Owning one of these fridges represented having Made It In Life – if you had one, you’d reached the zenith of coolness (in more ways than one).

Fast forward to adulthood, and owning a fridge with a water and ice dispenser is still a somewhat-achievable symbol of affluence that many of us aspire to. Plus, they’re genuinely quite handy.

Here’s what you need to know about fridges with water and ice dispensers. Plus, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal which ones are worth the money.

If you want to find out which fridges with ice and water dispensers top our tests, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews. Already a member? You can jump straight to the results now.

How much do fridges with ice or water dispensers cost?

Most fridges with ice and water dispensers are either French-door or side-by-side models, which are generally at the more expensive end of the market.

And you will inevitably pay more for a fridge with fancy features – no surprises there.

A fridge with a water dispenser is likely to cost you a minimum of $1399 for a freezer-on-bottom model, and as much as $4500+ for a French-door fridge.

Add in an ice dispenser as well and costs goes up even further: $1899 for a side-by-side model and over $5000 for a French-door fridge.

(Prices based on the fridges in our current review.)

Do you want to give up the freezer space?

Those dispensers have to fit somewhere, and they’ll eat into the usable storage space in your fridge or freezer. 

An ice dispenser can take up almost 30% of your freezer space. For side-by-side fridges, this is an especially big issue because the freezer space is already quite narrow.

Given normal ice trays aren’t that difficult to use, you might ask yourself whether an ice dispenser is actually a must-have.

Of course, if you fancy yourself as a home bartender, an ice dispenser may be a must-have for you. And if you want to get really fancy, you can now get fridges that make “craft ice” – those huge spheres of ice you get in overpriced cocktails at trendy bars.

LG makes these fridges, and some Samsung fridges make ice cubes in two different sizes.

Can’t plumb water into your fridge? 

Fridges with these dispensers need to get their water from somewhere. Most need to be hooked up to the plumbing, which pretty well rules them out for renters. But some models can work around this.

We’re seeing more and more fridges with water and ice dispensers that don’t require plumbing. Instead, they have an internal water reservoir that does the same thing. You just need to remember to top it up.

These models typically offer only water or ice. Some can do both, but that’s not as common. We note which fridges offer these features without plumbing in our test results.

Tight on space? Options may be limited

You can find a regular-sized fridge with a water dispenser, but they’re less common than French-door or side-by-side styles. 

In our entire fridges review of more than 100 products, 18 fridges have both ice and water dispensers, 14 have a water dispenser only, and five have ice dispensers but not water dispensers.

Of those with water dispensers only, four are single-width (freezer-on-bottom style), and they don’t score as well as the larger fridges. Just two of the four ice-only fridges are single-width.

If you’re looking for an ice-dispensing fridge for a small space, you’ll have very few options.

Some freezer-on-top or freezer-on-bottom style fridges do come with an ice drawer, which is a good space-saving alternative to an ice dispenser that still allows you fast access to plenty of ice.

On the upside, single-width fridges cost less to run than French-door or side-by-side fridges. The 10-year running costs for French-door fridges in our current test range from $1248 to $2276. 

By comparison, the 10-year running costs for top- or bottom-mount fridges in our current test range from $612 to $1560. 

Australia’s best fridge brand

Which brand of fridge should you buy? By analysing our test results and taking member feedback into consideration, we’ve identified the best brands of the year. 

Here’s how the brands compare.

Best fridge brand 2025: Mitsubishi Electric

Best fridge brand 2025 scores:

• Mitsubishi Electric – 78%
• LG – 75%
• Samsung – 74%
• Fisher & Paykel – 71%
• Westinghouse – 71%

What are the best fridges with water and ice dispensers?

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed fridges testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article to find out which fridges with ice and water dispensers we rate as the pick of the bunch.

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Favoured for their stylish looks with multiple doors, good storage capacity and added features (always dreamt of having a built-in water dispenser?), these fridges are billed as a great option for large households or keen entertainers.

But here’s the catch: they’re among the priciest models on the market, with some costing more than $5000.

So, are French-door fridges worth it, and which is the best to buy?

Price doesn’t always equal performance

����Vlog experts have put French-door fridges through their paces in our labs and note that each has slightly different features and performs differently.

And price doesn’t always equal performance – some that cost several thousand dollars failed to impress our testers.

The cheapest model recommended by our experts costs $1699, outperforming the most expensive model we’ve tested, which costs $5199.

Here we explain some pros and cons and, exclusively for ����Vlog members, we reveal which ones came out top in our tests.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

What is a French-door fridge?

French-door fridges have double doors that open outwards to reveal wide shelves inside. You can open a single door at a time, or both doors at the same time. They may have one or two large freezer drawers on the bottom, or another ‘cupboard-style’ freezer.

French-door fridges are typically larger than other types:

• Average width: 920–960mm
• Average height: 1700–1800mm
• Average depth: 900–960mm.

Best things about French-door fridges

1. Modern and stylish

If you’ve spent thousands on a luxe kitchen renovation and want a top-of-the-range fridge that looks the biz, a French-door fridge fits the brief.����

2. Large with good storage capacity

It’s easier to fit wide platters or dishes in both the fridge and freezer than in a single-door unit, and they usually have larger door bins than traditional fridges.

3. Multiple configurations and styles available

Their large size means they have many options for shelving configurations based on your needs, and you can opt for a drawer-style freezer or cupboard-style freezer.��

Our experts have even tested the Electrolux EHE6191BB with a flexible compartment with a variable temperature selection that allows you to set the bottom quarter of the fridge to a fridge, freezer or wine cooler.

4. Lots of added features available

These include built-in ice and water dispensers and multi-use compartments. One brand’s French-door fridges also include an ‘auto-fill’ water jug.

