Refrigerators - Side-by-Side vs. French Door

[bellebud]

we have GE Monogram large side by side (not the normal skinny one, not the super-duper huge one either). The fridge side is probably double the width of the regular side by side, BUT it's not as deep (I think). I can fit a pizza box in width-wise, but it's not deep enough. But things don't get lost in the back. I really like it. The freezer side isn't as small as the regular, narrow side by sides, but it's not as wide as the fridge part. One mistake - stainless steel - NOT magnetized! I HATE that!

We have a fridge at our business that has a bottom drawer freezer - NEVER again, even if it had a french door top. I HATE, HATE, HATE that freezer drawer, and everyone at work totally agrees!

We have a standard side by side in the basement for overflow. Don't really "need" it for the fridge part, definitely need it for the freezer part.

Boy, if I could design my kitchen again, I'd get the set up that's a full fridge on one side, and a full freezer on the other side (like 2 fridges next to each other).

 

[ccgirl]

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.

Yup...HATE my side by side. Sorry. The freezer side won't even fit a turkey. The whole reason for the bottom freezer is because people are in the freezer less often so they thought it was easier. My sister has the bottom freezer and I just love it! It is so much room. I hate to say it but I can't wait until mine breaks so I can get another one.

 

[Nancyg56]

When we renovated our kitchen i added a side by side. I won't say I hate it but I would not get another one. My sister has the French door and i am wicked jealous!

 

[llij]

When we got a new fridge 5 years ago, we debated on getting the side-by-side or the french doors. I really wish we got the french doors because we really dislike our side-by-side. I can't wait until we can get a new fridge and I know that I am never ever getting another side-by-side.

 

[bumbershoot]

I want a freezer-on-the-bottom, but we rent so don't have a choice. What we have is a Kenmore side by side...just looked at the label thing and it says "Coldspot" so maybe that's the model?

Anyway, it's perfectly fine. It has the tempered glass shelves, which help my short self see if there are things on the top shelf that I can't really see straight on. And some of the shelves slide out, which is extra helpful. I can fit a Little Caesars pizza box in it, and a Costco box if I'm willing to have it diagonally on top of things, LOL.

The freezer fits quite a bit inside, though it's not *pretty* when full.

 

[walden]

I love, love, love, did I say love, my French door. No problem on knee bends for small stuff. But my french door fridge is on the small side. Counter depth due to problematic tiny kitchen reno. I need and use my chest freezer in the cellar too. But then I'm a freezer cook.

I hated my side by side in a previous house. It was a pain.

 

[GJM]

HATE my side by side and I have 2!

In my old house we had a side by side, in the basement I had the freezer on top, frig on bottom. When we moved, I took the newer one with me side by side as a back up. When I went to purchase the new one for the kitchen, I got another side by side. I don't know what I was thinking. The freezer is awful you can't fit anything in it, and even the frig, you can't get a pizza box in there.

 

[scrapquitler]

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.

I had a side by side, and at first I thought it was going to be GREAT! But then I had to actually use it: there's no way to shove a pizza box in a side by side, my thanksgiving turkey barely fit in the freezer, and forget about trying to freeze meatballs or cookie dough dropped onto a cookie sheet.

When that fridge finally bit the dust, I bought a French Door model. And I love it. The major complaint i have about it is that my kitten tries to scoot in behind the freezer drawer every time I open it and I worry that I'm going to squish him in there when I close it.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I love my side by side! It is old and about worn out, but it is great. I like the dispensers in the door for water and ice.

 

[dejr_8]

I think this is the first thread on the DIS where there is near consensus!!!

We too HATE HATE HATE our side-by-side and will never buy one again.

 

[Zandy595]

Well, I'm still hoping the side-by-side is going to work for me. I hate turkey, so I will never have to worry about fitting one in the freezer or fridge. I've never put a pizza box in the refrigerator. And I don't freeze things on a sheet trays. Maybe it will be ok. :crossing fingers:

 

[Christine]

Well, I'm still hoping the side-by-side is going to work for me. I hate turkey, so I will never have to worry about fitting one in the freezer or fridge. I've never put a pizza box in the refrigerator. And I don't freeze things on a sheet trays. Maybe it will be ok. :crossing fingers:

I don't do any of these things either.

I still HATE my side by side.

Prior to this, I had a 21 cubic foot, top freezer (old style). Everything was was so easy to find and get. The one thing I had starting doing was going to a meal prep place once a month and making 8-10 meals that go in 9x13 pans that need to be frozen. My top freezer model was accomodating these fine, albeit, there was a lot of stacking. I thought to myself "how nice a side by side would be where I could organize them on a few shelves with all their sauces" etc. OMG, what a disaster. I bought the side-by-side which took up WAY more room than my old unit (even had to cut the bottom of one cabinet to get it to fit) and it HOLDS LESS STUFF. This is my biggest regret purchase EVER.

 

[crz4mm2]

LOVE my French Door. I've never had a side by side, but my Mother did and I hated that thing.

 

[momto2girls]

Never realized there was so much hate for side-by-side refrigerators. I had one in my old house and I didn't mind it at all. In fact, the one I had before that one was also a side-by-side.

Now in my new house, I truly have the best situation. I have a huge Subzero refrigerator and a separate Subzero freezer.

 

[bellebud]

Never realized there was so much hate for side-by-side refrigerators. I had one in my old house and I didn't mind it at all. In fact, the one I had before that one was also a side-by-side.

Now in my new house, I truly have the best situation. I have a huge Subzero refrigerator and a separate Subzero freezer.

THAT's the way to go if you can! I'd love that someday!

 

[cm8]

I think this is the first thread on the DIS where there is near consensus!!!

We too HATE HATE HATE our side-by-side and will never buy one again.

It won't last much longer

We recently purchased a FD refrigerator that will be installed this coming week. Our SBS will be replacing our FCF in the garage I can't wait for it to arrive

 

[luvmythree]

We have had 2 Side by sides and I really hated them both. There was not enough space and too much digging. We have an LG french door and I LOVE my fridge!!! I didn't think I'd like the freezer on the bottom but mine came with a divider plus a pull out shelf that I use for items that we use all of the time. I will NEVER own another side by side!

 

[tvguy]

Personal preference I guess.
Had freezer on the top, then freezer on the bottom fridges as a kid.
Grew up, had a side by side for 27 years, replaced it with a french door model, had them come get it after a week, it was awful. Got another side by side.

 

[Zandy595]

Personal preference I guess.
Had freezer on the top, then freezer on the bottom fridges as a kid.
Grew up, had a side by side for 27 years, replaced it with a french door model, had them come get it after a week, it was awful. Got another side by side.

Really glad to hear that. Why did you like the side-by-side better than the french door?


I'm trying to figure out if the reasons people don't like their side-by-sides would be reasons I wouldn't like it. It seems like most are negative about them because they can't fit large items in them. That won't be an issue for me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

First side by side we had for about 20 years. Second one almost 20 years. Enjoying our third for about a year now. Never any problems. All 25 feet, plenty of room for whatever we have.