During testing, we outfit each refrigerator with thermocouples in a climate-controlled chamber and monitor it for more than a month, collecting more than 5.4 million temperature readings that identify warm and cold spots, to determine which models will keep your food fresh longest.
Our process includes tests for icemaker performance based on how much ice a refrigerator produces per day and how much it can hold in its reservoirs. We also evaluate crisper performance to judge how well the crisper drawers retain moisture to keep your food fresh for longer periods of time.
Then we factor in survey data from thousands of CR members to judge brand reliability and satisfaction. All of that—and then some—informs CR’s refrigerator ratings and each model’s Overall Score.
Get more information on CR’s refrigerator tests.
