When they’re good, refrigerators are a blessing that every member of the home benefits from. But dealing with an outdated fridge—or even worse, one that needs repair—is all it takes to drastically impair the function of a kitchen. Once that happens, the clock starts ticking on the race to find a replacement and to get your kitchen back in working order.
Looking to save some time on your search? Then give this refrigerator buying guide a read. Inside, you’ll find expert advice on what to expect when shopping for a new refrigerator, plus a look at seven of the best refrigerator brands in our catalog, along with a recommendation from each.
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At a Glance:
Shopping for a Refrigerator 101
Our Best Refrigerator Brands & Recommendations
Refrigerator Shopping: What You Should Know
It doesn’t take much pondering to understand why a fridge is a necessity in any home. Identifying a good fridge from a lemon, though—that’s a harder target to pinpoint. While we proudly stock brands we trust at Spencer’s TV & Appliance, the truth is not all manufacturers are created equally. Instead, consider models that provide the following incentives:
⊳ Longevity of produce: Specialized compartments (especially ones with humidity/temperature control) are indispensable features that will keep you from throwing out food and your money.
⊳ Easier experience: How do the controls work? Are they easy to find and use? You should ask the same in terms of drawers, water filters (when applicable), cleanup both inside and out.
⊳ Thoughtful use of space: We love fridges that offer nifty storage solutions, like convertible shelves, flip-up trays, and in-door caddies, as well other space-saving features, like slim ice makers.
⊳ Cooling: The number-one job of a refrigerator is keeping your food fresh and cool. While regular evaporators do the job, dual-evaporators deliver superior performance tailored to the freezer and fridge independently. This not only keeps each chamber at ideal temperatures but it prevents odors from transferring from each area (i.e., no fishy ice cubes).
Our Best Refrigerator Brands & Recommendations
With standout performance and features to help keep your foods fresh, these seven refrigerator models are standouts we highly suggest you consider as your next upgrade or replacement.
Best Overall: Frigidaire Refrigerators
Popular. Accessible. Affordable. These are just a few of the reasons we believe Frigidaire refrigerators are perhaps the biggest value for food preservation on the market. In fact, we recommend the brand so much, we made a list of our top Frigidaire refrigerators. The brand manufacturers three distinct lines, each progressing in price range with upgrades to match. The Frigidaire refrigerator line with a full stock of styles at entry-level prices, followed by Frigidaire Gallery and Frigidaire Professional, with models starting at $2,899 and $3,199, respectively.
Regardless of the series, Frigidaire touts 100 ways to stock and store items inside each model, and since most models are 20 cubic feet in capacity or larger, Frigidaire fridges are great for family households.
✓ Recommended Frigidaire Refrigerator: Frigidaire® 25.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Standard Depth Side By Side Refrigerator (FFSS2615TS)
Bulk up on groceries without the fear of them getting lost, thanks to this Frigidaire refrigerator with a side-by-side design that places every item on clear display. The generous 25.5-cubic-foot interior with wide shelving and a system of storage bins provides a handy spot for all your foods, and with 100 ways to rearrange its configuration, it’s easier than ever to fix tall and awkward items. For a refreshing finish to this top-rated fridge, pour water from an in-door ice and water dispenser that uses advanced filtration for great-tasting water at your demand.
Features:
- Store-More shelves
- Store-More gallon door bins
- PureSource 3 ice and water filtration
- Finishes: White, Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel
Best Value: Whirlpool Refrigerators
Another brand that’s heavy on value is Whirlpool, as detailed in our spotlight of the best Whirlpool refrigerators. With over a century of heritage behind its name, this American manufacturer has mastered the art of creating refrigerators that scale back on the frills in exchange for models designed for the needs of the everyday kitchen.
Not only will you find a rich variety of styles, configurations, and sizes in the Whirlpool refrigerator lineup, but with Whirlpool 30-inch refrigerators starting at $770, buyers have access to a selection of standard-size fridges that don’t break the bank.
