Refrigerator buying guide

Energy Star refrigerators must be at least 20 percent more efficient than the minimum required by federal standards, while some models exceed those standards by even more. Despite those advances, refrigerators still use more electricity than any other kitchen appliance because they're always on. The familiar yellow EnergyGuide labels and Energy Star symbols are a useful guide. Our energy-efficiency Ratings take usable volume into account and are more helpful, particularly when comparing across different refrigerator categories. Our tests also detail how well refrigerators perform as well as how much energy they use in the process.

These are the traditional type, dating back to the earliest refrigerators. Widths typically run from about 30 to 33 inches. Manufacturers claim up to 22-cubic-foot capacities, but usable capacity is typically 20 percent lower by our measurements.

Sales of bottom-freezers are growing fastest as a group and include both French-door models, with two narrow refrigerator doors, and four-door models, with an extra drawer between the two-door fridge and freezer drawer. Widths run from 30 to 36 inches for most. Claimed capacities can approach 30 cubic feet or so though usable space doesn't quite match that of comparable top-freezers.

A vertical, full-length split places the freezer on one side and refrigerator on the other. Side-by-sides typically come with through-the-door ice and water dispensers, temperature-controlled bins, and rapid ice-making cycles. Width typically measures 32 to 36 inches. Claimed capacities can reach roughly 30 cubic feet, but typically only about 65 to 70 percent is usable.

These pricey models are designed to fit almost flush with cabinets and counters. Built-ins typically come in bottom-freezer and side-by-side styles and include French-door and four-door configurations. You can even buy a separate refrigerator and freezer and build them into a 72-inch-wide opening. Claimed capacities can reach 25 cubic feet or so, but only about 70 percent of that is usable.

You get the look of a built-in for less money with these somewhat shallow freestanding refrigerators. Most come as side-by-sides, but top- and bottom-freezers and French-door models are available. Claimed capacities reach over 20 feet, but far less than that is usable.

These are a more recent choice for kitchens where even the biggest refrigerator simply isn't enough.

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

These make the most of available storage space on the door. But while most of these bins are sized to accommodate milk, butter, and eggs, all three of those items belong inside the refrigerator, where cooler temperatures will keep them fresher longer.

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

These include air purifiers that promise to eliminate bacteria and mold spores, climate-keeping systems that claim to keep foods fresh longer, crisper drawers that help vacuum-seal produce, and other systems. But freshness claims are hard to measure. Models with dual evaporators tend to maintain higher humidity levels in the fresh-food section and can help keep freezer odors from migrating to the refrigerator. But our testing has shown that models likeliest to keep your food freshest maintain a consistent 37°F in the main refrigerator comparment, 32° F in the mean compartment, and a frigid 0°F in the freezer.

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

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.

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

These allow you to adjust shelves to different heights independently.

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

Stainless finishes continue to top most buyers' wish lists on fridges as they do on ranges and other appliances. But real stainless typically boosts the price while often showing fingerprints. More brands now offer print-resistant stainless as well as faux-stainless finishes.

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.

This is the feature most requested by buyers. It's included in most side-by-sides and available on a growing number of other configurations. But 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 and ice dispensers also boost cost and energy use while robbing space.

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.

Amana is positioned as Whirlpool's value brand and goes head to head against other value brands available at big-box, independent, and regional stores. All of its refrigerators have a special antimicrobial lining on the door bins and in the deli bins.

This is a new brand to the U.S. market and is being positioned as a mass-market luxury brand.

The GE lines include GE, GE Profile, GE Café, and GE Monogram. GE will be offering an interactive LCD screen on some of its models, and on one Profile model there will be a refreshment center and fold-away shelves.

This brand, part of Whirlpool, is positioned for the cooking enthusiast. It is considered a high-end brand, and its appliances offer a slightly softer look than other pro-style models.

Kenmore offers a number of lines, including Kenmore Elite and Kenmore Elite Trio. Kenmore will be offering more products with LED lights and integrated dispensers on its high-end models.

This brand, part of Whirlpool, is positioned as a high-end brand with many extras geared towards the kitchen enthusiasts and sold heavily though independent dealers.

LG, a leader in the bottom-freezer, will be introducing a four-door French-door and more LED lights throughout its refrigerators as well as taller integrated dispensers and a new 33-inch model with ice and water dispenser.

One of the Whirlpool brands, Maytag is a major player in the bottom-freezer section of the market. The company was one of the first to introduce a French-door model with an external ice-and-water dispenser and a cabinet-depth model with an external dispenser.

Samsung's new bottom-freezer French-door refrigerators will come with new easy-open door systems, foldaway shelves, LED lighting, and dual evaporators. It's expected to be debuting the largest French-door model in the U.S. market with its 29-cubic-foot refrigerator.

One of the major built-in brands, Sub-Zero is in the process of introducing a new line of refrigerators with new technology in different side-by-side and bottom-freezer configurations.

This brand is positioned as a company that delivers beauty with functionality, form, luxury, and efficiency. These high-end refrigerators are sold generally through independent dealers.

The other major built-in brand entered the freestanding market last year with the introduction of French-door and side-by-side styles. Viking's position is professional performance for the home.

Brands under the Whirlpool umbrella include Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, and Whirlpool, all of which offer French-door models in addition to other types. Whirlpool refrigerators are known for measured-fill dispense systems on their water dispensers.