How to Choose a Refrigerator You Will Actually Like
Photo courtesy of abcwarehouse.com
Last updated
June 24, 2026

Our team uses AI to gather and suggest products, but our experts ensure every recommendation meets our high standards.

Key considerations

Buying a refrigerator usually happens in a panic when your old one dies. That rush leads to bad choices, like buying a massive unit that sticks out six inches past your counters or getting a trendy layout that makes no sense for how you cook. The smartest shoppers focus on three things: internal layout, ice maker reliability, and dimensions. Pay attention to how the shelves adjust and where the ice maker lives. A simple design often lasts years longer than a complex one.

The Standard French Door

Most people end up with this layout because it puts fresh food at eye level and handles wide items like pizza boxes easily. You want at least 25 cubic feet of space for a family of four. Look for adjustable split shelves so you can fit tall pitchers without losing an entire row of storage.
Bosch 800 Series Refrigerator
Top Pick 4.5
Bosch
Bosch

Bosch 800 Series Refrigerator

Best premium appliance for modern kitchen designs.

This counter-depth refrigerator delivers a seamless, built-in look that elevates any kitchen aesthetic without the custom cabinetry price tag. It prioritizes sleek, flush integration and precise temperature management, though you will have to sacrifice some internal storage depth compared to bulkier, protruding alternatives.

Samsung Bespoke RF23BB8600 Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.4
Samsung
Samsung

Samsung Bespoke RF23BB8600 Refrigerator

Best high end refrigerator for design conscious homeowners seeking a custom look.

This is the rare appliance that prioritizes aesthetics without sacrificing utility, offering a sleek, flush-mount look that hides a surprisingly high-tech interior. You sacrifice the sheer cavernous volume of a standard-depth fridge, but you gain a sophisticated, customizable centerpiece that keeps your kitchen looking curated rather than cluttered.

Beko Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.5
Beko

Beko Refrigerator

Best high performance refrigerator for families prioritizing produce freshness and modern style.

This counter-depth unit prioritizes food preservation with advanced humidity and light-based technologies that extend the life of fresh produce. It offers a sleek, fingerprint-resistant exterior and a flexible internal layout that adapts to various storage needs without sacrificing style.

KitchenAid French Door Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.5
KitchenAid
KitchenAid

KitchenAid French Door Refrigerator

Best high end refrigerator for homeowners seeking a seamless built in look.

This counter-depth unit delivers a seamless, built-in aesthetic without the custom cabinetry price tag. It prioritizes interior elegance with a premium platinum finish and metallic accents, while the smudge-resistant exterior ensures the kitchen stays looking clean. It is a sophisticated, high-performance choice for those who value both visual appeal and consistent food preservation.

Start a search:
french door refrigerator

Flush Counter Depth Options

Standard fridges jut out into your kitchen walkways. A counter depth model sits flush with your cabinets to give you a built-in look for thousands less. You sacrifice about five cubic feet of storage space. This means you have to be more organized and buy groceries a little more frequently.
LG French Door Refrigerator
Top Pick 4.5
LG
LG

LG French Door Refrigerator

Best counter-depth refrigerator for modern kitchens needing a seamless, built-in look.

This counter-depth fridge delivers a seamless, built-in aesthetic that instantly elevates a kitchen's profile. While you sacrifice some total volume compared to bulkier standard-depth models, you gain a streamlined, modern look that fits flush with your cabinetry without sacrificing essential smart connectivity.

Unique Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.5
Unique

Unique Refrigerator

Best retro-styled refrigerator for families seeking modern, energy-efficient kitchen design.

This fridge brings the charm of 1950s design into the modern era without sacrificing the convenience of frost-free operation. While you trade a bit of industrial minimalism for its bold, retro aesthetic, you gain a striking focal point that handles family-sized storage with ease.

CAFÉ Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.3
CAFÉ

CAFÉ Refrigerator

Best side-by-side for homeowners seeking a seamless, custom-fit kitchen aesthetic.

This counter-depth refrigerator delivers a high-end, built-in aesthetic that sits perfectly flush with your cabinetry. While you sacrifice the cavernous depth of standard models, you gain a streamlined, custom-look kitchen that feels intentionally designed rather than just installed.

Smeg French Door Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.3
Smeg
Smeg

Smeg French Door Refrigerator

Best high end refrigerator for design conscious homeowners

This is the rare appliance that balances high-design minimalism with serious culinary utility. While it lacks the retro flair of its smaller counterparts, you gain a sophisticated cooling system and specialized storage zones that actually keep ingredients fresh longer. It is a sleek, quiet workhorse for the modern kitchen.

