Refrigerators - Side-by-Side vs. French Door

[Zandy595]

When the French door fridges came out I knew I had to get one when it was time to replace our old top freezer refrigerator. However, we just ended up ordering a side-by-side because I thought the freezer in the French door one would be hard to deal with. I have bad knees so squatting down, digging through a big deep drawer seemed like a bad idea to me. I'm wondering if I made the right decision. Several family members have side-by-sides and told me I would regret getting it because the fridge is so narrow.

Tell me what you think of your French Door or Side-by-Side.

 

[tar heel]

You don't want to know what I think of my side-by-side -- sorry.

My DH thinks the French door frigs are a little too weird, so I may end up with an old top freezer one next time I shop for one.

 

[swanmom]

I hate my side-by-side. Biggest kitchen mistake, ever! Just last night, I put a cut-up chicken on a roasting pan to get ready for dinner. Only needed to keep the chicken cold for about 45 minutes, till I was ready to cook. Couldn't fit the roasting pan in the fridge and had to run it to our garage fridge. Over and over again, I find that things don't fit in the fridge or freezer.....sheet cakes, pizza pans, canape trays. I just hate it! Aren't you sorry you asked

 

[RadioNate]

I hate my side-by-side too. I can't fit big things in the fridge and the freezer is so small. I grew up with a freezer on bottom fridge and really wanted one but the house came with a side-by-side.

My mom has a French door fridge and I love it. I don't find the drawer to be a problem at all. I mean with a side-by-side you have to bend down to reach the stuff at the 'bottom' of each side.

 

[mickeyboat]

Side by side fridges are worthless. I can fit a insane amounts of food in my french door fridge.

The freezer doesn't require that much bending. We have a basket on the top that slides out, so I would put things there that I would be using all the time. I will say, though, that the freezer isn't very big. We have a second fridge (freezer on top) downstairs and use that to store things we only need every once in a while.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Sorry. I love my French door fridge. Love being able to fit large platters and things in it easily. Freezer on the bottom is no big deal to me because I don't use the freezer so much. I did a lot more bending over and digging around in low drawers when I had the regular side by side fridge and that's where the fruit/veggie and meat drawers were.

 

[bdcp]

We got rid of our GE side by side last summer and replaced it with a Samsung french door. The side by side was working perfectly fine and was only 6 years old, but I hated it. It was too narrow in both sides. We donated it to Habitat for Humanity for their resale store because it was still in such good shape. Our french door fridge is much, much better. I have never had to get on my knees to access the freezer on the bottom. I can bend a little and access everything I need to. It's not one big pit. It's got a top drawer that slides back and forth as well as a lower area. I love it.

 

[Ephany]

I love, love, love my French door fridge. I'm short and it's really nice to have the stuff we use most within easy reaching distance. The freezer doesn't hold much though; we have a freezer in the garage to hold the bulk stuff from Costco. We owned that freezer before we bought the French door fridge so it wasn't an extra purchase or anything.

 

[crjack]

Sorry, another vote for the French Door style.....I have never liked side by side for all of the reasons listed.

 

[Christine]

I have spent all my life with the old-fashioned top freezer style refrigerator.

Last year when I got a new fridge I decided to "come into the 80s" and get a side by side. OMG, I HATE THIS THING. I think I just didn't spend enough money to get one I don't hate. It is awful and far less space efficient than my top freezer style. It's only a year old but I'm ready to dump it.

I thought about the french door style but I really don't like having my freezer items stack and below me. I want to be able to see what I have from a side view and not have to go digging through a freezer. But I do like the looks of them.

 

[lovetoscrap]

We just replaced our really cruddy side by side with a French Door. I didn't really want that style but I knew I wasn't getting a side by side again. I love that the part I use the most-- the refrigerator is much easier to access since it is all at eye level and easy reach. I have a garage fridge to put large platters/dishes in so that really isn't an issue for me. I do hate that it is very difficult to put tall things in it, like wine bottles standing up or my Pampered Chef pitcher or even a large (costco) bottle of salad dressing. I would have to lose a half of a shelf to accommodate them. Instead they go in one bin on the door but sometimes there is just not enough room for everything.

We have a separate full freezer so the pull out really isn't used for a lot but had the ice maker and that is easy to get to and my kids keep frozen fruit and waffles and I have some frozen meals in there.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I love my french door fridge. You can fit a Costco pizza box in them!

My mother-in-law and my mom both got rid of their side-by-side because they were too small. They both got french doors and love them.

Sorry, if it's not the answer you wanted but everyone I know how has a side-by-side really dislikes it.

 

[babyrich]

My MIL has a side by side and she hates it. Neither side has enough room. We have a fridge with french doors at work and it is not as bad as I thought; but if you have bad knees I could see that the bending might bother you.

I am satisfied with my fridge with the freezer on top.

 

[mrsheppo]

Another vote for the french door fridge. I have a GE Profile and I can fit so much more in it than my old standard refrigerator. I don't mind the freezer on the bottom as mostly just keep some frozen dinners, ice cream, etc. as I have a large freezer in the garage for the other stuff.

I never did like the side by side as they always looked too narrow to hold much of anything.

 

[Aristocath]

I hated the side-by-side we had. It was so narrow and hard to arrange items. We've had our French Door for about a year and I love it. Especially at the holidays when I have platters of food. I don't have a problem with the freezer on the bottom because we have ice on the door anyway and a separate freezer in the mudroom.

 

[java]

We love our french door. The freezer isn't hard to navigate. And it isn't as low as you would think.
I love the LONG shelves in the fridge.

 

[bfeller]

I have always had a side by side but last year when we finally replaced our appliances I got the french door. I talked to so many people and got their opinions. I was concerned about the freezer drawer. I decided to get the french door and I love it. Things stay organized much better and the freezer drawer I actually keep it more organized than in the old side by side. By they way, I had torn the meniscus in both knees and had them operated on last October so bending over has been a challenge. BUT....I love the freezer drawer and it has not been hard on my knees at all.

I would never go back to a side by side.

 

[shortbun]

Three years ago, I bought a French Door, double freezer drawer stainless steel-all the bells and whistles. I hated it!!! The freezer drawers held nothing and were impossible to organize. When we moved a year ago, I left that thing with the new house happily. For this house, we moved the existing brown frig downstairs for extras and teen drinks. I bought a stainless side by side-again bells and whistles and I am very happy. Yeah, the freezer is narrow but it has several shelves and I can organize everything on the shelves and in the door. We bought a small upright freezer for big meat purchases and overflow. Works for me.

 

[Zandy595]

LOL I guess I should have asked you guys before I bought the new fridge. The salesman said I have 30 days if I change my mind. Forgot to ask if there was a restocking fee though. I don't really plan on putting big platters or anything that large in the refrigerator so maybe it will be ok.

 

[Zandy595]

Three years ago, I bought a French Door, double freezer drawer stainless steel-all the bells and whistles. I hated it!!! The freezer drawers held nothing and were impossible to organize. When we moved a year ago, I left that thing with the new house happily. For this house, we moved the existing brown frig downstairs for extras and teen drinks. I bought a stainless side by side-again bells and whistles and I am very happy. Yeah, the freezer is narrow but it has several shelves and I can organize everything on the shelves and in the door. We bought a small upright freezer for big meat purchases and overflow. Works for me.

I'm glad to read your post. I'm thinking the freezer will be a lot easier to organize with all the shelves and it has 2 drawers on the bottom. With my top freezer, everytime I open the door something falls out on my feet.