August 2008
Refrigerators
Ice the high prices
Now is a great time to buy a new refrigerator as more brands pile on high-end features for less. Got money to burn on a trophy
fridge? Our tests show that you could get less than you bargained for.
Relatively basic, $500 refrigerators now offer glass shelves with rims to catch spills and enough storage on the door to hold gallon-size jugs of milk or juice. More top refrigerator brands even throw in an icemaker. But note that our surveys indicate that refrigerators with that feature have been more repair-prone.
Spending $1,000 to $2,000 buys you on-the-door water and ice dispensers, adjustable door bins, and temperature-controlled meat keepers and beverage chillers. Some side-by-sides (available to subscribers) have icemaker bins on the freezer door to save space in the main part of the compartment. Style features include stainless-steel or easy-to-clean, high-gloss finishes. You’ll also find more fridges with LED temperature displays and “theater lighting,” which takes the glare out of late-night snacking by gradually brightening the refrigerator compartment after you open the door.
French-door models, which put split refrigerator doors above a bottom-mounted freezer, are growing fastest in sales as they
add style and flexibility. You don’t need a cavernous kitchen to own one: Our Quick Picks (available to subscribers) include a high-scoring Maytag model that’s 33 inches wide instead of the usual 36 inches. Top
refrigerator makers Kenmore and LG are introducing French-door fridges that span just 30 inches.
You’re also likely to welcome models that eat up less energy. As of April 2008, Energy Star models must be 20 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standard, up 5 percentage points from last year.
Despite the good news, our tests show that some of the largest fridges deliver little for their bulk, while one pricey French-door model had trouble keeping its cool. Here are the details:
High style at a high price. Size, style, and a profile that’s flush with surrounding cabinets help explain why built-in refrigerators (available to subscribers) are synonymous with ultrapricey kitchens. Capable cooling and quietness helped put the $7,600 Thermador KBUDT4254E and similar $7,200 Jenn-Air JS42PPDUDB among the top built-ins we tested. Both top refrigerators have removable ice buckets for versatility. Yet these 42-inch-wide models have less usable space than many smaller models in our Ratings (available to subscribers). The Thermador trims room further with curved glass shelves that look sleek but steal space.
A new fridge flubs. Fisher & Paykel’s RF201ADUX, $2,500, scored among the lowest of the conventional French-door refrigerators we tested. The company claims its two-fan system delivers faster cooling and helps keep refrigerator temperatures even, a primary task. Yet temperatures varied by up to 10º F between the middle and edges of the compartment, compared with just 2º F for the top refrigerator models we tested. That means some foods might not be as cold as they should be. (We also found its tiny ice scoop frivolous.)
Relatively basic, $500 refrigerators now offer glass shelves with rims to catch spills and enough storage on the door to hold gallon-size jugs of milk or juice. More top refrigerator brands even throw in an icemaker. But note that our surveys indicate that refrigerators with that feature have been more repair-prone.
Spending $1,000 to $2,000 buys you on-the-door water and ice dispensers, adjustable door bins, and temperature-controlled meat keepers and beverage chillers. Some side-by-sides (available to subscribers) have icemaker bins on the freezer door to save space in the main part of the compartment. Style features include stainless-steel or easy-to-clean, high-gloss finishes. You’ll also find more fridges with LED temperature displays and “theater lighting,” which takes the glare out of late-night snacking by gradually brightening the refrigerator compartment after you open the door.
HIGH STYLE FOR TIGHT
SPOTS The Kenmore Elite 7625, $1,425, offers the convenience of a bottom-mounted freezer in a 33-inch width.
SPOTS The Kenmore Elite 7625, $1,425, offers the convenience of a bottom-mounted freezer in a 33-inch width.
You’re also likely to welcome models that eat up less energy. As of April 2008, Energy Star models must be 20 percent more efficient than the minimum federal standard, up 5 percentage points from last year.
Despite the good news, our tests show that some of the largest fridges deliver little for their bulk, while one pricey French-door model had trouble keeping its cool. Here are the details:
High style at a high price. Size, style, and a profile that’s flush with surrounding cabinets help explain why built-in refrigerators (available to subscribers) are synonymous with ultrapricey kitchens. Capable cooling and quietness helped put the $7,600 Thermador KBUDT4254E and similar $7,200 Jenn-Air JS42PPDUDB among the top built-ins we tested. Both top refrigerators have removable ice buckets for versatility. Yet these 42-inch-wide models have less usable space than many smaller models in our Ratings (available to subscribers). The Thermador trims room further with curved glass shelves that look sleek but steal space.
A new fridge flubs. Fisher & Paykel’s RF201ADUX, $2,500, scored among the lowest of the conventional French-door refrigerators we tested. The company claims its two-fan system delivers faster cooling and helps keep refrigerator temperatures even, a primary task. Yet temperatures varied by up to 10º F between the middle and edges of the compartment, compared with just 2º F for the top refrigerator models we tested. That means some foods might not be as cold as they should be. (We also found its tiny ice scoop frivolous.)
