Last updated on April 21st, 2022
Once again, a friend in need is a friend indeed! Over the years you’ve helped me to select a new washing machine, a quality dishwasher, and a much-needed upright freezer. Now I’m in the market for a new refrigerator! So tell me: What’s the make, model, and size (cubic feet) of your own fridge? And do you love it — or loathe it?
My current refrigerator — a 26 cubic foot Whirlpool Gold side-by-side — is now 20 years old. As a sign of its age, the appliance has started to leak water onto the floor. I have no interest in repairing the fridge. As appliances go, this one had a long, happy life.
Refrigerators We Are Considering:
LG 27 cu. ft. Door-In-Door. Do any of you own this roomy appliance? Apparently the extra door is for items you’d frequently reach for, such as…well, I haven’t a clue. Beer, perhaps? (I don’t drink beer. I just bake with it.)
Reviews are mixed for this particular door-in-door. At least one person said the appliance’s ice maker is loud. And that’s a “no” for me. I need a refrigerator that operates quietly. (If you own a door-in-door, let me know if it runs quietly for you.)
Samsung 28 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator. I love the idea of this and other 3-door models, because you can see what’s in the fridge without bending. But do these French door refrigerators have repair issues that side-by-side models don’t? A pat of butter for your thoughts. (Based on numerous reader comments, I’m gonna say “No!” to Samsung.)
GE 28.7 cu. ft. Energy Star French Door Refrigerator. This one is slightly larger than the aforementioned Samsung. And it has a nifty full-width drawer for holding a platter of party appetizers or a tray of cookies. Lots of cookies require chilling before baking.
I should probably mention that our current fridge has a water/ice dispenser on the front left door. It is a pain to clean. Consequently we’ve decided to omit this feature on our next refrigerator.
Can you help me out? Tell me about your own refrigerator, and whether or not you’d recommend it. I — and I’m sure others, too — would LOVE to hear your thoughts! xKevin
Roberta G.W. Myyra says
Hi Kevin,
From before I married my husband, he complained about not being able to find anything in our refrigerator(s). When I did my big remodel in our present home I planned the whole thing around a 48”wide, counter depth refrigerator. It was a KitchenAid and lasted 15 years before I had to replace the condenser, then had to replace the whole unit in 2020. It is one of my happiest ever purchases, as my husband has never bitched about losing things in the refrigerator since. It is wide and shallow and you can see to the back of all the shelves. My ‘new’ refrigerator has fantastic LED lighting which enthralls me almost as much as NO COMPLAINING.
mlaiuppa says
Funny. I was researching refrigerators two years ago. (Ex-librarian so research is my thing, especially before a big ticket buy.) Ordered a Kitchenaid that never came. September 15, 2020. Covid supply chain issues. I now have the cheapest top freezer refrigerator Home Depot could deliver as fast as possible (as after a year of waiting my refrigerator suddenly died.) I hate it and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
However.
I did read up on a lot of them. I don’t recommend that door in door one. I read some not so glowing reviews on that one. I do recommend a bottom freezer drawer. Other bells and whistles will depend on your wants and needs. I don’t need an ice maker or a door dispenser so the model I wanted was a Kitchenaid bottom freezer with a single top door. Apparently a lot of other people did too, Kitchenaid couldn’t get the parts and they took my model off the line. The day after my new POC was delivered I got an e-mail it was back in production. *sigh*.
My parents have one similar to the last one you pictured. The Samsung and the GE. I like the interior configurations of both which are similar to my parent’s refrigerator. They love their door dispenser. I think theirs is a Samsung and has lasted well beyond its warranty and is still going. That is the interior I was looking for in the Kitchenaid model I chose. When I finally do replace my current cheap POS, I will try again to get that interior.
Samsung is a good brand. So is the GE Energy Star. Maytag is a good brand and they make Kitchenaid, Amana and Whirlpool. My current offense to my back is an LG. LG. is also a good brand so I will likely suffer with it a lot longer than if I had bought a cheap off brand.
What varies more than the brand are the models. So when you see one that has the interior set-up you like, the bells and whistles you want, check all the brands that have that similar set-up and then read up on the reviews of *that* model.
I don’t care for the side by side. That was my parent’s previous model which is now in the garage and despite having the same cubic footage it just doesn’t seem to hold as much. My previous refrigerator had a bottom drawer freezer and I loved it. I don’t go in the freezer that often and when I did it was much easier to see things in a drawer from above than from a shelf. (Every day I am reminded of this by my current PITA.) Also, having the refrigerated products all at basically eye level across an entire wide shelf is really convenient and saves your back from bending over to reach those produce drawers near the floor. I think you will like having the refrigerator section above waist level. You cook a lot and it will save your back. Whether you choose a French Door or a single door you will have to decide. I don’t think there is much difference except what you are used to and maybe how much space you have to open the doors in your kitchen. I need a left hinge single door because of a wall in my kitchen. Once you decide on your configuration go to a showroom and try them all out, then stick to the models on list of brands you have narrowed down for quality, price and customer service.
Your local library will have a copy of the latest Consumer Reports for refrigerators. You can access it online if you pay a subscription.
mlaiuppa says
I second Roberta’s suggestion of a wide, shallow, counter depth refrigerator. If you have the space, do it. We all know how stuff gets pushed to the back, lost and then is found months after it becomes a science experiment.
Lynnie says
My BEST appliances that are well loved are Jenn Air fridge, Bosch dishwasher and Wolf stove period.
Selma says
We have a Maytag and it is 11 years old. It works fine but we’ve had some bumps along the way. The reason I’m commenting here is I do NOT recommend any fridge with the extra drawer under the main part. It is for drinks and snacks but it does take away from the size of the fridge and it does not keep anything fresh very long. Good luck with your search!
Debra Bures says
We have an LG. Hate it. From the beginning, we’ve had issues with the ice maker: leaking (on our new hardwood floors); clogging, and just plain not working. We’ve had food freeze in the fridge, too. Multiple service calls (the service tech is now a contact on my phone). I would NEVER get one again. The service guy says he’d suggest GE. Fewer service calls, and fewer issues. Good luck.
Joanie says
First off, I wouldn’t recommend an LG. I currently have a 23 cf LG side-by-side with water and cubed or crushed ice in door. The ice maker IS loud, and though I do love having on-demand crushed ice, it throws ice all over the place when you fill a glass and is a pain to clean.
I also would *not* go for a counter-depth fridge if you will want to store a pizza box, large platter or anything similar in size. It just won’t fit. You’ll have the width but not the proper depth, and you’d have to put a cookie sheet in sideways because it won’t fit otherwise. One of my dear friends has a counter-depth and complains about it constantly.
My next fridge will be a french door or single door with bottom freezer, but I’d skip the door-in-door. I just don’t need it and it’s another thing to constantly keep clean. When I have to buy another fridge it will likely be a Samsung, Kitchenaid, or GE.
