We conducted extensive online research, comparing product pages and looking for specific standout features in different models. It features water and ice dispensers using the Slim SpacePlus Ice System to free up more shelf space in the freezer. Side-by-side refrigerators are different from French-door models in that one half of the unit, from top to bottom, handles refrigeration, while the other half does the freezing. It also features a built-in water and ice dispenser, which stores ice in the door to free up freezer space typically taken by a bulky ice tray. NY 10036. Calculating the Z-Score: The Z-Score represents a data point's relation to the mean measurement of the data set. This model stores the ice in the door, which helps free up valuable freezer space. FamilyHub has a vast array of apps to use within the refrigerator. You'll roughly be able to fit one bag of groceries per cubic foot (depending on how skilled you are at fridge tetris), which sounds like a lot, but can really add up when you consider frozen goods and essentials which you keep stocked up on year-round. With the InstaView, users can see the items stored in the refrigerators door without opening it, and gain access to often-used items through a secondary outer door. People with little room in the kitchen for wide fridge doors, People who like to arrange their refrigerator for easy access to both fresh and frozen foods, Budget-conscious shoppers wanting a modern aesthetic, People looking for the latest trend in home appliances, People who want wide refrigerator shelves. The Whirlpool comes in four finishes including fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and black stainless steel. Side-by-side ice dispensers are far more efficient than French-door models. The GE Electronics GSS25GSHSS covers all the bases for side-by-side refrigerators and is a great family-friendly model. The clean lines and anti-fingerprint steel finish look stunning while the glass front makes this a rare beauty indeed. How To Get a Medical Alert System for Free, Compare the Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators. Though their cubic footage might be similar to other models, side-by-side storage takes a different shape. It comes with three drawers in the refrigerator for meats, fruits, and veggies, and one bin in the freezer. A side-by-side refrigerator could be a great option if youre looking for an affordable fridge that features one side for fresh food and the other for frozen food. With Energy Star certification to keep energy costs low and a ten year warranty on the sealed system, the KitchenAid KRSF705HPS is a the side-by-side refrigerator for those looking to make an investment. This mid-size model is good for anyone looking for a well-designed, easy to organize refrigerator. This side-by-side features shelves that span the entire width of the freezer to enable stacking as much frozen food as possible while keeping everything easy to find. If youre remodeling your home and a side-by-side refrigerator doesnt meet the aesthetic of your new kitchen, you may be better off with one of the Best French Door Refrigerators in our rating. Side-by-side refrigerators split the refrigerator and freezer sections straight down the middle, and rely more on shelves than drawers for storing your food. The available space inside the refrigerator can be a different story. Families with a large kitchen and some serious food storage needs should check into models like the LG Electronics 26.8-cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator (model LRSES2706V). This is an expensive side-by-side refrigerator, but it's definitely a trustworthy investment which may save you in the long-term. Experts also find the combination of LED lighting and clear glass shelving makes it easier to see whats stored inside. Side-by-side refrigerators tend to be less expensive than French door refrigerators. Its price is $1,399, which is cheaper than the LG. However, it comes with the high-quality and 25cu. The LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side Door-in-Door Refrigerator has an external ice and water dispenser in the freezer door and digital temperature controls. ft. mark comfortably fitting food for a family of four. The best side-by-side refrigerators for big families will be around 25+ cu. Our scoring methodology is based on a composite analysis of the ratings and reviews published by credible third-party professional and consumer review sources. The colder you keep your refrigerator, the more often it will need to run through the refrigeration cycle. Five- to seven-year warranties are common, and a teb-year warranty on the sealed system is excellent. Sophie is Home Editor at Top Ten Reviews. You also can run music and video apps from these tablets, entertaining yourself while you cook or eat. We know that buying a fridge is one of the most important purchases you can make, so we've poured hours into research to give you informed advice. How Much Space Does a Side-by-Side Refrigerator Have? Some have complained that the ice and water dispenser has no lighting which makes it hard to operate, but with lower-priced side-by-side refrigerators you often get less of these convenient add-ons. These smaller, easy-access fridge compartments let you store essentials like milk and butter in a separate compartment, which means less rummaging each time you want to find a commonly-used item and less temperature fluctuation to your regular refrigerator compartment, where you can store larger or less-used items such as meat and vegetables. Side-by-side refrigerators typically come between 20 and 28 cubic feet (cu. Temperature control adjustments come via an LCD panel thats both easy to use and read. Certain less crucial items might seem like a luxury to one person but could be a deal-breaker for another. Theres one big reason to upgrade from an older refrigerator: energy use. Whilst this technology is nifty, it's not needed to get a great side-by-side refrigerator - especially if you're on a budget or have specific measurement and capacity needs. LG gets the balance right between modern features and high performance at a somewhat affordable price in the LSXS26366S. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence. Side-by-side refrigerators always lack some width storage-wiseparticularly in the freezer, but not the large Frigidaire 25.5 cubic foot side-by-side (model LFSS2612TF). Sophie Bird However, according to the FDA, the ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. No. It could also be a great option if your kitchen doesnt have much room for a full-width fridge door to open. Thank you for signing up to Top Ten Reviews. We assigned source weights to each source used in the consensus scoring model based on our assessment of how much the source is trusted and recognized by consumers and how much its published review process indicates that it is both comprehensive and editorially independent. ajmadison However, the engineering and strict specifications required to gain this certification means you will often paying significantly more for a refrigerator with this rating. To determine the Z-Score for each third-party rating of a refrigerator, we calculated the mean of the ratings across all refrigerators evaluated by that third-party source. Not so long ago, it was rare to find side-by-side refrigerators with thru-the-door ice and water refrigerators. Some prefer the design of a side-by-side refrigerator since it allows for storing both fresh and frozen food at eye level and keeping lesser-used items higher or lower down. Keep reading to learn about the best models out there, and the features and factors to keep in mind while shopping. This formula calculated the consensus score for each refrigerator product line, which we call the 360 Overall Rating. It also looks stunning, with that anti-fingerprint stainless steel finish and touch controls on the large space dispenser which offers chilled water, ice cubes or crushed ice at a touch. A side-by-side refrigerator has one vertical side dedicated to fresh food and the other for frozen food. Door-in-door tech is by far the highest end feature up for grabs, letting you check in on your food without any cold air escaping the refrigerator. Smart features, which allow you do things like check the temperature from your smartphone, are also understandably more common on those more expensive models. Look for a refrigerator that allows users to adjust the humidity based on what they store in the drawer. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Our No. Not everyone needs a high-end side-by-side, but any shopper in the market for a commercial-quality refrigerator will find the KitchenAid 25-cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator (model KBSD602ESS) an impressive option. These touch-screen hubs come built into the front of the fridge. There are other smart touches on the market, including some Wi-Fi enabled models you can control from your phone and some even allow you to stream your favorite TV shows and music! In our reviews we took into account energy efficiency and whether or not refrigerators were Energy Star certified. The LG LSXS26366S offers this along with a Slim SpacePlus ice maker, impressive 26cu. Certain fruits like watermelon or bananas still ripening need a lot of humidity, while an open vent allows apples to stay crisp. While French door refrigerators are the more popular and trendy option for those remodeling their kitchens, a side-by-side may be better for you if you have a smaller budget. Both the ice maker and water dispenser use a PureSource water filter to provide cleaner water. The fridge also features a unique energy-saving third door on the fridge. New York, kitchenaid This fridge exceeds federal energy standards, lowering electric bills, and environmental impact. We love door-in-door technology for convenience and energy efficiency, but it's hard to get this feature for a reasonable price. This could be an especially appealing option for those who use frozen food often. But nowadays, these features seem to come as standard, even in more affordable models. The LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side Door-in-Door Refrigerator base price is $2,099. ft., but will stick out from the counter. Instead of opening the door every time someone wants a cold glass of water or ice cubes, they can fill the glass from the front of the fridge. California Do Not Sell My Personal Information Request. Refrigerators come in a variety of capacities, but side-by-side refrigerators are some of the larger units you can buy. By Tom Scalisi | Updated Jun 9, 2022 8:41 PM. The unit uses an exterior ice and water dispenser with EveryDrop filtration to provide high-quality ice and water without opening the door. The freezer element is also generous, with four shelves to fill up with your favorite frozen fancies. It's not Energy Star certified despite its many energy-saving features. Calculating the common-scale rating: We divided the adjusted T-Score, which is on a 100-point scale, by 20 to convert the third-party rating to a common 0-5 point system. This Maytags freezer has auto-defrost and the fridge compartment also has a crisper drawer for keeping your vegetables in the best condition possible. Both dispensers use the EveryDrop filtration system to keep water fresh and clean. We asked experts this question, namely Vaughn Johnson, brand manager for Maytag, and Elise Barsch, social media manager and copywriter for iFixit. 