As much as we’re grateful for conventional refrigerators, the truth is they’re space hogs with an overwhelming command over how kitchen space can be used. Manufactures have been good about solving this dilemma by crafting sleeker models, most notably, counter depth fridges, but for a truly high-end look, nothing beats built-in refrigeration.
As one of the quintessential logos of a luxury kitchen, built-in fridges are the sleek complementary to freestanding refrigerators, but they’re so much more than just another pretty appliance. To learn whether a built-in refrigerator is worth it, follow along as our experts discuss the pros of going integrated, give a review of seven of the best built-in refrigerator models in our catalog, and more.
Look! | The Best Luxury Refrigerator Brands
At a Glance:
The Benefits of Built-in Refrigerators
Our Best Built-in Refrigerator Picks
Benefits of Built-in Refrigerators
Imagine a kitchen where your refrigerator isn’t an obstruction. Now, envision a kitchen where your refrigerator is virtually indistinguishable. While it sounds too good to be true, these are exactly the advantages you can enjoy by installing a built-in refrigerator into your kitchenscape.
It all comes down to the two major factors:
- Dimension: Since built-in refrigerators measure 24 inches in depth, they sit flush with nearby cabinetry and countertops. To compensate for the extra depth and capacity that a standard fridge provides, built-in models are typically taller and wider, which also provides buyers with more buying options to accommodate a variety of kitchen layouts.
- Customization: Many built-in fridges also come with panel-ready fronts. Opt for a classic look (usually stainless steel) or custom order paneling to match your existing kitchen cabinetry for a truly seamless look.
Additionally, built-in food preservation caters to high-end budgets, meaning most models are made with superior, quality materials and advanced cooling and freezing features that keep foods fresh and at their optimum flavor.
Our Best Built-in Refrigerator Picks
Integrated refrigerators are one of the key elements of any gourmet kitchen. Here are the seven best built-in fridge models revolutionizing the way you preserve food with innovative technologies and tasteful aesthetics for buyers with discerning tastes of every kind.
Best Overall: KitchenAid® 29.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built-In Side By Side Refrigerator (KBSD618ESS)
It’s not just us who are fans of the open organization found inside this KitchenAid built-in fridge and its side-by-side design. With a 91-percent buyer recommendation, this top-rated built-in refrigerator receives high regards for its generous interior fitted with ample glass shelves, humidity-control drawers for fresh produce, and professionally inspired design. Product testers also enjoyed this premium refrigerator’s combination of independent sensor temperature management in the freezer and refrigerator, coupled with KitchenAid’s Product Preserver that absorbs ethylene gas to slow down the ripening process of foods.
Features:
- ExtendFresh Plus Temperature Management
- Product Preserver technology
- High-quality SatinGlide drawers
- Spill-resistant glass shelves
- Energy Star qualified
Best Luxury: BlueStar® 22.2 Cu. Ft. Color Match Built In French Door Refrigerator (BBBF361CCPLT)
For us, a fully clad stainless-steel refrigerator interior is the true mark of premium built-in refrigeration. To see what we mean, take a peek inside this BlueStar built-in French door refrigerator with ramp-on LED lighting that showcases every detail in gorgeous lighting. Organizing fresh and frozen foods in this luxury-edition fridge is a delight, from the extra-large drawers with soft-close mechanisms to adjustable shelving, and a full-extension pantry tray to fit trays, cakes, and deli platters. Rest assured, with dual compressors and evaporators in the fresh produce and freezer compartments, foods last longer and taste as fresh as the day they were bought.
Features:
- Dual compressors
- Dual evaporators
- Automatic ice maker
- Oversized freezer
- Over 750 color options to choose from
Best 36-inch Built-in Refrigerator: JennAir® 20.9 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built-In Bottom Freezer Refrigerator (JB36NXFXRE)
It’s hard to decide which is more captivating about this JennAir 36-inch built-in refrigerator: its sleek exterior with a panel-ready front or its hallmark Obsidian fridge interior? Buyers agree, both make for a winning experience of luxury, giving this pick an impressive 94-percent recommendation. Standout features include ultimate food preservation with dedicated temperature settings in the freezer and refrigerator, plus odor and ethylene gas management with Product Preserver and Fresh Flow air filter technologies.
Features:
- TwinFresh Climate Control
- Produce Preserver technology
- FreshFlow air filter
- Soft-close crisper drawers
- Multi-Point LED theatre lighting
- Automatic ice maker
Best Built-in Double Refrigerator: JennAir® 25.0 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built-In Side-By-Side Refrigerator (JS42PPDUD)
This built in double refrigerator pick invites you to celebrate the excellence of JennAir design once again inside a side-by-side design with 25 cubic feet of capacity. Food showcases beautifully against the Obsidian interior and theatre lighting, stocked away on glass shelves and inside soft-close produce drawers. The moment you stock foods within its vertical layout, powerful temperature and food preservation technologies go to work to keep them fresh and tasty for longer.
Features:
- Precision Temperature Management
- Produce Preserver technology
- Soft-close crispers drawers
- Advanced Climate Control Drawer
- Multi-Point LED theatre lighting
- In-door ice dispenser w/ removable bin
Best Large Capacity Built-in Refrigerator Café™ 29.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator (CSB48WP2NS1)
When we think of value, we mean appliances like this Café built-in fridge. Although it’s one of the more affordable models in our lineup, its extra-large capacity with 29.6-cubic-feet of volume provides more than enough room to stock up on your essentials with plenty of space for the extras. This pick uses a vertical configuration, making it easier to find foods, especially under the cast of premium showcase LED lighting. We’re not surprised about the advanced temperature control, but perks like an interior water dispenser and wireless management are definitely upgrades that enhance the experience of this double door built-in fridge.
