Large refrigerator with 3 full-width wire shelves, 1 half-width shelf, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, and 2 full-width door racks. Designed with single-knob temperature control and bright lighting for easy visibility. The shallowest freestanding counter-depth fridges measure about 27 inches deep, as much as 9 inches (25%) shallower than a standard-depth Arctic King model. (That’s counting the handles in both cases, but not the 2 inches you should leave between the back of the fridge and the wall for circulation). The doors aren’t flush with cabinetry like those of a “true” counter-depth model, but the overall design tends to feel less obtrusive than a standard-depth model, which can jut way out beyond your cabinets.
In the Reviewed lab, Michael regularly tests refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry large appliances, as well as all types of science-based activities. His 5 years as a behavioral technician has given him a strong appreciation for data collection and research. Michael has a variety of different passions outside of testing appliances including volleyball, snowboarding, and video games. You can also find him nerding out about EDC gear, custom keyboards, and Warhammer 40k. Beckett Dubay is a product tester at Reviewed, regularly using science-based protocol to test refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry large appliances, and photographing the process in the lab from start to finish. Before Reviewed, working as a lighting designer for several years has left him with strong opinions about overhead lighting.
We did spot a few patterns among Frigidaire, Whirlpool, and GE top-freezer models, though we’re not sure how conclusive they are. Whirlpool top-freezer fridges, for example, have significantly higher owner satisfaction and a very low rate of utter hatred. But maybe that’s because the brand’s slightly higher prices discourage people from buying the truly lowest-end models, so they don’t drag down the overall rating. Whirlpool’s reliability for this style also seems to be a little better than that of the other two brands. But we just don’t have enough data to say how these Whirlpools compare to similarly priced models with comparable features from LG or Samsung, so we don’t want to endorse one brand over another.
This affordable refrigerator is both stylish and practical with plenty of storage space and consistent temperature throughout. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
Additionally, the tendency for ice to clog up the dispenser reduces with a high-quality ice maker. Airflow is also an important Arctic King climate control factor in refrigeration. Odor development and food contamination results when airflow is not optimal.