We Reviewed the 5 Best Refrigerators of 2021

It’s a fact; a lot depends on your fridge working. A refrigerator keeps your food fresh, and it is the epicenter of your home. We probably spend more time staring into the depths of our fridges than we spend on our favorite hobbies! It’s the hub for all things breakfast, lunch, refreshments, evening snacks, dinner, and supper. And it must be said; a refrigerator also increases your kitchen’s aesthetic value. 

Most refrigerators usually work for 7-14 years without any sign of trouble, but that’s not always the case. Fridges break, and even if they don’t, they do have a shelf-life, and when they finally chill for their last hour and come to a standstill, it’s time to approach the mammoth task of finding the next one. When you shop for a refrigerator, it’s easy to get confused by hundreds of models from various brands. An average American homeowner is concerned about size, capacity, compartments, shelves, dimensions, finish, price, and of course, reliability and durability. The most important thing to do while buying a refrigerator is to strike a balance between these features.  

This is where we step in. We know refrigerators and everything about them. We have researched the top models and prepared a list of the best refrigerators for you to buy in 2021. Your new fridge must have all the features to make it the heart of the home.  Apart from reliability and durability, it must offer ample storage space and cabinets to store various items without letting them go bad. Adjustable temperature is also a nice feature, but we will get to that.

Let’s open the doors of the best refrigerators for you!

The Top 5 Best Refrigerators of 2021 (Review)

We have reviewed the five best refrigerators models in 2021 for you. We will also walk you through a comprehensive buying guide and an FAQ section to help you make the best purchase decision.

Samsung RF23J9011SR 22.5-Cu. Ft. 4-Door Flex Refrigerator w/ FlexZone

Google’s Rating 3.5

Samsung’s French door refrigerator is an excellent fridge to own. It is all about customizability and providing you unmatched features with a large storage capacity. The counter-depth refrigerator fits in with kitchen cabinets and provides more kitchen space. It sits in between the cabinets nicely and complements your kitchen’s beauty. This fridge will be the conversation point for all your relatives and visitors.

The fridge capacity is 22.5 cu. ft. It is a large fridge, and you can fit up to 23 grocery bags in the refrigerator. The French door refrigerator has 4 compartments. The top two compartments are the fridge, and the two at the bottom are the freezer. However, the bottom-right door is a versatile compartment in the refrigerator. You can set it to a freezer or a fridge. It operates at 4 customizable modes: fridge at 41°F, chilled at 30°F, soft freeze at 23°F, and frozen at -8°F to 5°F. This feature helps you maximize the fresh food storage capacity, or you can simply keep anything you like in it.

If we talk about the shelves inside the four doors, there are many of them, and you can also adjust one shelf to accommodate different items. You can use the three-way shelf as a standard shelf; slide it in for more space or flip it up for even more space. All these shelves and corners of the refrigerator are illuminated with a high-efficiency LED light. The LED light emits less heat and is energy-efficient. You will also find two humidity-controlled drawers to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh and moisture-free. All the shelves are made with spill-proof tempered glass.    

The machine keeps your food fresh with the help of the ultimate triple cooling system. The three evaporators and two compressors are a unique feature among the freestanding consumer refrigerators. Samsung was the first company to introduce this feature. Its ice compartment can produce a maximum of 5 pounds of ice per day and store up to 3 pounds. The power freeze and power cool feature provide you with the option of fast freezing and fast cooling your food within minutes at just a push of a button.  

The external side is fingerprint resistant to keep your fridge smudge-free for a beautiful appearance. The contour doors with a smooth finish give a unique and attractive look to your refrigerator. On the top left door, the temperature control panel and a water/ice dispenser are located. The dispenser’s design allows you to fill pitchers and tall glasses without any spills. The water filter at the dispenser removes all the contaminants from the water before it enters your glass.

The unit measures 28 x 35 x 71 inches and weighs 352.7 pounds. The warranty covers parts and labor (1-year), 5 years on the sealed refrigeration system, and 10 years on the digital inverter compressor. It is an energy star-compliant machine.

GE Profile PVD28BYNFS 27.9-Cu. Ft. 4-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator

Google’s Rating: 4.5

GE appliances is a common household name across the US. It manufactures top-of-the-line refrigerators with outstanding and advanced features. GE Profile PVD28BYNFS is an excellent refrigerator with a modern design with maximum functionality. The four-door refrigerator comes with 2 freezer baskets/bins so that you have ample space to keep your stuff fresh and frozen.

The fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish keeps your refrigerators neat and clean. The sparkling clean refrigerator increases the aesthetic value of your kitchen. Each door has a protruded stainless steel handle for easy opening and closing. You don’t need to worry about open doors anymore as its door alarm will alert you after two minutes. On the left top door, you will find a hands-free auto-fill water dispenser. It avoids water wastage and fills exactly the volume of water you need.

