Why would you be in the market for one of the best counter depth refrigerators? It's pretty simple. Food is the backbone of nutrition. It’s the stuff that yields energy and provides all the raw materials to build up the body. Scientists argue that thirty days without a meal could lead you to an early grave, but the specific number is arguable... Bottom line – you need food! And today's lifestyle usually means you need a refrigerator with plenty of storage space to make it happily through every week.

And sure, food keeps every human being alive and functioning, but it goes beyond that. Food is an integral part of human culture. Feasts have been a mark of celebration all through human history, and the trend continues up to today. Weddings, birthdays, funerals, et cetera all involve a hot plate at some point.

With almost every meal, there come left-overs. And because necessity gives rise to invention, human ingenuity has come up with a lovely way to keep food fresher for longer. The refrigerator has been a panacea in terms of food storage. Counter-depth refrigerators, in particular, have proven to be a popular choice in recent times, given their nimble nature.

So please read on for the details on the 10 best counter depth refrigerators of the year.

This counter depth fridge comes with a 19 cubic foot capacity and features a Power Plus ice maker that gives you virtually unlimited access to ice. The fridge’s pure air filtration system eliminates seven times more odor than conventional methods such as using baking soda. It instead uses ultra-filtration carbon technology to absorb any foul smells. That ensures your ingredients remain fresher for longer.

There's also a soft-freeze zone that keeps frozen foods soft and easy to eat. The smudge-proof surface is easy to clean and resists finger-prints for a beautiful look. A dual stainless-steel trim kit gives the fridge a brilliant look and provides an excellent finish.

The SpacePro shelving system allows easy access to ingredients thanks to efficient organizational optimization. There’s also an automatic alert system that notifies you when the fridge door is left open if the temperature goes up or if the power goes out. The alerts ensure that your food and ingredients remain at optimal temperature. PowerBright LED lighting allows you to find food quickly.

Key Features
  • PureAir filtration system
  • Smudge-proof surface
  • Soft-freeze zone
  • Bright LED lighting
  • SpacePro shelving system
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 71 x 32 x 26 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 19 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Frigidaire
  • Warranty: 5 Years
  • Brand: Frigidaire
Pros
  • The PureAir filtration system removes seven times more odor
  • Soft-freeze zone keeps frozen foods soft and easy to eat
  • The smudge-proof surface is easy to clean
  • Stainless steel build provides durability and aesthetics
Cons
  • Some users report that the freezer is too hard to open
Editors choice

2. Samsung RF22K9381SR

9.05 / 10
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This refrigerator comes with an amazing triple-cooling system that features three evaporators for supreme freshness. This cooling system provides precise temperature and humidity control, allowing your food and ingredients to remain in prime condition. The brilliant, sleek design allows you to save on space while delivering an enhanced look in your kitchen, making it an easy choice as one of the best counter depth refrigerators of the year.

The exterior showcase door gives you easy access to contents in the fridge, while the inner case lets you store a considerable amount of fresh food items. There’s a versatile door known as the Flex Zone found at the bottom right that could serve as either a fridge or freezer, depending on what you prefer. This door affords you that extra bit of storage space.

The fridge comes with an ice maker that produces up to five pounds of ice each day. There are high efficiency LED lights that brighten up every corner of the fridge, granting easy access to whatever you want to pick out. The refrigerator even features a wine rack and has a fingerprint-proof coating that eliminates smudging allowing your fridge to maintain its aesthetics.

Key Features
  • Amazing cooling system with three evaporators
  • Ice maker
  • Showcase door
  • Flex Zone
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 71 x 35 x 28 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 22 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Samsung
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Brand: Samsung
Pros
  • 3-evaporator cooling system for efficient cooling
  • An ice maker that makes up to five pounds of ice each day
  • Flex Zone converts part of the freezer into a fridge for extra space
  • Large 22 cubic-foot capacity
Cons
  • Some users complain that the ice maker froze up soon after purchase

This model is a great blend of design and functionality. It comes equipped with a temperature management system that uses sensors to monitor and adjust temperatures within the fridge. That way, your food is guaranteed to last longer. The fridge features a 20 cubic-foot capacity making it ideal for basic home use and storage.

There’s a produce preserver feature that eliminates any ethylene gas that’s given off by veggies and fruits. That means your produce remains fresher for longer. Additionally, humidity-controlled crispers help keep moisture levels low, creating ideal storage conditions. An interior filtered water dispenser allows for easy access to clean, drinkable water.

