The Basics: Built-In Refrigerators

If you've ever walked through a kitchen that appeared to be very streamlined and in which all of the appliances seemed to blend well with the cabinetry -- look, in fact, like they were part of the cabinetry -- you've probably seen a built-in refrigerator in action.

Built-in refrigerators -- which are also known as cabinet-depth refrigerators -- look as if they have been built into a kitchen. These models have a shallow depth of 23-1/2 inches to 26 inches. Built-ins are available in the usual white, bisque, black and stainless steel colors, but many refrigerators of this configuration accept decorator panels. This means that you can insert a panel that features the same finish as your cabinets into the front of your refrigerator to create a custom look in your kitchen.

How to Shop

Three refrigerator configurations are available in built-in models. Bottom-freezer built-in refrigerators and side-by-side and freezerless/freezer-only built-in models are available, but the most common built-in refrigerator configuration is the side-by-side. At this time, manufacturers don't typically offer top-freezer built-in refrigerators.

Several years ago, only a handful of refrigerator manufacturers offered built-in refrigerator models; today, however, nearly all offer at least a few cabinet-depth units.

Aside from the aesthetic benefits of a built-in or cabinet-depth refrigerator, models with a shallow depth also allow you to more easily see items placed toward the back of each shelf. Leftovers can no longer hide in your fridge!

The basic benefits of each refrigerator configuration are apparent in built-in models with the same configuration. For instance, expect to get better energy efficiency with a bottom-freezer than you would with a side-by-side model. You will probably have more side-by-side models from which to choose than those of any other configuration.

There are two drawbacks of built-in refrigerator models. First, since these appliances have a relatively shallow depth, their interior capacity will be less than that of a traditional-depth refrigerator with the same height and width measurements. So in order to have a refrigerator that can hold enough items for a medium- to large-size family, you'll need to devote a lot of horizontal and vertical space to your built-in unit.

The second drawback is the price of built-in refrigerators. These models are still considered to be specialty items and often carry a premium price tag. You'll spend at least several hundred dollars more for a built-in refrigerator than you would for a model of the same configuration, capacity and similar features. For many owners of built-in units, however, the extra money is well worth the beautiful, "seamless" look they possess in their kitchens.

Built-in or cabinet-depth refrigerators offer tremendous design flexibility. Some manufacturers of the most upscale counter-depth refrigerators offer combinations of separate built-in refrigerator components to give homeowners an even greater ability to customize their kitchen space. It's possible, for instance, to couple a built-in freezerless refrigerator with a freezer-only model. You can also get a freezerless model that can be used along with separate crisper drawers that can be located in a different area of the kitchen.

Built-in refrigerators are available everywhere appliances are sold. You can shop for these models in appliance departments at large department stores, appliance dealers and home centers. You can also go online to various manufacturer or store Web sites to research different refrigerator models or make a purchase online. In general, though, it's probably a good idea to be able to actually see every potential model to be sure that you're comfortable with the materials used, the way its interior is laid out and the feel of the refrigerator. It's also nice to be able to chat with a sales associate in person about the various models available.