Good luck, and do let us know what you go with!
Annette says
Hi there
If you do not like noise, then I would NOT recommend the LG refrigerator. I have a French door model with the freezer drawer on the bottom. It is 4 years old and the condenser is super loud when it turns on. Also, I do like the freezer drawer, but I really don’t freeze much. My sister uses her freezer a lot more than I do and she hates the freezer drawer because of the way everything is stacked. You have to dig through things to get to the items on the bottom so it can be hard to find things.
Good luck!
Paula says
Since 2012, we have gone through TWO Samsung French door refrigerators, the model you are considering. After five years, the refrigerator froze up with ice build-up in the fan and condenser. Ice filled the vents at the back of the refrigerator. Yikes! The temperature rose to 50 degrees. It had already been repaired once. So we replaced it in 2017 with the same model because it fit into the cabinet space. Once again we bought an extremed warranty, stupidly thinking it would prevent problems with the second purchase. When the second refrigerator froze in exactly the same way, a service repair guy fixed it but told me it happened all the time with Samsung refrigerators. Last month, the 2017 Samsung froze a second time, and we decided we couldn’t take it any more. Each refrigerator lasted 5 years. You’ll be in for a shock if you’re used to a refrigerator lasting 20 years.
After very careful measuring, we bought the GE model you’re considering . I love the French door style and wanted to stick with it. It doesn’t get the top rating in Consumer Reports, and I don’t think the shelves are as sturdy as the Samsung. Living in a rural area, there is no repair service that will handle an LG appliance. I also discovered that having an extended warranty doesn’t guarantee that you can get a repair service to honor that warranty. So fingers crossed now that this will be a better experience with the GE. Fingers crossed for you too, Kevin!
Lisa says
Make sure you can remove the baskets in the freezer with ease. Frigidaire was a problem with my French Door and even the rep could not assist. Kitchen Aid that I have is fine in that dept. Good luck and I love the French Doors that I have had.
jackie serba says
Hi Kevin, I have a counter depth frigidaire french door fridge with no outside water or ice maker. It does have an ice maker in the freezer. I love this fridge. I have had it going on 4 years. I bake a lot and have no problems on space. I did pay extra not to have the out side water and ice maker but I didn’t want the hassle of it. My daughter has the extra door fridge and it’s great if u have kids that need drinks and stuff but other wise not needed. I no 3 people that have LG fridges and have nothing but problems so beware of that. Good luck with your search…also wathc the coating if u get stainless, my 2 kids hace stainless and the finish looks terrible.
Barb in Naples says
Kevin, we have a Samsung French door fridge. The drawer freezer is fine as we have another freezer. Love the room in the fridge; HATE THE ICE MAKER!!! My next fridge will be anything other than Samsung. Best of love in your search!
Phoebe says
I’ve got a Sub-Zero — pricey but I’m finding totally worth it. It has a custom panel on the front, but you can get a water dispenser that’s just inside the door. The dispenser is vertical, so no cleaning. The vegetable drawers are a dream (just the right amount of humidity) and things last a surprisingly long time in there. I love it!
My Bosch dishwasher is so quiet that it has a red light that shines on the floor to let you know it’s on. Love that too!
Nancy says
I have an Amana refrigerator with the refrigerator part on top and a pull-out freezer on the bottom. I really love it because when I open the refrigerator I can actually SEE almost everything and it is waist high. The freezer is also easy access and I can see what’s in there – just pull it open and there are two sections inside with one pull out basket. I keep all breakfast-related frozen items in the pull-out basket, along with ice cubes. In the other section I keep meats and things related to meal and cooking. Works great for us and I’ve never owned a refrigerator I have liked better than this one (age 85). I’ve also read in several cooking magazines opinions of cookbook writers and chefs that the side-by-side vertical freezer refrigerator combos are ‘a work of the devil’.
Renee says
I’ve been happy with the Frigidaire Gallery that looks similarly to the last pictured French door bottom freezer.
Deborah says
I have a French door refrigerator bottom freezer, like the GE pictured, love, love, love it. DO NOT GET A SAMSUNG. Mine is a Kenmore though made by Frigidaire. I opted out of water, ice, etc, coming out of the door, just more to break down. Simple is better. Love my frig.
Pamela Campbell says
The problems are not with the refrigerators, they are with ice makers in the door. All door ice makers have problems. Our current refrigerator has the ice maker in the bottom freezer and so far no problems. Kitchenaid was my favorite refrigerator hands down. LG and Samsung are both good brands. We always buy 3 door French style and ALWAYS GET THE WARRANTY! We’ve had 4 refrigerators in 20 years inside our house. The 2 refrigerators in our garage are used, old and bought second hand. We’ve never had any problems whatsoever from the old refrigerators. We also do not have ice makers hooked up to them.
Good luck…
Garden Maven says
We purchased a Frigidaire Professional fridge made in Mexican which after a year of constant battles to keep it in freezer mode our vendor gave up and supplied us with a new one. (The FP microwave made in China went on the blink just before the warrantee expired and the “motherboard” had to be replaced.)The FP dishwasher made in Italy was pretty good. No problems but took FOREVER to complete the cycle. The stove made in Mexico had to have a new burner grate after 14months. Provided with purchased extended warrantee. NEVER AGAIN!
I’m now in the market for a new fridge. Scares the hell out of me. Just moved into a “new. house” that has a 20 year old Kenmore side by side still chugging away. Looking to replace it. Like the Sub Zero but need water/Ice exterior door dispenser. Seriously considering GE Monogram. BUT 4month waiting list. Thanks to everyone’s comments. Its helping me too. Final comment: Buy additional warrantees.
Marsha says
I LOVE our Fisher- Paykel Fridge/Freezers! When we built our house we designed the space so 2 of these could be placed side by side & doors open like an armoire. What really sold us was the way the freezer opened because of my back problems. The freezer opens like the door in the fridge then 3 shelves pull out for the freezer. While shopping, I found traditional freezers at the bottom – I had to yank it out in the stores while it was even empty! This model is SO easy to open. Plus the width is wide yet not very deep completed food trays for parties are often prepared & sit well on the shelves. I’ll send you an email w/ pic. We know that ice machines & water dispensers are just 1 more thing to require service so we opted out. Several of our other appliances are Fisher-Paykel & we love them too.
Jill says
Oh My The people who loved the frig they have didn’t answer all the questions you asked. Not sure how you can look into the ones they have, to buy for yourself.
