needs like Wi-fi connectivity.
Refrigerator Features
When you determine the style of refrigerator you want to purchase, you should also consider any additional features you want it to have. If you are looking for a refrigerator with specific features, like a water dispenser or advanced temperature and humidity controls, this will limit what styles you can choose from.
Some features you may want to consider include:
- Ice maker
- Door-within-door
- Water dispenser
- Smart technology/advanced settings
- Touch screen
- Custom controls
- Energy star certified
- Door locks/alarms
Things to Keep in Mind
The space you have is the most important factor to consider when choosing a refrigerator style. Make sure to measure the height, width, and depth of space you have with consideration of space for opening the refrigerator doors or special features. You will also need to measure the space of your doorways, which may force you to choose a more compact size refrigerator even if you have room for something larger. You don’t want to choose something that won’t even make it through your front door!
Also consider the cubic size of the refrigerator you will need. A refrigerator with around 15 cubic ft or storage will serve a 2-person household that prepares cooked meals more frequently. You should also add an extra 4 cubic feet per additional person. The fridge size you need will vary greatly on your household size and cooking habits, so keep this in mind as you research different types.
We hope you’ll find this information helpful in your search for a new refrigerator! If you’re looking to save more, we offer high-quality used appliances at unbeatable prices! Stop by our showroom in Providence, Rhode Island or shop our appliances online to browse our selection of refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, dryers and washers, and more!
