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A stainless steel refrigerator sits on a blue background Credit: Reviewed / Frigidaire

The Best Stainless-steel Fridges Under $2,000 of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A stainless steel refrigerator sits on a blue background Credit: Reviewed / Frigidaire

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Editor's Choice Product image of Hisense HRB171N6ASE
Best Overall

Hisense HRB171N6ASE

Though it requires calibration, this fridge will offer remarkably consistent temperatures and is one of the best values we've seen. Read More

Pros

  • Steady temperatures in both fridge and freezer
  • Great value

Cons

  • Fridge needs to be calibrated before use
  • Only one crisper
2
Product image of GE GNE25JMKES

GE GNE25JMKES

This 24.8-cu.-ft. French door has a great aesthetic, precise temperature control and is very energy efficient. Read More

Pros

  • Maintains consistent temperatures
  • Temperature-controlled drawer
  • Retractable shelves

Cons

  • Lacks through-door dispensers
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Hisense HRM145N6AVD

Hisense HRM145N6AVD

The Hisense HRM145N6AVD is an excellent option for smaller spaces, combining high performance with a small footprint. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent temperature control
  • Extra freezer drawer provides organizational options

Cons

  • Low overall storage
  • No dispensers
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Haier HA10TG21SS

Haier HA10TG21SS

The Haier HA10TG21SS is a high-performance budget fridge. What it lacks in extra features it makes up for in steady temperatures. Read More

Pros

  • Counter-depth
  • Steady temperatures
  • Great value

Cons

  • No extra features
  • Lower capacity
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Frigidaire FRSS2623AS

Frigidaire FRSS2623AS

The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS is a great value. This side-by-side has solid temperatures, lots of storage, and a through-the-door dispenser. Read More

Pros

  • Maintains even temperatures
  • Low electricity demand
  • Lots of fridge storage

Cons

  • Freezer is a bit small

If you're upgrading or outfitting a new kitchen, there's a good chance you're looking for stainless-steel appliances. While this finish has become the norm, it still bumps up the price on budget models that feature white or black fronts.

When it comes to getting nice aesthetics to match great food preservation, that can be a bit tougher to achieve on a budget. Fortunately, there are some refrigerators out there that have that sleek stainless-steel finish and a price low enough that your wallet won't feel empty.

After testing the best refrigerators in our labs, our favorite pick for the best stainless-steel refrigerator under $2,000 is the Hisense HRB171N6ASE (available at Lowe's) , a bottom-freezer fridge that offers big value.

Editor's Note:
Due to supply chain challenges and soaring demand, there is widespread unavailability of home appliances and long wait times for delivery of backordered products. If you're a consumer in need of a refrigerator, here are the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now.
A shot of the fridge's interior and door bins, all stocked with food.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
Best Overall
Hisense HRB171N6ASE
  • Refrigerator style: Bottom freezer
  • Dimensions: 69.1 x 31.1 x 29.1 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 17.2 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 11.62 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: None

The Hisense HRB171N6ASE, one of the better bottom-freezer refrigerators we’ve reviewed, offers excellent temperature stability and energy efficiency—and also is a great value.

While temperatures in the fridge and freezer were remarkably stable during testing, anyone who buys this Lowe's exclusive should calibrate the fridge after purchasing because it was warm out of the box. It's an easy fix—turn the fridge a couple of degrees—but it should be done so temperatures in parts of the fridge don't top 40°F, which would allow bacteria to proliferate rapidly. During testing, the freezer was calibrated properly, so no adjustments will be necessary.

People looking to save money on energy and those conscious of their carbon-footprint may want to consider this counter-depth refrigerator. It's about twice as energy efficient as the average refrigerator, and it does a good job even when compared to other counter-depth models.

The HRB171N6ASE may not be the best fridge for everyone, though. It only has one crisper drawer, which could be a problem for people who store a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Because it doesn't have two separate crispers, leafy greens could prematurely rot if they're exposed to ethylene gas, a plant hormone given off by certain fruits.

Overall, if you need a basic counter-depth fridge, the HRB171N6ASE is the best stainless steel refrigerator for value.

