Important features Refrigerators
Even lower-priced refrigerators now offer stainless or stainless-look exterior panels, some with fingerprint-resistant clear coatings. More models have also swapped knobs for electronic touchpads. Some have a digital display that shows the temperature setting, and a few show the actual temperature. Adjustable door bins and shelves can be moved to fit tall items. Elevator shelves crank up and down without your having to remove the contents, while split shelves can adjust to different heights independently. Shelf snuggers—sliding brackets on door shelves—secure bottles and jars. A few models have a wine rack that stores a bottle horizontally. Glass shelves offer easy cleaning and usually have a raised, sealed rim to contain spills. Pull-out freezer shelves or bins improve access. An alternative is a bottom-freezer with a sliding drawer.
Temperature-controlled drawers that store meat and fish several degrees cooler than the rest of the fridge are also becoming more popular. Crispers have controls to maintain humidity, while see-through drawers show what's inside at a glance. Most models have an icemaker in the freezer or give you the option of installing one yourself, though these eat up roughly 1 cubic foot of freezer space. The ice bin is usually below the icemaker, though some are inside of the freezer door and rob a bit less space. Through-the-door ice-and-water dispensers are common on side-by-sides and are migrating to top- and bottom-freezers, including French-door models. Often, the icemaker and/or water dispenser includes a water filter designed to reduce lead, chlorine, and other impurities. You can also add a filter to a fridge's water-supply line.
Even lower-priced refrigerators now offer stainless or stainless-look exterior panels, some with fingerprint-resistant clear coatings. More models have also swapped knobs for electronic touchpads. Some have a digital display that shows the temperature setting, and a few show the actual temperature. Adjustable door bins and shelves can be moved to fit tall items. Elevator shelves crank up and down without your having to remove the contents, while split shelves can adjust to different heights independently. Shelf snuggers—sliding brackets on door shelves—secure bottles and jars. A few models have a wine rack that stores a bottle horizontally. Glass shelves offer easy cleaning and usually have a raised, sealed rim to contain spills. Pull-out freezer shelves or bins improve access. An alternative is a bottom-freezer with a sliding drawer.
Temperature-controlled drawers that store meat and fish several degrees cooler than the rest of the fridge are also becoming more popular. Crispers have controls to maintain humidity, while see-through drawers show what's inside at a glance. Most models have an icemaker in the freezer or give you the option of installing one yourself, though these eat up roughly 1 cubic foot of freezer space. The ice bin is usually below the icemaker, though some are inside of the freezer door and rob a bit less space. Through-the-door ice-and-water dispensers are common on side-by-sides and are migrating to top- and bottom-freezers, including French-door models. Often, the icemaker and/or water dispenser includes a water filter designed to reduce lead, chlorine, and other impurities. You can also add a filter to a fridge's water-supply line.
