Sub Zero, $5,136
Upside: Glass doors make food a display item. Downside: You have to keep the fridge clean. (At Manhattan Center for Kitchen & Bath, 29 19th St., near Broadway; 212-995-0500.)

Viking, $5,100
It’s customizable to match your cabinetry, and the “Sabbath mode” delays the compressor when you open the door. (At Bloom & Krup, 504 14th St., near Ave. A; 212-673-2760.)

LG Electronics, $3,200
There’s a cable-ready thirteen-inch LCD TV, but the real sell is bottom drawers with digital thawing, partial freezing, and wine-chilling options. (At P.C. Richard & Son stores; pcrichard.com.)

Big Chill, $2,500
This retro fridge is available in ten candy colors, although the sectionalized interior makes large grocery items tricky to store (bigchillfridge.com).

Electrolux, $2,499
Three interior-light levels make that salsa in the back easy to find, and a digitized temperature control alerts you if the power’s off for extended periods—great for blackouts. (At P.C. Richard & Son.)

Jenn-Air, $2,349
The pull-out freezer is deep enough to hold Thanksgiving turkeys, and the compact French-door model is a good space saver. (At Expo Design Center; expo.com.)

Frigidaire, $1,249
Not very stylish, but it has all the basic features—though you’ll need extra plumbing work to hook the water dispenser up. (At Sears stores; sears.com.)

Fisher & Paykel, $1,199
It’s a good price for stainless steel, and humidity-controlled bins keep fruit and veggies fresh for two weeks. (At Gringer & Sons, 29 First Ave., at 2nd St.; 212-475-0600.)

Danby, $519.99
At 9.1 cubic feet, this apartment-friendly fridge has a built-in beer-can holder, removable shelves, and a crisper drawer. You pay the price in freezer size. (At P.C. Richard & Son.)

Related:

• Archive: “Market Research”
• Articles by Aja Mangum
• Table of Contents: November 15, 2004 issue of New York | Subscribe!