Start a search:
counter depth refrigerator

Reliable Top Freezer Designs

If you just need something to keep food cold without breaking down, this is your category. These lack fancy features and ice dispensers through the door. That simplicity makes them incredibly reliable and cheap to fix. A standard 18 cubic foot model easily handles groceries for two people.
Diamond Propane Refrigerator
Top Pick 4.7
Diamond
Diamond

Diamond Propane Refrigerator

Best high capacity cooling solution for dedicated off grid living.

This is the gold standard for off-grid living, offering the reliable, spacious cooling of a standard kitchen fridge without needing a single watt of electricity. You sacrifice the convenience of a plug-in appliance, but you gain total independence, making it the ultimate solution for remote cabins and long-term wilderness setups.

EZ Freeze Natural Gas Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.7
EZ Freeze

EZ Freeze Natural Gas Refrigerator

Best heavy duty cooling solution for off grid homeowners.

This is the ultimate cooling solution for off-grid living, ditching the electric grid entirely in favor of natural gas. You trade the convenience of a standard plug-in model for total independence, gaining a silent, reliable appliance that keeps your food cold even when the power lines end.

SunStar ST-10RFW
Runner Up 4.6
SunStar/SolarFreeze

SunStar ST-10RFW

Best high efficiency cooling solution for off grid living enthusiasts

This is the ultimate off-grid cooling solution that refuses to compromise on performance. By splitting the cooling system into two independent zones, it gives you the rare flexibility to toggle between fridge and freezer modes. It’s a smart, efficient workhorse that bridges the gap between remote living and modern convenience.

SunStar ST-16RF Refrigerator-Freezer
Runner Up 4.6
Sunstar

SunStar ST-16RF Refrigerator-Freezer

Best high capacity cooling solution for off grid living enthusiasts.

Engineered for off-grid reliability, this unit utilizes a dual-compressor system to provide independent temperature control for both compartments. Its thick insulation and flexible power input options make it an ideal choice for remote locations where energy efficiency and consistent cooling are paramount.

Start a search:
top freezer refrigerator

Vertical Side By Side Storage

This style splits the appliance down the middle. It gives you more freezer space than a French door model and makes organizing frozen goods much easier. The catch is the narrow width. You will struggle to fit wide platters or large frozen pizzas on these shelves.
Samsung Bespoke AI Side-By-Side Refrigerator
Top Pick 4.4
Samsung
Samsung

Samsung Bespoke AI Side-By-Side Refrigerator

Best smart refrigerator for tech savvy families seeking modern kitchen design.

This is less of an appliance and more of a command center for the modern kitchen, turning your fridge door into a smart home dashboard. While the tech-heavy interface might feel like overkill for some, the seamless integration of inventory tracking and hands-free access makes it an undeniable upgrade for busy households.

LG LL27T3530S Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.3
LG
LG

LG LL27T3530S Refrigerator

Best modern appliance for tech savvy home chefs.

This LG side-by-side refrigerator offers a spacious 27 cu. ft. capacity with smart features and a fingerprint-resistant finish. Its dual ice makers and convenient dispenser provide chilled water and ice, while the ThinQ app offers remote control for enhanced convenience.

Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.4
KitchenAid
KitchenAid

Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Best side-by-side refrigerator for large families needing organized, fresh food storage.

This massive side-by-side is the ultimate workhorse for busy households that prioritize volume and organization over high-end aesthetics. While it lacks the sleek, counter-depth profile of modern luxury units, it makes up for the bulk with rock-solid temperature stability and a layout that keeps your groceries visible and accessible.

GE Cafe CZS22MP2NS1 Refrigerator
Runner Up 4.4
GE Cafe
GE Cafe

GE Cafe CZS22MP2NS1 Refrigerator

Best high end refrigerator for design conscious homeowners.

A sleek, counter-depth option that prioritizes a seamless, built-in aesthetic without sacrificing storage flexibility. It balances high-end customization with practical, spill-resistant organization, making it a strong choice for those who value both kitchen design and daily convenience.

Start a search:
side by side refrigerator

Metto aggregates product information from across the web and recommended based on criteria. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

Continue with a custom search...

Use what you learned in this guide to find more products tailored to your preferences and priorities.

Stay in the loop

New feature alerts, shopping guides and suggested products delivered straight to your inbox.