✓ Recommended Whirlpool Refrigerator: Whirlpool® 11.6 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Counter Depth Top Freezer Refrigerator (WRT112CZJZ)
Whether you’re downsizing or updating your cozy kitchen, this apartment-size Whirlpool refrigerator is the perfect addition. You’ll enjoy fridge essentials, including two glass shelves and gallon-size door bins, plus a sleek presentation with reversible doors and a counter-depth design for a tidy look that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Features:
- Gallon door bin
- LED lighting
- Reversible doors with sleek pocket handles
- Adaptive defrost
- Reversible doors
- Finishes: White, Black, Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
Best Splurge: LG Refrigerators
Sometimes, it’s worth it to spend a little more on an appliance in order to get an experience that’s on another level. In the case of LG refrigerators, you’ll still find fridges starting around $750 for the budget shopper. But to experience the technology that has made LG a winner of prestigious accolades like the CES Innovations Award and a winner of the Energy Star Emerging Technology Award, we recommend saving up to savor the results.
With exclusive features like InstaView Door-in-Door, Wi-Fi compatibility, and Dual Cooling for precise freezer and fridge climates, LG stands apart in the market. Plus, with models providing up to 31 cubic feet of capacity, these appliances are workhorses that handle the food storage needs of virtually any size household.
Learn More about Luxury: Our Favorite High-end Brands
✓ Recommended LG Refrigerator: LG 29.5 Cu. Ft. PrintProof™ Stainless Steel Smart Wi-Fi Enabled French Door Refrigerator (LRMVS3006S)
Reimagine the way you store food. This LG refrigerator switches it up with convenient storage features, starting with an exclusive InstaView Door-in-Door that provides easy access to the items your family enjoys the most, all while keeping cold air in the main compartment. Below, the Full-Convert drawer with five flexible temperature settings gives you the option to freeze or refrigerate, while Smart Cooling Plus technology ensures every zone within its 29.5 cubic feet of capacity is at optimum climate settings.
Features:
- InstaView Door-in-Door
- Full-Convert drawer
- Dual ice maker with Craft Ice
- ThinQ Wi-Fi compatibility
- Energy Star qualified
- Finishes: PrintProof Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel
GE Refrigerators
✓ Recommended GE Refrigerator: GE® 27.0 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator (GNE27JYMFS)
A GE refrigerator can be a valuable asset to any kitchen, case in point this French door model with an easy-access door design and a total of 27 cubic feet of capacity. A full range of storage options inside makes organizing produce and foods simple, while spill-proof shelving keeps maintenance to a minimum.
Features:
- Humidity-controlled drawers
- Quick Space shelf
- Gallon door storage
- Multiflow Air System
- Energy Star compliant
- Finishes: White, Black, Slate, Stainless Steel
Samsung Refrigerators
✓ Recommended Samsung Refrigerator: Samsung 21.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator (RS22T5561SR)
This Samsung refrigerator is an exciting departure from traditional refrigeration and a step forward in modern refrigerator technology that tech-lovers will particularly enjoy. Its signature feature is the Samsung FamilyHub door with Wi-Fi compatibility that lets you use the fridge as an interactive platform for recipe ideas, calendar planning, and even online grocery shopping. This touchscreen refrigerator also features everything you need to keep food fresh and tasty, from advanced air and temperature distribution to an energy-saving performance recognized as an Emerging Technology Award winner.
Features:
- FamilyHub
- Multi-vent All-Around cooling
- Adjustable shelves
- In-door ice and water dispenser
- Energy Star certified
- Finishes: Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel
Maytag Refrigerators
✓ Recommended Maytag Refrigerator: Maytag® 24.5 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint-Resistant Stainless-Steel Side-By-Side Refrigerator (MSS25C4MGZ)
Everything you need to properly store your fresh and frozen ingredients can be found in this Maytag refrigerator model and its gorgeous, side-by-side presentation. On the exterior, a smudge-proof finish and water and ice dispenser showcase style and function, while the 24.5-cubic-foot interior goes to work to accommodate all your food items. Keep foods fresh for longer with humidity-controlled crispers, a deli drawer, and special freezer features, including dedicated frozen pizza storage and soft freeze function for pints that are always ready to scoop and serve.