There’s a metal wine rack in case you want to cool your favorite bottle of Chardonnay. The ice maker is automated, meaning convenient access to ice whenever you so desire. LED lighting makes for easy visualization when you want to access your condiments. The fridge comes with Energy Star certification, meaning you get guaranteed energy efficiency, and one of the best counter depth refrigerators on the market.

Key Features
  • Stainless steel finish
  • Preserver for eliminating ethylene
  • Humidity control
  • Interior water filter
  • Metallic wine rack
  • LED lighting
  • Energy Star Certified
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 70 x 35 x 30 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 20 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Kitchen Aid
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Brand: Kitchen Aid
Pros
  • Humidity control allows for less moisture
  • Interior water filter gives clean drinking water, lowering plastic use
  • The metallic wine rack gives unique storage
  • Energy Star certification means efficiency
  • Preserver eliminates ethylene gas for fresher fruits and veggies
Cons
  • The built-in plastic hinges get worn out after a while and end up needing replacing

This fridge is the latest addition to the Bosch fridge itinerary. It comes with an energy-efficient dual air-cooling system, together with precise airflow and humidity regulation. These two features combine to keep your food fresher for longer. The ice maker in the fridge is fed with filtered water meaning you don’t have to worry about externally filtering the water.

The freezer also comes with a super-cool feature that protects the existing items within the compartment from defrosting while you organize new things. There’s also a super-freezing feature that allows you to chill any new additions faster. The super-cooling and super-freezing features automatically turn off after usage for better energy conservation.

There's a retractable half shelf that provides more storage space and bright LED lighting that allows you to find what you're looking for quickly. The fridge comes with 20.7 cubic feet of capacity, making it sufficient for keeping most of your groceries, and making it one of the best counter depth refrigerators you can get right now.

Key Features
  • Comes with retractable half shelf
  • Automatic ice maker
  • A full-width chiller drawer for extra cold storage
  • Dual air-cooling system
  • Super-freezing and super-cooling function
  • LED lighting
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 69 x 35 x 30 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 20.7 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Bosch
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Brand: Bosch
Pros
  • Humidity controlled drawers help keep food fresher for longer
  • Super-cool feature generates greater cold
  • Super-freeze feature protects food
  • The retractable shelf provides extra storage space
  • LED lights provide sufficient light for easy use
  • Spacious 20.7 cubic foot capacity
Cons
  • Some users report shelf breakage within 12 months

This model offers a sleek design and comes with an internal water dispenser for good measure. Its crisper drawers come with adjustable humidity control to help maintain the freshness of ingredients. There’s also a temperature-controlled gourmet drawer that’s perfect for providing optimum temperature for foods like cheese and meat.

The depth of the fridge is fully enclosed by kitchen cabinets creating a natural blend for a seamless look. Its freeze drawer glides out, offering convenient access to your frozen food. The drawer features precision ball bearings that eliminate friction allowing for easy and quick opening and closing. A produce preserver delays over-ripening of fruits and veggies by absorbing ethylene gas.

An internal water dispenser allows for easy access to fresh and filtered water while maintaining an aesthetic exterior look. The automatic ice maker lets you enjoy a steady supply of fresh ice stored in an accessible storage bin. The LED lighting offers soft illumination for more convenient access to your food. Its glass shelves move up and down to help contain any accidental spills.

Key Features
  • Temperature and humidity-controlled drawers
  • Five interior fridge shelves
  • Two-door bins
  • Spill control shelves
  • Produce preserver
  • Adjustable glass shelves
  • Adaptive defrosting
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 72.8 x 38.5 x 37 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 19.6 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: JennAir
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Brand: JennAir
Pros
  • Sensors provide exceptional and reliable climate control
  • Glide-out freezer drawers make for easy access to frozen food
  • Produce preserver delays ripening time of veggies and fruits
  • The LED lighting provides adequate illumination for easy use
  • Spill shield technology helps contain spilled liquids without raising the edges
Cons
  • Lacks energy star certification

Constant touch of the fridge while cooking leaves unsightly food marks. The advantage of the SMETA fridge is that it's easy to clean with its fingerprint resistance feature.

You won't have to worry about unpleasant food odors emanating from the fridge. The dual cycle system of cooling air helps keep food and drinks from defrosting, thus avoid foul smell. The humidity-controlled crisper ensures your fresh groceries retain their freshness by balancing the humidity levels inside.

There're deep door shelves that hold bottles firmly, preventing them from falling or spilling their contents. Its bottom freezer drawer compartment is easy to access. This freezer has temperatures of 5°F-11°F that are ideal for storing frozen foods.

