Features

The most important features increase versatility. Some frills add unnecessary complexity and reduce reliability. Here are refrigerator features to consider.

Adjustable door bins and shelves

You can move these to create room to fit tall items.

Elevator shelves

These crank up and down without you having to remove the contents

Full-extension drawers

As their name implies, these drawers provide you with greater access to stored items.

Multimedia combos

As the kitchen becomes the new living room, more manufacturers are hawking $3,000-plus refrigerators that incorporate high-tech equipment such as TVs, digital-picture or music devices, and family-organizing centers. You can save hundreds if not thousands and get better performance by buying such equipment separately.

Pullout shelves or bins

These improve access to items stored. An alternative to pullout shelves or bins in the freezer is a bottom-freezer with a sliding drawer.

Split shelves

These allow you to adjust shelves to different heights independently.

Shelf snuggers

These sliding brackets on door shelves secure bottles and jars. A few models have a wine rack that stores a bottle horizontally.

Temperature-controlled drawers

You can set them several degrees cooler than the rest of the refrigerator. You might want to keep meat, fish, and cold cuts at lower temperatures. Some drawers can chill or thaw their contents quickly.

Through-the-door water and ice dispenser

This is the feature most requested by buyers. It's included in some French-door models and most side-by-sides. It's a minor convenience with a major drawback. Our surveys confirm that, as a group, refrigerators with water and ice dispensers still require considerably more repairs than those without dispensers.

Water Filter

A water filter is designed to reduce lead, chlorine, and other impurities. You can also add a filter to the refrigerator's water-supply line.

See also:

Freezers

Refrigerator drawers

Dishwashers

Microwave ovens