Question Re: Buying a Refrigerator...

A

andreaindc

Well-known member
We're moving again. The people in our new house are taking their refrigerator with them. I've had both side-by-side and freezer-over-refrigerator in the past and can see advantages in each. Although this is our fifth house, I've always inherited this appliance and never had to buy new. Any comments/input on configuration, brands, finishes, features, things to avoid would be really appreciated!

Thanks.

Andrea

 
When we replaced our refrigerator, we went with

the fridge over the freezer option.
The freezer is slightly smaller, but since I have an upright freezer in the basement, that wasn't an issue.
What I did like about it, was no more stooping down to get the stuff I was always after, like veggies, or things stored on the bottom shelf!
I got the freezer door option, rather than the drawer, but that was a purely financial decision. The drawer was costlier. It may give a bit more storage, but not enough for us to justify the additional cost.
We don't use lots of ice, so we avoided the automatic ice makers. I like the deep shelves on the door, so milk carons and wine bottles fit comfortably.

 
My experience .........I have not known a single person who has liked their

side by sides. If you are a foodie, you have lots of condiments, and food staples. These units are simply to narrow. As a foodie myself, I prefer the refer on top and freezer on the bottom. The bigger the better. You only may get into your freezer twice a day, more if you pull ice out of the freezer. Refer on top is so great.....no bending over to find the condiments hiding in the very back or leftovers. Actually, I have another full refer and freezer in my laundry room. Could not do without them, especially in the summer with so many fresh fruits and veggies. In reality, they are all full all year long. If you make your own applesauce, tomato paste, freezer jams, broth/stock.....you really need to look at your lifestyle. Remember, don't work for your appliances, make them work for you and make your life easier.

 
Andrea, I am currently doing A LOT of appliance research....

trying to figure out which ones are the best for my style, budget and performance wise. There are sooooooooo many appliances it is very overwhelming and I wake up at night with friges and stoves floating all around the room............

Anyway, somewhere in my research I found this fabulous bulletin board with loads of information and hints from friendly folks just like here at Mimi's place. I have not logged on yet but have been reading for hours on end.

I personally am leaning towards the french door, freezer on the bottom model. I don't want the ice and water in the door because that is the single largest repair on fridges. I am liking the LG and the GE Profile, so far they are at the top of my list (unfortunately the Profile does not come in 36" and I want a 36" fridge!) I am also watching the freezer configuration as I need to make sure I can get a cookie sheet in there for a quick chill of unbaked cookies or IQF of summer berries......

I read that there are some fabulous deals when buying on the internet, just need a bit of time to scope them out. Happy hunting! Let me know what you end up choosing.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/appl/

 
Barbara-I love my GE Profile stove-very user friendly and nice features, easy to clean. Like it so

much that I just went with the same line when I had to replace my dishwasher - happy with that, too. Good luck and sweet(er) dreams.

 
Very nice...

I obviously need to go look at these, but how does the drawer work on the bottom? Can you get to stuff at the bottom of the freezer easily? Can you put a tray of anything in? Is the freezer drawer really sturdy - given the weight of the stuff I put in my freezer, I would worry that I would break this feature.

What finish did you get? Do you know if stainless or black are very hard to keep looking nice? I have always had white, and by the time they were mine, they were always off-white in places!

 
DH and I were just discussing them yesterday. In Floriday, fridge generally stays with the house

so I'll need a new one. My dream is to have a full size refrigerator and a freezer side by side, but if the kitchen isn't big enough to support them, we were wondering about one like this. I've never had anything but the 36 in. side by side kind. I was wondering if you generally can just open one door or have to open them both? I'm not sure I'd remember which side something was on, and wondered if it's a pain to open and close both doors? I would think the freezer is more functional mounted like this than it is in a 36" side by side.

 
Mimi, I have this one too and love it. we bought the counter-depth one. ...

you do lose a bit of space with the counter depth but since I'm not cooking like I used to, that's been OK. I love the big drawer on the bottom and the veggie bins too. another plus, I'm not finding those "science projects" hidden in the back of the frig like I did with the old one. whew '-))

 
hi Andreain, I have the brushed stainless and it's fairly easy to keep looking good....

the bottom freezer drawer is easy access but it won't take lots and lots of stuff. I have an upright freezer in the garage that is very handy. unfortuantely, I haven't opened it in a year and the now the thought of doing so is a bit un-nerving... '-) as for trays in the frig, that might be a bit tricky.

if you need a lot of freezer space consider getting an upright for the basement or garage. they really aren't expensive and if you freeze ahead and make sauces, like I used to do, they are just the best and you'll never regret it.

hope this helps. have fun picking out your new frig!

 
Thanks, Randi. More questions...

I have a four year old who loves to hang on doors tie strings to things, etc., so it's good to hear that the stainless holds up okay.

I do have a freezer chest my folks gave me, so I'll probably put that to use, although I know myself well enough to fear losing things in the bottom of it, only to find them three years later.

Is the drawer sturdy? I worry that I would break it if I had much in it. Can you keep a casserole in it? Is it just one big drawer or are there baskets?

 
I have a black fridge at the cabin and the previous owners cleaned it with something that took some

of the finish off, so it has some "dull" patches of black where some scrubbing happened. It's a textured vinyl type finish. This can happen to any color, but when the light hits the black, the spots really stand out.

 
hi, it's sturdy. I asked the appliance repair guys about refrigerators before even...

considering looking at any of them. they said the Kenmore Elite is excellent and repairs are usually just cosmetic stuff. I put a link to the one I have so you can see all the specs on it. if you click on photo gallery it gives you the inside view. it's really lovely. if you go to a showroom, bring your casserole dish with you and see how it fits. I only have issues when I'm entertaining, which hasn't been often the last few years. I hope that changes in the next few months.

as for the chest freezer, getting to the stuff on the bottom can be a bear! when you're frig shopping, check out the upright freezers. they aren't expensive at all and might give you what you want and need.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04675196000&tab=spe#tab

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04675196000&tab=spe#tab

 
These refrigerators are classed as French Door (more)

several compnaies,including LG, Kenmore and Whirlpool have the French door models.
The bottom freezer is great; making everything in the refrigerator sectin at eye level 9or at least above the waist).
Some models have a tilt freezer door, making it easier to reach into the freezer baskets.
I keep putting off a new refrigerator ( and every year there are new featrures.)

 
yes, the drawer comes out and then the door tilts (more)

it is easier to reach into the freezer.
My husband has had a stroke and this makes it definitely easier for him to reach.

 
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