Disadvantages of French-door fridges

1. They’re bigger so they use more energy and cost more to run

The 10-year running cost for French-door models in our current test ranges from $1248 to $2276. By comparison, the 10-year running cost for top- or bottom-mount fridges in our current test ranges from $612 to $1560.

2. Ice makers and water chillers can take up a lot of fridge space

Ice makers, for example, can take up to 30% of your freezer capacity.��

3. Large physical form

They can take up a lot of space and can’t fit in a tight corner.

4. More expensive than other styles

The French-door fridges we’ve tested in our labs range in price from $1269 to $5199, with the average price being about $2950.

By comparison, the top-mount fridges in our test cost from $449, with bottom-mount fridges starting at $599.

What are the best French-door fridges?

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which French-door fridges are our experts’ top picks.

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There are a staggering number of fridges on the market – all with different features, finishes and sizes. Not to mention the huge range of prices, from hundreds to many thousands of dollars. 

It’s a big investment, and if you choose badly you could be stuck with a dud for years. That’s why ����Vlog has been methodically testing fridges for decades: to help you find the best fridge for your needs.

Our lab experts assess key criteria including how fresh they keep your food, whether they maintain a stable temperature, how much energy they use, and how much they’ll cost to run.

Over the years, they’ve uncovered some impressive fridges alongside some seriously poor performers that scored below 50%. Not only do some of them cost thousands of dollars, they’ll also struggle to keep your food fresh, costing you even more over the years.

We’ve reviewed more than 100 popular fridge models in our accredited labs to cut through the advertising spin and help you decide which to buy.

Past contenders

In the past, we’ve warned consumers to avoid a number of subpar fridges.

Some lowlights include:

• Smeg FAB38RCRAU, known as “the worst fridge we’ve ever tested”.
• Smeg FAB32RRDNA1, which failed its energy check and scored just 34% overall.
• Ikea Nedkyld fridge, which took out a ����Vlog Shonky Award.

Fortunately, these fridges have been discontinued since we named and shamed them. 

The fridges to avoid buying

Unlike the fridges listed above, these low-scoring models are still on the market – so make sure you steer clear.

Hisense HRSBS649SW

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 40%
• Temperature stability score: 21%
• Price: $1599

This is the lowest scoring fridge in our review. Not exactly a sought-after accolade – and a fridge you should definitely avoid at all costs.

It fails to rise above mediocrity in almost all aspects of our test, with particularly troubling temperature fluctuation and evenness results.

Individual performance results aren’t the absolute worst we’ve seen but collectively, they point to an incredibly average fridge with no notable redeeming features.

Not only does the overall temperature of the fridge and freezer fluctuate, there are also warmer and colder spots throughout. Your ice cream and fresh produce will really feel the heat (or cold), depending on where you put them.

Read the full Hisense HRSBS649SW review.

Bosch KFN96VPEAA

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 13%
• Price: $3299

In a previous review, we found a $2198 Bosch fridge that scored just 45% overall and rated just 5% for temperature stability.

This time it’s a $3300 French-door model that’s marginally better on temperature stability, but only just: it scored 13% in our test and couldn’t hold a stable temperature in the freezer or fresh food compartment. 

It performed worse than a number of cheaper French-door fridges, so avoid making a $3000 mistake by checking our detailed fridge reviews before you buy. 

Read the full Bosch KFN96VPEAA review.

Haier HRF420BHC

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 6%
• Price: $1399

This fridge received one of the lowest temperature stability scores of all the fridges in our review.

For context, the best fridges we tested scored 90% on this metric – so 6% isn’t just bad, it’s shockingly bad.

Our lab experts rigorously assess each fridge, measuring the temperature at 12 different points in the fresh food compartment over a period of seven days to get an accurate picture of how much the temperature changes.

These kinds of wild variations mean the fridge doesn’t do its one and only job: keep your food cold (or frozen).

To keep your food safe, your fridge needs to stay between 0°C and 4°C. But if the temperature rises higher than 4°C, you’re entering the food “danger zone” where bacteria can multiply.

And if the temperature in your fridge dips below 0°C, your food could freeze and then thaw again, leaving you with limp lettuce and soggy cucumber. In your freezer, temperature changes can shorten the lifespan of your frozen food and – even worse – ruin your ice cream.

We’ve found plenty of other fridges around the same price as this Haier that will actually keep your food cold, so check our review to find the best fridges for your budget. 

Read the full Haier HRF420BHC review.

Smeg FAB32RPB5AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 43%
• Temperature stability score: 0%
• Price: $4290

Smeg’s done it again with another second-rate fridge.

To give credit where it’s due, this one is slightly better than its predecessors – but not much.

While you’d think the company would’ve improved upon the poor temperature stability that sealed its fate as manufacturer of the “worst fridge ever”, it seems Smeg hasn’t bothered: the FAB32 scored 0% for temperature stability.

The temperature is also not evenly distributed, with the top shelf section recording significantly warmer temperatures than the bottom.

Between the sketchy temperature stability and warm patches, your food is likely to go off faster, adding extra dollars to your grocery bill – which many of us can ill afford with today’s cost of living.

And it has a huge price tag for a fridge this size: over $4000 for a fridge we classify as “small”. So, you’re not getting much bang for your buck in terms of size or performance with this fridge.

Read the full Smeg FAB32RPB5AU review.

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They run 24/7 and we rely on them to keep our food fresh and our drinks chilled – and (perhaps most importantly) our ice-cream perfectly scoopable in the freezer.

Whether you need a new-look fridge for a kitchen reno, or to replace your old Kelvinator that’s given up the ghost, it’s important to buy a fridge that suits your needs and budget. 

Choosing the wrong size or type, or one that costs a bomb in electricity to run, can fill you with fridge regret later down the road.

����Vlog experts spend hours in our appliance labs putting the latest fridges of all types and sizes through their paces to see which perform best.

And they know the ins and outs of the features you need, the ones you might not, and what’s important to focus on when buying a new fridge – as well as the things manufacturers and fast-talking salespeople use to get you to spend more than you need to.

