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Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The GE GDE25EYKFS has remarkably steady temperatures, useful features, and lots of storage space for a bottom-freezer refrigerator. Read More
Though it requires calibration, this fridge will offer remarkably consistent temperatures and is one of the best values we've seen. Read More
If you’re in the market for a basic bottom-freezer refrigerator with excellent temperature performance, the Whirlpool WRB322DMBM is for you. Read More
This is a great bottom-freezer. It has good performance and bright interior lights. It does lack extra features, but that helps keep its price low. Read More
This sleek LG bottom-freezer refrigerator delivers just enough features to be a good value, but lacks bells and whistles we expect of the brand. Read More
Whether you’re a new homeowner or just in the market to replace your refrigerator, shopping for fridges can be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking online, or actually in-store surrounded by rows and rows of fridges that look nearly identical, panic may set in.
Not to worry. In our labs at Reviewed, our experts have tested hundreds of refrigerators, from French-door to side-by-side to these here bottom-freezer refrigerators. While each style has its own set of technical pros and cons, there's also a subjective element to it based on what you need in your home.
We do have a list of the best refrigerators we've ever tested. But when it comes to the specific bottom-freezer style fridges, our favorite is the GE GDE25EYKFS (available at Lowe's for $1,399.00) , which is an amazing deal on a fridge with some of the steadiest temperatures we've seen outside high-end models.
Steady temperatures
Excellent crispers
Some of the components feel cheap
Even temperatures
Effective crispers
Some fixtures feel a bit cheap
Built-in ice maker
Two gallon-sized door bins
Humidity-controlled crispers
No water dispenser
No smart features
Full-width shelves lack customization
There are four main types of full-size fridges.
If your refrigerator just died, chances are that you're in a hurry to replace it. But first, there are some things to know before buying a new refrigerator.
There are four major styles of refrigerator: top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French-door, and side-by-side. Top-freezer fridges are the most basic. They're also the least expensive.
If you’re reading this article, it’s because you are considering buying a bottom-freezer fridge, where the fridge door opens to the side, and the freezer door pulls out like a drawer. While French-door model fridges also have a bottom-oriented freezer, their refrigerator compartments are accessed via double doors, leading to different organization and features.
Some kitchens benefit from a single fridge door rather than a set of French doors, which is why we’ve separated them into two distinct lists.
Bottom-freezer fridges are mid-range refrigerators when it comes to price. Unless you’re talking higher-end brands like JennAir or Bosch, most fall between $800 to $2,000—and that’s because they often lack the extra touches you'd see on more expensive column or French-door fridges, such as a water dispenser, a flex drawer, or smart features.
Ideally, your fridge should be exactly 37°F and your freezer should be 0°F.
These temperatures are important because food needs to be kept within a very narrow band of temperatures to maximize shelf life. If your fridge, for example, were to drop to 32°F—just 5°F below the ideal temperature—some food in your refrigerator will start to freeze.
On the other end of the spectrum, temperatures of 40°F and higher are dangerous, because that's the temperature at which bacteria really start to proliferate quickly.
If your freezer gets warmer than 0°F, it means your food isn't being deeply frozen. Furthermore, if temperatures in your freezer bounce around, that will greatly exacerbate the build-up of freezer burn.
While the lifespan of any appliance can vary wildly due to several factors, you should expect your fridge to last for about 10 years.
Most manufacturers will at least cover the first year in their warranty, but some companies will offer more robust programs that will cover specific parts up to five years, 10 years, or for the lifetime of the product.
This is a somewhat ambiguous question that we get asked a lot.
If you’re looking to fit your new fridge into an existing enclosure, then getting the right measurements is crucial, and not particularly difficult. The only area people generally get tripped up by is the door: If the front of your fridge is flush with your cabinetry, you won’t be able to open the door properly unless it has special articulating hinges that don’t require clearance to open.
Fortunately, this is an easy fix: just make sure enough of your fridge is sticking out past your cabinetry that the door can swing freely.
We test each refrigerator in our temperature-controlled lab, using a standardized battery of tests.
We have years of experience testing large appliances in the lab, but we've also used them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives, which means that we have a great sense for what appliances offer a great value, and which appliances have really useful extra features (as opposed to the kitchen-sink approach to features).
You can read about our refrigerator testing methodologies.
For more tips, product reviews, and ideas related to refrigerators and kitchen appliances, check out these articles on Reviewed.com and beyond:
The surprising perks of bottom-freezer refrigerators: This feature provides a helpful resource for considering all of the benefits of a bottom-freezer fridge.
10 Things to Consider When Buying a Refrigerator: A buying guide that lays out essential pre‑purchase steps: measure your space (including clearance), choose your preferred style (with top‑freezer noted as affordable and efficient), set a budget, and anticipate delivery and disposal needs. A foundational resource for anyone shopping for a new refrigerator.
The Best Refrigerators Under $1,000: If saving money is the number one priority in your new fridge purchase, we’ve created a list of the best refrigerators that cost less than $1,000.
11 Tips to Keep Your Refrigerator Costs Low: This article offers energy-saving and performance-preserving tips—such as regular coil cleaning, proper temperature settings, and door seal maintenance—to help bottom-freezer (and other) models run efficiently and quietly over time.
How Cold Should Your Refrigerator Be?: This feature explains the correct temperature settings for fridges and freezers, and how to double-check that your refrigerator is set properly.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At Reviewed, Harrington manages Reviewed's overall content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, smart home, organization, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Cities Boston, an adult coloring book. She was a respected, longtime regional editorial director at Where travel guide, and has written for other publications including the US News & World Report, USA Today, Boston Herald, Newport Life, Exhale magazine, Huffington Post, and many more. www.leighharrington.com
Freelance Editor, Kitchen & Appliances. Danielle has a B.S. from Syracuse University and a AAS in Culinary Arts from Newbury College. Previously, Danielle was a Test Cook and Associate Editor at America's Test Kitchen, as well as a freelance recipe developer and food writer. She’s the mom of two boys and loves making pizza on Friday nights.
Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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