The upper fridge compartment has temperatures of 36°F-46°F. The temperatures ensure your drinks, fruits, and vegetables retain their freshness for the longest time possible.

The ice maker allows a constant supply of ice cubes. When you leave your fridge door ajar for long, the door alarm will alert you to close it. The feature saves on energy as the cooling system doesn't have to overwork itself to maintain the inside temperature, and this alone makes this an obvious choice as one of the best counter depth refrigerators you can buy right now.

Key Features
  • Automatic ice maker
  • 3D LED lighting
  • Humidity-controlled crisper
  • Dual cycle air cooling system
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 35.8 x 30.8 x 69.9 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 20.66 cu. ft.
  • Manufacturer: SMETA Electric Appliances Co., Ltd
  • Warranty: 12 Months
  • Brand: SMETA
Pros
  • No noise
  • Fingerprint resistant
  • No strange odors
  • Easy to access items
  • Door ajar alarm
  • A constant supply of ice cubes
Cons
  • It doesn't have a water filter

The GE Profile PYE22KSKSS offers a flattering look to the surrounding cabinetry through its sleek finish. It comes with three temperature control settings for optimal temperature delivery. What’s more, three colored lights on the fridge indicate the chosen settings.

A hands-free autofill feature automatically fills any cup or glass with filtered water, while twin evaporators provide separate climates for fresh food and freezer sections of the fridge. Showcase LED lighting is positioned throughout the fridge’s interior and underneath the fresh-food doors to offer visibility. A quick-space shelf slides in and out of position to make extra room for larger or taller items.

There’s a drop-down tray that provides even more storage should the need arise. The fridge comes with a turbo cooling setting that quickly drops the interior temperature to maintain freshness levels even after frequent opening and closing. For an extra fee, you can purchase a second ice maker so that you always have extra ice handy.

Key Features
  • Hands-free autofill dispenser
  • Twin chill evaporators
  • Bright, LED lighting
  • Drop-down tray
  • Turbo-cool setting
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 70 x 35 x 31 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 22.2 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: GE
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Brand: GE
Pros
  • The hands-free dispenser allows you to save on time
  • Turbo cool offers rapid cooling
  • Twin-chill evaporators provide separate fridge and freezer climates
  • Showcase LED lights offer great visibility
  • There's an option of a second icemaker
Cons
  • Some users complain of a substandard water filter
  • After a while, the water valve may develop issues and limit water flow

This refrigerator comes with separate electronic controls for the fridge side and the freezer side. This feature allows for independent control of either side, depending on your preference. There's a top-mounted freezer that comes with a removable wire shelf and two-door bins. There’s even a crisper drawer in the fridge section that comes with a glass cover.

The fridge has a classy design that could blend in well with most home decors. There’s a frost-free operation system that prevents frost formation. There are three removable and adjustable glass shelves in the fridge section, allowing you to customize the storage space. A reversible door hinge allows for both left and right-handed opening.

An ice cube tray comes included in case you want an icy experience, and the white interior is illuminated by bright LED lighting. Stainless steel doors give the fridge a beautiful finish while allowing it to remain smudge-free. The refrigerator is compact, making it ideal for studio apartments or condos where space is at a premium.

Key Features
  • Frost-free operation
  • Different freezer and refrigerator controls
  • Removable glass shelves
  • Bright LED lighting
  • Stainless steel finish
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 59.8 x 26.4 x 23.8 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 10 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Danby
  • Warranty: 1 year
  • Brand: Danby
Pros
  • Adjustable glass shelves allow for extra room creation
  • Independent freezer and fridge controls allow for more convenience
  • Frost-free operation lowers maintenance costs
  • Bright LED lighting allows for easy visibility
  • Stainless steel adds to aesthetics and allows for smudge-free capability
Cons
  • Limited ten cubic-foot space

This fridge features a stainless-steel design with strong, rounded handles that are easy to hold. It also comes with a stylish finger-print retardant finish that offers an almost smudge-free experience. Its interior has bright LED lighting, making it easy to find what you're looking for.

The refrigerator side comes with three drawers where you can store a variety of products such as meat, veggies, or fruits. Two-door bins offer great storage options, especially for gallon containers. There are also adjustable bins where you can store other condiments. The water and ice dispenser are the same, making it easy and convenient to get either.