Here is their advice on some of the common mistakes you don’t want to make when shopping for a new fridge, whether you’re in store or online.

1. Splurging on features you don’t need

Those old-school ice-cube trays are just so fiddly and time-consuming to use, aren’t they? 

Not really. A high-end fridge with an inbuilt ice-maker may seem like a desirable luxury at cocktail hour – but our experts say you should think twice before paying extra for one.

“Ice-makers and water dispensers can take up almost 30% of your freezer space,” says ����Vlog fridge expert Denis Gallagher. 

“Plus, you may need to have your fridge connected to a water supply, so you’ll have to pay for plumbing on top of the purchase price.”

As Denis points out, the need for plumbing work would rule out an ice-making feature for most renters, although some models now have a refillable water receptacle inside the fridge so they don’t need to be plumbed in.

Before buying a fridge based largely on this feature alone, Denis says “ask yourself: is the extra money and loss of freezer space worth it just to have ice on demand?”

And then there are ‘smart’ fridges. These connect to your Wi-Fi, letting you access features such as basic temperature and energy monitoring via an app on your smartphone, through to touch panel video screens and internal cameras so you can check what’s in the fridge.

But are they a smart buy? Not exactly, says Denis.

Smart fridge features may be convenient options for some, but our expert opinion is that smart fridges aren’t a smart buy just yet. Denis recommends proceeding with caution before paying a packet for all the latest smart features.

You’re better off putting that extra money into other features that’ll make your fridge more flexible, such as chiller and multi-zone compartments, a ‘hot freeze’ zone, locked compartments and hybrid fridge-freezers.

2. Buying on brand alone

If you’re easily swayed by fancy international brands spruiking cutting-edge design and Euro-glam features, make sure you take a friend with a firm hand when you go shopping to stop you making a rash decision. 

We’ve had many expensive fridges from international brands come through our labs that have unfortunately underwhelmed our experts.

Some European models just can’t hack the Australian heat.

“Because they’re designed for European conditions, they’re just not up to handling the kind of temperatures we get here in Australia,” says Denis.

“It’s not that they’re bad fridges; they’re just not suited to our climate.

“You may find that a cheaper brand that’s designed in countries with similar conditions will outperform the expensive European brands – so you’ll save money and get better performance.”

Buying on brand alone is never a good idea either, as performance, features and usability of specific products, even from the same brand, can vary significantly – we’ve seen fridges from the same brand perform wildly differently in our testing.

So, look for brands that have a long history in Australia and check our fridge reviews to see a product’s test ratings before you buy.

3. Choosing the wrong type of fridge

When researching fridges, you’ll come across a number of different types. These will include:

• side-by-side fridges (American-style models with two narrow, full-height cabinets beside each other)
• bottom-mount models (fridge on top and freezer on the bottom)
• top-mount models (freezer on top and fridge on the bottom)
• French-door fridges with two doors that meet in the middle and open out over a bottom-mount freezer.

Which fridge style is right for you depends on your specific needs and the size of the fridge you need.

For example, side-by-side fridges are a popular choice for narrow kitchens where you can’t have a large swinging door, or when you want low and easy access to both fridge and freezer compartments.

But side-by-side fridges have tall and narrow compartments, and they tend to have very poor temperature evenness. You’re also likely to get cold and hot spots.

“They also can struggle to accommodate wide or long items, such as a bunch of celery or a large pizza box,” says Denis.

French-door fridges combine the convenience of a bottom-mount fridge with good capacity and extra features, but they’re often bulky and expensive, which means they’re not suited to every budget or smaller kitchens.

It’s important to consider the pros and cons of different styles before you buy – consult our fridge buying guide for helpful advice.

4. Falling for a sleek finish

Are your eyes looking past the boring white fridges and towards a sleek, shiny model or a glossy retro number in bright red?

Buyer beware, warns Denis.

“You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and it’s the same for fridges,” says Denis.

“Fancy finishes cost more but won’t make any difference to a fridge’s performance.”

Plus, some retro-styled fridges are incredibly expensive, and their performance can be about as old-fashioned as their aesthetic.

That’s the case with Smeg’s $4000 fridge that flunked our testing. It scored a lukewarm ����Vlog Expert Rating of 43%, but a truly chilling 0% for temperature stability, which measures how consistent the temperature is over time. 

This means that the temperature fluctuates a lot in the fridge and freezer, which is bad news for your groceries and will likely contribute to food spoiling faster or even being unsafe to eat.

5. Choosing function over form

Buying on looks alone isn’t a great idea, but don’t completely discount a fridge’s appearance, especially if you’re having your kitchen renovated or there’s a particular aesthetic you want to achieve or retain. 

A fridge is a very large appliance so it naturally draws the eye when you enter the kitchen. Plus, you’ll be using your fridge every day, multiple times a day, so there’s no avoiding it!

A stark white fridge in a dramatic, dark-coloured kitchen will stand out (and maybe not in a good way). Similarly, a slick modern fridge might be at odds with a more homely or retro kitchen style.

And what’s on the outside matters – not only in terms of appearance. Some stainless steel exteriors are prone to marks from fingerprints and other smudges. They can look great, but is that really worth the time you’ll spend constantly cleaning them?��

Look for a matte or ‘fingerprint-resistant’ finish if you’re going the stainless steel route.

Whatever you choose, remember that a fridge should last you around 10 years or hopefully even longer. Will you still love that funky finish or racy red colour in a decade?

Of course, aesthetics aren’t on everyone’s radar, but it’s something to consider if looks are important to you.

6. Choosing the wrong size

When it comes to fridges, size obviously matters. But biggest isn’t always best.

First, measure up. There’s no sense in buying a massive double-door fridge if it won’t suit the size and layout of your kitchen, or squeeze through your doors.

