The Difference Between French Door vs Side-By-Side Refrigerator

Kevin Drako is here to show you a few things to consider when deciding if a French door or side-by-side refrigerator is best for you and your family.

The great thing about both units is that French doors and side-by-side refrigerators both have options of having a water and ice dispenser in the front with control panels. Both have options to not have this in the front. The other great thing is that both units come in different finish options. You can match your other appliances with different colors such as white, black, stainless steel, slate, black stainless steel, and more. 

The big question that you should ask yourself is "does my family eat more frozen foods or fresh foods"? This question can determine if you need a unit with more freezer space or refrigerator space.

If your family makes a lot of big dishes with over-sized baking trays, you will need that extra room in your refrigerator and a French door option might be best. If you eat tons of sandwiches and pack on a bunch of meat, cheese, and veggies the deli pantry and refrigerator doors in a French door might be very useful for you. If you eat tons of fruits and veggies (like your suppose to) and more natural foods, a French door is going to be a great choice.

On the other side, if your family makes a lot of frozen foods such as frozen pizza, lasagna, or other frozen meals, a side-by-side might be a better option. With a French door, you have to stack your frozen foods on top of each other, making it hard to reach things or even see some of the foods that you have in your freezer. You may also get into situations where you have to bend over or get on your knees to maneuver through the things in your freezer.

If you have children, there are a few things to consider. If you want them to learn how to be independent and grab their own snacks and help out with dinner, think about how tall they are and that it might be a little harder for them to get things that are in a French door fridge. A side-by- side is nice in that you can see and grab things from both the freezer and refrigerator side equally and more easily than a French door. You can also see and grab all of the frozen foods a little more easily.

Can you fit a frozen turkey in a side-by-side? Maybe a small one, but probably not a big one. You may want to consider having a chest freezer in the garage or basement. If you have a side-by-side and make a big casserole, you might not have enough room to put it in your fridge and may consider getting a second fridge and keep it in the garage or basement. If you choose a French door, you might need more freezer space and need to get a chest freezer or second fridge.

The options are endless. After watching this video which option is best for you and why? If you have more questions, stop by one of our locations and we can answer any additional questions or concerns you may have. It's always best to see these options in person.

From Our Oven to Yours: How to Marinate Meats for Grilling

There is nothing I enjoy more than a well marinated, well cooked piece of meat. Marinating before grilling may seem like a daunting task, but know what kinds of marinades for different types of meat will speed up the process and result in better tasting food.

Beef

Beef done right is a rich with tons of flavor, melting in your mouth – no matter the quality of cut. The best way to achieve this tenderness is the perfect marinade and slow cooking. Beef marinades should add to the natural flavor of the meat, while keeping it moist during grilling.

Try this recipe-

Prep 15 min

• 1/3 cup of soy sauce
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Cook to your likes.

Chicken

When it’s good it’s good! When it’s bad it’s as rubbery and dry as gum. Although it is easy to overcook, chicken is a staple in most diets thanks to its nutritional value and excellent taste. You don’t have to worry about dry chicken if you marinade it to perfection.

Try this recipe-

          Prep Time 15 in

• ¹⁄₄ cup cider vinegar
• 3  tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 3  cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1   lime, juiced
• ¹⁄₂  lemon, juiced
• ¹⁄₂ cup brown sugar
• 1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons salt
• 6  tablespoons olive oil
• ground black pepper
• 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Pork

Just like Chicken this white meat can dry out very quickly when cooked too long. A good marinade will solve this issue and add lots of extra flavor.

Try this recipe-

          Prep time 25 min

• 2 large pork chops
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon mesquite-flavored seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cook until golden brown on both sides.