Understanding French Door Refrigerators

Up until the relatively recent past, a refrigerator was a very bulk appliance that provided cold food storage without much style beyond a kitsch factor. Modern models are an excellent blend of form and function with design options to suit virtually any kitchen. One of the more popular current trends is a French door refrigerator. This has a large fresh food compartment on top which is divided by a pair of side-by-side doors with a freezer underneath. This is a radical departure from a more traditional format and it’s natural that people would be curious about these models. In this article, we will take a closer look at French door refrigerators to help you make an informed buying decision.

A Brief Primer

A French door refrigerator is a cooling unit that offers certain advantages over other model configurations. They are a versatile solution for larger families or those that want to take advantage of bulk shopping deals. There’s an excellent balance of fresh and frozen food storage.

Some models have convertible zones that allow the user to tailor the humidity and temperature conditions for specific foods. This means that you can maximize the freshness of the food that you’ve purchased to reduce the risk of food waste.

A French door refrigerator is a sleek and ultra-modern looking appliance that’s available in multiple finishes with external ice and water dispensers, touch screen displays and glass doors options. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of French door refrigerators in more detail.

Pros:

• Clear Visibility: the French door refrigerator layout is more logical than a traditional format. The shelves are full-width and everything can be seen at eye level. The food is easier to reach and access right to the rear of the shelf. This means that it’s less likely that you will forget about older produce or leftovers that can be overlooked in a traditional refrigerator. This visibility is enhanced if you choose a glass door for your refrigerator and the efficiency is improved because you can browse the contents before you open the door.
• Ample Space for Larger Food Items: The wider shelves and large door bins make it simple to store those larger food items, such as: gallon jugs of milk, whole turkeys, casseroles and more. The door bins are sufficiently large to hold a pitcher or gallon jug with ease and the fresh food shelf sections are fully adjustable.
• A High-End Feature Set: A French door refrigerator is a premium-grade appliance and as such it will typically have the latest features. Even the most affordable models will contain monitoring, diagnostic and advanced cooling systems. A typical example would be the touchscreen controls that seem to be ubiquitous on these appliances. These displays will usually have smart connectivity for remote optimization and some models can be knocked to turn on the interior lights! Some of the more advanced diagnostic features will send data to the manufacturer who can send you warnings of smaller issues before they develop into larger problems.
• A Good Fit for Smaller Kitchens: Although a French door refrigerator isn’t much smaller than a traditional model it packs in more storage space and it doesn’t require the same range of door motion. Both doors are half the refrigerator width and they are easy to open without disturbing the storage bins or bumping shelves. This means that these models are an excellent option for kitchens where the space is limited such as a galley kitchen.
• Impressive Freezer Storage: The freezer unit is at the bottom of the appliance, but you don’t need to bend frequently to reach those items on the lower shelves. Each freezer drawer is deep and it’s perfect for boxed frozen food items.
• Smarter Food Storage: Certain models have customizable temperature drawers located above the freezer unit. These can be used to store specific food items, such as: beverages, fish, wine, deli meats, snacks and more. This is ideal for foods that need to be kept at very precise temperatures without disturbing the other contents of the fridge. Some models have drawers that can be converted into extra deep freeze storage for extra flexibility.
• Aesthetic Appeal: For those that enjoy a clean, sleek and modern aesthetic a French door refrigerator is likely to appeal to their tastes. The double-door design is striking and functional and it may be possible to swap out handles for a more personalized feel. Most manufacturers offer a wide range of finishes, panel integration and glass doors for further customization.

Cons:

• A Bulkier Design: The dual-door design makes access easier, but most French door refrigerators at 30” minimum to accommodate the door bins. So, they need big cutouts and a lot of brute force to move into position. Installing this type of refrigerator can be a real challenge for those with cramped kitchen spaces and physical disabilities. Choosing a built-in model can alleviate some potential problems to a certain degree. These models don’t require as much clearance and the compressor units are mounted at the front. This makes the critical components easier to clean and access in the case of a fault.
• Tricky Freezer Access: Some French door refrigerators don’t have pull-out freezer bins and this can make the search for food at the back a challenge. One solution is to purchase a model with a freezer drawer that can be pulled out easily. A second option is to buy a model that has a pair of freezer drawers on top of each other.
• Complexity: As a newer kitchen appliance early adopters can get a more advanced refrigerator, but there are complications. With more complexity the repairs can be more costly unless you go with a trusted brand. The best manufacturers assemble and test their appliances in house for up to 20 years of continuous use.
• Ice and Water Space Issues: French door refrigerator models with a water dispenser and/or ice maker offer a convenient path to refreshment. But, these mechanisms take up space in the refrigerator and freezer units. This won’t be obvious on the door, but space will be lost elsewhere because the filtration and freezing has to happen somewhere in the appliance.
• Higher Energy Consumption: All these advanced features are useful and you may wonder how you got by without them. But, they require more energy to run and this can drive up the energy bills. This is very noticeable in a French door refrigerator due to the high storage capacity which needs more cold air. One way to mitigate these costs is to ensure that the refrigerator is kept as full as possible at all times. Even adding some bottles of water to fill empty spaces can help.
• The Price: There’s not getting around the fact that French door refrigerators have a higher price tag than traditionally configured models. This is because they are still relatively new, they are regarded as high-end appliances and they have more features. That said, the best examples of these refrigerators are built to very high standards and they should last longer than standard models.

Choosing a French Door Refrigerator

As you can see, there are a large number of pros and cons to consider before you decide if a French door refrigerator is a good fit for your kitchen. If you don’t have sufficient space, this is a moot point, but with built-in models it’s usually possible to install one with some effort. Aside from the considerable aesthetic appeal these refrigerators really offer a great deal of storage and functionality for the money. They represent a considerable investment, but choosing a good name brand can significantly extend the useful lifespan of the appliance. So, over the entire lifespan the overall cost may be much lower than expected.

When it comes to higher costs, it is true that the energy requirements may be higher than a traditional refrigerator. All those features and useful functions need power to work as intended and this may increase the energy bills. We’ve already mentioned that the refrigerator will consume less power if it’s fuller because a smaller volume of cooled air is required. Another useful tip is to search for a model with an Energy Star rating that will be more energy efficient and cheaper to run with no loss of performance.

It’s worth repeating that French door refrigerator manufacturers tend to offer multiple customization options. This can really help you to make the appliance mesh with your existing decor and appliances. But, it goes much further for those with a higher budget that want stainless steel or black stainless steel finishes. Adding humidity and temperature controlled drawers can be a real game changer for true foodies.

Specialized storage compartments can perform double duty as extra freezer space as required. These refrigerators also have three or even four door models for those that need even more food storage.

If you’re interested in a new French door refrigerator for your kitchen, consider our online collection. For more assistance contact a home appliance professional.