12 on the Best Overall Refrigerator of 2022 rating with a score of 3.4 out of 5. The LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side Door-in-Door Refrigerator which places at No. Perfect for bigger families and boasting the J.D. The largest refrigerator in our ratings is the French-door GE Appliances Smart Door-in-Door PVD28BYNFS fridge with 27.9 cubic feet of capacity. The following considerations might help you decide if a side-by-side refrigerator will work for you. The only hangup? The perfect model if you need something to sit flush with your kitchen cabinets. Whether its a nifty countertop model that youd like to tuck out of the way or a high-capacity fridge with plenty of space for all your favorite sweet treats and go-to ingredients, youll be sorted with the side-by-side refrigerator in your kitchen. Thoughtfully designed with adjustable shelving and a wine rack placed out of kids' reach, this fridge prioritizes reliability and keeping your food fresh. It may not have all the glamorous features of more expensive models, but this refrigerator does excel where it matters: with space and storage. Offering great value for money, the Maytag MSS25N4MKZ is a solid choice for those that need plenty of storage space. All of the grandeur of this appliance does come at a hefty price, however, with a price tag a million miles away from affordable. The most prominent styles to compare were French door, side-by-side, and counter-depth refrigerators. This helps the refrigerator maintain its temperature and reduces unnecessary cycling, saving energy and money. The only model we reviewed with had this warranty was the KichenAid, which is partly why it came out as our pick for reliability. Thats thanks to the adjustable bin doors and shelves, so you can position the inside of your fridge to suit the groceries you buy. The best side-by-side refrigerators often benefit from an Energy Star rating to push down running costs in the long-run. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. There are air and water filters built-in with this model, so you will have only the freshest water and ice being dispensed from the front of the appliance. ft. storage and energy-efficient LED lighting, all for a mid-range price. Another benefit of side-by-side refrigerators is their built-in ice and water dispensers. The best side-by-side refrigerators will cost you anything between $1000 and $2500. 1. Youll also save on water bottles, as water dispensers provide clean, cold, filtered water anytime you need it. ft.) in capacity. A pizza box or sheet cake likely wont fit in a side-by-side refrigerator, which can be a significant drawback for some. It also places No. The Samsung 26.7-cubic foot Family Hub-powered side-by-side (model RS27TFF61SR) is a great choice when looking to make the most of smart-home technology and WiFi-enabled appliances. Therefore, some sources were excluded from our model. With Samsungs Family Hub technology, you can download apps to do anything from streaming your favorite songs and TV shows to linking up to your smart doorbell and seeing whos on the porch. Its also got a five-year warranty to back it up. Water and ice dispensers are super-convenient features, particularly on hot days or when entertaining company. It comes with a stainless steel, fingerprint-resistant finish, and a built-in ice and water dispenser. This leaves more floor space in front of the refrigeratora must for small kitchens. Side-by-side refrigerators dont usually have the same amount of drawer storage as other styles, so humidity control becomes even more important. Neither of our top picks for the best side-by-side refrigerator are smart refrigerators so youre not getting features like Wi-Fi connectivity, an InstaView panel, or smartphone temperature controls. The 360 scoring process first converted each third-party rating into a common 0 to 5 scale. The best side-by-side fridges for single people or couples will be smaller, with a capacity of between 20 and 25cu. This list lays the groundwork with recommendations by category. Side-by-side refrigerators are ideal for those who want to prepare food ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. But those who like to meal prep and freeze food will likely find the stacked shelves far easier to navigate than a bottom freezer drawer. 1 on our list of the Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators is the LG Door-in-Door LSX26366 with a score of 3.8 out of 5. Since side-by-side refrigerators use shelves, there is no need to dig to the bottom of a freezer drawer to find an item. LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Door-in-Door LSXS26366 Refrigerator, Whirlpool 21.4-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side WRS321SDH Refrigerator, GE Appliances Smart Door-in-Door PVD28BYNFS, LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side Door-in-Door Refrigerator. This units huge storage capacity measures more than 26-cubic feet and features a convenient InstaView Door-in-Door feature. If youre looking for a fridge with large storage, consider a French-door design. It's one of the more affordable models in our comparison and boasts some nice features, like power freeze and cooling, LED lights and humidity-controlled crisper drawers to store fruits and vegetables at optimum conditions. refrigerator samsung repair heating element defrost defrosting system However, it's hard to get a good side-by-side for less than $1000. Perfect size for sitting alongside countertops. Maybe most useful of all is that these displays can tell you when other appliances such as the washer and dryer finish runningas long as theyre WiFi-ready. Luckily, there is a good selection of machines in this round-up that are known for their quietness. In fact, youd be hard pressed to find a fridge without them. Barsch cited Wirecutter and other sources in estimating that refrigerators should generally last 10 to 15 years. This works alongside the Produce Preserver, which is a system designed to absorb ethylene gas and prevent your fruit and veggies from going bad before youve had a chance to tuck in. Starting off her career in print journalism, Sophie then moved to digital and now specializes in lifestyle, home interiors and social media. ft. capacity you'd expect for this price. Both of our top picks for side-by-side fridges come with in-door external water and ice dispensers. The outward opening doors on a side-by-side refrigerator decrease the overall open depth of the refrigerator. We also reviewed some more no-frills side-by-side fridge freezers for people who'd rather spend their money on reliable and carefully crafted models without fancy extras. However, a side-by-side doesnt sacrifice any storage space and the overall width is about the same as a French door model. We researched the brands and products people care most about. Power Award for highest customer satisfaction in side-by-side fridges, this model also has an impressive five year sealed system warranty. The side-by-side unit has adjustable glass shelves and gallon door bins, making it easy to customize storage. Refrigerators are not generally appliances you need much help with, but it is good to know that the manufacturer offers support when you need it. Its main draw is its unfathomably large capacity, which can safely tuck away a whole stash of groceries and have room left over for more. Consider the shelving in your fridge of choice when thinking about refrigerator size. LG uses PrintProof fingerprint and smudge-resistant finish to keep this refrigerator looking clean and new. LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Door-in-Door LSXS26366 Refrigerator: Rating No. It has LED lighting throughout and spill-proof shelves to keep accidents contained. Top Ten Reviews is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Is a Side-by-Side Refrigerator Right for Me? Professional reviewers note the side-by-side design makes for easy viewing and organizing of both the fridge side and freezer side. A highly-sought after feature when purchasing a new side-by-side refrigerator, or any household appliance at all, is quiet running. For something that fits your tight kitchen space a little bit better, consider one of our Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2022. If you need help deciding on the best side-by-side refrigerator for your kitchen, this guide can point you in the right direction. While these features arent new to the world of home food refrigeration, theyre now better than ever at controlling energy consumption and food freshness. All manufacturers offer a warranty on their appliances, but not all warranties are created equal. The width of each door spans about half of the appliance's total width which makes a side-by-side refrigerator a great option for narrow kitchens that are limited on space in front of the fridge. The huge KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is brimming with excellent features but comes at an eye-watering price. The KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is the perfect side-by-side refrigerator for anyone who needs a lot of space and has a lot of money to spend on getting it. This is the ultimate all-rounder of side-by-side fridges. After all, theres nothing more annoying than trying to jam that last object into your fridge. (b) We standardized the inputs to create a common scale. Counter-depth refrigerators are between 25 and 30 inches in depth, meaning they sit at the same depth as your kitchen counters for a sleek and built-in feel. published 20 January 22. It can make sense to splash out on a sturdy refrigerator if it's meant to last you 10+ years, but we also considered warranties for peace-of-mind when buying. We then subtracted the mean from the refrigerators rating and divided it by the standard deviation to produce the Z-Score. The Frigidaire FGSC2335TF is the perfect appliance for you if youre short on space, and need your new side-by-side refrigerator to fit seamlessly into your home. A fun and functional advancement in modern side-by-side refrigerators is smart display technology. The Maytag MSS25N4MKZ is a great value option if youre not fussed about having an ice maker. 1 comes with a price of $2,099 in a stainless steel finish. This refrigerator does a lot more than keep your food cool, and will soon become the center of your home. This means that you can easily access your food without worrying about the door swinging open too far or not having the space to pull out the bottom bin freezer. Modern developments have seen the rise of in-door, food showcase, and InstaView functions, which allows you to see and access a subsection of your appliance without losing heat from the main refrigerator itself. This fridge has 26 cubic feet of storage capacity and comes in two stainless steel finishes. Before including each third-party data point into our scoring equation, we had to standardize it so that it could be compared on an apples-to-apples basis with data points from other review sources. The shelves in both the refrigerator and freezer adjust easily for making space on the fly.