Pros

  • Steady temperatures in both fridge and freezer

  • Great value

Cons

  • Fridge needs to be calibrated before use

  • Only one crisper


Other Stainless-steel Fridges We Tested

Product image of GE GNE25JMKES
GE GNE25JMKES
  • Refrigerator style: French-door
  • Dimensions: 69.875 x 32.75 x 37.5 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 24.7 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 17.07 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Internal water; internal ice maker

The GE GNE25JMKES refrigerator has clean lines and a sleek, fingerprint-resistant slate-finished exterior, but it's what's on the inside that really impressed us.

This French-door refrigerator has a lot to love, including its precision temperature control and energy efficiency. It also has retractable shelves, crisper bins with separate humidity controls, and a temperature-controlled deli drawer.

While it doesn’t have through-door ice or water dispensers, it does have an interior water dispenser in the fridge and an ice maker in the freezer.

The GE GNE25JMKES has some of the most convenient features that you find on more expensive French-door options but at a more affordable price.

Pros

  • Maintains consistent temperatures

  • Temperature-controlled drawer

  • Retractable shelves

Cons

  • Lacks through-door dispensers

Product image of Hisense HRM145N6AVD
Hisense HRM145N6AVD
  • Refrigerator style: French-door
  • Dimensions: 70.3 x 27.3 x 27.7 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 14.8 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 10.08 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: None

The Hisense HRM145N6AVD is a solid, mid-range refrigerator that fits into a tight space and has top-notch test results.

With a narrow, counter-depth build, the HRM145N6AVD can fit into spaces that full-size fridges can't. However, storage capacity is significantly reduced—it has about 20% less storage space than a traditional counter-depth fridge and about 35% less storage space than a full-size refrigerator.

This French-door refrigerator did great on our temperature tests. Temperatures in the fridge varied less than 2°F during testing, and the freezer was even more consistent.

The freezer's outstanding qualities extend beyond performance. The HRM145N6AVD has an extra freezer drawer that will help you organize your frozen foods. In both freezer compartments, there's also a thin drawer that can help you organize your frozen food even more.

While the HRM145N6AVD doesn't have any dispensers, it's a good value for people looking to fit a refrigerator in a smaller space and willing to sacrifice some storage.

Pros

  • Excellent temperature control

  • Extra freezer drawer provides organizational options

Cons

  • Low overall storage

  • No dispensers

Product image of Haier HA10TG21SS
Haier HA10TG21SS
  • Refrigerator style: Top-freezer
  • Dimensions: 59.5 x 23.4 x 25.3 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 9.8 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 8.06 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: None

If you’re in the market for an entry-level, counter-depth fridge, there are are few options better than the Haier HA10TG21SS top-freezer.

This is a budget buy that offers an impressive performance for your initial investment. While its smaller stature means less storage space compared to a full-size model, it has impressive temperature performance and adjustable-height, spill-capturing shelves—two rare features to see in a fridge at this price point.

This fridge does lack some standard features, like a through-the-door ice and water dispenser, but the absence of those features lets this fridge shine at its very low price point. If you're looking for a basic fridge and don't have much use for fancy features anyway, the Haier HA10TG21SS is one of the best values currently available.

Pros

  • Counter-depth

  • Steady temperatures

  • Great value

Cons

  • No extra features

  • Lower capacity

Product image of Frigidaire FRSS2623AS
Frigidaire FRSS2623AS
  • Refrigerator style: Side-by-side
  • Dimensions: 69.88 x 36.13 x 35 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 25.6 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 16.76 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)

The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS has steady temperatures and uses about a third of the electricity as other refrigerators—138.81 kWh/year versus 439.34 kWh/year.

The FRSS2623AS also has about 1.47 cubic feet more fridge storage than the average side-by-side, but it does come at a cost. Its freezer is slightly smaller than average. Both the fridge and freezer had steady temperatures during testing. That said, the middle shelf of the refrigerator averaged slightly above 40°F, so you might want to consider turning the fridge temperature down a degree.

