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Cheap Refrigerators, Discount Refrigerators Reviews

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From basic top-freezer models starting at less than $500 to feature-packed side-by-sides, a variety of reliable, cheap refrigerators are available for less than $850. Although you get lots of bells and whistles with upmarket models, you aren't guaranteed better dependability.

Cheap refrigerators keep fresh foods fresh, frozen foods frozen, and penny-pinching users content.

Generally speaking, utilitarian top-freezer fridges will be the least expensive, with side-by-side models costing slightly more. Bottom-freezer and French door (two doors for the fridge compartment atop one freezer drawer) refrigerators hover at the higher end of the price spectrum, although there are a few just beyond the Cheapism range. Counter-depth and cabinet-front styles are not common in the cheap refrigerator niche, and start at a minimum of $1,800. Compact and apartment-style refrigerators, which are not highlighted in this article, are the least expensive options, but are best suited to students and singles who aren't home much. When it comes to color, standard white refrigerators are the cheapest; their modern, stainless steel counterparts sell for about $200 to $300 more. Most fridges come in white, black, and stainless steel, with a few available in bisque and platinum or silver.

Kenmore, Maytag, GE, LG, Amana, Kenmore, GE, LG, Whirlpool and Hotpoint are brands prevalent in the discount refrigerator category. According to recent studies by J.D. Power and Associates. Samsung rates highest in customer satisfaction for both French door-style and side-by-side refrigerator models, but most Samsung models start at around $1,000. So, to help you decide which cheap refrigerator is best for you, we've broken down the options and discussed their performance below.

Refrigerator Style.

To determine which style of cheap refrigerator to purchase, first consider the configuration of your kitchen. Cheap top- and bottom-freezer models command a lower price than cheap side-by-side or cheap French door refrigerators but require more door clearance. If you have a galley-style kitchen or a center island to contend with, cheap side-by-side refrigerators and French door-styles may be better because they're designed to open in tighter spaces.

When deciding between cheap top-freezer and cheap bottom-freezer refrigerators, take your daily food choices into account. If you primarily eat fresh foods and vegetables, a bottom-freezer style like the Amana ABB2221FE(W) (starting at $827, Amazon) or LG LBC22520(SW) (starting at $772, Amazon) will probably be more convenient. If you live off of TV dinners and ice cream, you might prefer the easier access of a top-freezer fridge, like the Maytag M1TXEMM(WW) (starting at $630, Amazon), Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW) (starting at $479, Amazon), or Kenmore 6580 (starting at $388)

Another thing to note is how the usable space is divided between fridge and freezer compartments. Top-freezer and bottom-freezer models offer two-thirds fresh to one-third frozen storage. Side-by-side refrigerators are split nearly half-and-half. French door refrigerators give you the same two-thirds fresh storage as top- and bottom-freezer models, but offer the energy-efficient and space-conserving benefits of side-by-sides.

Fridge Capacity.

When it comes to buying a cheap fridge, take note of the storage capacity. The larger a refrigerator is, the higher its cost and the greater its energy consumption, so choose a product that meets your needs without exceeding them.

The experts at CNET recommend purchasing a cheap fridge that has four to six cubic feet of fresh storage per adult in the household. Since the average life expectancy / life span of a refrigerator is 14 to 19 years, depending on the style, it makes sense to take growing children into account when making your selection.

Most reasonably-priced refrigerators are top-freezer style, which typically offers total capacity of 14 to 22 cubic feet. Of the top-freezer models we researched, the Maytag M1TXEMM(WW) has a capacity of 21 cubic feet, and the Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW) and Kenmore 6580 have a capacity of 18.2 cubic feet.

Bottom-freezer refrigerators have 19 to 25 cubic feet of storage. The LG LBC22520(SW) comes in at 22.4 cubic feet and the Amana ABB2221FE(W) claims 22.1 cubic feet.

Cheap French-door refrigerators, such as the 24.8-cubic-foot Maytag MFF2558VEW (starting at $1159, Amazon), have a capacity of about 22 to 25 cubic feet. Side-by-sides offer around 22 to 30 cubic feet; the Maytag MSD2572VEW (starting at $809, Amazon) has a capacity of 25.2 cubic feet, the Whirlpool ED5KVEXVQ (starting at $789, Amazon) has 25.3, and the Hotpoint HSS25GFTWW (starting at $991, Amazon) has slightly less, at 25.

Cubic feet aside, the storage capacity of less expensive refrigerators has as much to do with layout as size. Frequent-yet-frugal entertainers will be glad to know that wide-shelved top- and bottom-freezer styles accommodate oversized platters better than their pricier side-by-side counterparts, which have narrower fresh food compartments. A refrigerators review on Home Depot appreciates the roominess of the top-freezer Maytag M1TXEMM(WW) when it comes to stowing large items, and a mother of four, posting a review of cheap refrigerators on Buzzillions, writes that the LG LBC22520(SW) proved the perfect party fridge when her daughter's birthday came around.

Discount Refrigerators Size.

