5 Best French Door Refrigerators in 2019 [REVIEW]
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A French door refrigerator is the centerpiece of your kitchen. It is the most popular style sold in the US. French door refrigerators now come in even more sizes, styles, and colors, which makes them integrate easily into all kitchen types.
Most people are overwhelmed by the selection process since there are over 200 models to choose from. Selection becomes even more cumbersome as most consumer reporting sites contain outdated model numbers that are no longer available for purchase. The guide below is up-to-date with the latest model numbers.
To help you shop based on your needs concerning style, budget, and performance, we categorized French Door refrigerators in four classes: Entry-Level, Mid-Level, Premium, and Luxury.
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Why are French door fridges popular?
The reason for the popularity of French door design stems from the following reasons:
- No need to bend down to reach everyday items from your fridge
- Save energy since you don't need to open the entire refrigerator to get an item (lately, manufacturers further innovated on this innate feature by adding door-in-door options for high-velocity items)
- Design flexibility even in compact spaces where you don't have room to swing a massive door (think about in front of an island, towards a wall, etc.).
- Impressive styling - different color finishes, singe or double freezer drawer options, 4-door models with flexible use freezer drawers that turn into a refrigerato- for additional space.
- Integrated smart connectivity features. You will now have a host of modern features from cameras that help you manage your grocery list to iPad like interfaces to family communications.
1) Best Overall: Bosch B36CT80SNS
36-inch 21.0 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator
Why we like it
Guaranteed German quality. The long-awaited fridge product line made directly by Bosch factories. Focus on food preservation under ideal conditions rather than popular gimmicks such as cameras and touch screens that do not help with the main task.
Key Features
- Two compressors and evaporators for precise cooling.
- Home Connect wifi to remotely control and monitor.
- Discreet interior water dispenser.
- Great interior design maximizes storage.
After years of preparation, Bosch released this refrigerator in 2019. It is the only dual-compressor product in the market, with half the price of its luxury up-market competitors.
This was probably the only time we were excited about a refrigerator product release in many years.
- More information: You can find our in-depth coverage on Bosch refrigerator lineup in our earlier review article.
2) Best 4-Door Counter Depth: Samsung Refrigerator RF22K9381SR
36-inch 22.0 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator
Why we like it
Modern 4 door design without handles. It will fit in any kitchen design. The convertible fridge/freezer compartment is unique.
Key Features
- Sleek, 4-door handle-less design
- Convertible fridge, freezer compartments for maximum flexibility
- Counter-depth design frees up kitchen
- Door-in-door food showcase gives quick access to frequently used items
- Convenient, flexible shelves and drawers
When on sale, you can find this top-rated refrigerator for just under $3,000. Samsung utilizes a unique 4-door design that is extremely useful. While the top two doors are reserved for the main refrigerator compartment, the bottom two are convertible and can be independently set as either a refrigerator or freezer. This is a great way to pick up additional refrigeration space if you dont fully use your freezer.
This refrigerator is counter-depth, so it wont stick out into your kitchen like standard depth models, freeing up valuable kitchen space. Its sleek handleless design saves additional overall depth.
Other notable features include Samsungs "food showcase" door, which gives you access to frequently used items like milk and condiments without having to open the main refrigerator door. You also get convenient, flexible shelves (that fold or move) and drawers that make organizing your food a breeze. Samsung also makes this model in a standard depth size RF28K9380SR if you are looking to pick up additional storage space.
And for tech-savvy families, check out this same model with Samsungs Family Hub RF22N9781SR. Youll lose the food showcase feature we mentioned before. However, youll pick up the latest in smart home technology. Its full 21.5-inch exterior touchscreen, and hands free voice assistant give you access to tons of integrated features like the ability to sync calendars, share photos, stream music, mirror your Samsung devices directly onto the screen, and remotely check if you have milk and eggs in the fridge thanks to its three built-in cameras.
