The most important appliance in your kitchen is, hands-down, the refrigerator. In its most basic form, it stores your perishables at cool temperatures to keep them fresher for longer so you can enjoy them whenever you'd like – how simple yet amazing is that? It's easy to take a working fridge for granted, but imagine living without refrigerator for a moment. Milk, fruit, vegetables, and meat would have to either be consumed the day of purchase or be thrown out after sitting in room temperature for a while. Not only that, but you can kiss that chilled beverage goodbye without your fridge's freezer producing ice cubes for you!
Regardless of your reason for wanting a new fridge, we can all agree that this is one kitchen appliance that’s a necessity. Before getting started on your refrigerator shopping, check out our buying guide below to learn more about what to look for when perusing our catalog for a new fridge. From the main types to all the features you don’t want to miss out on, we’ll dive right into all the important topics to help you on your way to buying the best refrigerator for you and your family.
How to Measure
The best place to start your refrigerator buying journey is by figuring out the right measurements of the space where it will go. Grab a measuring tape and a piece of paper to jot down notes and follow these steps:
- Measure from the floor to the ceiling or cabinet that your refrigerator will sit under to get the height. To get the depth, measure from the back wall where the hookups are located to the outer part of the countertop. Be sure to take into account that refrigerators need space to breathe so that they can ventilate properly and that there should be about an inch of space between the top of the fridge and the ceiling as well as the back of the fridge and the wall.
- To get the width, measure from side to side, keeping in mind that the door/doors will need about 2 inches of hinge space to open properly. If not, it may need to be pulled out slightly so that it can open without issue.
- Don’t forget to measure your home’s doorway! Your newly delivered refrigerator needs to be able to fit through the entrance before it can make its way to your kitchen, so get precise measurements of your doorway before picking out a refrigerator.
What Style Fits Yours?
Each refrigerator style is made with purpose—you just need to find the one that adds convenience and ease to your specific lifestyle.
- French Door Refrigerators – It’s no wonder why this fridge design has become the most popular—its large and easy-to-use style has made this a favorite to own. Equipped with top twin doors and a bottom freezer, French door refrigerators make seeing food easier than ever before. The shelves are conveniently eye level so that finding food is never a difficult task. If you like to throw large events, this fridge is perfect for storing a wide party platter inside.
- Side-By-Side Refrigerators – While a side-by-side refrigerator is smaller than a French door refrigerator, this style still fits a lot inside. The bins and shelves within make these refrigerators ideal for organization so if a neat and tidy fridge is what you want, the full-height shelving system is sure to create the order you’re looking for.
- Top Freezer/Bottom Freezer – These refrigerators are separated by two compartments stacked on top of each other. One compartment is the freezer and the other is the refrigerator. Both are generally rather wide but luckily their doors are reversible and can be adjusted to fit a variety of kitchen layouts. Many people prefer a simple and traditional refrigerator and both the top freezer and bottom freezer fit under that description.
- Compact Refrigerators – From under-the-counter refrigerators to beverage fridges to wine coolers, these smaller systems make controlling temperatures a piece of cake. For example, you'll be able to keep your white wine chilled just right while your red wine stays a little warmer with just the touch of a few buttons. The wino in you will love this one!
What Type is Right For You?
After you’ve picked out a style the suits you, you’ll then want to decide between having a built-in, standard-depth, or counter-depth refrigerator.
- Built-In Refrigerators – If you’re going for a customized look, built-in refrigerators will help you achieve just that. They are designed to sit flush with your cabinetry for a seamless look and oftentimes have panels made as a covering to help blend in with your current kitchen aesthetic. This is a great fit for someone wanting to add a personal touch to their refrigerator or for someone just wanting the exterior to match the rest of their kitchen.
- Standard-Depth Refrigerators – When large is what you’re looking for, the standard-depth refrigerators will not disappoint. While the size depends on the individual manufacturers, many tend to stay within the 36-inch width, 69-inch height, and 31-34-inch-depth range. These fridges are known for being ultra-deep, and they usually protrude past the counter space by a couple inches. So, if you’re someone who needs extra room for food storage, this was made for you.
- Counter-Depth Refrigerators – While this type lacks the permanent-cabinet style of a built-in refrigerator, it shares a seamless appearance and sits flush with the countertops. This is a smaller option depth-wise which allows for easy access when it comes to reaching items in the very back as well as being able to see everything in the refrigerator. No more lost leftovers hiding in the very back when you have visibility over everything in the fridge!
Find the Right Finish for Your Kitchen
We offer numerous options for appliance finishes at Big Sandy Superstore. From the traditional stainless steel to bold modern finishes such as Tuscan stainless steel to black stainless steel, our kitchen appliances come in all different shades and materials. Here’s what we have:
- Stainless Steel
- Tuscan Stainless Steel
- Black Stainless Steel
- Black Slate
- Slate
- Custom Panels (on select models)
Features You’ll Want
Whether you’re looking for smart innovations or Energy Star certified features, these are a few you may want to consider before purchasing a new fridge:
- InstaView Door-in-Door – This LG French door refrigerator feature is all about seeing what’s inside your fridge without letting the cold air out. All you need to do is knock twice on the glass and voila! The light comes on allowing you to see throw a window into your refrigerator.
- LED Interior Lighting – Something as simple as the lights used in this Whirlpool refrigerator can make a huge difference in the amount of energy you use. LED lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting . So, if wasting less and being more sustainable is something important to you, this feature is a great option!
- FamilyHub – When you need a way to manage your life all in one spot, this Samsung fridge with a WiFi-connected touchscreen makes organizing fun and convenient. Create a grocery list, look up a recipe for dinner, and even play music to jam out to while you prepare the next meal. Share photos, calendars, and memos so that you and your family can always stay connected no matter how busy your schedules get.
- Fingerprint Resistant – A dirty refrigerator door can make an entire kitchen look unkempt. Stop worrying about your fridge getting smudge marks every time you touch it with this nifty little feature.
- Flex Zone – Sometimes, you need just a little more space in your fridge and that’s where Flex Zone comes in. This temperature controlling feature gives you the ability to convert your freezer to a fridge by changing the climate so you can have more room and flexibility when storing food.
Now that you have all the information laid out for you on refrigerators, are you ready to go searching for yours today? If not, our experts at Big Sandy Superstore would love to help you! Feel free to take our “What’s Your Perfect Refrigerator Fit?” Quiz on our website to find out what sort of fridge might be best for you. Of course, you can always contact us and we’ll be ready to answer all your refrigerator questions so you can be enjoying the addition of your new kitchen appliance as soon as possible!