The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS has a through-the-door water and ice dispenser, but no other special features that would increase its price. Overall, it's a side-by-side that's a great value.

Pros

  • Maintains even temperatures

  • Low electricity demand

  • Lots of fridge storage

Cons

  • Freezer is a bit small

Product image of Beko BFTF2716SSIM
Beko BFTF2716SSIM
  • Refrigerator style: Top-freezer
  • Dimensions: 67.69 x 27.56 x 26.38 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 17.62 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 10.14 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Internal ice maker

The Beko BFTF2716SSIM looks great and fits in smaller spaces at a relatively low price.

The BFTF2716SSIM doesn’t have a lot of frills, but it was a solid performer during testing. Temperatures in the fridge and freezer were incredibly consistent. Fridge temperatures were spot on out of the box, but the freezer was warm, so you’ll want to calibrate it.

While this top-freezer takes up less space, that means it also has less storage capacity, especially in the fridge. According to our data, the BFTF2716SSIM has about 2.69 cubic feet less storage in the fridge than the average counter-depth refrigerator.

Pros

  • Steady temperatures

  • Inexpensive

  • Interesting crisper tech

Cons

  • Low overall storage

  • Freezer requires calibration

Product image of Samsung RS27T5200SR
Samsung RS27T5200SR
  • Refrigerator style: Side-by-side
  • Dimensions: 70.06 x 35.88 x 33.5 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 27.4 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 18.4 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)

The Samsung RS27T5200SR is one of the better side-by-side fridges we’ve tested—temperatures were solid throughout the fridge and storage was above average.

A multi-vent system in the fridge helps temperatures relatively consistent from top to bottom. During testing, the temperatures also remained consistent over time.

Side-by-side refrigerators often lack storage. That’s not the case with the RS27T5200SR, which has 1.75 cubic feet more storage in the fridge than the average side-by-side. Storage in the freezer also is larger than average but only slightly.

Pros

  • Steady temperatures

  • Lots of storage

Cons

  • Shelves and bins don't have many options for repositioning

Product image of Samsung RT18M6215SG
Samsung RT18M6215SG
  • Refrigerator style: Top-freezer
  • Dimensions: 66.75 x 28.75 x 31.875 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 17.6 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 14.59 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Internal ice maker

The Samsung RT18M6215SG offers versatility not normally found in refrigerators—with the push of a few buttons, you can convert the freezer into a second refrigerator zone.

While that versatility could be a boon with people who use this refrigerator in a small kitchen, vacation home, or garage, folks who need lots of storage in the fridge and freezer may find the RT18M6215SG lacking, with 10.45 cubic feet of usable space in the fridge and 4.14 cubic feet in the freezer. Also, the crispers are at the bottom of the fridge, lower than most refrigerators, and there’s a single shelf in the freezer so organization options are limited.

The RT18M6215SG has a pocket handle and a contemporary, sleek-looking black stainless-steel finish. If you prefer stainless-steel, this top-freezer is available in that finish at a lower cost.

Overall, the Samsung RT18M6215SG is a better-than-average value for its versatility and good looks.

Pros

  • Can maintain consistent temperatures

  • Flexible temperature zone

  • Black stainless steel finish

Cons

  • Have to stoop to access crispers

  • Not much in the way of storage

Product image of Hisense HRF254N6TSE
Hisense HRF254N6TSE
  • Refrigerator style: French-door
  • Dimensions: 70 x 35.98 x 33.07 inches (H x W x D)
  • Advertised capacity: 25.4 cu. ft.
  • Measured capacity: 14.62 cu. ft.
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)

The Hisense HRF254N6TSE may not have a lot of frills, but it’s a solid French-door refrigerator for its price.

It does have some nice features—a through-the-door water and ice dispenser, a shelf that can be minimized to create space for taller items, and a full-width deli drawer. It also has solid temperatures that should keep your food fresh for its maximum shelf life.

While we like the storage solutions that this fridge offers, it does have a smaller overall capacity than the average French-door model, so it might not be the best fit for larger families or for people who need lots of storage.