The question.. What’s the make, model, and size (cubic feet) of your own fridge? And do you love it — or loathe it?
bambi_beth says
We bought the LG 28 cu. ft. 4-Door French Door Refrigerator, Dual Ice with Craft Ice in December because the home bartender in me really really wanted on-demand ice balls. Our appliance repair person said the only problems they had had with LG so far was with getting parts, and that was the same with everything in the pandemic. We upgraded from a regular top-freezer Kenmore refrigerator that you couldn’t switch the direction of the doors on. My spouse vetoed a side-by-side because pizza boxes and platters.
My friend has the Samsung door -in-door and I just don’t get it. It’s a bunch of rattly plastic bits that I really don’t know how you would keep clean. I guess if you had kids or beers, it would do.
Theresa Ryan says
I have a 12-year old KitchenAid French Door which I love that looks almost exactly like the GE you have pictured there with a nice deep drawer below the crispers. It also has a water dispenser INSIDE the fridge so the outside of the doors are sleek. I don’t care to look at gadgets on the outside of the fridge. Mine is also counter depth and nice and wide.
Cherry Dearie-Smith says
We bought a Samsung. It has had problems all along. An appliance person said never by Samsung! Will not in the future.
Martha Boisclair says
Hi Kevin, we have an 18 cubic foot Amana brand bottom freezer and single door refrigerator top. My husband is 6’3 so now he can find things in the fridge !.I like refrigerators and appliances which are basic , no ice maker or frills. If I could have afforded it I would have purchased a Maytag brand. I’ve had the same Maytag dishwasher for 25 yrs and our washer is 20+ yrs. Good luck finding the perfect fridge !
Martha says
Look into the Miele brand. No water in or on the door.
Ice maker that works with ease, tall and more narrow.
Great for our small kitchen:-}
Christy says
We have had and loved a side-by-side Subzero for about 14 years. It has been terrific! Fruit and vegetables stay fresh for about two weeks because the refrigerator is so wonderful. They are expensive and they should be serviced at least every two years if not every year. But, to me it’s worth it.
I don’t like the idea of the freezer below the refrigerator as one is always having to bend over to find something. Oh my aching back!
An icemaker is a must but I agree with you that the water dispenser is not necessary. Never wanted one and never had one.
Penelope Crane says
Good Morning Kevin~
The White Goods Maven in Maine here!
First off in your new kitchen the refrigerator will be determined by the space. Wash yours surrounded by any new cabinets?
If you have the space dimensions I can help you narrow down the choices.
I can tell you what I recommend in general. And what I have.
I have a French door Kitchenaid stainless steel. If I replace it I will go with one of the new finishes that look like stainless but wipe clean easily.
Mine is the largest one they make as in the deepest not counter depth. I had it built in so the hugeness of it isn’t overbearing. I see they don’t offer it anymore.
Go to Whirlpool (same company)
Well I will tell you what I bought and why.
I did NOT buy ICE&WATER on the door. I do have a ice machine in the freezer. I NEVER had it hooked up. When ever we had a repair call it was always someone’s ICE machine. When I have a party I buy ice and use my silver ice buckets. I loathed the BIG box and lost space on the left hand door from the Ice&Water. Because I sold appliances I knew I could do this. When you open my doors. I added an extra butter component to the left door. I also added an extra shelf. To the left and the right door. Then I bought one or was it two simple glass shelves for the inside left and right(identical) My fridge now could be set with the large single pull out draw. The two veg bins On top of those I laid a roll of white shelving “rubber” mat. This is where I have left to right Prosecco, White wines and Acqua minerale con gas. It holds 11 bottles. Then I have two shelves side by side so I can place things that are in trays or what have you. Then I have two more also set side by side. By buying the extra shelves. I now have my big fridge set as I want. I never understood all the levels of storage. On the top shelves I have a left and a right Lazy Susan(s) which hold condiments etc. Rubbermaid works the best. Then between them I can reach to the back of the top shelves for odd things. I buy Mayonnaise in the largest size (Hellmans) and I also have a large container of yes the dreaded Miracle Whip. Milk and juice are in the right lower door bin which on mine is extra deep. I have the same of the left. I just wanted to open up the fridge and have it very organized. I could never under stand why many people come and had to have a ZUBZERO they were only 20 cu. Where as mine is 26.cu. I have since “upgraded” my lighting with LED bulbs. Which flood the fridge with light. The technology wasn’t there yet 13 years ago! (Wow I have had this for 13 years!) With mine I can set the temperatures. I keep the fridge at 37* My freezer is at 0*
I am not sure any of this will help you other than proving I am neurotic about appliances.
I hope this finds you well enjoying the sun and perhaps better temperature than I have in Maine right now at 33*.
CHEERS
Penelope
Elizabeth says
Hi Kevin. I’ve got the GE Energy Star French Door Refrigerator (in white) and this is what I like about it: I can see everything inside (nothing gets shoved too far back), it runs quiet, displays the temperature, and comes with an interior water dispenser (which I don’t use). The freezer stays defrosted (my last fridge with freezer on the bottom always left a layer of ice on the bottom).
Things I don’t like: I’m not a fan of freezers on the bottom because every time the freezer drawer is opened, frozen food is pulled into a warm room. And if an ice cube falls to the bottom of the unit, it’s very hard to reach in and get it out because the bottom shelf is always in the way.
GE, however, is the only brand fridge I’ll ever buy. I’ve owned other brands and they don’t last. My first GE lasted over 20 years. Still ran but we remodeled and knew we’d be better off with a newer, more energy efficient model. Bought a different (big name) brand and it didn’t last past 5 years. Replaced it with this GE and it’s been running fine.
Maggie Dolan says
Kevin, Whatever you pick, make sure service is available. Samsung makes a good product, but they have limited service availability. In the boonies, people went months without a fridge! All my appliance guys recommend American made, again because of service being easy. I love an ice maker and water dispenser myself. Hate bottom freezers. Can never organize them properly.I agree a wide, shallow one is heaven. Icemakers can be a big problem. Samsung replaced mine for free (big class action suit against them motivated them). I kept waiting for it to go crazy again, not a hard fix if you are handy. Warm air is usually getting into them. I won’d recommend any brand because they get lousy the minute some stock gurus buy the company and lose any interest in the product. Speaking of that make sure the company has not been purchased by some money types when you buy
Maggie Dolan says
PS Buy an appliance surge protector at the hardware store, make sure it is a good one. Install it when you install the fridge (Just plug it in and the plug the fridge into that.) I lost the mother boards of a new fridge and dishwasher to a power surge!
Susan Rubinsky says
1 – Don’t get a counter-depth refrigerator. Nothing fits in it and there’s just not enough space. For example, you can’t fit a pizza box or a big baking sheet in it because it’s too shallow.
2 – Most new refrigerators are not made to last. They stop working in as little as year, sometimes a few years, max.
3 – I now only buy old, used refrigerators. For example, my Mom still has the original fridge from when she bought her house in 1967. It’s in her basement. She’s gone though five or six fridges in her kitchen since the 1990’s when she renovated her kitchen and moved the old fridge to the basement. The old fridge still works great! You can buy them at estate sales.