Read more about fridge sizes and how to check if a fridge will fit into your kitchen.

What size fridge do you need?

Based on the number of people using the fridge, you can use the following as a rule of thumb when choosing fridge capacity.

“If you choose too big a fridge, it’ll cost you more to buy but also more to run,” says Denis.

“Buying a huge 525L fridge for a household of two or three is a waste of your money.”

Equally, if you buy a fridge that’s too small for your large family, for example, you’ll be left feeling exasperated each time you unpack your groceries.

“If you’re not sure what size you need, you’re better off going slightly bigger – but don’t go too big,” says Denis.

7. Not checking running costs

If you’re budgeting for a new fridge, you’ll need to look beyond just the purchase price: don’t forget to factor in how much you’ll be paying in power over the years.

Since your fridge never turns off, it’s one of the most power-hungry appliances in your home, making up about eight percent of your energy bill all on its own. So choosing a more efficient one will save you money in the long run. 

“Based on our tests, if you buy a large fridge (450–525L capacity), you’ll be up for anywhere from $636 to nearly $2000 over 10 years*,” says Denis.

“And if power prices go up, you’ll be paying even more.

“Wouldn’t you rather have that extra money in your pocket than in the power company’s coffers?”

Check the energy ratings on products and ����Vlog reviews. We include the 10-year running cost for each fridge, so you can compare the long-term costs of each model and avoid bill shock later down the road.

*Based on an electricity price of 40c per kWh.

8. Shopping before doing your research

Your fridge will hopefully last you the next 10 years or so, so this is an important purchase. Doing research before you buy is the best way to ensure you don’t end up with a dud, and that you buy the appliance that best suits your needs.

Our fridge buying guide can help you make decisions on everything from size, to finish, to the features you need.

And then, for ����Vlog members, our detailed fridge reviews give you the lowdown on how well models from all the big brands perform. 

����Vlog experts have independently tested and reviewed hundreds of fridges, so you can trust we’ll help you find the fridge that best suits you. 

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A bottom-mount fridge bends the rules of fridge design and turns the traditional ‘freezer on top, fridge on the bottom’ form on its head (quite literally) to make it easier to grab those fridge faves that you reach for multiple times a day.

If you’re considering flipping the script fridge-wise, our resident expert shares the pros and cons of bottom-mount models and reveals the dud that rated lowest in our review.

Plus, for ����Vlog members only, we’ll reveal the four best bottom-mount fridges from our rigorous lab testing. 

If you want to find out which bottom-mount fridge comes out on top, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

Why buy a bottom-mount fridge?

It’s probably important to acknowledge upfront that the term ‘bottom-mount fridge’ may be a bit confusing.

It really means a fridge with a bottom-mounted freezer – so the fridge on top, freezer on the bottom – but for better or worse, that’s been shortened to ‘bottom-mount fridge’.

Now, if you grew up with the old-fashioned freezer-on-top fridges, you might be wondering what the point is of a fridge with a freezer on the bottom. Well, it’s all about convenience.

Think about how many times a day you open your fridge to get out the milk, vegies, cheese and the like. 

How many times do you open the freezer? Nowhere near as many, right?

In a bottom-mount fridge, the things you reach for most are much closer to eye level, making them easier to find and pick up.

You’ll pay slightly more for a bottom-mount fridge – both to purchase and to run – but it’s a small price to pay for the convenience.

Bottom- and top-mount fridges tend to have around the same freezer capacity. But freezers on the bottom are generally built with sliding drawers, whereas freezers up the top generally have shelves, which can make it harder to access frozen goods buried deep at the back of the freezer.

Ultimately, which one is best comes down to personal preference.

The bottom-mount fridge not to buy

Have your heart set on a retro-style fridge? 

Despite its good looks, we recommend you avoid the Smeg FAB32RPB5AU – a sibling of the worst fridge to ever come through our labs, the Smeg FAB38RCRAU. 

The older FAB38 model received a ����Vlog Expert Rating of 22% overall and a score of 0% for temperature stability. (Yes, zero percent).

Fortunately it’s been discontinued since we named and shamed it, but Smeg’s follow-up fridge is another flop.

For a cool $4290, the FAB32 is marginally better than its predecessor – but not by much. 

It rated 43% overall, but was also roasted by our experts, scoring 0% for temperature stability due to its tendency to fluctuate by a huge 8.4°C in the fresh food compartment. 

And with a total capacity of just 331L, that’s a heck of a lot to pay for a small fridge that won’t keep your food fresh. 

If you’re looking for a similarly sized fridge that’ll actually do the job, check our list of expert-recommended models below. 

What are the best bottom-mount fridges?

The sheer range of fridges on the market can make it hard to pick the right one – but that’s where we come in.

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product. 

Only members can access our detailed fridge testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which bottom-mount fridges we rate as the pick of the bunch.

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How much would you pay for the fridge of your dreams? What if we told you that you could pick up a similar product for less that’ll perform just as well – or even better? 

Our fridge experts test around 50 fridges every year, putting each product through rigorous testing in our labs, so we see past the marketing hype and judge each model on its merits.

Our reviews show you which fridges deliver champagne performance on a beer budget.

And this is why a ����Vlog membership is such a good investment: for less than $100 a year, you can save yourself hundreds because you’ll know which expensive products to avoid, and which cheaper products are a better bet.

With the money you save on a new fridge, you could treat yourself to an air fryer, update your dishwasher, or even just pocket the cash for a rainy day (or spend it on something more fun than appliances!).

Here, we reveal two fridges that both disappointed in our testing, despite one costing $800 more than the other – showing that spending more doesn’t always buy you more.

And exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll show you which cheaper French-door and bottom-mount models are better buys than ones costing hundreds of dollars more.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

Why pay more for the same poor performance?

