How to Find the Best French Fridge Freezer
If you're looking to add panache to your kitchen or are a sucker for fresh ingredients, the French door refrigerator can kick your culinary game up an notch. Consider your space, your preferences and your priorities to find the right one.
Standout features include a door-mounted dispenser that delivers filtered water and ice at the push of a button, TwinChill evaporators that create customized climate zones, and a temperature-controlled drawer that doubles as additional fridge space.
ENERGY STAR (r)
A fridge that is Energy Star-certified can help cut down on utility bills and minimizes the environmental impact. This rating is a good indication of a refrigerator that has an insulation that is ENERGY STAR certified. This will prevent the leakage of cold air, which allows for the fridge's food to last longer and fresher.
The best French refrigerator freezers also have adjustable shelves and temperature-controlled drawers that let you customize the storage space. These options allow you to store items that need different temperatures, like meats and vegetables. You can also find refrigerators that offer built-in water dispensers, and drawers to store deli meats and cheeses.
You can easily access frequently used items in refrigerators with doors that are inside the door without needing to open the whole fridge. This feature reduces loss of cold air and keeps your food at a more stable temperature and lets you use less energy. Another handy feature is the ability to alter the temperature of the interior at the press of a button so you can quickly get snacks or drinks out of the freezer.
The experts at Good Housekeeping reviewed 12 of the most popular refrigerators for their performance and utility, including a variety of French-door models. They looked at capacity, layout energy efficiency, features and design to make sure they were of high-quality and worth the money.
When you're shopping for a new refrigerator choose one that is suited to your kitchen and lifestyle. It's crucial to measure the width and height of your space prior to making a buy, says Jessica Petrino Ball, who runs the education program for appliance retailer AJ Madison. This will ensure that the refrigerator fits in your space as well as through your doors and hallways.
If you're looking for a sleek and stylish refrigerator that can elevate your kitchen, the GE Cafe French Door Bottom Freezer Fridge is a great option. This counter-depth refrigerator comes with a gorgeous stainless steel finish and customizable bar handles that match the cabinets. Its dual cooling system allows it to be more flexible and manage temperature better than most freestanding refrigerators. The fridge circulates cold air between the freezer and fridge with two cooling elements. This prevents transfer of odors, and also keeps your food at the right temperature.
Sleek Design
A French-door refrigerator is more sleek design than other refrigerators, and it's often built into kitchen cabinets for an elegant look. Certain models come with an exterior made of stainless steel which is clean to reduce fingerprint marks. french door fridge freezers feature doors-in-door options for water and ice that reduces the loss of cold air to ensure energy savings and superior temperature control.
These fridges are more expensive however, their sleek design and convenience make them worth the price. The GE PVD28BYNFS comes with a spacious interior with an open deli compartment that is perfect for storing cured food and a PureAir Ultra II air filter that eliminates smells. This is particularly beneficial for those who have sensitive allergies. The refrigerator features an electronic display for precise temperature control, as well as the door-in-door design to cut down on energy usage. This will help you save money.
Another option that blends the best of both worlds is the Bosch counter depth French door refrigerator. It is designed to sit perfectly against counters to give a sleek and built-in style. It comes in a matte finish that doesn't let fingerprints or smudges show. The fridge has a large capacity to store all your food items and also has room for tall bottles of drinks in the freezer section. This model does not have a through-the-door dispenser, but it does come with an internal filtered water dispenser for easy access and TwinChill Evaporators to create custom climate zones.
If you're looking to buy a luxury refrigerator that's also an attractive addition to your home, check out the Cafe models made by GE Appliances. The refrigerators are equipped with a range of handle finishes that can be customized to suit your kitchen's style or personal preferences. These fridges also performed well in our laboratory tests and come with the storage features you require to keep your groceries clean and well-organized.
This LG model isn't as costly as the other more expensive options however, it offers plenty of storage space and is beautiful on the outside. The interior is spacious and has adjustable shelves and bins to make it possible to create a variety of configurations. The freezer is equipped with a full-width deli drawer as well as plenty of storage for items that are needed for a short time, while the shelves on the doors can accommodate large items such as wine bottles.
Convenient Organization
A refrigerator that is well-organized can help you store and retrieve food and beverages more efficiently, which can reduce waste and improve the functionality of your kitchen. By constantly reviewing and tweaking the organization of your refrigerator you can maximize the space and create a more efficient and user-friendly space.
With their convenient door-in-door design and temperature-controlled drawers, French door fridge freezers are ideal for storing a variety of foods and ingredients. To maximize the use of your fridge, you should categorize items into zones to make them easy to access and to prevent food from being lost or forgotten. For instance, you can reserve upper shelves for drinks and ready-to-eat food items like milk, deli meats, and leftovers. Lower shelves are great for raw ingredients that need to be cooked, like meats or poultry. These should be stored in the coldest area to prevent cross contamination. Crisper drawers can be used to store fruits and vegetables. They come with adjustable humidity settings that accommodate different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Door bins and adjustable shelving are also useful for storing extra food or beverage containers. Utilize dividers to keep different types of ingredients in the same space and label each bin or bin with a name for easy identification. This will make it easier to locate your favorite recipe or drink when you're out, and reduce the need to go to the store.
While a well-organized refrigerator looks fantastic and enhances the functionality of your kitchen but it also increases the life of your food. Regularly assessing and adjusting your refrigerator's organizational strategy can help to ensure that you are using the most appropriate temperature settings, avoid overfreezing or defrosting foods and prevent contamination from other items that might be in the freezer. Think about a refrigerator with an integrated water dispenser and an ice maker to make life easier. This means that there is no necessity of a separate ice machine. This will help eliminate a messy jug of filtered water sitting on the counter, and the need to refill it after it's empty. These features also help to reduce energy use by making use of less water and ice when filling up your glass.
Flexibility
French-door refrigerators are designed with a an elegant style that enhances kitchens and boosts resale value. They are also stocked with innovative technology and features which make them ideal for all households. In the Good Housekeeping Institute's latest refrigerator tests these top-rated models scored highly for temperature control and uniformity fresh food preservation, as well as the ease of use.
If you love the look of the traditional French refrigerator, think about this pro-quality model from Viking that offers plenty of storage space in an ultra-compact design that fits perfectly into small spaces. The door-in-door feature allows you to grab drinks and snacks at a single push and the adjustable shelves are ideal for accommodating various types of food. The crisper drawers of this refrigerator have a humidity control system to keep food fresher for longer.
The GE Cafe line of refrigerators is an absolute standout due to its extra-elegant design and a variety of customizable options. In this model, you can pick a matte white or black exterior, and then alter the color of the handles to match the cabinet hardware. The doors are quieter with a soft-close mechanism. You can change the handles with brushed bronze, black, copper or stainless steel to match the style of your kitchen. This counter-depth refrigerator is Wi-Fi-connected which allows you to control a variety of functions via your smartphone app.
Another GE option, the four-door Cafe CVE28DP4NW2 has an innovative temperature-controlled drawer in between the fridge and freezer for items that need to be kept at a specific temperature (like kids' snacks and wine). The EvenTemp cooling system reduces the risk of burning in the freezer by ensuring a constant circulation of cool air. Its PureAir Ultra II odor filters eliminate unpleasant smells.
This LG refrigerator is not only stylish and modern, but also versatile, featuring a number of innovative features. The LED lighting is installed throughout the interior and the shelves can be moved around to accommodate different types of foods. The shelves' edges are designed to prevent spills and drips, which reduces the mess. The refrigerator is certified by ENERGY S STAR, which means you can save money on electricity, and is more sustainable for the environment.