4 – Myth: newer refrigerators are more energy efficient. This is totally false. Newer refrigerators now have so many features, that they actually use more energy than older refrigerators.
5 – Define Your Needs. The best way to assess a new refrigerator is to define your needs. For example, some people don’t care about their baking sheets fitting inside their freezer or fridge but I do because I do a lot of baking that requires freezing or cooling of flat dough and also require freezing stuff from my garden on big baking sheets. The “popular” shallow fridges do not have enough depth for this. Personally, I don’t care about a water dispenser or an ice cube maker — they take up too much space in the fridge and I don’t care about those features. You need to really think about what you need from the appliance.
Elizabeth says
Forgot to mention: that nifty slim drawer you like for meat and cheese trays? Keep in mind it usurps precious space from produce bins.
Betty says
I have had a SubZero 36” bottom freezer and love it! It is over 20 years old and has given me no problems. I love that it is built in. The initial price is high but it keeps food fresher longer, much longer. The freezer and refrigerator have separate temperature controls and work independently. Over its life, keeping food fresher longer has offset the initial higher price. My sister has the largest side-by-side SubZero and also has had great service from it. It, too, is over 20 years old. Something to consider…
Kate says
Hi Kevin
We have the GE fridge on your list. Purchased in summer of 2014. My husband wanted a side by side. I insisted on this model because of all the room, ease of seeing everything because of the glass shelves as well the door shevles and drawers all come out easily for cleaning. Not one problem with it. We have 20-25 people over for holidays and I always have plenty of room in the fridge for food before, during and after big meals. My extended family always remarks how much room the fridge has. I highly recommend the GE model. Whatever you decide I wish you the best.
Carol says
I’ve never commented before, but I did get the same model washing machine you have upon your recommendation and LOVE IT, thanks to you and your readers!!!!
I go for simple, fridge on top, freezer below, no bells and whistles to break. Currently have a white GE Artisan series fridge for our old farmhouse, a model that has been discontinued.
I think counter depth sounds like a must! Best of luck!
Frani says
I had to buy during the pandemic. I wanted the 28.7 GE you are looking at, but couldn’t get one. I had to settle for Frigidaire. I am happy enough with it. It has the same interior design as the GE, so I have plenty of room. My friend bought a Samsung and it has given her trouble since she bought it. Also, nobody in the South Georgia/North Florida wants to service Samsung. I recommend you steer clear of that brand. Can’t wait to see what you choose.
Paula D says
Stay away from LG. The service is awful. My compressor broke while still under warranty and I fought with LG for near 2 months while my food was on the balcony. LG wanted me to bring my fridge to Ottawa because there was not an authorized repair person in my town 50 miles away. I filed a complaint with the BBB and still no action from LG. I gave up and bought a Frigidaire Gallery. The ice maker and water are very noisy.
Carolyn D Contois says
You’ve got a lot of opinions here, so I’ll keep it short. DONT under any circumstances or lure of cool features buy an LG. I have a client that worked for them as an engineer in research and development. He said that they concentrate most of their efforts on audio visual ( which, he said are great, BTW) and the large appliance sector is a step child) this is after I bought 2 of them… disaster…Love my Samsung, the fridge is quiet, beautiful and I do love the full length draw, have it 2 years now…Washer Dryer are 17 years old, washer has a new water pump after 16 yrs, dryer.. still running great, just a vent clean out every 2 years.
Love my Sunday morning with you!
Sharon Shade says
Back in 2002 I purchased a 36 inch wide, counter depth built in Sub Zero refrigerator with the bottom freezer and ice maker. I loved it because my arms are short and I could reach everything. When I moved, I did not intend to be in the new house very long and bought a LG French doors with the freezer and ice maker on the bottom. After a short time I realized I was going to stay in this house and gave the refrigerator to a neighbor and purchased another Sub Zero 36 inch wide, counter depth built in with bottom freezer and icemaker. These refrigerators are work horses and while expensive, they are built to last. They are easy to clean because all the shelves and door shelves are easy to remove and there is plenty of space. I have a separate chest freezer in my garage since I buy my proteins (meat, fish) when I find them at a good price and I freeze peas, carrots, strawberries and blueberries from my kitchen garden. But the Sub Zero has plenty of room in the refrigerator section and there is sufficient room in the freezer section for those things I need on a regular basis (like the jar of Pineapple martinis and Pineapple Vodka I keep in there to be ready for drop in guests). When I researched refrigerators, Kitchenaid made one that was virtually identical in look and function to the Sub Zero but it was more expensive and did not have the positive reviews and reliability that the Sub Zero did.
Bobbie Schneider says
I was looking at refrigerators yesterday. I would love a counter depth refrigerator. so of the new models had a recessed grip instead of handles. although with recessed handles a counter depth unit might not be as critical. My handles started peeling when it was just over 3 years old. looks like crap.
Rox says
For years in grad school and early career I had what I thought was a retro ’50’s style fridge which was the best roomy and most dependable fridge ever. I think it lived for 15 years in my life and it turns out wasn’t retro at all as it was the real McCoy — it had a long life before me (a hand-me-down from relatives). Its only drawback? The small freezer required frequent defrosting, which I hated, until I later discovered the frost-free freezers caused worse freezer burn issues. The fridge’s replacement was an off brand from a big box store. What I hated most about that one was it was too deep and not wide enough (plus that frost-free frozen fruit and veggie ruining feature before I discovered “freezer paper”). My only suggestion would be have a fridge and freezer that are wider than deeper even if you have to custom order. You cook a lot and I suspect you entertain a great deal, as I do. Wider is better. Skip the water dispenser, the water always tastes musty even if cleaned frequently, ditto the ice cube maker. Go for wide so you can see at a glance what you have and what you still need to shop for!
Susan says
Kevin
Just a question regarding your Bosch dishwasher. What is the model of your dishwasher? We are renovating our kitchen and already purchased a Bosch microwave as well as a Bosch induction range. Both are working well for us. We are considering a counter depth Bosch fridge and a new dishwasher although the present Bosch dishwasher that is more than eleven years old is working very well and is quiet. We will probably replace our 11 year fridge which is a Samsung French door with in the door ice and water( it works great no problems what so ever) with a Bosch as I like the style to coordinate as well as to go to a counter depth.
Thank you
CG says
We have a Bosch French door bottom mount fridge, which has the dual French doors, ice maker, pull-out beverage door, and pull-out freezer. I thought we would love it, but instead, we really dislike the fridge. Here’s why:
A friend of mine has a Samsung fridge that has the beverage door available as it’s own compartment. With the Bosch inner beverage drawer, you have to open both doors WIDE OPEN to access the beverages, which is surprisingly annoying and also feels wasteful.