Splurge:

Haier HRF680YZC

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 45%
• Capacity: 601L
• Price: $3399

Save:

Bosch KFN96AXEAA

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 45%
• Capacity: 605L
• Price: $2599

There’s an $800 price difference between these two fridges. Is it worth it?

According to our test results, no. 

Neither fridge is an especially strong performer – they’re the equal second-lowest scoring fridges in the extra-large, French-door category – but comparing these two really highlights why high prices don’t always equal high quality.

They both bombed out on our temperature stability test, which measures how much the temperature fluctuates. They received two of the worst scores: 6% for the Bosch and 0% for the Haier. 

For this kind of money, you’d expect that a fridge could at least keep your ice cream from melting and re-freezing – that’s not much to ask of a fridge, right?

With scores like that, it’s not surprising that they also didn’t impress our experts with their ability to keep food fresh, scoring 45% (Bosch) and 50% (Haier).

The Haier does have a water and ice dispenser, but you need to connect the fridge to your plumbing, so it’ll cost you even more if you have to get a plumber in. That doesn’t sound like good value to us.

Researching before rushing out to buy can save you from disappointment, and from wasting your money.

The cheaper buys that outperform expensive models

While both the fridges profiled above are best avoided, there are also plenty of high performing cheap fridges that outperformed models costing hundreds, or even $1000 more.

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our onsite thermal lab, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge testing data is available exclusively for ����Vlog members. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from dryers and dishwashers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which cheaper fridges outperformed expensive models in our expert testing.

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Is your fridge bursting at the seams trying to fit enough food for your large family? 

For families of five or more, and those who entertain regularly, you’ll probably need a fridge that’s at least 440 litres to comfortably fit in food and drinks for everyone. 

If you’re considering an extra-large model, you’ll need to start saving: they cost anywhere from around $1500 upwards. The most expensive fridge we’ve ever tested costs $18,999 (yes, really!).

When you’re dropping that sort of coin, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying something that will perform well and stand the test of time..

And the most expensive fridge isn’t always the best: seven of the best extra-large fridges we tested cost less than $3000. So if you want a huge fridge but have a smaller budget, you don’t have to spend at the top of the range.

We’ll talk you through how to buy the best fridge for your household, and exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal the best extra-large fridges. 

If you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

How to choose the right fridge for your family

Not sure what size you’ll need? Here’s our guide to choosing the right fridge capacity.

Expert tips

����Vlog fridge expert Denis Gallagher shares his tips for choosing a fridge for a larger family.

Choose the right type

Side-by-side fridges may seem like a good size for larger families, but we don’t usually recommend them because they’re not great for temperature evenness. 

Plus, the shelves are often quite narrow, which can make it hard to fit large items.

A ‘pigeon pair’ – a separate but matching upright fridge and freezer – gives you lots more room than other fridge styles, and you can put the freezer in a different room to free up extra space in your kitchen. 

They cost more than traditional fridge styles, but a set-up that suits your lifestyle could be worth the extra money.

A French-door fridge – a bottom-mount freezer with a two-door fridge – is a good option as it has good storage capacity, and both fridge and freezer are wide enough for large platters and bulk foods. 

Again, they cost more than standard fridges, but the extra will buy you more space and convenience.

All but one of the fridges we recommend for large families are French-door fridges – we think they’re the best option unless you have the budget (and space) for a pigeon pair.

Look for flexibility

A multi-use compartment improves your fridge’s flexibility – you can allocate that compartment as extra freezer or fridge space as you need it.

Think twice about ice

If you’ve got a large family but not much space, don’t get a fridge with an ice dispenser – it can take up almost 30% of your freezer capacity.

The best fridges for big families

We independently test and review dozens of new fridges each year in our thermal lab, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed fridge reviews include information about each model’s performance, running costs, durability and features – all important factors to also consider when purchasing a fridge.

Only ����Vlog members can access our detailed testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, to kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which fridges are the top picks for larger households.

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On this page:

• Foods you definitely don't need to refrigerate
• Foods you definitely do need to refrigerate

When you’re unpacking your groceries, you’re often working on autopilot, packing items away in the fridge or cupboard based on what you’ve always done. But do you actually know which foods do and don’t need to be refrigerated?��

Obviously things like meat and dairy absolutely need to stay cool for safety reasons, but for some food, storing it in the fridge can actually make it go bad faster.��

����Vlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair��explains which foods should be stored in the fridge, and which definitely shouldn’t.

Foods you definitely don’t need to refrigerate

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are best left on the bench.��

shows that chilling tomatoes below 12°C limits their ability to generate substances that contribute to aroma and taste. In other words, they won’t be as nice to eat.

“Tomatoes lose flavour when stored in the fridge,” says Fiona. “I always keep my tomatoes in my fruit bowl or on the window sill.

“I like to buy a mixture of firm and slightly soft tomatoes so I have beautifully ripened tomatoes to use across the week.”��

And because they’re sensitive to ethylene – a gas that accelerates ripening – keeping them separate from ethylene-producing foods, such as bananas, apples, pears and oranges, will ensure your tomatoes stay fresh for longer.

����Vlog tip: Buy a mixture of firm and slightly soft tomatoes so you have ripe tomatoes across the week.

Coffee

Coffee beans and ground coffee shouldn’t go in the fridge, even in an airtight container.��

Why? Because coffee works as a deodoriser and absorbs moisture, odours and flavours from the air around it, making your morning cuppa taste less like the nectar of the gods and more like a nasty essence of ‘fridge’. Ew.

Instead, keep your beans in an airtight container in a dark space such as your pantry, away from sunlight, heat, steam and moisture.��

For the best flavour and freshness, buy your beans as fresh as possible and use them one to four weeks after roasting.

Some people like to freeze their coffee, but the US National Coffee Association says many experts recommend against this. If you do freeze it, use a truly airtight container and freeze in small portions. Once you take it out of the freezer, it’s best not to put it back in again.

