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Refrigerators

2014 Best of Year Refrigerator Awards

When it comes to food storage, only the best will do.

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Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

It's been a busy year in the world of refrigerators. New Energy Star standards meant that most manufacturers released new, more efficient fridges while retiring old models.

Lucky for you, many of those new fridges aren't just more efficient than the ones they replaced—they're better, too. Whether you're looking for a budget top-freezer or a high-end French door, we've tested great refrigerators that come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and finishes.

Here are the best refrigerators of 2014.


GE Café CFE28TSHSS: Our winner for Refrigerator of the Year and French Door Refrigerator of the Year

Best Refrigerator of the Year

GE Café CFE28TSHSS

Once again, a GE French door refrigerator is the best we've tested. The GE CFE28TSHSS is nearly identical to the CFE29TSDSS, which won Best of Year in 2013, except the new fridge has been updated for new Energy Star standards.

Like its predecessor, it's made in GE's Appliance Park factory in Louisville, KY. It features a hot water dispenser and a temperature-adjustable drawer in the fridge. It's got plenty of storage space, and kept even temperatures over time in our lab tests. (Est. price: $3,099)

Read our full review of the GE Café CFE28TSHSS.

Runner-up: Kenmore Elite 74025

Kenmore's newest French door fridge blends great performance with a streamlined design that should fit in with any kitchen aesthetic. An unadorned stainless exterior gets a simplified control panel, and a pull-out freezer drawer angles forward to reveal extra storage space. (Est. price: $3,058)

Our full review of the Kenmore Elite 74025 is coming soon.


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Best Innovation

GE FirstBuild Pitcher Kit

Not too far from GE headquarters in Louisville, KY is the world's first home appliance microfactory. It's called FirstBuild, and it's where industrial designers, engineers, and enthusiasts can prototype and build unique home appliance innovations in small volumes. The first product to come out of FirstBuild is a self-filling water pitcher that can be fitted to existing GE fridges. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can even print one yourself.

Read our in-depth feature on the GE FirstBuild Pitcher Kit.


Best French Door Refrigerator

GE Café CFE28TSHSS

Runner-up: Kenmore Elite 74025

The best fridges we've tested are both French door fridges. That's no surprise, since French door fridges tend to be the flagships for brands. Their design maximizes usable interior space, and both feature dual evaporator systems that cool the fridge and freezer compartments separately to lock in even temperatures and keep humidity levels high enough to preserve fresh foods. If you're interested in a French door, this GE Café and Kenmore Elite are both worth checking out.

Read our full review of the GE Café CFE28TSHSS (Est. price $3,099). Our full review of the Kenmore Elite 74025 (Est. price $3,058) is coming soon.


Best Value French Door Refrigerator

Maytag MFF2558VEM

French door fridges don't have to be expensive. Whirlpool Corporation makes several affordable models that can be found under $1,700, and one of the best values is this Maytag. It might not have lots of fancy features, like temperature-controlled drawers and through-the-door ice, but it did well in our performance tests, has lots of usable storage space, and looks great.

While this Maytag is still available in stores, a redesigned version has already hit the market. Known as the MFF2558DEM, it has a slightly different exterior that matches with Maytag's new industrial-inspired design aesthetic. In addition to chunkier handles, it also gets a 10-year limited warranty. (Est. price: $1,524)

Read our full review of the Maytag MFF2558VEM.


Samsung RH29H9000SR: Best Side-By-Side Refrigerator

Best Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Samsung RH29H9000SR

This high-end Samsung features a hidden Food Showcase storage compartment inside the right door for easy access to condiments, drinks, and other frequently used items. It also has a dual evaporator cooling system and stainless interior trim—which Samsung says helps keep food cold. Modern and sleek, it's a high-end side-by-side. (Est. price: $2,699–$2,999)

Read our full review of the Samsung RH29H9000SR.

Runner-up: LG LSC22991ST

This is LG's answer to Samsung's Food Showcase. It also has a door-in-door compartment, although a counter-depth design makes it a better fit for smaller kitchens. Its aesthetic is decidedly modern, with brushed metal accents and a futuristic control panel. (Est. price: $2,429)

Read our full review of the LG LSC22991ST.


Best Value Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Whirlpool WRS325FDAM and Kenmore 51122

Aside from the badge on the front, the Whirlpool WRS325FDAM and Kenmore 51122 are the exact same fridge, and they're both excellent choices if you don't want to spend a ton of money for a good-looking fridge that will have no problems keeping your fresh foods fresh and your frozen foods frozen.

Though the Kenmore we tested had a sleek white exterior, both are available in stainless steel (the Kenmore as the 51123). In addition, both refrigerators have through-the-door ice and water, and both frequently drop in price below $1,000 on sale.

Pick whichever one fits your budget, and you'll give your kitchen an instant upgrade.

Read our full review of the Whirlpool WRS325FDAM (Est. price $1,299). Read our full review of the Kenmore 51122 (Est. price $1,059).


Kenmore 79432: Best Top-Freezer Refrigerator

Best Top-Freezer Refrigerator

Kenmore 79432

Top-freezer refrigerators don't have to be basic, and this Kenmore proves it. It boasts lots of room for fresh and frozen foods, a hidden filtered water dispenser, and attractive interior accents that wouldn't be out of place in an upscale French door. If you like the style of a top-freezer, this Kenmore is the best you can buy. (Est. price $1,033)

Read our full review of the Kenmore 79432.

