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Credit:
Reviewed / Frigidaire
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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
This 24.8-cu.-ft. French door has a great aesthetic, precise temperature control and is very energy efficient. Read More
The Hisense HRM145N6AVD is an excellent option for smaller spaces, combining high performance with a small footprint. Read More
The Haier HA10TG21SS is a high-performance budget fridge. What it lacks in extra features it makes up for in steady temperatures. Read More
If you're upgrading or outfitting a new kitchen, there's a good chance you're looking for stainless-steel appliances. While this finish has become the norm, it still bumps up the price on budget models that feature white or black fronts.
When it comes to getting nice aesthetics to match great food preservation, that can be a bit tougher to achieve on a budget. Fortunately, there are some refrigerators out there that have that sleek stainless-steel finish and a price low enough that your wallet won't feel empty.
After testing the best refrigerators in our labs, our favorite pick for the best stainless-steel refrigerator under $2,000 is the GE GDE25EYKFS (available at Best Buy for $1,299.99) , a bottom-freezer fridge that offers big value.
Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best fridges to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.
Consistent temperatures
Lots of storage
Crispers don't hold humidity well
Maintains consistent temperatures
Temperature-controlled drawer
Retractable shelves
Lacks through-door dispensers
Counter-depth
Steady temperatures
Great value
No extra features
Lower capacity
Steady temperatures
Excellent crispers
Some of the components feel cheap
Maintains even temperatures
Low electricity demand
Lots of fridge storage
Freezer is a bit small
Steady temperatures
Inexpensive
Interesting crisper tech
Low overall storage
Freezer requires calibration
Steady temperatures
Lots of storage
Shelves and bins don't have many options for repositioning
Can maintain consistent temperatures
Flexible temperature zone
Black stainless steel finish
Have to stoop to access crispers
Not much in the way of storage
Near-perfect temperatures
Through-the-door ice and water
Excellent value
Less storage space than average
No smart features
Steady temperatures
Through-the-door dispenser
Good storage options for a side-by-side
Recommended settings are a bit warm
The typical way manufacturers state storage capacity isn't reflective of how much storage space you can actually use. Because of this, we manually measure each compartment and to calculate how much storage space you're actually getting.
We have lots of experience testing refrigerators in our labs, but we also use them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives. This gives us a great sense for what refrigerators are good values at their price points and which have really useful extra features.
To ensure that each refrigerator we test is operating at its best, we conduct our testing in a lab that conditions the air temperature to 72°F +/- 5°F and relative humidity to 50% RH +/- 15% RH. Additionally, we pack each fridge with water-filled containers because fridges operate better when there’s less empty space.
Over the course of a week, we measure each refrigerator in five areas:
We also use each fridge in a more casual sense so that we can answer usability questions about the fridge’s specs and features, like the fridge and freezer doors, shelves, controls, water/ice dispenser, and extra features.
If a refrigerator keeps the temperature at a perfect 37°F, but it’s very difficult to open the doors and the control panel makes no sense, we’re going to penalize that fridge with respect to its ease of use.
The answer to that question depends on the person. Some people have a larger budget, which gives them greater choice. Others are limited by the footprint of their kitchen.
The general benefits and drawbacks of refrigerator types could help you determine which is best for you, but if you’re looking for a stainless-steel fridge, you could find options in each type.
French-door refrigerators have a modern look and wide shelves for storage. They often have many features. They are also often more expensive than other types of refrigerators.
Top-freezer refrigerators are typically less expensive than French-door models. In general, they are energy-efficient, but some people might find them lacking in aesthetics. Bottom-freezers have a lot in common with top-freezers, except the location of the freezer.
Side-by-side refrigerators keep food at eye level. Typically, fridge storage space is more limited than with other types, but freezer space can be large. Also, temperatures are likely to vary more from top to bottom in side-by-side refrigerators.
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 its shelf life.
If a fridge gets too cold, then some food could freeze. Fridge 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 truly frozen. If temperatures in your freezer fluctuate too much, then you risk freezer burn.
Use a mixture of soap and warm water, plus a cloth for day-to-day cleaning (fingerprints, smudges, and the like).
When things get grimy, you’ll need to do a little bit more to clean your stainless-steel refrigerator. Here are the basics:
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.
Monica is Reviewed's Kitchen & Cooking editor and an avid home cook; she's been testing a wide range of kitchen products at Reviewed for two years. Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine (and a former barista), she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians 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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