Uncut root vegetables

��

Root vegetables, such as potatoes, onions, sweet potato and garlic, thrive outside the fridge.��

The humidity in fridge crispers can cause root vegetables to rot faster. It’s also important that you don’t store root vegetables together, as this can affect their flavour.

“Keeping these types of food out of the refrigerator is generally to avoid moisture absorption, as this can cause foods to ferment and reduce the taste and quality,” says Fiona.��

“It’s best to store them in a dark spot that’s cool and dry.”

According to Aloysa Hourigan, accredited practising dietitian and nutritionist, there are some exceptions to the rule, especially after the vegetables have been cut.

“Onions are best stored out of the fridge until they’re cut, then need to be covered or placed in a sealed container and kept in the fridge,” she says.

“Whole pumpkins can be stored out of the fridge for many weeks, but once cut, they need to be stored in the fridge.”

Oils and sauces

“Coconut oil is climate-dependent and will solidify at temperatures lower than 24°C, so it’s best to keep it in a cool, dark place like the pantry,” says Fiona.

But as a general guide, she says, nut and seed oils are best kept in the refrigerator, otherwise they’re more likely to oxidise and go rancid quickly.

As for condiments, whether or not you need to put it in the fridge depends entirely on the type of sauce, oil or spread, how much preserving salt or sugar it contains, and whether it’s been opened.

“With bottled sauces, such as soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, oyster sauce and curry pastes, it’s always best to check the label to see if it says ‘refrigerate after opening’,” says Aloysa.

Bread

Bread doesn’t belong in the fridge – it’ll go stale much faster than if you just keep it in the pantry.��

Instead, keep your bread in an airtight tin, bread box or, for hard-crusted bread, a brown paper bag. Avoid plastic too, as this encourages bread to go mouldy faster.��

Fresh bread will only last a few days before it naturally goes stale, but you can extend its life span by putting it in the freezer.��

This slows down the natural process of retrogradation and recrystallisation, and stops it going stale.

However, if you live in a humid climate, you may find that your bread turns mouldy quickly.��

“We found that if you freeze bread immediately after slicing, it remains fresh for quite some time,” says a ����Vlog Community member who lives in the tropics.��

“We just pop slices into the toaster straight from the freezer. Whole loaves or buns can be either oven heated or microwaved.”

Honey and peanut butter

Honey and nut spreads are all unique, so all need different types of storage. This is why it’s important to always check the label for advice.��

Honey is one of the few foods in the world that never spoils, thanks to its one-of-a-kind chemical make-up.��

The reason honey doesn’t go bad is because bacteria can’t grow in it, so it’s happy to sit at room temperature in your pantry, where it stays soft and easy to spread. When refrigerated, honey crystallises, but is still perfectly edible.

Honey’s longevity is legendary. When archeologists opened ancient Egyptian tombs, they found jars of honey from the days of the Pharaohs that were still good to eat.

Although bacteria-free, botulism may be present in honey. It’s not usually harmful to adults but that’s the reason why honey is not recommended for babies under 12 months old.

As for peanut butter, it’s fine in the pantry for three months or so after opening (in temperate climates). But to extend its shelf life and avoid oil separation, you can also keep it in the fridge, though this will harden it and could make it a bit more difficult to spread.

Basil and parsley

Some herbs such as coriander and mint are best kept in the refrigerator crisper, wrapped loosely in absorbent paper and put in a sealed container.��

But basil and parsley will turn a nasty shade of yuk if you keep them in the crisper.��

“These herbs seem to do better out of the fridge,” says Aloysa. “The dry air in the refrigerator causes the leaves to wilt easily.”

To store your basil and parsley, Fiona says, cut the bottom of the stems, place them in a jar with a small amount of water, then leave the jar in a cool place.��

“You’ll just need to change the water and cut the bottom of the stems every couple of days,” she says.

Warm leftovers

Putting hot food in the fridge can wreak havoc on its internal temperature, which may affect other food in the fridge as well.

But leave your leftovers out for too long and you run the risk of letting food poisoning bacteria multiply.��

Food shouldn’t be left out of the fridge in the of between 5°C and 60°C for more than two hours.

So, for the sake of freshness as well as food safety, portion any leftover hot food into shallow containers and allow to cool to around 60°C (roughly when it stops steaming) before placing in the fridge.

For more information, see .

Should you put eggs in the fridge?

Eggs don’t need to go in the fridge, but they’ll last longer in there.��

If they’ve been washed or refrigerated before (for instance, at the supermarket) then they should also go in your fridge at home.��

Leave the eggs in their cardboard cartons (not in the egg holders in your fridge door) to stop condensation building up. The carton also helps stop eggs absorbing odours from the rest of the fridge, and is a good reminder of the use-by date.��

Aloysa also recommends discarding any cracked eggs and not washing eggs with water because shells are porous and doing so may encourage the growth of bacteria.��

“If an egg appears dirty, the advice recommended by the egg industry is that it is OK to wipe it with a dry paper towel – but if the dirt does not come off, then it is best to discard the egg,” she says.

Find out more about egg health and safety on the , and the Queensland Government has information on .

Foods you definitely do need to refrigerate

Milk and dairy products

Cheese

Keep cheeses in the dairy compartment of your fridge – it’ll stop them absorbing odours from other foods in your fridge.��

The dairy compartment tends to be the warmest part of the fridge and keeps butter and foods like soft cheeses ready to serve.��

But you can also store these foods at colder temperatures, so you can move them elsewhere in the fridge if your dairy compartment is overflowing.��

The downside of keeping soft cheeses in the dairy compartment is that they may not last as long – so if you’re not planning to eat it straight away, put cheese in the main fridge compartment where it’s colder.��

Cling wrap can cause cheese to sweat, so it’s best stored either in the paper it came in or in baking paper, so it can breathe.��

����Vlog tip: Once you’ve wrapped it, store cheese in an airtight container with a single sugar cube in the corner – it absorbs moisture from the cheese and will minimise sweating.��

Milk

Most of us store milk in the fridge door for convenience, but the door shelves can be slightly warmer than is ideal for keeping milk – it’s best stored at or below 4°C.��

If you don’t go through milk quickly and want it to last longer, keep it in a colder place in the body of the fridge.��

Meat, poultry and seafood

These should be refrigerated as soon as possible after bringing them home from the supermarket. Pop them in the chiller compartment, which should be set close to 0°C.��

If your fridge doesn’t have a chiller, keep them in the coldest part of your fridge – usually at the back, where it’s less susceptible to warm drafts from the door regularly opening.��

How long will it last?

