7 Best Refrigerators For Less Than $500

Shopping for a refrigerator can be stressful, especially when it comes time to compare many different models. That's why The Daily Meal is helping you by researching and comparing fridges on a budget.

Click here to see the 7 Best Refrigerators for Less Than $500 (Slideshow)

We wanted to find the best refrigerators for less than $500, so we checked with major appliance retailers for fridges that are affordable, have good storage, will look great in your kitchen, and will keep your food fresh.

With a budget of less than $500, you can't get deluxe selections like a side-by-side model, a bottom freezer, or a French door fridge, which is a side-by-side with a freezer on the bottom. You won't get any fancy add-ons, either, like a variety of colors to choose from, stainless steel, or external water or ice dispensers. But there are options out there for those on a budget.

So what kind of refrigerator can you get for less than $500? A pretty nice model that has all the basics and a few upgraded features, too.

All of these refrigerators are "Top Freezer" models, which is a standard format that puts the freezer on the top of the fridge.

While most refrigerators in this price range are white, you can often snag a black or beige one instead if that's more your style. The majority of these fridges come with reversible door hinges, so you can have the handle on the left or the right side, depending on what works for your kitchen setup.

You'll also benefit from adjustable shelves for storage, crisper drawers that help control humidity to keep produce fresh longer, and door storage to keep your most-used items like milk and condiments close by for easy access.

Before you buy a fridge, consider how you'll use it. For example, do you eat more fresh food than frozen? If so, you'll want a larger fridge with a smaller freezer. Be sure to measure the space in your kitchen, too, so you'll know which models are too tall, short, wide, narrow, or deep.

Ready for a new fridge? Check out our picks for the best refrigerators for less than $500.