The ice maker takes up a good amount of space, as they have always done. But, due to the fact that it’s now located in the refrigerator side (versus the older “side by side” styles that were popular for many years), that space now comes out of my refrigerator space, which means the left side of the fridge is borderline useless because the shelves now have a very weird configuration.
Had I known this in advance, I would have gone with a fridge where the beverage drawer was accessible as a separate door/drawer, and honestly might have skipped the ice maker (we don’t use it very often, and ice cube trays would be completely fine for our needs) to reclaim every available inch of fridge space.
We did a total kitchen renovation a few years ago and the Bosch fridge & dishwasher ended up being my two biggest regrets. The dishwasher just doesn’t fit our dishes and so every load is very awkwardly loaded, and the fridge feels too small, too awkward, and too wasteful. The fridge model # is B26FT50SNS/01 in case that’s helpful.
Mary says
I purchased a “Whirlpool Gold” fridge in 2011. In less than two years the fan stopped working and I went without a fridge for a month, as no one in the store’s warranty repair list could figure out why ice was building up on the freezer wall (oddly, the freezer kept working ok). It finally was fixed, but over the years the same thing has happened again – twice. The repairman I found to work on it the 2nd and 3rd time advised me against buying an LG or Samsung, and I am passing that advice along to you, Kevin. He said those brands get more repair calls than any others (even my Whirlpool!).
Jenn says
We purchased a new fridge about a month ago and absolutely love it. It’s a Whirlpool WRQA59CNKZ. We wanted something small, counter-depth, and with no extra gadgetry (less to go wrong). The only drawbacks I’d identify is that it lacks a filter for the ice maker, and when the ice maker is refilling with water, it’s very loud if you haven’t also attached a pressure regulating valve. Outside of that, it ticks all boxes for us. Time will tell if it lasts for 5 years or 15 years+. For reference, we purchased from Lowe’s during President’s Day sales for $1750 (according to the receipt, that’s the lowest price allowed). Happy to answer any questions if needed. Good luck!
Judy says
I love our 4 door Samsung refrigerator! The bottom right compartment can be used either as a freezer or refrigerator. The interior is well-organized and my husband claims the interior lighting is bright enough to perform surgery! It has no exterior handles (recessed grip) and is counter depth. Still plenty of room for everything. The freezer and freezer/fridge sections have pull out shelves. I find this much easier than having to dive in a drawer type bottom freezer.
Pam says
Get a Subzero… Worth the money and they DON’T break!
Catherine says
We bought a used older model side-by-side subzero about 20 years ago. We’ve replaced a compressor, and it is still running great. circa 1988!!!
Alyce Grover says
Forget side by side. Get the GE 3-door with drawer. Handier with drawer. Side by side frozen side isn’t wide enough.
Linda says
After much research about 3 yrs. ago, I selected a bottom freezer, 1 top door Maytag 22 cu. ft. refrigerator (MBF2258FEZ). I think I would have opted for a larger capacity if I had the space for it. I like that I only have to open 1 door instead of the 2 in a french door type. The extra “convenience” see through door is a gimmick I thought. I am very short, so reaching the top shelf is a challenge, but I store less used things there, like cartons of eggs, less frequently used condiments, etc. Also being short, the bottom freezer is much easier to use than I initially thought and I have found that if you organize properly, items are more easily accessible. Mine has what they call an interior deli drawer, which is great for storing yogurt, cold cuts, various cheeses, an extra carton of butter, or a party platter if needed. I was warned against a Bosch, LG, or Samsung, as they have more frequent repairs, and the parts come from overseas. (Research of reviews supported this argument) . Maytag is USA made and has a good reputation. I have an in-freezer ice maker that is quiet; in fact the whole machine is quiet. I I were rich and had room, I’d love the sub-zero as some people have mentioned in these posts. It can be very confusing, as it’s not an inexpensive purchase, so good luck, Kevin. I know you will share what you eventually choose.
Kathy says
NO! NO! NO! to Samsung. They make great TV’s but their refrigerators are terrible. They do not last. I bought one that did not last two years. My neighbor’s daughter had the same thing happen and she bought one of the high end models. I replaced my old whirlpool with the Samsung several years ago. When the Samsung quit, I went back to whirlpool. I have had great luck with them. The one I have now has the freezer on the bottom and I like it. My only complaint is that the ice maker is not very large.
Cynthia says
Kevin, love your ideas. I have a GE side by side which will be 10 years old in June. Strongly look over how YOU use your fridge. My requirements are for ice and water on the outside door. While my machine was new and under warranty, I complained about ice spatter. The none too obliging technician mentioned an insert he said didn’t work well. I said I want it. He came back and installed it free. NO service work since. I’ve been pleased to get my ice in my glass 95% of the time. I organized my freezer with chicken/turkey in the bottom tub and meat, fruit, veges, and seafood up respective shelves. On the other side, I use a lot of produce and both bottom bins-the bottom one for carrots, celery, etc. the next up for most produce, and the shelf above for my salad spinner. Next up drawer for cheese, hummus, proscuitto, sour cream, etc. Next up for thawing, left overs, eat me now. And on top are too many condiments which become problematic when there is not enough space on the door which houses condiments and beverages plus an egg & butter compartment. Ideally I’d have a separate small unit for beverages.
My pet peeve with most kitchen designs is with cooking flow and the refrigerator in almost the next room or built in so replacing it in the allocated space is very difficult.
So I second or third GE but really analyze your needs and use.
Best of luck.
Cynthia
N. MacGregor says
I will try to address your questions below regarding refridgeratos as follows:
I have owned/used numerous refridgerators in all types of configurations including: the fridge on bottom- freezer on top – not my favourite, fridge on top – freezer on bottom – again not my favourite. Side-by-side – not my favourite. French door type with freezer on the bottom – not my favourite. What I LOVE is referred to as an “all fridge” or in some cases a freezer less fridge. The reason I love this type of fridge is it offers a ton of space of store food that you don’t have to freeze and given the fact you have a separate freezer you probably don’t require the extra freezer space in your fridge.
All fridges are manufactured by Whirlpool, Fridgidaire and Sub-Zero (my favourite but quite pricey).
David Leinweber says
Bought a Kenmore fridge with bottom freezer (single door for each) 21 years ago….that’s right 21! No water dispenser or ice maker. Simple and still running strong and not one problem. Not sure about quality of this brand anymore or who even manufactures them.
Jeannie Crust says
I LOVE my Whirlpool 26.2 CF Bottom Freezer with French Doors and an Extra Door for veggies or drinks. That extra door has four different temperature settings. It holds a lot of produce. The bottom freezer has 3 drawers above the regular freezer area which also has compartments so it’s easy to find things. It’s also black stainless and does NOT show fingerprints!!! The model is WRX986SIH. The icemaker is quiet, no problems for 2 yrs. It replaced a side by side and I swear this one holds twice as much in the same spot. I would also agree American made is the way to go with parts etc. being difficult to get.