Features:
- Advanced temperature management system
- Interior water dispenser with 98-percent of filtration
- Showcase LED lighting
- Wi-Fi compatible
Brand Spotlight: GE Café Refrigerators
Best Built-in Refrigerator with Ice Maker: Monogram 28.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Smart Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator (ZISS480DNSS)
Handle bulk grocery shopping storage needs in style with this GE Monogram built-in fridge, featuring 28.8 cubic feet of storage on a 48-inch profile. Its generosity continues with innovative features like advanced temperature management, a climate-control drawer, and Mutli-Shelf Air Tower technology for even circulation of airflow that promotes freshness. To cap off it off, Wi-Fi connection and an in-door water dispenser provide next-level convenience, making this high-end fridge as practical as it is showstopping.
Features:
- Advanced temperature management system
- Multi-shelf Air Tower
- Climate-control drawer
- Sealed vegetable drawer
- Stainless-steel water dispenser
- LED lighting
- Wi-Fi compatible
Best Built-in Stainless Steel Refrigerator: Café™ 24.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Smart Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator (CSB42YP2NS1)
You can’t go wrong with the appeal of a professional built-in stainless steel refrigerator—especially at the price of this model from Café. Add its classic look for a timeless complement to your cabinetry, with the performance to match. That includes individual freezer and refrigerator climates, plus Multi-shelf Air Tower technology that keeps every square inch fresh and properly cooled. A flexible, climate-controlled drawer gives you the versatility to accommodate meats, produce, or citruses, backed by Wi-Fi syncing that sends notifications to you whenever settings are compromised.
Features:
- Independent temperature control
- Multi-shelf Air Tower
- Hands-free autofill with MWF filtration
- Climate-controlled drawer with three settings
- Spill-proof shelves
- Showcase LED lighting
- Wi-Fi compatibility
Our Selection Process
Shopping luxury can be a pleasure, but not everything that sparkles is gold. Ultimately, we found these incentives are what separate good built-in refrigerators from outstanding integrated refrigerators.
Capacity
If your plan is to save some square footage on the floor with a built-in refrigerator, it’s hard to justify compromising capacity. After all, these are all-in-one refrigerators we’re talking about, not column refrigerators and freezers, which can be paired together to create side-by-side fridge and freezer storage with substantially larger capacities (check out our Sub-Zero vs. Thermador refrigerators article to see what we mean). In the end, we believe a 20-cubic-foot refrigerator capacity is a benchmark, providing enough room to stock food for a family of up to four.
Performance
There is absolutely no reason to splurge on a built-in fridge if its performance doesn’t match its look (in fact, we think it should outperform the style). To pass our tests, advanced cooling, such as dual compressors, twin evaporators, or independent climate control, is essential. Other positives include specialty produce drawers and premium air quality management that preserve the life of fresh foods longer.
Extras
It wouldn’t be a luxury experience without a little indulgence, right? To us, that means Wi-Fi controls, quality materials like metal interiors and glass shelves, and customizability, whether it’s color options or panel fronts. Not every model in our list comes with extras, but for those picks, performance outweighs paying more for extra features.
Built-in Refrigerators FAQ
Q. Where can I buy a built-in refrigerator?
A. For the best built-in refrigerators in the Bay Area, the best place to shop is Friedmans Appliance. We go beyond what other appliance suppliers provide with a knowledgeable team of appliance experts who understand the ins and outs of the products we stock. And with the largest living kitchen in the nation, you can experience reliable built-in refrigerators for yourself before you purchase.
Q. How much does a built-in fridge cost?
A. At Friedmans Appliance, we offer built-in refrigerators starting as low as $1,299 with higher-end models up to $16,850. Keep in mind, professional installation is required. See how to save when you choose Friedmans Appliance for your appliance services!
Q. How long does a built-in refrigerator last?
A. Thanks to their premium materials, like stainless-steel interiors, glass shelves, and advanced compressors, built-in fridges are made to outlast their freestanding correlatives. On average, built-in refrigeration lasts a minimum of 10 years, though manufacturers like Sub-Zero and Thermador are known to last for up to 20 years.
Why Trust Us?
The best way to learn about Friedmans Appliance is to start back in 1922. What started with just microwaves has expanded to now include a diverse catalog of home appliances from over 80 brands, many of which are on display for you to experience in our Living Kitchen. It’s the largest of its kind in the nation and a testament to our commitment to carrying only the best home appliances on the market at deals you’ll find nowhere else in the Bay.
But we don’t just sell. Our full services also include repairs, meaning our appliance specialists can confidently recommend a product, knowing how each appliance works, the features it offers, and how it suits your lifestyle and household needs.
Together with our expansive repertoire of educational videos, plus answers to the questions you have about appliances in our regular blog series, we at Friedmans Appliance have become a credible source for the Bay Area appliance shopper. In fact, we’re recognized as “The Best in the East Bay” by the East Bay Times, living up to our emblem as A Trusted Name in the Bay Since 1922™.
Shop Built-in Refrigerators at Friedmans Appliance
Fulfill the luxury kitchen experience you’ve wanted and deserve with a quality built-in refrigerator for Friedmans Appliance. We only supply products we trust in, and count on the best appliance specialists in the area to find the ideal refrigeration for your needs.
Shop online, by phone at (925)-808-2950, or at our appliance showroom located at 2304 Monument Boulevard in Pleasant Hill!