Need to know
- Our lab experts have tested more than 80 currently available fridge models to find the best performers and the ones to avoid
- We assess and score fridges based on their performance and efficiency, looking at factors such as temperature stability, how long they keep food fresh, 10-year running costs and more
- CHOICE members have exclusive access to our detailed fridge reviews, as well as reviews for thousands of other everyday products
When it comes to buying a fridge, the number of options on the market can be both staggering and stressful. There's the question of which brand to choose, the size you need, the features, the finish and whether it will even fit into your kitchen.
Then there's the vital issue of price versus performance – which model will do the job best within your budget? Choose badly and you could be stuck with a dud for years.
CHOICE has been testing fridges in our accredited labs for decades.
That's why CHOICE has been methodically testing fridges for decades. We assess key criteria including food freshness, temperature stability and evenness, and 10-year running costs.
We've reviewed more than 80 popular, currently available models in our certified labs to cut through the advertising spin and help you decide.
Along the way, our experts have 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, adding to the expense over the years.
To help you avoid an expensive and frustrating fridge fail, here are the models that deserve a serious cold shoulder.
Past contenders
In the past, we've warned consumers to avoid a number of ordinary fridges. Some highlights include:
- Smeg FAB38RCRAU, AKA "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 CHOICE Shonky Award in 2019.
"These fridges all performed terribly in our tests, and we named and shamed them," says CHOICE whitegoods expert Ashley Iredale. "They've subsequently been discontinued by the manufacturers."
But Smeg is back with a brand-new invention: another poor-performing (but expensive) fridge. At least they're consistent.
The FAB32RPB5AU: a follow-up fridge flop from Smeg.
Smeg FAB32RPB5AU
- Price: $3999
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 43%
- Temperature stability score: 0%
- 10-year running cost: $1192
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 new 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 in the cost of living crisis.
And it has a huge price tag for a fridge this size: nearly $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.
Bosch KAN92VI30A: $2000 for a fridge that scored just five percent for temperature stability.
Bosch KAN92VI30A
- Price: $2198
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 45%
- Temperature stability score: 5%
- 10-year running cost: $2196
Let's be real here: over 2000 bucks for a fridge that struggles to keep your food at a safe, even temperature is just not on. Bosch does make decent dishwashers, but in this case, it's a disappointment on the fridge front.
When our expert testers put this side-by-side fridge through its paces in our thermal labs, they were thoroughly unimpressed with its temperature evenness throughout (which means you'll end up with spots that are too warm or too cold), and its temperature range.
Bosch does make good dishwashers, but in this case it's a disappointment on the fridge front
After coughing up $2198 for this fridge, expect to be hit with bigger grocery bills, because you'll likely need to keep replacing food that's gone bad before its time. Our experts rated this fridge as 'Borderline' for the 'Keeping food fresher for longer' test. The only thing that saved it from scoring even worse was that it performed well in response to changes in outside temperature.
Worst of all, though, was its temperature stability – it scored just five percent on this test. When the fridge temperature fluctuates like this, you're likely to find that your ice cream has melted and then re-frozen, or that your lettuce has frozen and then gone limp.
Read the full Bosch KAN92VI30A review.
Kelvinator KTM5402WC: unstable temperature stability.
Kelvinator KTM5402WC
- Price: $1349
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 45%
- Response to outside temperature score: 35%
- 10-year running cost: $1600
This 503L fridge was so underwhelming that our experts literally couldn't find any good points to mention in our review. They rated it as 'Poor' for some of the basic things a fridge should do, like keep your food fresh and maintain the same temperature.
When we tested its temperature stability, it absolutely bombed out, which means you could end up with your ice cream melted and re-frozen, for example. It wasn't quite as bad as the Bosch in this regard, but it's still pretty terrible.
For the price, you can definitely do better.
Read the full Kelvinator KTM5402WC review.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