Diane Perry says
When I did a kitchen redo I bought an LG counter depth and loved it, until a year later the ice maker quit working. OUr repairman said the compressor was going out and it was not worth repairing. He recommended a GE, which we got and are happy with…. But who would have thought that you should pay attention to the inside of drawers, shelves, and general structure. While I LOVE the appliance, It is a pain to keep clean, way too many little ridges, grooves, and tiny spaces. Be sure to consider that, sure wish I had.
LD says
Interesting the difference in the comments. Here, Atlanta area, no one, and I mean no one recommends Samsung. Every Samsung owner has had issues. I have a GE Arctica 2004 side by side. I knew my appliance repairman for the first 5 years of ownership, always something. But….I haven’t had to call in ages, just switch the icemaker which we did. My daughter bought the LG counter depth door in door and loves it. She uses the door in door all the time. Icemaker is noisy she says but not a constant. You hear the icemaker in every frig. Scary buying appliances, they all have something. Good luck!!
Suzanne says
The repair man told us the most UNRELIABLE brands are LG & Samsung. Be leery of any recommendations for a refrigerator, freezer, washer, or dryer built over 5 years ago because the focus is on 2022 NEW and now dependable and reliable parts are a whole new thing today than just 5 years ago. Everyone wants a new shiny box with features making them cost $2,000, $5000, or $10,000. The more features means more parts to go bad. Based on my internet research, most refrigerators are now built in Mexico and because of the pandemic, not all models are available and/or have a long lead order timeframe. Parts shortages and inferior substitutions of electronic parts could be causing these failures. It isn’t by accident that major appliances have only a 2 year warranty.
Last Fall, we had problems with our 25+ yr old Amana refrigerator (19 cubic feet, 36” wide, counter depth) freezer on the bottom with no auto ice maker. This was the first time this old mid 1990s Amana refrigerator had needed any repairs. It was running more than usual and with the refrigerator section 7°F warmer and bottom freezer 25°F warmer than should be. The automatic defrost circuit board (located in the small black box sitting under the refrigerator) had a problem and no longer available. After doing some internet research, there are a couple companies in the US that repair these circuit boards for refrigerators, cars, etc. We overnighted the circuit board to Greenville, South Carolina and it was immediately repaired and overnighted back. The repairs on the circuit board were replacing a couple capacitors and a relay switch. All in all, $345 instead of having to buy a new unreliable refrigerator. The cost included a repair man isolating the problem, shipping and repairing the circuit board, and reinstalling the circuit board back ourself instead of calling the repair man back to reinstall it.
The deal is that my refrigerator location has built-in cabinets above it that limits the height of the box and I have to have a counter depth because of the narrow walkway past it. Currently there is no new 68 1/2” high x 36” wide bottom freezer, counter depth refrigerator available so I would have to downsize to a 30” wide refrigerator which is significantly smaller in volume; hence fix the old refrigerator. Finding a way to repair it has avoided having to do cabinet remodeling and hopefully buys me time for the electronics supply chain to become more reliable and new size models become available. In the mean time my refrigerator is always packed with fresh meats & vegetables, beverages, cheeses, a couple days of dinner leftovers, and all those condiment containers; wishing for a bigger unit with minimum bells and whistles.
As for door options, I do not get the rage of French door models?! They are only needed in extremely narrow passageways. I usually have something in my hand to place in the refrigerator and not knowing what side, left or right, there is space to place it… so if I pick the wrong door, then I have to open the other door, or put the stuff down to get both doors open so can see best place to place the stuff. I like one door refrigerators so I can see everything when the door is open. Most one door refrigerator models can be ordered with hinges that open from left or from right. I do not get it that counter depth aren’t big enough for sheet pans… most home cooks only use the half-size sheetpan (13”x18”) and rarely are using a huge full-size (18”x26”). My 36” wide refrigerator’s shelves inside are a total of 30” wide and 15” deep. My door shelves are 6” deep. Freezer on the bottom models are great so no leaning down to pull out from the vegetable bins. We reach into the refrigerator many more times than the freezer. Side by side refrigerators don’t give enough horizontal space unless it is a rare extra wide unit. The ice in door options makes terrible tiny soft ice that flies all over when dispensed. Ice makers in general can be very unreliable but if you have to have automaker ice then I suggest you stick with an ice maker in the freezer, use a separate ice maker, or better yet use ice cube trays or buy good bagged ice.
Old or new, keep the coils clean to help the unit from doing overtime work. That usually means popping the bottom grill off near the floor and vacuuming under it several times a year, not just once a year. Pull the tray out to inspect because that is where the moisture goes when it regularly goes into auto defrost mode and then should be able to evaporate from. Realize that ice from builds up out-of-site, behind the freezer wall and then the defrosting cycle melts it and water runs into the tray.
I’m a retired electrical engineer that is frustrated with the lack of reasonable component standards in major household appliances. There is a reason those Sub-Zeros are $10,000+; for starters they have separate compressors for the refrigerator and freezer section, not just one. I can’t believe LG and Samsung continue to sell refrigerators because 80%+ of all internet reviews of them for reliability are terrible. They do make a pretty shiny box to people that don’t do their homework before purchasing one of their units. Like Kevin, asking for inputs and recommendations is the best thing to do besides comparing side by side the hard core technical specifications but are usually not available and/or can’t be found to the general public.
Deena says
Hi Kevin! I shopped a long time before selecting my GE COUNTER-DEPTH Frig. Way more room than I imagined even though smaller than my previous one!! I too hated having the water/ice on the outside. I must say that even though I’ve had mine only one and a half years now, it has been one of the best purchases I have made! I love that the water ‘spiket’ is inside which I thought was going to be a problem at first, but is not at all! Not to mention it looks fantastic being counter depth!! Even the bottom drawer freezer held more as I worked with it. We did keep the old one in the garage mostly for the freezer space, but to store more flour, cheese and drinks as well!
Take a look at model# GWE19JSLNFSS
Have fun! Thanks for all your wonderful and delicious recipes!!!
Renee says
I think you should consider this suggestion since evidently you already have a freezer;
N. MacGregor says
MARCH 27, 2022 AT 4:42 PM
I will try to address your questions below regarding refridgeratos as follows:
I have owned/used numerous refridgerators in all types of configurations including: the fridge on bottom- freezer on top – not my favourite, fridge on top – freezer on bottom – again not my favourite. Side-by-side – not my favourite. French door type with freezer on the bottom – not my favourite. What I LOVE is referred to as an “all fridge” or in some cases a freezer less fridge. The reason I love this type of fridge is it offers a ton of space of store food that you don’t have to freeze and given the fact you have a separate freezer you probably don’t require the extra freezer space in your fridge.