Raw chicken and other poultry should only be kept in your fridge for a couple of days. If you’re not going to use it within that time, you should freeze it to avoid food poisoning.��

Cooked chicken can last three or four days in the fridge in an airtight container. Just make sure you heat it to at least 70°C to kill bacteria, and don’t reheat it more than once.��

Cooked rice

Unlike other leftovers, rice has a very short shelf life: you should use it within 24 hours.��

This is because rice contains a bacterium called bacillus cereus that’s commonly found in soil and plants that grow close to the ground.��

Bacillus cereus produces toxins that can make you sick, and it’s not killed off by the cooking process. Unfortunately, warm and moist cooked rice is the ideal environment for it to grow in.

Refrigeration won’t kill bacillus cereus either, but it will slow it down. So if you’re not going to eat the rice straight away, you should refrigerate it as soon as it’s cool enough, preferably within an hour of cooking.

Make sure it’s heated to at least 60°C (preferably hotter) before serving. If you haven’t eaten it within a day or two, it’s safest to toss it. You can freeze rice immediately after cooking; it will last up to two months.��

Fruit and vegetables

Generally, these should be stored in the crisper – but see the table above for any exceptions to the rule.��

Tropical fruits can deteriorate in the crisper and are better stored in slightly warmer environments, while apricots, peaches and pears prefer a colder environment with lower humidity.��

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They work around the clock to keep our supplies fresh, and what do we do for them in return?

Leave the door open too long, load them up with too much food, leave leftovers sitting in the back until they’re unidentifiable…

And still we expect them to function optimally without changing any of the settings.

It’s a pretty one-sided relationship, really.

But if you put a little more effort into your quiet kitchen companion, it’ll reward you with a long-term affair lasting a decade or more.

Here are a few simple things you can do to make sure your fridge is still giving you goosebumps years down the track.

Keep it clean

Fridges really do get saddled with some disgusting stuff: curdled milk, furry cheese, cucumbers that have sat too long and are bordering on liquid…��

Cleaning your fridge isn’t just about making it look and smell nice, it’s also a food safety issue. Food that’s well past its prime is the perfect environment for nasty bacteria that can contaminate the other foods in your fridge, making them spoil faster and potentially making you sick.��

Giving it a thorough clean once a year will preserve your sick leave and give you a chance to get rid of anything that’s borderline biohazard.��

Cleaning your fridge regularly also helps to prolong the life of its seals, which will have a big impact on its effectiveness over the years.��

And if you use it as an opportunity to use up or get rid of excess food, it’ll allow cool air to circulate more efficiently – a full fridge is an efficient fridge, but an overloaded fridge may not work very effectively.��

Winter is the best time for fridge cleaning – the cooler weather means your food won’t warm up as quickly while it’s out of the fridge, and hopefully your frozen food will stay frozen until you pop it back in.��

(Plus winter weather is perfect for stews and braises – the best way to use up all the odds and ends in your fridge.)

Use unscented detergent and lukewarm water for cleaning, not a multi-purpose cleaner – food absorbs odours and you don’t want your butter to taste like disinfectant! Also avoid abrasive cleaning products as this can damage your fridge.��

Feeling overwhelmed by the mere thought of it? We break the task down into easy steps to help you clean and maintain your fridge.

Give it space

Fridges need breathing space as much as the rest of us.��

If your fridge is squeezed into too tight a spot then the heat it creates can’t dissipate, which means it’ll need to work even harder – and that’ll definitely shorten its working life. Not to mention it’ll push your electricity bills through the roof.

“We recommend leaving at least 5cm at the back and on each side of the fridge, and 10cm on top,” says ����Vlog fridge expert David Hill.

“This is just a rule of thumb, though – check what the manufacturer recommends for your specific fridge.”

And don’t forget about what’s on the inside: fridges need internal breathing space too. A fridge that’s bursting at the seams is going to struggle to keep everything cold uniformly – some foods might be too cold, and some too warm.��

Either way, it will negatively impact how long your food stays fresh.��

Get in the habit of doing a regular purge to clear out your fridge to make sure it can still go with the flow.��

Take care of the little things before they become big things

Addressing any issues as they arise is good practice in both relationships and fridge maintenance.��

Don’t ignore the little niggles – if you take care of them quickly, they’ll stay little and will keep your fridge happy.��

Keep an ear out for strange fridge noises. It’s reasonable to expect some noise, but if your fridge is making new sounds or has become much louder, it’s worth investigating.

Some little niggles are easily fixed with a repair job.��

If you notice your fridge seals are looking a little the worse for wear, get them replaced (or replace them yourself) as soon as you can. A poorly-sealed fridge will have to work extra hard to keep its contents cold, so the sooner you can sort out the seals, the less pressure on your fridge.��

If your food is spoiling faster than usual, that’s a clear sign that something is up. If you’ve checked the temperatures and adjusted the settings but it’s still happening, it could be a problem with the thermostat.��

Replacing the thermostat could buy you a few extra years before you need to part with your fridge, so it’s worth doing.��

����Vlog tip: Your fridge’s user manual may include some troubleshooting and maintenance tips, so check it out to see if you can sort something yourself before you call a repair person.��

Buy an energy-efficient, quality model

No amount of maintenance, cleaning or begging is going to make your fridge last longer if it’s not built to last in the first place.��

Yes, fridges can be expensive to buy upfront, but if you’re careful about what you purchase it’ll pay off in the long run in the form of a longer lifespan and lower energy bills.