The size of a cheap refrigerator also matters. Do you have overhead cabinets to contend with? Though width is generally self-explanatory, you need to consider the unit's door hinges as well. The hinges, which generally add an additional 1/2- to 3/4-inch of height to the front of the fridge (because one hinge sits on top of the door), are usually factored into the product specifications. Alternatively, two heights will be given -- one with and one without the hinge. If your cheap fridge is deeper than your cabinets, the hinge height may not matter, though it could affect the clearance of your overhead cabinets.

The depth of your kitchen cabinets is another thing to keep in mind. Will it bother you if your refrigerator protrudes beyond your cabinets? If you have a galley kitchen or a center island to negotiate, will it create a clearance problem? If so, the answer may be to invest in a more expensive counter-depth refrigerator. Except in smaller capacity sizes, like the 10-cubic-foot LG LRBP1031W (starting at $509, Amazon), counter-depth fridges generally run upwards of $2,000. If you plan to splurge or happen to run across a steal on a commercial or designer fridge -- and with restaurant failures and high-end home foreclosures an all-too-common occurrence, this could happen -- note that custom and counter-depth fridges are wide but shallow, and may not accommodate large party trays or baking pans.

Refrigerators Color and Finish.

Color and finish can have a big impact on price. Stainless steel will always be the most expensive option, running $200 to $300 more than white, black, or bisque. If you don't want to pony up the extra cash, black is a popular and modern-looking option. Some refrigerators also come in stainless steel-like finishes at a slightly lower cost; the LG LBC22520TT is a titanium model that starts at $975, Amazon, compared to the stainless steel LG LBC22520ST, which starts at $1,019, Amazon.

If you're married to the idea of stainless but don't have a lot of coin to drop, there are a few budget options. The Maytag M1TXEMM(WS), which is the cheap stainless steel refrigerator version of the Maytag M1TXEMM(WW) top-freezer refrigerator, starts at $889, Amazon and the 18-cubic foot Frigidaire FRT18HS6JS stainless fridge starts at $580, Amazon. Cheap stainless steel refrigerators are black on the sides, with full-fridge stainless wraps found only on high-end models; manufacturers assume the sides will be masked by cabinets. One disadvantage to stainless is the endless battle against fingerprints. If the chic aesthetic of stainless doesn't seem worth the upkeep, there's always the textured or pebble finishes that you find on models like the Kenmore 6580 and the Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW), which show far fewer smudges and imperfections.

Refrigerators Storage Features.

Modern refrigerators in every price range offer a plethora of storage configurations. From re-configurable door bins to adjustable shelves, glide-out freezer baskets to deli compartments, there are an endless variety of options. Most cheap fridges offer features like humidity-controlled drawers to keep your veggies crisp, snack or deli drawers, and dairy bins for butter and eggs. These have become so standard that refrigerators reviewers, like a Best Buy customer who bought a Westinghouse WWSS2601KW (starting at $800, Amazon), feel cheated if the unit doesn't have them.

When reviewing your storage options, think about how you use a fridge. If you store lots of tall items, height-adjustable shelving may be high on your list of must-haves. The Maytag M1TXEMM(WW), Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW), Kenmore 6580, LG LBC22520(SW), and Amana ABB2221FE(W) all have adjustable shelving. If you frequently entertain, you may want room for platters or sheet cakes; if so, consider the width and depth of the shelves. If you need to accommodate multiple milk gallons and two-liter bottles of soda, choose a unit with wide in-door buckets, like the Kenmore 6580, LG LBC22520(SW), or Amana ABB2221FE(W). The narrow storage space in the door of the Maytag M1TXEMM(WW) is a minor disappointment to one consumer, according to a refrigerators review on the Home Depot site.

Refrigerator Extras.

Frills aren't expected in this price range, so purchasers are often pleasantly surprised by the little "extras." For instance, one reviewer posting on Best Buy likes the door alarm on the LG LBC22520(SW) that keeps fridge-raiding kids in check.

One nice-to-have feature commonly available in cheap refrigerators is glass spill-proof shelves, found on models like the Maytag M1TXEMM(WW), Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW), LG LBC22520(SW), and Amana ABB2221FE(W). Most consumers find that solid spill-proof shelves are an improvement over the wire shelves of days gone by (less mess to clean when something leaks or spills). On the other hand, some consumers don't like the visible messes and splotches on the glass. In this case, a cheap refrigerator with wire shelving, like the Kenmore 6580, is an alternative.

Don't look for fancy add-ons like wine racks, quick-freeze drawers, or LCD displays in these models. Many cheap refrigerators, like the Hotpoint HTS18GBS(WW), the Kenmore 6580, and the Amana ABB2221FE(W), don't even come standard with an ice-maker. The least-expensive, quality refrigerator that we found with an in-door ice and water dispenser is the Hotpoint HSS25GFTWW side-by-side (starting at $1,029, Amazon). This "bonus" isn't without its problems, however. Refrigerator reviewers posting on Buzzillions were dismayed when their ice dispensers ceased to work correctly, a common problem with in-door units.

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Maytag MSD2572VE
Hotpoint HSS25GFTWW
LG LRBP1031W
Whirlpool ED5KVEXVQ
Frigidaire FRT18HS6JS
Westinghouse WWSS2601KW
Amana ABB2221FE
Kenmore 6580
LG LBC22520
Cheap Mini Fridges
Maytag M1TXEMMWW
Hotpoint HTS18GBS

 

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