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French door refrigerator buying guide
With two doors that swing outward and a freezer drawer below, French door refrigerators are a popular configuration thanks to their ability to create easy access to fresh food. They often come with ample capacity and a host of convenient, innovative features. This article explores eight key features of French door refrigerators, their pros and cons and offers tips to help you make an informed choice.
8 key features of French door refrigerators
In many households, the refrigerator is the heart of the kitchen. This guide can help you feel confident in finding the right model for your family and life. From layout and capacity to organizational elements and cooling options, these key features are worth exploring and considering.
1. Capacity
French door refrigerators often offer roomy interiors, typically offering more capacity than other styles, including side-by-side or top-freezer. Standard-depth designs usually offer the most capacity, whereas counter-depth models relinquish some space in exchange for a built-in look. Since exact capacity varies by model, you should compare specs to determine the right fit for your space and life.
For example, Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators span from about 19 cubic feet—such as this Whirlpool® 4-Door Refrigerator—to 31 cubic feet, offering families a variety of options. For families who need serious storage, this 31 cu. ft. French door model is a standout. It’s one of the roomiest in its class, offering flexible shelving and a high-capacity ice maker to keep a busy household running smoothly.
2. Size
Size is an important consideration, as the right refrigerator should fit both your space and lifestyle. French door refrigerators are often larger than other styles. Their typical dimensions include:
29 to 36 inches wide
68 to 72 inches tall
28 to 37 inches deep
As you shop for a new refrigerator, keep in mind that model size may vary.
While depth can vary by style, counter-depth models deliver a built-in look with shallower dimensions, typically less than 30 inches, while standard-depth designs often provide additional interior space, extending a few inches deeper.
3. Number of doors
The layout of the classic French door refrigerator features a three-door design:
Two doors that open from the centre
A freezer drawer below
One example is this Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerator.
If you want even more versatility, select French door models have a quad-door configuration, such as this Whirlpool® 4-Door Refrigerator, which features two fridge doors above and two freezer doors below. Others provide a pull-out drawer above the freezer, like this model by Whirlpool brand, which delivers even more options.
4. Color and finish
Picking the right colour and finish can make your kitchen’s aesthetic seamless, and in some cases, simplify cleanup. From classic white and black to sleek stainless steel and black stainless steel, French door refrigerators are available in a variety of finishes. To achieve a polished look that can withstand daily use, the Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel on these Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators is designed to resist smudges and fingerprints.
5. Organization
French door refrigerators can help you tackle common issues associated with organizing food and beverages. Many have adjustable shelves and bins, removable dividers and dedicated storage zones. Consider features that might make the most noticeable impact for your family and kitchen. Ultimately, you should give thought to what’s most important to you: flexible space for meal prep or extra room for large grocery hauls.
Select Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators provide maximum organization with minimal clutter courtesy of smart storage and a large capacity. Six unique storage zones, including the EasyReach Zone, EasyView™ Drawers and the Pizza Pocket, let you store the foods your family loves.
Achieve a high-end, integrated kitchen look with this counter-depth French door refrigerator. Beyond its flush design, it features versatile organization systems designed to keep your food fresh and easy to access.
6. Cooling features
Select French door refrigerators can sometimes combine uniquely designed cooling systems with features designed to help maintain the freshness of contents. These features can include the ability to cool the entire interior or through customizable zones that can help store certain ingredients at their ideal temperatures.
Select Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators use Dual Cooling technology, which senses conditions to automatically adapt humidity levels, helping ensure food is stored at the ideal temperature. Select Whirlpool® models feature Fast Cool, which is designed to quickly chill leftovers, recently-bought groceries and more. At the push of a button, this built-in setting temporarily sets the unit to its lowest temperature.
7. Energy use
Some French door refrigerators can help you lower your energy use without negatively impacting performance or convenience. You may find an ENERGY STAR® Certified French door refrigerator, such as this one from Whirlpool brand, that exceeds government standards while helping you save money on your monthly utility bills.
8. Ice and water access
If your family loves heading to the kitchen for a water break, a French door refrigerator with built-in ice and water options can make the process quick and seamless. Certain models are equipped with extra ice production in the freezer in addition to an external dispenser, whereas others hide the water dispenser inside to achieve a clean, streamlined exterior.
Certain models from Whirlpool brand have the Exterior Ice and Water Dispenser with EveryDrop™ Filtration, providing access to filtered water and ice without ever having to open the fridge door. Other Whirlpool® models are designed with the Large Capacity Freezer Ice Storage, which is capable of storing over 7 lbs. of ice with the built-in ice maker in the freezer.
Shop Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators with various organization zones
Keep your family’s favourite foods accessible in a Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerator. Select Whirlpool® models are designed with the EasyReach Zone with an adjustable divider, which provides numerous ways to store tall items and keep them organized. Or take advantage of the Flexible Temperature Drawer, available on select models, and choose your chill level with dedicated settings for wine, deli, drinks and meat.
Pros and cons of French door refrigerators
French door refrigerators are popular for a reason, but finding the right fit should mostly depend on two factors:
How you cook
How you utilize your space
Let’s explore some of the more specific pros and cons of French door refrigerators.
Pros of French door refrigerators
- Full-width compartments: These units typically offer wide shelves and drawers that are designed to easily accommodate serving trays, large platters and large grocery shops.
- Easy access to fresh ingredients: Thanks to shelving and drawers at eye level, you can unload, organize and access the items you love the most with ease.
- Spacious capacity: Compared to other refrigerator styles, French door units typically feature greater interior capacity.
- Customizable interior: With such a wide interior, French door refrigerators often feature customizable storage areas within the refrigerator compartment.
Cons of French door refrigerators
- Limited freezer organization: Depending on the model, a pull-out freezer drawer may provide less flexible shelving and bin storage options compared to side-by-side models.
- Smaller freezer capacity: If you tend to stock up on frozen foods, the freezer typically offers a bit less space compared to side-by-side refrigerators, depending on the model.
- Large footprint for small spaces: If you have limited kitchen space, you may find the capacity of the typical French door refrigerator to be a snug fit in your layout.
French door refrigerators
Built-in storage bins let you organize with ease
Tips for buying a French door refrigerator
Use these tips when shopping for a French door refrigerator:
- Hunt for discounts: It’s always a good idea to see if you can find a discount on French door refrigerators. Remember, discounts might be available at certain times of year.
- Measure your space twice: Carefully measure the height, width and depth of your refrigerator cutout, and keep those measurements close by as you shop.
- Read as many customer reviews as you can find: Read reviews of the models you’re considering to get a realistic sense of how they perform in everyday use and any potential issues you might encounter.
Consider the warranty: Warranties often vary by model, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the details before you buy. Certain brands offer limited-time coverage on pivotal components, such as the evaporator, compressor, condenser, dryer, and connecting tubing, providing additional and necessary peace of mind.
Explore Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators
Discover an exciting level of flexibility to store everything on your grocery list with a Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerator. The Tuck Shelf on select Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators makes room for tall items, and the front adjusts and slides out of the way, creating space for 2-litre bottles or large salad bowls. You can also opt for a Whirlpool® model with EasyView™ Drawers, which allow you to keep oversized produce visible and accessible. Two large-capacity drawers can hold a 4-lb cabbage, two 5-ounce packages of leafy greens and a 3-lb melon at the same time.
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