Spending more doesn’t always guarantee better performance, but super-cheap whitegoods��tend to be made with lower-quality components that may well fail faster than products that are built better.��

For a budget fridge, you can expect it to last around six years. A mid-range fridge should have a lifespan of around nine years, while a high-end fridge can last up to 13 years.��

While you should always try to repair where you can, there does come a point at which it’s cheaper and more practical to replace your fridge.��

Once your fridge is around eight years old (depending on the quality), you’ll probably find it’s cheaper to replace than repair.��

And since newer fridges are more energy-efficient, they’ll save you in electricity costs too.��

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How does the Samsung AI Home fridge perform in our tests?

����Vlog experts carried out a full test of Samsung’s latest smart fridge, the 615-litre AI Home (model number SRS6500BA), in our accredited labs. Regardless of how smart this fridge is (or isn’t), how it performs as a fridge is obviously a significant part of the decision as to whether you put it in your kitchen.

The AI Home fridge is a side-by-side model with a plumbed water/ice dispenser (which means you need a tap nearby). The fridge volume is around 400 litres and Freezer around 215 litres, which would be considered suitable for a family.��

Our expert tester David Hill ran the fridge through the full ����Vlog fridge test in a large thermal room at 10 degrees and 40 degrees to see how well it handled variations in ambient temperature.��

Performance in warmer ambient temperatures over 30 degrees was very good with low temperature fluctuations, which means your fruit and veg is more likely to stay fresher for longer.

Overall, the fridge performed well, particularly for a side by side fridge which can be difficult to keep uniformly consistent due to the large areas of air flow that need to be kept at a consistent temperature throughout the various shelves.

A touch-to-open sensor, where a light tap on the side of the door opens it automatically, can be handy when carrying a full load of groceries.��

How smart is the AI Home fridge?

So, the fridge is perfectly acceptable as a fridge, but how smart is it and will it control everything in your home?

Firstly, unlike most fridges which use a simple set of basic temperature controls for the fridge and freezer area, the Samsung AI Home is controlled by a 9-inch tablet touch display embedded in the right-side door.��

For those worried about more pointless tech being introduced to add extra complexity the operation of a fridge, you can rest easy.��

Our tester David found the interface for operating the primary fridge control functions incredibly easy,both with and without any Wi-Fi or smart connectivity.

Simply navigate to the ‘Fridge Manager’ on the control panel to change the fridge settings or control the ice maker as well as get instant feedback on current temperatures for the fridge and freezer section.��

It’s also a simple process to do things like change the water filter or monitor energy usage from month to month.

Once you integrate the fridge into your home network through a wireless connection��(2.4 or 5GHz), you can operate many functions as you would when using a standard smart tablet device.����

Our tech expert Elias Plastiras examined the smart credentials and found a lot to like. Downloading Samsung’s SmartThings app and creating an account is essential to making the most of this fridge but you don’t need to be using a Samsung smartphone – a standard Android or Apple iPhone will deliver a similar experience.��

The ability to control the fridge functions either from the SmartThings app on your smartphone or the tablet display on the fridge can be surprisingly useful.

The default display for the fridge display can be just a clock, artwork or a carousel of information such as your calendar, recipes, the weather or ongoing energy consumption. You can also log into a Google Calendar and view upcoming appointments or reminders on the screen.��

While there are a variety of aspects to the AI Home fridge in controlling your smart home, the interface also allows you to easily change fridge settings such as temperature (fridge and freezer), internal light settings, enable or disable the ice maker, reset the water filter, view current energy consumption and compare to previous periods.��

You can also turn on ‘holiday mode’, which keeps the freezer running normally while raising the fridge temp to a higher level (around 15 degrees) to save energy when you’re away for an extended period. This is only suitable of course if you’ve emptied out the contents of the fridge section so there is nothing in there that will spoil at the higher temperature.

Smart features: recipes, shopping lists, grocery tracking, speakers and more

One of the more useful smart app recipe features can help you decide�� what to cook using the food that’s in your fridge and/or about to expire.

Unfortunately, this information isn’t magically collected by the fridge as you need to log your food in manually as you put it in the fridge.��

This process can be tiresome but there is a menu selection for various fruit, veg and other common items such as milk and yogurt so if you are diligent, the result could be a much better awareness of what you have and what you need to use before it spoils.

The recipe feature is very useful when you are feeling uninspired and lets you browse various recipes to be followed in a step-by-step process.

Simply swipe the screen for the next step and you can add ingredients for a recipe to your shopping list, which will then be accessible through the SmartThings app when you’re out shopping.����

If you want to cook multiple recipes and send the ingredients to your shopping list, then you’ll need to sort the list by recipe to make it easier to buy the necessary ingredients.

If you enter an expiry date for a food item, then the tablet can let you know when something needs to be used and suggest recipes for it (though you may need other ingredients for it).��

Apart from that, it’s nice to be able to control the fridge functions from the screen or the SmartThings app on a phone, and the tablet displaying a clock or calendar information on the fridge can be useful.��

There is no central security for the tablet, but you can add a PIN to the apps individually. The recipes seem to always be accessible without a PIN, as they are not personal info.

While the fridge includes speakers so you can interact online or listen to music, don’t expect a great audio experience as the speaker is at the bottom of the door and sounds distant and muffled.

Looking for a new fridge?

If you’re not wowed by fancy features associated with smart fridges, the good news is you don’t have to spend several thousands of dollars to buy a top-performing fridge.

Our expert testers rate and compare more than 80 fridges from leading brands at different price points so you can find the best model for your kitchen. View ����Vlog’s latest fridge reviews.

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