Runner-up: GE GIE16DGHBB

If you want a basic top-freezer, this GE will do the trick. It has an optional ice maker, humidity-adjustable crisper drawers, and a well-designed interior. It did well in our performance tests among fridges in its class, too. Best of all, you can usually find it on sale for under $700. (Est. price $649)

Read our full review of the GE GIE16DGHBB.


Best Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator

GE Artistry ABE20EGEBS

The retro-inspired Artistry fridge might look like it came straight from the Cleaver family's kitchen, but behind the old school exterior is a host of modern technology that makes this the best bottom freezer we've tested. The doors are reversible, the thick handles look great, and the fridge compartment is easy to organize. (Est. price: $990–$1,090)

Read our full review of the GE Artistry ABE20EGEBS.

Runner-up: Kenmore Elite 79043

If you want something a bit more modern than the GE Artistry but still like the bottom-freezer design, this Kenmore is a great pick. The 79043 comes in stainless steel and has a reversible fridge door, and it also did very well in our performance tests. (Est. price: $1,606)

Read our full review of the Kenmore Elite 79043 (coming soon).


GE GIE16DGHBB: Best Value Refrigerator

Best Value Refrigerator

GE GIE16DGHBB

If you want a basic fridge that keeps your food cold, you can't do much better than the GE GIE16DGHBB. Sure, it doesn't have high-end style or features, but it's exceedingly affordable. There may be cheaper fridges out there, but in our lab tests this GE outperformed other products we tested in its price range and class. Just because a fridge isn't fancy doesn't mean it can't be good. (Price: $649)

Read our full review of the GE GIE16DGHBB.


Best Counter-Depth Refrigerator

LG LSC22991ST

Counter-depth fridges are shallower than average, so they don't stick out as much in your kitchen. If you've got a small kitchen, the LSC22991ST will maximize the space you have. This LG side-by-side did well in our lab tests, and also has a hidden door-in-door compartment for easy access to frequently used items. (Price: $2,429)

Read our full review of the LG LSC22991ST.

Runner-up: Samsung RF23HTEDBSR

If you prefer a counter-depth French door, the Samsung RF23HTEDBSR is the best we've tested. It also features a Food Showcase compartment in the right door for storage, and its exterior should blend in nicely with any kitchen design. (Price: $2,699)

Read our full review of the Samsung RF23HTEDBSR.


KitchenAid KFXS25RYMS: Best Four-Door French Door Refrigerator

Best Four-Door French Door Refrigerator

KitchenAid KFXS25RYMS

French door fridges with additional pull-out drawers are becoming increasingly popular. This KitchenAid has a pull-out refrigerated drawer with four dividers, which we think is great for storing food before a party. Other luxury features include ramp-up LED lighting and a flush mounted water and ice dispenser that automatically dispenses the precise amount of water you request.

The KFXS25RYMS isn't just attractive and user-friendly—it also did well in our tests, maximizing interior storage space and keeping temperatures even over time. It's available in stainless, black, and white. (Price: $2,429)

Read our full review of the KitchenAid KFXS25RYMS.


Best Four-Door Refrigerator

Samsung RF32FMQDBSR

The unique Samsung RF32FMQDBSR has four hinged doors, one of which opens to reveal a compartment that can be converted from fridge to freezer. If you've got a party coming up, you can set it to chill beverages or keep hors d'oeuvres cold. Or, if you've stocked up on frozen foods, you can turn down the temperature for additional storage.

Aside from that cool party trick, the RF32FMQDBSR is also a great fridge. It can fit a massive amount of vegetables, meats, and frozen pizzas, and our lab tests showed that it does a good job keeping all that food from spoiling by maintaining even temperatures over time. (Price: $3,599)

Read our full review of the Samsung RF32FMQDBSR.


Best Apartment Refrigerator

Liebherr CS1360

If you live somewhere where space is at a premium, you won't want to waste a single square foot on a refrigerator. That's why the Liebherr CS1360 is such a great choice. The upscale German appliance manufacturer brought a European-style 24-inch refrigerator to the US. It's taller than the average fridge, so it can still hold plenty of food despite its small footprint.

A dual evaporator cooling system keeps temperatures consistent over time, and the crisper drawer did a great job retaining humidity. Even though it's small, this Liebherr is also quite luxurious, with soft-glide drawers and an attractive stainless steel finish. (Price: $3,279)

Read our full review of the Liebherr CS1360.


Best Value Apartment Refrigerator

LG LBN10551PV

This compact LG apartment-size refrigerator has a similar design to the Liebherr CS1360, although its price tag is a lot lower. It's not as large, and its temperatures aren't as precise, but it outperforms refrigerators twice its size and will still fit in a compact kitchen. Pull-out drawers in the freezer and door-mounted shelves in the fridge maximize usable space. (Price: $899)

Read our full review of the LG LBN10551PV.

Runner-up: Whirlpool WRT111SFAW

The Whirlpool WRT111SFAW is a true bargain. It's a compact top-freezer style refrigerator that's both stylish and affordable. It doesn't feel cheap, and it performed well in our tests. You can get it in a sleek, glossy white or a stainless finish, and both doors are reversible. (Price: $449)

Read our full review of the Whirlpool WRT111SFAW.

{{boy_banner}} 2014 Design and Smart Appliance Technology Best of Year Awards Several of our winners for home appliance design and smart appliance technology include refrigerators. To see the full list, check out our 2014 home appliance awards. {{/boy_banner}}

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