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10 Best Refrigerators to Buy in 2020, According to Kitchen Appliance Experts

Top fridge brands at every price point.

If the home is a family's universe, the refrigerator is the sun. Everything revolves around it, from breakfasts to-go, healthy lunches, and dinners around the table. That's why getting a new refrigerator is kind of a big deal. There are tons of factors to consider — everything from configuration and dimensions to finishes and special features. Of course, there's no getting around the price: They're expensive. But if you want a top pick from a reliable brand that will stand steady in your family's orbit for years to come, you're in the right place.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab evaluates all types of kitchen appliances yearly, from gas ranges to blenders to toaster ovens and beyond. We rate fridges on their ability to regulate the best temperatures for grocery list staples like lettuce, deli meat, and frozen foods. For every model, we score for uniformity of temperatures from shelf to shelf in the refrigerator and freezer compartments, as well as for temperature variations in single areas over time. We test fridges' ability to maintain moisture on both refrigerator shelves and in crisper drawers. In addition, we evaluate each refrigerator's ease of use, including the helpfulness of the manual, the type and ease of use of the controls and the comfort of grasping the door handles.

We score interior features including the type of shelves in the refrigerator cavity and on the doors, the ease with which the freezer drawer and baskets could be opened, the presence or absence of crispers with humidity controls and the presence or absence of a meat keeper or deli drawer with temperature controls. All notable features including Wi-Fi connectivity were considered but not rated.

Our top Lab pick is the GE Profile Series French-Door Refrigerator, complete with a Keurig K-Cup Brewing System. It scored highest on temperature maintenance and uniformity testing and wowed our Lab experts with its smart design features. It's also Wi-Fi enabled, so you can adjust settings, preheat water for coffee, and more with the downloadable app. Here's a list of the best refrigerators to buy, according to testing:

Best Overall Refrigerator: GE Profile Series French-Door Refrigerator

Best Value Refrigerator: Maytag Wide French Door Refrigerator

Best Smudge-Proof Refrigerator: Kenmore Elite French Door

Best Door-in-Door Refrigerator: LG InstaView Door-in-Door

Best Counter-Depth Refrigerator: GE Café French-Door Refrigerator

Best Double Freezer Refrigerator: Miele PerfectCool Series

Best Side-by-Side Refrigerator: Whirlpool 36-Inch Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Best Top Freezer Refrigerator: Frigidaire Gallery 30-Inch Top Freezer Refrigerator

Best Bottom Freezer Refrigerator: LG 24.1-cu ft Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Best Refrigerator for Families: Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator

How to find the best refrigerator for you

When shopping for a new refrigerator online or in a store, these are the main things you want to consider. Once you make your pick, don't miss our Test Kitchen's ultimate guide to organizing your fridge.

Configuration: The big players are side-by-sides, top-freezers, and bottom-freezers. Side-by-sides require less space for the doors to swing open, but you need to bend down to find food at the base of the fridge and freezer. Bottom-freezers (like French-door models) put the most-used compartment at eye level. Top-freezer fridges cost less but require you to bend to get into the fridge.

Dimensions: Your fridge typically has to fit between counter space, so you'll need to match the width to the layout of your kitchen. Built-ins and cabinet-depth models sit flush with counters and cabinets but may be more costly.

Finishes: Stainless steel is the most popular because it has a sleek-yet-neutral look, but some prefer a white or black fridge (or the recently popular black stainless steel and even carbon fiber). Built-ins typically offer exterior paneling that matches your kitchen cabinets. Many modern finishes are fingerprint-resistant. At the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show this year, we saw a lot of customizable patterns, too; a trend to look out for!

Features: Consider the shelving and internal drawers to see if they work for your family's eating habits. If you like to store a few bottles of wine in the fridge, make sure there's ample height and/or adjustable shelving; if you order pizza frequently, you'll probably want a fridge that can fit the box inside. Some fridges also offer humidity controls on crisper drawers, meat or deli drawers, and other features for keeping foods at the ideal storage temp.