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.

5 Things You Never Realized About Your Kitchen Appliances

 

 1. How far does your refrigerator stick out?

Most people don’t realize that their fridge sticks out 6 to 8 inches from their counter top.  This is standard, but if you notice that you are shuffling sideways to get between your island and fridge when the door is open you may consider a counter depth refrigerator. For more details, check out the full guide of buying a refrigerator. 

    2. New French Door Fridge vs. Old Side by Side Fridge

If you have never owned a French Door Refrigerator this is what you have to look forward to.  No more getting on your knees for fresh vegetables, actually being able to fit a pizza box in your fridge or freezer and not at an angle.  No more losing things in the back of your fridge for months until the stench is overwhelming.

    3. How loud is your dishwasher?

Does your dishwasher sound like a jet engine taking off?  Are you tired of running your dishwasher only at night?  With new technology in sound deafening material dishwasher have become so quiet you don’t even know if it is running.  A good rule of thumb is to look for dishwashers 50dBA or below.  Here is a full guide to buying a dishwasher.  

    4. Where to find the serial number on your appliance.

All appliances will have a sticker specifying the model and serial number of the unit.

Refrigerators - most commonly found in the refrigeration portion of the unit either on the upper left or right wall. 

Dishwasher – most commonly found on the outer edge of the door or interior where the door seals with the case.

Range – If you slide open your storage door it will be located on the interior door jam either on the left or right hand side. 

Microwave – Probably the easiest to find just open the door and it will be located on the inside casing.

    5. The cost of running 15 year old appliances.

   In the last 15 years appliances have improved drastically in energy consumption.  With new government regulations as well as new technology it literally pays to buy new appliances.  Take a 15 year old refrigerator for example.  The annual cost of running a side by side refrigerator from the year 2000 is about $190.00 a year!  A new Energy Star Certified model will cost you on average $81.00 a year.  We are talking about a 42% savings.  Over the course of 10 years you could save upwards of $1,100.00 on your electrical bill.  Your new refrigerator will almost pay for itself over its life span.  That is just for your refrigerator.  Imagine the savings on the rest of your household appliances.

French Door Refrigerators Vs. Side by Side Refrigerators

French door refrigerators have become increasingly popular over the years but the good ol'trusty side by side is still a staple in many homes. Both have their benefits and short comings depending on what kind of food you mainly buy.

Below is a video from Kevin Drako, our resident appliance guy who will cover the basic differences between the two types.

What is Next in Home Appliances: Samsung Side-by-Side RSG309AARS/XAA LCD Refrigerator

For those of us who value having cutting-edge tech right at our fingertips, the kitchen is no exception. Thanks to the innovators at Samsung, the future is now.

Meet the Side-by-Side RSG309AARS/XAA LCD Refrigerator, Samsung’s newest triumph in marrying design and technology. The sleek stainless-steel façade and integrated touchscreen user interface on the exterior are outmatched only by the stunning interior, which combines functionality with elegance using LED lights, removable wine and soda racks, and five adjustable glass shelves.

Samsung understands that a refrigerator goes beyond its primary function of chilling perishable foods and beverages. The refrigerator serves as the hub of the entire kitchen, if not the household as a whole. Here is where we stick important announcements, shopping lists, calendar events or schedules for our busy family to see and follow. Let sticky notes, white boards and refrigerator magnets become a thing of the past, while still maintaining your busy schedule. This exciting new advancement in appliance design integrates the ease and user-friendliness of a smartphone or tablet right into the refrigerator. Apps like a calendar and a notepad help keep the family up-to-date on upcoming events, allowing the familiarity of having important notes posted on the fridge while eliminating the resulting clutter. Additional apps serve to further enhance the sense of having a futuristic kitchen:  Pandora lets you stream music from built-in speakers above the water dispenser, while Epicurious recipes aim to inspire the cooks in the kitchen and keep dinner ideas fresh.

With manufacturer’s suggested price of $2,499, the Samsung side-by-side RSG309AARS/XAA LCD Refrigerator accommodates your high-tech lifestyle and provides you with the futuristic elegance you desire without too much damage to your wallet. Your friends at Appliance Factory can help- call us today for more information about this or any of our other top-of-the-line appliances for your kitchen of the future!