Fridges

Our overall score combines test performance (how well the appliance works) with predicted reliability (how likely models from the brand are to remain free of faults) and brand satisfaction (how likely owners of the brand are to be very satisfied with their appliance).

We’ll only recommend appliances you’ll love to own, that work well and keep working well for a long time.

Test performance

It’s no good if a product lasts for several decades if it doesn’t work well in the first place. A disappointing product will soon become unloved and unwanted. For this reason, our independent lab testing forms an important part of our overall lifetime score.

Our overall score is made up of the following.

Food safety

Temperature fluctuations

We measure how much the temperature inside the fridge fluctuates (or swings) as the compressor starts and stops. The higher the score, the less the temperature changes.

Temperature uniformity

We measure how uniform the temperature is throughout each compartment. The higher the score, the more uniform the temperature is in the fridge and the freezer compartments.

Seasonal change effect

We test how well the appliance deals with changing temperatures outside. We test in a temperature-controlled room. We adjust the temperatures to simulate winter and summer conditions while monitoring the temperature inside the fridge. The higher the score, the better the fridge deals with temperature changes, meaning it will need less adjustments throughout the seasons.

Temperature control

Heat-load test (new test)

This test shows how powerful the fridge is by measuring the time taken and energy used for temperatures inside to reach an even state after room-temperature food has been placed into it. The heat-load test is also an indication of how efficient the fridge is. This is a new test, replacing the older temperature combinations test.

Temperature combinations (old test)

We measure the temperature in the fridge and freezer compartments at the same time. A high score means the temperatures in both compartments are managed well – for example, if the freezer is set to its coldest setting, the temperature in the fridge isn’t affected. This is an older test and has now been replaced by the heat-load test.

Once all the models have been tested with the new heat-load test, this test will be removed from our results.

Default settings

A test of how well the fridge performs on the manufacturer's recommended settings. Many people will only change the temperature setting once, so we test with the recommended settings. If there isn’t a recommended setting, we test using the factory set or mid-setting.

Predicted reliability

It’s reasonable to expect a new appliance to remain fault-free for at least the first 5 years. Our predicted reliability won’t tell you whether the fridge in your laundry will spring a leak tomorrow, but it does show which brands make models that are less likely to fail.

Brand satisfaction

Satisfaction is important – no appliance should be a source of buyer regret. Appliances with very satisfied owners are more likely to get cleaned regularly and maintained well. Their owners are also more likely to seek repair for faults than look for a quick replacement.