All fridges are manufactured by Whirlpool, Fridgidaire and Sub-Zero (my favourite but quite pricey).
Renee says
Only in case your kitchen is cramped for depth space should you consider a counter dept frig if you want to keep chilled platters before entertaining.
Polly-Alida says
When we gutted and renovated our kitchen 6 or 7 years ago, we bought a GE counter depth, cafe series fridge. French doors, no ice or water dispenser, bottom freezer. Simply said, I love it. Lots of space, lots of options to move shelves around if need be. GE reliability. Haven’t had any problems with the doors. Though they are slightly out of alignment right now. Had a repair person out and he must have nudged the doors out of sync and we didn’t notice til he was gone. Not worth calling them back, and I suspect we could put them right ourselves.
The one repair we needed was in the freezer defrosting system. Guess our house is dusty (ha!) and the drain system got plugged up/backed up somehow. It was an easy repair. Hasn’t really inspired me to dust more frequently though.
Kim says
Hi, Kevin, I didn’t have time to read all these posts today, but my bottom line advice: Avoid Samsung like a plague!!!!!! They do not warrant them, service them well, nor do they replace them should they fail. We finally went high end ( for us) , paying 2500.00 , to get a ice machine that produced, and, the dag gone thing makes ice ‘ on and off’ . It is a Whirlpool. The two drawers ( vegetable / fruit) have broken, cheap, environmental levers( regulates the amount of moisture in the drawer thingies.) Those broke real quick after purchase. The freezer is below, is fine generally, but ice drops thru the wire racks and sometimes those cubes get pushed out on my hard wood floors. Is my kitchen floor being damaged down under where I cant see. The machine is a monster in weight which my men have a hard time moving. ugh. Maybe I need to buy a Kitchenaide. If I can get one.
Karen says
Modern-Samsung Bespoke. Great features. Gorgeous Style. Gorgeous!
Classic or Modern Statement-Smeg is like a Kitchen Trophy. Whether in an amazing color (red, black, lime, sunflower yellow, orange, pastel green, pink, cream, pale blue, white, limited editions etc.). If you want everyone to notice your good taste immediately, Smeg.. Counter depth too!
Vintage- Northstar. My latest and current set-up. It’s not been the best in terms of durability like some of my other large kitchen appliances (Thermador, LG, Wolf, Bosch, Sub.) but I love the aesthetic so much. I’m in a 1948 cottage near the water and always get compliments on the old school fridge, stove and hood. Most people think it’s all vintage appliances other than my retro look has a glass top which is fabulous for quick clean up!!!
I’m a lifelong appliance snob. I cook a lot and really
give appliances some tough standards to meet. None of them really have been any issue or headache.. The worst value in terms of up front cost and repair cost, Sub. I don’t miss at all. Sub was all style but thankfully so many fantastic products are available these days!!
mlaiuppa says
I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel to read all of these replies that say they don’t even hook up their ice makers. I thought I was the only one that didn’t want an ice maker because it takes up valuable real estate in my freezer and is just something more to break and need repairs. Same reason I don’t like the dispensers in the doors. They take up valuable inside door space which I use and it’s just something to break. But my parents love both.
I love what Penelope said about buying extra shelves. My cheap LG is likely their bottom model as it didn’t come with the wide pantry drawer I love in my Mom’s refrigerator. There is an identical model that had it when I looked online but it was discontinued. What I did was look up parts for repair. I bought that pantry drawer and it fits in my model perfectly. So if you don’t get exactly what you want, check out the parts available that will fit your fridge and you may find you can buy an extra butter keeper for the door or extra shelves for the refrigerator.
I actually kept the shelves from my old GE (it lasted 25+ years) just in case they would fit in the new Kitchenaid (that never arrived). I will still be keeping them in case the one I get to replace the cheapo ice box of hate will allow them to fit or I can modify them in some way. That model was one of the first to have a bottom freezer drawer. I loved it and never wanted another top freezer refrigerator again. And that is exactly what I ended up with as an emergency buy. Have I mentioned now much I really hate it?
Why didn’t I replace my dead GE with a live one? Because they were all too big and all came with ice machines. I have an old house and the spot for the refrigerator has cabinets to the left and above and a wall to the right. I have limited height for that space and they just keep making refrigerators taller and taller. I already took out a cabinet for a dishwasher (18″ apartment size GE) and I am loathe to lose the cabinet above the refrigerator. I am also not putting in a water line. I’m single and live alone so I don’t need a lot of cubic feet, an ice machine or a door dispenser. Maytag had models in Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag and Kitchenaid that all fit my space. The Kitchenaid came without an ice maker and had the inside configuration I wanted. That is ultimately what sold me.
Everyone has different needs and wants and as Penelope mentioned, you start with the space you have and that will narrow your choices to what will fit. No sense lusting for a 26 cu ft when the space will only accommodate 21. My old GE lasted three lifetimes in my opinion. I just feel their choices are a bit limited. They no longer carried a refrigerator short enough to fit under my cabinets or they would have been my first choice.
Then decide on what you want; ice maker, door dispenser, pantry drawer, no fingerprints, WiFi (no kidding), etc. That will narrow things further. Then take the top manufacturers mentioned here and see what they have that meets all of your criteria. Then look up their customer service. Lastly, I would do some research on repair parts for the models you like, what is available and what they cost. You may find that there are some things you’d like to pimp out your refrigerator with.
BTW, did you know you can order “wraps” for your refrigerator? I looked into it because I *hate* stainless steel and Kitchenaid doesn’t make white refrigerators. You can also have them custom painted.
If you don’t want the ice maker you can pay to have it removed, but it usually voids the warranty. I know. I asked. More than once. That is why I looked for models that did NOT have an ice maker.
Mari says
Hi Kevin,
Good luck finding your new fridge. Only comment is I literally HATE freezer at the bottom! Unless you have a totally obsessive/compulsive personality or live alone I would avoid it. It is like a big dig every time I open it. I’m sort of coveting your side by side – leak included – that’s how much I hate this freezer at the bottom I have.
Leisa Joan says
Do NOT buy the Samsung! ours broke after only a few years. Our repair man says they keep him in business!!! You’ve been warned! I wish someone had told us.
Robin C says
In the height of the pandemic my 4 year old Kitchenaide refrigerator died (after several repairs over that short time). It was the 1st year of that model and had a design flaw – water for ice maker in door ran across the inside of the top of unit where it froze. Don’t ever buy the first year of a model!
I called my appliance repair guy and he recommended GE. We went with MODEL PVD28BYNBFS. Bought on line without seeing it in person. It’s a French door with an extra mini door for milk, etc. (my husband likes it, I’m ok with the feature), an exterior drawer for cheese and meat, etc. (great feature), and the freezer on the bottom has sliding dividers. It does have water & ice in the door with a sensor that fills your water container hands free that we use all the time. We like it!
