Shop for refrigerators

Top freezer
Total capacity range: 14 to 22 cu. ft.

Bottom freezer
Total capacity range: 19 to 25 cu. ft.

French door
Total capacity range: 22 to 25 cu. ft.

Side-by-side
Total capacity range: 22 to 30 cu. ft.

Commercial or designer series
Total capacity range: 27 to 49-plus cu. ft.

Consider the following when deciding:

Fresh food needs: Are you constantly whipping up three-course meals and have to lean against your fridge to keep it shut? The time you spend rearranging and digging for items is actually letting your unit's energy escape. Look into buying a French door model that might give you more fresh food space. Or if your fridge is really just a storage device for take-out containers or condiments, you're probably underutilizing your fridge and wasting energy. You might consider a smaller 14 to 15 cu. ft. top freezer model that is found in tiny apartments. Practically running a restaurant from your kitchen? Then a designer series model might be worth looking into.

Freezer storage: Do you like to cook batches of homemade meals and store them, or do you sustain yourself on frozen dinners? If so, you might consider a side-by-side model to give you easier freezer access. Or if you mainly use your freezer for ice and ice cream, or want to be able to stack lots of items, a bottom freezer might be a better fit.

Creative storage: From door bins that can hold gallons of milk to built-in soda can holders and produce drawers that are not only climate controlled but can be opened from the top, most models come with an array of storage options. One freezer compartment even comes with a pizza pocket to keep frozen pies from getting smashed. Side-pocket bins that tilt are another new feature that make it easier to remove bulky frozen items from the freezer door.

Chill options: At least one side-by-side model allows you to swap the bottom two drawers of each side to convert them into fresh food or freezer storage as needed. For example, the freezer drawer can be programmed to cool wine, or the fresh food drawer can be dialed down to store frozen food. Or some models have a special compartment or shelf that lets you quickly thaw, freeze, or chill items--like that celebratory bubbly.

Climate control: Though basic models always come with at least two crisper drawers for fruit and vegetable storage, feature-stocked models include bins designed to keep specific foods fresh. In essence, your refrigerator can have a half dozen different climates inside with compartments that allow you to regulate humidity, temperature, and storage time. For instance, there are bins to store dairy and fresh meat at optimum temps. Crispers come with a humidity gauges and sensors these days to stave off wilt and sogginess.

Customizable shelves: Gone are the days when a flimsy shelf collapsed under the weight of a party-stocked fridge. Now some models come with steel-reinforced hinges to support door storage. Shelves are not only vertically adjustable, many now slide side to side or in and out for easy access. Bins often are moveable or touch and slide versus pull and push. And most models come with so-called spill-proof shelves, which are made from glass with a rim at the edge to prevent spills from saturating your entire fridge. Some shelves also fold in half to make room for taller items.

Wine rack: If you don't have the space or dollars to splurge on a free-standing wine cellar or under-counter unit to keep your bottles chilled, plenty of refrigerators come with horizontal wine racks inside.

Ice-makers: For tastier ice and water, many come with filtration systems. You can get ice in all shapes and sizes. There are models let you make extra ice fast for your parties and holiday feasts, and some put the ice-maker inside the door to save valuable freezer space.

Other extras you might find:

• Quieting systems that mean less humming and other fridge noise (patented names vary).
• A built-in deodorizer compartment so you can say goodbye to that box of baking soda.
• Antibacterial coatings that attempt to keep germs out of the fridge.
• LED lighting so you can see your late-night snacks clearly.
• A no-frost feature to keep your freezer cold but not icy.

Filtered ice and water dispenser: As part of the green movement to rid the planet of disposable water bottles, water filtration systems for both ice and water are more commonly being offered in the door for most side-by-side refrigerators. (Filters have to be replaced periodically, however.) Some models also have a "quick fill" feature to speed up the flow of the water and to quickly fill larger containers such as a stock pot. Others enable you to fill extratall glass or water bottles. If you're worried about young kids making a mess, check out models that have a lock feature for the water and ice dispenser.

Refreshment center door: Grab-and-go eaters can look for models that have an in-door refreshment center. These minicompartments allow you to access your favorite items through a smaller door that's inset in your fresh food compartment's main door. This means you don't let cool air escape every time you reach for a cold one during the Monday night football game. Speaking of refreshments, one model even offers an in-door beer tap that is connected to a 5-liter beer keg inside the fridge.

Temperature display: LCD temperature displays are a hot ticket to help you do things such as control the temp, select your ice type, set the child lock, and to alert you when the water or ice filters needs replacing.

TV and radio: Want to watch the Food Network while you make dinner? You can now hook up your digital TV cable service to your ice box without taking up valuable counter space with that old-school portable TV. The high-tech fridges on the market include a wireless, detachable LCD touch screen tablet that displays cable TV and connects to satellite radio.

Message center: Say goodbye to magnets and notes--the in-door LCD tablets also allow you to keep a digital grocery list based on food category, then take the tablet to the store with you to check off your list. The tablet can also serve as your family's digital calendar and message center, storing voice or typed notes. One model has a weather panel too. Some fridge surfaces also are coated as dry-erase boards that illuminate to display notes. And the last smart idea: A sliding drawer in the in-door message center to hold take-out menus!

Web access: Need to look up a recipe or shoot an e-mail to your partner to pick up some milk? Another feature of in-door LCD tablets is that they double as Web browsers.

iPod and cell phone connections: One model hitting the market will allow you to dock and charge your iPod and play tunes through a dual-speaker stereo.

Digital photo displays: Forget magnets. Next-gen refrigerators come with features such as the Wi-Fi-ready Ceiva Digital Photo Frame, which allows you to digitally display 8-inch high-res photos on your fridge door via a memory-card reader.

Digital sensors:
Digital sensors that let you know that the temperature has dropped too low, or that your fridge door has been left ajar, are becoming common fare in high-tech models.

Look for the Energy Star label: The Energy Star certification program is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency. You should know the drill by now: The Energy Star label means that an appliance is certified as energy efficient--using 15 percent less energy than required by federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. Learn more at Energy Star.

Read the EnergyGuide label: Refrigerator manufacturers must use standard DOE test procedures to prove the energy use and efficiency of their products--and the results are printed on yellow EnergyGuide labels that must be displayed on appliances. According to the Energy Star Web site, "The label estimates how much energy the appliance uses, compares energy use of similar products, and lists approximate annual operating costs. Your exact costs will depend on local utility rates and the type and source of your energy." So, read this label as you comparison shop.

Don't buy big, buy smart: After deciding how many cubic feet of food storage you need, if you're not going to use a model to full capacity, then consider buying less fridge. It's simple: the bigger the box, the more energy it uses. Experts say that bottom freezer and top freezer models use less energy overall. Also, don't buy a bigger freezer than you need--freezers always require more energy per cubic foot.

Other steps you can take, according to Energy Star:

• Leave some room between your refrigerator and the wall to let air circulate around the coils, and don't place it right next to heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
• Keep your temperature set between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Dispose of your old fridge safely through RecycleMyOldFridge.com.