There’s a PowerCold feature that helps to lower the temperature when you’ve had the door open for a while, say while loading groceries. The freezer works quite well, cooling down room temperature food or drinks to freezing point in a little over an hour. The humidity control feature also allows your food to remain fresh and crispy.

Key Features
  • All-in-one water and ice dispenser
  • PowerCold feature
  • Humidity control
  • LED lighting
  • Finger-print free exterior
  • Easy-to-hold rounded handles
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 70 x 35 x 29.5 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 20 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Maytag
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Brand: Maytag
Pros
  • LED lighting makes it easy to view condiments
  • Rounded handles make it easy to open
  • Finger-print free exterior makes it easy to clean and less prone to smudges
  • PowerCold feature allows for fast cooling
Cons
  • Humidity control feature isn’t as efficient as it should be
  • The fridge door isn’t as cool as the interior meaning food stored in the door could go bad faster

The Whirlpool WRS571CIDB comes with what’s known as an Accu-Chill temperature management system. The system quickly cools food, groceries, or other condiments without consuming too much power. This intelligent system senses and adapts to internal temperature fluctuations using in-built sensors. That means that the fridge’s compressor is only activated when needed, thereby delivering efficiency.

The air filter sieves any unwanted air from the fridge, leaving the interior fresh. The air filter is actually 15 times more efficient than baking soda at eliminating any unwanted odors. It does so by the use of a carbon filter that gets rid of potentially foul smells. An adaptive defrost feature allows the fridge to save more energy by allowing defrosting only when necessary.

The fridge features a water filtration system that eliminates the need for plastic bottle use. There’s also an indoor ice-dispensing system for efficient and easy access to ice. LED lighting makes it easier to see whatever’s in the fridge while electronic controls make access to the features easier. The tap control and flush dispenser give the refrigerator a sleek look and make operation easier.

Key Features
  • Air filters
  • Water filtration
  • Indoor ice dispenser
  • LED lighting
  • Tap touch controls
  • Adaptive defrost
  • Energy Star certified
Specifications
  • Dimensions: 68 x 36 x 27 inches
  • Internal Capacity: 20.6 cubic feet
  • Manufacturer: Whirlpool
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Brand: Whirlpool
Pros
  • Tap touch controls make for easier use
  • The LED lighting provides sufficient light for easy visibility
  • Adaptive defrost saves on energy, defrosting only when necessary
  • Water filtration eliminates plastic bottle use
  • Energy Star certified proves the efficiency of this fridge
Cons
  • Lacks door sensors for when doors are left open

Refrigerators have come a long way. Since their inception in the mid-18th century, these handy devices have become a must-have appliance in all modern living spaces. And fridges come in many varieties. But if you're a bit tight on space, you should consider a counter depth fridge for your cooling solutions.

What are counter depth refrigerators?

Counter depth fridges won't stick out beyond your kitchen counters, making them an ideal choice for smaller kitchens. Their compact design goes beyond functionality and adds some aesthetic value to your kitchen. These attributes have made counter depth refrigerators a popular choice for small homeowners.

Perhaps you've been considering getting one of these bad boys for your kitchen, but you're not quite sure where to start. A quick walk into any local electronic store or a search online yields a lot of results that might only add to the confusion. So, what should you look out for when in search of a counter depth fridge?

The first thing you should realize about counter depth fridges is that they’re significantly smaller than their standard counterparts. That makes capacity one of the more significant features to look out for. You want something that’ll efficiently fit your groceries and left-overs. Some counter depth fridges get around the issue of limited space by incorporating a more extensive design.

What to look for in counter depth refrigerators

Reliability is another vital trait to look out for. The last thing you want is something that’ll break down after a few months of use since repairs mean money. Also, if your fridge keeps breaking down, then you'll end up throwing out a lot of your food. A reliable fridge saves you money and affords you some peace of mind.

Global warming is a pertinent issue at the moment, and everyone has a role to play in mitigating the problem as best as they can. That means energy efficiency is more important than ever. An energy-efficient fridge consumes less power but still offers the same levels of cooling. Consider a refrigerator that's energy star rated for reliable and efficient performance.

Which refrigerator is best for your kitchen?

There’s also the aspect of configuration to consider. Do you want a side-by-side fridge and freezer or perhaps a top-freezer and bottom-fridge design? Or maybe something that comes with a water and ice dispenser? The configuration is mostly a matter of personal preference, and you should go for something that matches your taste.

Now that you have a general scope of what to look for in a counter depth fridge, here is a list of the best counter depth fridges that 2019 has to offer.

Resources— Family Living Today, Yale Appliance

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