Maytag MBF2258FEZ Bottom-freezer Refrigerator review

When we first brought it into our labs, we might have been put off by its crispers, which are kind of noisy to open, its wobbly deli drawer, or the wire drawers in the freezer, but when we tested for temperature control, it was clear—this model is a champ.

Design and Features

The refrigerator has an appealing industrial design. The rounded handles look and feel sturdy. Our test model was fingerprint resistant stainless steel, but you can also find it in black or white, if you prefer.

The interior is brightly lit, which makes it easy to find what you're looking for. We noticed the generous butter and cheese compartment, and the gallon container bin in the door—a plus for many families—though the door itself is a bit hard to open.

Although the fridge doesn't feel like a luxury model, and we weren't surprised by its insubstantial drawers, we were dismayed that the refrigerator doesn't give you as much storage space as you might be expecting. Although the model is 33-inches wide, the interior space came up short. The brand's claim that the refrigerator had over 15-cu.-ft. of capacity and that the freezer had almost 7-cu.-ft. of capacity didn't measure up. We found that the fridge could hold only 9.5-cu.-ft. of groceries, and the freezer's storage was just over 2-cu.-ft.

Performance

There were many positives in terms of performance. The refrigerator and the freezer did a great job staying at the appropriate temperatures. The fridge compartment averaged 38°, which is in the safe zone. What we were delighted to see was that during our week of tests, the temperature varied by only 0.2°.

The freezer was also consistent, and the temperature in there averaged 0.3°. In addition, the freezer was able to go from room temperature to 32° in just 40 minutes, so it cools down quickly.

The icemaker is relatively quiet, and it did all right, though it only makes cubes, not crushed ice. The ice bin is easily accessible.

We always check the crispers to make sure they hold in humidity. This is essential for keeping your produce fresh. Again, this fridge rocked, losing very little moisture over the testing week.

Efficient refrigerators like this one save you money. We estimate that it will cost you about $33 a year to run.

What users say

95% of owners recommend this refrigerator, and its online ratings show 4.5 out of 5 stars. They praised its layout, quiet operation and good looks, inside and out. A few reviews mentioned that the crispers and the cold drawer were not sturdy.

The Bottom Line

This Maytag refrigerator is better than the sum of its parts. It's designed, engineered and assembled in America. Performance is very good, and user reviews are extremely positive. We find this fridge to be a good value, if you like the bottom-freezer design.

If you would be open to the idea of a French door fridge, as long as it doesn't cost more, consider the Samsung RF260BEAESR. That refrigerator is about the same price as the Maytag, and we awarded it our coveted Editors' Choice badge and a Best of Year in 2017.