Synopsis: A survey of what kinds of refrigerators are currently available, including top- and bottom-mount freezer types, under-counter units, and side-by-side models. The article also explains various refrigerator options, such as crispers and water dispensers.

Like most folks, when I’m hungry or thirsty, the first place I turn is the refrigerator. Whether it’s a nice-cold beer after mowing the lawn, ingredients for the night’s supper or just milk for my morning cereal, I reach for that chrome handle and open the refrigerator door with-out a second thought.

But refrigerators are more than just big boxes that keep things cold. These days, you can get one to fit under a counter or in a tight floor plan where you might have a narrow passageway. Some refrigerators disappear into the cabinetry, camouflaged as fine furniture. There are more options than ever before to consider as you track down the right refrigerator that fits your budget and your kitchen.

Refrigerators come in three basic styles: side-by-sides with the freezer beside the refrigerator, top-mounts with the freezer above the refrigerator and bottom-mounts with the freezer below. Each configuration has its advantages and disadvantages.

Side-by-side refrigerators are best for a kitchen with narrow passage

With side-by-side fridges, the doors to the refrigerator and freezer are the full height of the appliance, and as their name implies, the doors are next to each other. This setup makes for taller but narrower refrigerator and freezer sections. A side-by-side is a good choice if you have the wall space for a wider fridge. One that fits within the standard cabinet width of 36 in. may not give you the refrigerator shelf width you need.

The narrower compartments can make it tough to store food on wide platters or in large dishes, such as lasagna pans. If you have doubts, bring your biggest, widest or most frequently used pans when you go shopping for your refrigerator.

Another drawback to having refrigerator doors that go almost to the floor is that you have to bend down to reach the drawers at the bottom of the fridge. The narrow width of the compartments also makes it more difficult to get at items on the back of the shelves.

One of the best things about a side-by-side is that the narrower doors don’t block kitchen traffic as much when they’re open. If kitchen space is limited or if your refrigerator is on a narrow traffic path, people can still pass by when the doors of a side-by-side are open. Opening the full-width doors of the other two configurations can bring kitchen traffic to an abrupt halt.

No bending is required to reach the refrigerator of a bottom-mount

Most people open their refrigerators much more often than they open their freezers. As a consequence, fridges with the freezer below the refrigerator are popular. That’s because the refrigerator’s contents are all located from waist level to eye level—no bending is required to get to even the lowest part of the refrigerator. The freezer, however, is another story.

To access most bottom-mount freezers, you open a door and then bend way down to get your frozen yogurt. I have a bottom-mount refrigerator, and getting to the back of its freezer is always a hands-and-knees event. Some bottom-mounts have slide-out baskets, but to get the basket out far enough to be useful, the freezer door has to be open almost 180°. Bottom-mount freezers that are set up like large drawers, such as those by Sub-Zero and Viking, make access to the freezer much easier.

Refrigerators with top-mount freezers are usually the least expensive. But as the lowest line that most manufacturers offer, top-mount fridges have fewer choices in size, finish and accessories, such as water and ice dispensers. Top-mount fridges have produce and meat lockers at crouch or bend-down level.

For more photos and information about the advantages and disadvantages of each refrigerator type, click the View PDF button below. 

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