Hope this helps. I enjoy your videos and recipes.
Martha Conley says
I have a Blomberg BRFD2230SS French door bottom freezer refrigerator that is
counter depth and only 19.9 cu ft. I absolutely love it! Yes it is smaller than the
ones you are looking at but for me it was the only size that would fit in the space
allotted in my kitchen. It has an inside ice maker and an inside water dispenser.
I have had it for 6 years and it has been running great. I just checked and this model
has been discontinued but I’m sure they have larger ones like the one you are looking
for. Good luck!
Jean says
Former Samsung owner. Nice form, terrible function! Compressors freeze and fail repeatedly. After lot of research during pandemic chose side by side Whirlpool. American made and in two years no issues so far. Has ice and water. I always put function before form now. So, this is NOT counter depth because I care much more about inside space than looks. (Limited in width by existing space). Superior lighting compared to former Samsung. Ice and water work fine. Cons: Menus to activate digital controls are extremely complicated and usually 3 layers deep. Very annoying. Keep user manual nearby! So far, average in looks above average in performance. I like it enough to choose Whirlpool for a garage freezer also. Extremely happy with that choice. One more thought: Do NOT choose one of those models with see through doors unless you plan on keeping the view photo-shoot tidy!
Anne in Vermont (zone 4/5a) says
We are still limping along with the horrid side by side in the house when we bought it in 2011, a Kenmore Coldspot made in 2004. (Hey, if it last two more years that will be twenty years.) I would love to buy one like the GE or the Samsung you pictured with the french doors and drawer freezer, however I do not have ONE friend who has not had issues with refrigerators purchased since 2012 or so and therefore plan to keep this one until it dies. The best repair man in the area refuses to touch anything by Samsung, though I don’t know why. I guess it is not news to anyone that energy inefficient appliances from years ago last a lot longer than the newer ones. Please keep all these reviews and opinions available because no doubt mine will die soon given this comment.
Lise says
Hi Kevin,!I have had an appliance repaireman here. He’s very informative! One thing he told me he to never call him for a repair on the LG refrigerator. He said it is too complicated and is from Japan where it’s very hard to get parts! I am so sad that I bought an LG! Next time, a Jenn Air!
Margie says
I am so grateful for all the research and advice people are giving you Kevin as my 21.6 cu ft Whirlpool is 25 years old now and I worry it will die one day. I have white appliances and love the clean look and don’t care for stainless or black. I am thinking I may be in trouble if I have to get new. We have a chest freezer in our basement that is 52 years old and a Sears Coldspot. It is reassuring to read that people still love GE, Whirlpool and Maytag. None of this is helpful to you Kevin, but I am definitely following and taking notes! Good luck!
Carolyn Yost says
I have a freezer on the bottom and two door refrigerator on top. Water is inside refrigerator, and not in the door. Ice cube maker in freezer. It is a Jenn-air countertop stainless and I love it. I have had all varieties through the years and did not like the French door, not enough refrigerator space. This model has extra height and I love it.
It is about 3 years old.
Lee says
Kevin, I love the samsung with the drawer for the freezer. I h ave had side by sides, but the tiny freezer held nothing. I love the freezer for the massive quantity I can put in there, and then french doors that allow me to move everything around to accommodate what ever I just cooked. You can really adjust the area to suit your needs in this type of fridge.
Lulu says
After years of loathing the old side by side that came with the house, a year ago we bought a Bosch that almost exactly resembles the one in your opening photo … ie French doors, lower freezer, snack drawer, etc.
I LOVE this design and there have been no problems although admittedly it’s early days!
I can’t believe how much more room it has although it fits the same footprint as the old one. The freezer is a dream … I can ACTUALLY organize food in it as opposed to just praying the contents won’t fall out when I open the door.
I share your feelings about water/ice dispensers on the door, but mainly because they take up space inside. However, I did cave in to my husband’s wish for one and I’m glad I did. I find myself drinking more water and I like being able to quickly refill water pitchers with ice and cold water for the table when we have company. Another plus I hadn’t considered was the fact that there’s a filtering system that make the water safer to drink in geographic areas with questionable public water supplies.
Good luck with whichever you choose!
MARILEE WEIS says
Susan’s #2 is SO true. We bought a Kitchen Aid 5 1/2 years ago and have had it repaired 6 times. (I do really love the configuration of it-top French doors, just below are 2 slide out drawers, then the bottom freezer with two shallow drawers and a divided larger bottom space which makes it easy to find what you are looking for.) The repair guy said now appliances are built to last maybe 8-9 years but that does NOT mean without repairs. So make sure that you get a good extended appliance warrantee. Gone are the days of 20 plus years of repair-free usage.
Stacey Harrison says
We just got a new refrigerator and here is the link: https://www.lg.com/us/refrigerators/lg-lrsds2706d-side-by-side-refrigerator
We love it. It’s a large side by side refrigerator. It does have the door in door feature but not insta-view. Besides the nice look of the fridge and ease of finding things inside, our favorite thing is the craft ice! The regular and craft ice ice maker are very quiet but could make a bit more ice. However, the craft ice makes up for that in many ways.
The stainless steel is beautiful but does scratch easily so be careful if you put any magnets on the doors.
Good luck choosing!
Chris says
Hi Kevin, Purchased a Samsung french door and bottom freezer. No water in the door. And I turned off the ice maker. Why? Utilize an AlexaPure for purifying my water. The Samsung filters don’t remove all the awful stuff in our water (Pittsburgh) and had to purchase the expensive (after awhile it becomes expensive) filters. Make my own ice from the AlexaPure water and also placed purified water into containers or pitchers to store on the door if someone has to have cold water. I love my purchase. Please ensure you have the refrigerator plugged into a really good surge protector. My 3 year old LG died from surges from storms and etc.
Suzanne K says
I don’t know if you’ve already made your decision, but I just had to replace my fridge/freezer. At the height of the pandemic, nothing was very available. I did a lot of shopping and questioning. I spoke with a store that knew I wasn’t going to buy from them and they had the same advice echoed by many other readers: NO to LG and Samsung. Partially because they are not made in the US and would have taken forever to get thru the port log jam, but also very much because of lack of reliability. They recommended GE, Amana, Whirlpool… My choices were extremely limited due to width and height of existing opening as with other folks who posted. I ended up with side by side Amana and had the installers turn off the ice machine. I really didn’t want one but old fridge died and I was renting until I could get the new one and ones without ice makers would have been a much longer wait (or couldn’t be ordered at all). Color was another issue. I hate stainless steel but no-one was making black at that time. So I got stainless. Still don’t like it, but fridge is fine…so far! Good luck and let us know what your final decision is.