Features:
- Store-N-Door ice dispensing system
- Exclusive Maytag metal shelf
- FreshLock Crisper
- EveryDrop water filter
- Strongbox hinge design
- 10-year limited parts warranty
- Finishes: White, Black, Stainless Steel
Hotpoint Refrigerators
✓ Recommended Hotpoint Refrigerator: Hotpoint® 15.6 Cu. Ft. White Top Freezer Refrigerator (HPE16BTNRWW)
A classic top-freezer design on this Hotpoint refrigerator is a nice reminder that simple can be a good thing. For those who like their appliances straight and to the point, this model delivers with 15.6 cubic feet of no-guess organization, including adjustable shelves, gallon door bins, and fruit and vegetable crispers. Basking in LED lighting, foods are easy to find, while an Energy Star performance rating will help keep the cost of operating down even if you linger with the door open.
Features:
- Adjustable shelves
- Sleek pocket handles
- Energy Star certified
- ADA compliant
- Made in the U.S.A.
Related: 3 Recommeded Refrigerators for Apartments
Our Selection Process
Whether you’re updating or replacing, you depend on a fridge that will last and that provides features that make the experience delightful. For that to happen, we focused on refrigerators that centered around these core attributes:
Capacity
Generally, the more capacity a refrigerator has, the better, but how that space is utilized also matters. That’s one reason Frigidaire fridges and their ability to configure their interiors over 100 ways rank so high in our scorebook, and the same reason we value features like LG’s Door-in-Door function. Having intelligent “hacks” to optimize the inside of a refrigerator proves to be a handy perk users will appreciate when, say, holiday platters and entertaining call for flexible storage.
On the other hand, smaller fridges work best when they stick to a simple design. Take our Hotpoint refrigerator pick, for example. Its modest 15.6 cubic feet of capacity strikes a fine balance between extreme value and function, which we ultimately found ideal living situations with low food storage demands on a setup that doesn’t make stocking a cumbersome duty.
Performance
Of course, performance and features are the main priority when it comes to shopping for a refrigerator. In our search for the best refrigerator brands, it became clear it’s not just how many features each model comes with—it’s also how the users like you rate them. And that goes double when dealing with how successful a feature is at preserving food (you know, the thing a fridge was made for doing).
In the end, we stuck with models that were able to create an enhanced experience while also extending the life of your groceries.
Refrigerators FAQ
Q. What brand of refrigerator has the best ice maker?
According to our appliance experts, these are the five best refrigerators with ice makers on the market. A special mention to manufacturers like LG with Craft Ice technology capable of sculpting orbs of ice that add a touch of fun and professionalism to cocktails. But we’re still fans of fridges that can dispense classic and crushed ice cubes, too!
Q. Where is the best place to buy a refrigerator?
With the largest stock of appliances at the best prices in Arizona, Spencer’s TV & Appliance is where shoppers go to find a reliable refrigerator in the Phoenix area. See why our buyers continuously trust in our product specialists when it comes to selecting the right appliance for each specific need in our testimonial page!
Why Trust Us?
It’s buyers like you that have made Spencer’s TV & Appliance the largest independent appliance retailer in Arizona. It’s our commitment to providing you with reliable home goods that has pushed us to get there. Unlike big-box appliance stores, we provide services on a one-on-one basis to understand the exact needs for your next purchase for the home.
Shop Reliable Refrigerators at Spencer’s TV & Appliance
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we specialize in providing our shoppers with the best appliances, home electronics, mattresses, and home water treatment services available to Arizona.
Shop today to explore our entire catalog online or by visiting one of our appliance showrooms, including locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and Scottsdale!