On the inside of the fridge section, you will find 3 storage shelves on each door. There are 3 shelves and two humidity-controlled drawers for storing fresh food. The top right compartment has a door-in-door design for easy accessibility of your favorite items such as wine bottles, soda cans, or water bottles. The convenient rotating bin makes the door-in-door design even more versatile. The freezer drawer also enhances the versatility and functionality of the machine. You can set the temperature at 4 different modes to store meat, beverages, snacks, or wine. The freezer section at the bottom is also drawer style with two big compartments and one drawer-drawer drawer for easy division of your stuff. It has a removable bin caddy which you can adjust according to your needs.

An interesting feature of this refrigerator is Wi-Fi connectivity. You can control LED light, Turbo Cool, Turbo Freeze, and many more settings with smartphone applications. Its water filtration mechanism filters 98% of contaminants in the water and provides you with clean and healthy drinking water. The turbo cool and turbo freeze feature drops the interior temperature after you open the doors frequently and keeps everything inside fresh and frozen. It has dual evaporators, which provide optimum temperature for freshness.

The total capacity of this refrigerator is 27.9 cubic feet. The fresh food capacity is 15.71 cubic feet, the freezer capacity is 8.57 cubic feet, and the adjustable temperature drawer capacity is 3.62 cubic feet. It is one of the largest capacities currently available in the consumer refrigerator model. The unit measures 36.75 x 35.63 x 69.88 inches and weighs 421 pounds. It has a 1-year warranty for the entire appliance and 5 years warranty for the sealed refrigeration system.

Maytag MFI2570FEZ 25-Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator w/PowerCold

Google’s Rating: 4.3

Maytag is also one of the leading refrigerator brands. Its kitchen range is reliable, durable, and above all, it is affordable. If you are looking for a budget-friendly French door refrigerator with all the latest features and a medium-sized refrigerator capacity, then Maytag’s refrigerator is a great option.

The unit has a 25 cubic feet capacity with a 6.7 cubic feet freezer and 18 cubic feet fridge capacity. This three-door refrigerator is an ideal machine for medium-sized families with a fingerprint-resistant finish.  It has an external water dispenser with an ice maker. The defrost type is automatic with glass shelves and led lighting to put in and take out of your stuff.

It has a power-cold feature that keeps your food items fresh and lowers the temperature in a matter of minutes. It has a temperature-controlled deli tray for keeping your party platters and deli trays without any risk of going bad. The humidity-controlled crispers keep your vegetables and fruits fresh.

The refrigerator has 5 spill-proof glass internal shelves with 3 adjustable and 3 fixed door bins. The freezer is a slide-out drawer with an upper wire basket and a lower plastic basket. The unit measures 36.25 x 70.62 x 36.12 inches and weighs 324 pounds. It has a 1-year warranty on parts and labor and 10 years warranty on the compressor.

Whirlpool WRF555SDFZ 24.7-Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Google’s Rating 4.2

Whirlpool is also one of the best refrigerator brands to buy in 2021. It is an affordable refrigerator with the best features. The refrigerator has a total capacity of 25 cu. ft. the refrigerator capacity is 18 cubic feet, and the freezer capacity is 7 cubic feet. The storage space is enough for a medium to large family.

The three-door refrigerator features spill-proof glass shelves. The humidity control feature keeps your fresh fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp, just like you bought them from a farm. Inside the refrigerator compartment, you will find 5 door shelves to place your stuff without getting overcrowded. The door bins are adjustable and give you the freedom to keep various bottles, jars, and packs. The freezer section has 2 baskets without any shelves. It is better to have some shelves in the freezer for easily spotting your required frozen entrees.

The external side is finger-resistant with a water dispenser on the left door. The dispenser is a versatile addition to this model with crushed ice, cubed ice, filtration replacement indicator light, water dispenser, and a control lock. You can set the temperature on the digital panel located above the dispenser with a user-friendly control mechanism.

The machine measures 70 x 35 x 35 inches and weighs 324 pounds. The warranty is only 1 year which is way below the energy standard. Please note that it is not a counter-depth model. The irreversible doors have hidden hinges.

LG LFXS26973D 26.2-Cu. Ft. 3-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator

Google’s Rating: 4.5

LG is one of the well-reputed refrigerator brands in the world. Its 3-door French refrigerator has advanced features and ample storage space for a medium to large family. The refrigerator has a total capacity of 26.3 cubic feet. The freezer capacity is 8.8 cubic feet, and the refrigerator capacity is 17.5 cubic feet. There are 4 shelves inside the refrigerator compartment, and 3 door bins in each door for easy storage. The freezer drawer consists of 2 shelves and 2 baskets. An elaborate division inside the freezer section allows for easy sourcing and placing your frozen items. You can easily divide one basket/shelf for meat, one for ice cream, and other things similarly. It has dual ice makers, which provide you with plenty of ice in a short time. You don’t have to worry about chilled beverages anymore after buying LG.

The smart cooling system installed in the refrigerator maintains an optimum temperature inside the refrigerator. It has a linear compressor that quickly responds to temperature changes.  

The exterior is smudge-free and fingerprint resistant with handles for easy gripping and door opening. All you need is a clean cloth to bring the refrigerator to its new-like position. The vents in the machine are strategically placed for superior cooling and surround your food from all directions to keep it cool and fresh all the time.