Pros

  • Near-perfect temperatures

  • Through-the-door ice and water

  • Excellent value

Cons

  • Less storage space than average

  • No smart features

How We Test Stainless-steel Refrigerators

Lab technician measures shelf height inside of refrigerator with measuring tape.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The typical way manufacturers state storage capacity isn't reflective of how much storage space you can actually use. Because of this, we manually measure each compartment and to calculate how much storage space you're actually getting.

We have lots of experience testing refrigerators in our labs, but we also use them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives. This gives us a great sense for what refrigerators are good values at their price points and which have really useful extra features.

To ensure that each refrigerator we test is operating at its best, we conduct our testing in a lab that conditions the air temperature to 72°F +/- 5°F and relative humidity to 50% RH +/- 15% RH. Additionally, we pack each fridge with water-filled containers because fridges operate better when there’s less empty space.

Over the course of a week, we measure each refrigerator in five areas:

  • Temperature—how close the fridge and freezer are to optimal temperatures and how closely they stick to those temperatures
  • Humidity loss—a refrigerator’s veggie crisper should find a balance between being too dry or too humid
  • Freezing time—we measure the time it takes for the freezer to cool down from room temperature to 32°F
  • Usable space, how much empty space is actually available in a refrigerator for storage
  • Energy use—the less energy used, the more efficient that fridge is

We also use each fridge in a more casual sense so that we can answer usability questions about the fridge’s specs and features, like the fridge and freezer doors, shelves, controls, water/ice dispenser, and extra features.

If a refrigerator keeps the temperature at a perfect 37°F, but it’s very difficult to open the doors and the control panel makes no sense, we’re going to penalize that fridge with respect to its ease of use.


What You Should Know Before Buying A Stainless-steel Refrigerator

Which Style Of Refrigerator Is Best?

The answer to that question depends on the person. Some people have a larger budget, which gives them greater choice. Others are limited by the footprint of their kitchen.

The general benefits and drawbacks of refrigerator types could help you determine which is best for you, but if you’re looking for a stainless-steel fridge, you could find options in each type.

French-door refrigerators have a modern look and wide shelves for storage. They often have many features. They are also often more expensive than other types of refrigerators.

Top-freezer refrigerators are typically less expensive than French-door models. In general, they are energy-efficient, but some people might find them lacking in aesthetics. Bottom-freezers have a lot in common with top-freezers, except the location of the freezer.

Side-by-side refrigerators keep food at eye level. Typically, fridge storage space is more limited than with other types, but freezer space can be large. Also, temperatures are likely to vary more from top to bottom in side-by-side refrigerators.

What Temperature Should A Refrigerator Be?

Ideally, your fridge should be exactly 37°F and your freezer should be 0°F.

These temperatures are important because food needs to be kept within a very narrow band of temperatures to maximize its shelf life.

If a fridge gets too cold, then some food could freeze. Fridge temperatures of 40°F and higher are dangerous because that's the temperature at which bacteria really start to proliferate quickly.

If your freezer gets warmer than 0°F, it means your food isn't being truly frozen. If temperatures in your freezer fluctuate too much, then you risk freezer burn.

How to Clean Stainless-steel Refrigerators

Use a mixture of soap and warm water, plus a cloth for day-to-day cleaning (fingerprints, smudges, and the like).

When things get grimy, you’ll need to do a little bit more to clean your stainless-steel refrigerator. Here are the basics:

  1. Wipe it down: Using a damp paper towel or cloth, wipe down the surface to remove dirt
  2. Mix up your cleaning solution: In a bowl, mix baking soda, lemon juice, and a spoonful of salt until it reaches the consistency of paste.
  3. Apply the cleaning solution: Using a damp rag, apply the paste to the surface of your stainless-steel refrigerator. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Use hot water: Dampen a cloth with hot water and wipe the refrigerator down.

Meet the testers

Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton

Product Tester

Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.

See all of Kyle Hamilton's reviews
Julia MacDougall

Julia MacDougall

Senior Scientist

@reviewed

Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.

See all of Julia MacDougall's reviews
Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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