- More Information: We covered the Samsung refrigerator lineup in our earlier review article.
3) Best Budget-Friendly: GE Refrigerator GFE26JSMSS
36-inch 25.6 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
Why We Like It
Great price and features while boosting the largest capacity of any similarly priced refrigerator.
Key Features
- Large 26 cu. ft. capacity
- Unique in-door ice maker frees up the door for storage
- Adjustable spill-proof shelving
- Large deli drawer
- Humidity controlled drawers for optimal storage of fresh produce
At under $1,500 when on sale, this GE refrigerator boasts the largest capacity of any refrigerator closely priced, with about 26 cu. ft. of capacity.
GE has uniquely built their ice maker into the refrigerator door, so you wont lose valuable interior door storage like with most models with an external ice and water dispenser. This model also has adjustable shelves spill-proof shelves, a large deli drawer, and humidity controlled drawers for optimally storing fresh produce.
4) Best for Maximum Capacity: LG GFE26JSMSS
36-inch 29.7 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
New for 2019, this model from LG falls in the $3,000 price range and offers a category-leading 30 cu. ft. of storage space. That is a massive amount of space and should give you plenty of room for all of your groceries. The one caveat to watch out for is the overall depth of the refrigerator. The depth of this unit, including handles, is 36 5/8 which means it will stick out into your kitchen by a little over a foot past your cabinets. If you have a large kitchen, probably not an issue, but if you have a tight walking pathway, youll need to be mindful of this.
Besides sheer storage capacity, this unit boasts a ton of great features. For 2019, LG is now offering all of these stainless steel models with a fingerprint-proof coating, which will help keep it looking new. Similar to our top pick Samsung, LG also features a door-in-door design that gives you quick access to frequently used items. LGs unique dual ice maker is great if you entertain a lot. In addition to the ice maker built into the refrigerator door, LG also has an ice maker drawer in the freezer great when you need a large quantity of ice. The water dispenser is also unique in includes LGs measure fill feature, which precisely dispenses water in increments from 2 ounces to 32 ounces to perfectly fill your water vessel. And finally, this fridge is WiFi connected, so youll be able to get smartphone alerts if one of your kids left the refrigerator door open, or be able to remotely tell your fridge to start making more ice if you are having a party. Its also Alexa, and Google-Assistant enabled.
5) Best Luxury: Sub Zero BI36UFDSTH
36-inch 19.0 cu. ft. Built-In French Door Refrigerator
Why We Like It
The only refrigerator that is built to last for 20 years or more. Proven track record of superior customer service.
Key Features
- Built-in luxurious look with 84-inch height
- Design flexibility with panel ready or stainless steel door panel. You can even customize the top louvered panel. Install flush to cabinets or stand slightly proud.
- Interior Illumination with LED lights
- Crispers and deli drawers are located near the evaporator to maintain temperatures a few degrees cooler than the rest of the fridge. Drawers are sealed to capture humidity and provide freshness.
SubZero is unmatched when it comes to food preservation technology. Your groceries will last longer thanks to its microprocessor-controlled air quality system, true dual compressor system, and patented vacuum-sealed doors. This built-in refrigerator is designed to prevent the odor and flavor transfer between the fridge and the freezer.
The BI36UFDSTH stands 84 inches tall and has a built-in look that you can easily customize with cabinet wood panels, stainless steel, and louvered top.
Sub Zero refrigerators are known to have a 20-year life span and instantly increase the resale value of your home. Available French door fridge sizes include 36-inches or the unique 42-inches, which is becoming very popular.
- More Information: We wrote extensively about Sub Zero refrigerators in our earlier post.
Conclusion
The aim of this article was to give you a starting point when it comes to selecting the best French door refrigerator for your home. Models we included cover different styles and budgets. Please refer to our buying guides and reviews on specific brands and models for more information.
A final word of caution. Make sure to measure your space and compare it against the dimensions of your new fridge. This way you will eliminate a heap of problems on the day of delivery.