The water dispenser on the left top door provides you with clean and pure drinking water. You can set the temperature and other features of the machine with the help of digital controls. The unit measures 73 x 38 x 36 inches and weighs ‎316 pounds. Its warranty cover is also impressive. You get 1-year parts and labor, 5 years sealed refrigeration system, 5 years compressor, and 10 years linear compressor warranty.

The Ultimate Refrigerator Buying Guide

A buyer’s guide ensures that you make the right purchase decision. A refrigerator is a costly appliance, and it lasts for 8-14 years. Hence, you need to make sure that it has all the features you will need. Our buying guide focuses on these features and characteristics. Let’s go through it.

What to Look for When Buying a Refrigerator? 

Dimensions

It is very important to measure the available space in your kitchen before buying a refrigerator. It will help you decide which refrigerator is best for you. French door refrigerators come in different sizes. Measure the available space and check it against the model you are planning to buy.

If you buy a refrigerator that’s either too large or too small for the space you have available, you may need to renovate your kitchen cabinets, which can be costly. So, the rational thing to do is to buy a refrigerator that will fit in the available space and leave the recommended space at the back and on the sides.    

Style

There are five different refrigerator styles available. They are top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French door refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators, and built-in refrigerators. We have included French-door refrigerators on our list because they are most famous in 2021 and offer large storage space, the latest features, and are durable.    

Capacity

The next most important feature to consider before buying a refrigerator is its capacity. You need to check out the refrigerator capacity and freezer capacity. Some models like Samsung RF23J9011SR offer customizable compartments. You can adjust them according to your preferences. Some models come with a drawer that can be operated at four different modes, allowing you to increase the refrigerator/freezer capacity.   

Compartments and Shelves

It is best to buy a refrigerator with customizable compartments and drawers like the Samsung RF23J9011SR or GE Profile PVD28BYNFS. These features make the machine versatile and increase its functionality. You must also look for customizable shelves/drawers/door bins to adjust bottles and boxes of different sizes. It is also critical to have a look at the drawers/shelves in the freezer compartment. All these features come in handy in the long run.  

Energy Rating

Don’t buy a machine without checking its energy guide. An energy guide will tell you about the key features of the refrigerator, manufacturer and model information, estimated yearly electricity consumption, and estimated yearly operating cost. It will also confirm energy star certification. You don’t need to worry about all these things if you buy a refrigerator from the ones reviewed below.

Price

You can get all the latest features and storage space, but you will be making a big dent in your savings. So, we suggest that you keep your budget in mind before you head out buying a new refrigerator. A quality refrigerator will cost you $2000-$3500.   

Warranty

Warranties come in handy with appliances like refrigerators. A good warranty agreement will cover parts and labor, a sealed refrigeration system, and the compressor. However, the warranty duration varies from one brand to another.

Additional Features

Look for additional features like water dispensers, through-the-door ice, Wi-Fi connectivity, door-in-door storage access, temperature controls for drawers, and fresh food compartments. All the high-end refrigerators have built-in features like digital temperature controls, LED lights, door alarms, and water filters for dispensers.     

How to Measure for a Refrigerator and Install It Properly?

Measurement

• If you are buying a new refrigerator, don’t measure your old refrigerator. Measure the dimensions of the space.
• Measure the width of the space at the countertop, under the upper cabinets, and at the base. Make sure you measure the space at the thinnest points. The thinnest point will determine how wide your refrigerator can be.
• Measure the height of the space from the floor to the lowest point of the upper cabinet. It will tell you how long your refrigerator can be.   
• Measure the depth of the space from the back wall to the front end of the counter. It will tell you about the maximum depth of your refrigerator.
• Don’t forget to measure the islands in your kitchen as you will be moving the refrigerator through it.
• Latest refrigerators need at least 1/8 inch space on sides, 1-inch above the unit and 2 inches between the back wall and the back of the refrigerator. Make sure you take it into account before buying the unit.
• Subtract these measurements from the overall measurements. It will provide the maximum size for your refrigerator.

Installation

If you don’t know how to work around plumbing and electrical connections, don’t opt for a DIY installation. Some brands offer free installation. Go for it, even if you are a well-established DIYer. Make sure you read the warranty agreement before doing a DIY installation, as some companies don’t accept the warranty in case of self-installation.

Safety Tips

• Make sure you follow all the manufacturer’s directions while installing, connecting, and running your refrigerator.
• Always leave recommended space on the sides, at the back, and on the top.
• Never store too hot foods/containers in the refrigerator.
• Store raw meat and poultry in pans or leak-proof bags.
• Don’t overload the refrigerator.
• Never try to repair your refrigerator yourself. Always call professionals to sort out the issues.

Check Out More Of Our Refrigerators Reviews

FAQs

Final Word

All the refrigerators reviewed above are reliable, durable, and the best among the rest – there’s no doubt about that. Make your selection with care – you’ll be stuck with your fridge for the next decade at least!