Best rated french door refrigerator with bottom freezer

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A bottom freezer refrigerator ranks as one of the most popular types right now. In terms of design and function, it's a step up from old-fashioned, less convenient refrigerators with the freezer on top. It's exactly what it sounds like: a single unit with a full width, single door fridge compartment up top, and one or two freezer drawers or a freezer door below. We like that this type of fridge looks modern, gives you tons of room to stay organized, and can easily fit full size baking sheets and extra-large pizza boxes. But is a bottom freezer fridge the right type for you?

Beyond keeping your food cold, you want the best refrigerator that makes it easy to snack, cook, and keep tabs on your groceries. The ideal fridge has storage that puts the drinks and produce you grab throughout the day front and center. Ideally, that compartment’s well lit, with convenient shelves and drawers. For longer term storage, you also want a freezer compartment that’s easy to access, not too big or too small, and not too hard to keep organized. Your best option might be a bottom freezer refrigerator.

But it's hard to be sure, since there are literally thousands of fridge options out there. You may know what has annoyed you about the ones you’ve used in the past, but it’s hard to judge what you might like and what’s unnecessary at a glance, even when you see a refrigerator in person in a showroom. And because we all shop and cook differently, the fridge your friend just bought and loves might not be the right one for you.

So we're going to walk you through the know the pros and cons of bottom freezer refrigerators. We’ll detail all its advantages and potential downsides, to help you decide if it’s the right type for you. We’ll also tell you who makes the best ones on the market.

Reasons to Love a Bottom Freezer Fridge

It's convenient. People generally find a bottom freezer fridge's layout to be the most user friendly. All your food's at eye level, and you don't have to stoop down to grab fresh items. The only downside? You pay for that convenience. These fridges typically cost more than other types.

It lets you take full advantage of your fridge’s width. A bottom freezer gives you full width refrigerator shelves. You’ll love a bottom freezer fridge if you do big grocery shops and lots of cooking, like a week’s worth of meal prep. It’s also for you if you want to be able to chill full-size baking sheets or catering trays in there.

It holds meat, produce, and leftovers at eye level. With your freezer on the bottom, all of your ready to eat or quick to expire food is front and center. Chances are you’ll make better use of it and waste less.

It has more fridge space than freezer space. These fridges have a freezer drawer, which admittedly isn’t the easiest thing to keep organized. Fridge makers have rolled out fixes for this, like an additional shelf or tray for basic organization. You won’t mind this if you’re okay with a messy freezer or don’t keep too much in there anyway.

It's a stylish fridge. Bottom freezer refrigerators look modern and current. These aren’t like the refrigerator your grandmother had, or the one in your first apartment.

Reasons You Might Not Love a Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

It's relatively expensive. As we mentioned earlier, bottom freezer fridges tend to be more expensive than other types. They may not be the best for you if you’re looking for the most affordable option or if you're trying to save on a fridge so you can splurge on other parts of your kitchen.

It uses more energy. In addition to costing more upfront, bottom freezer refrigerators use more electricity than top freezer refrigerators. In addition to a higher sticker price, expect slightly higher energy bills.

It's not for freezer buffs. If you open your freezer as often as your fridge, you’re going to be stooping down all the time to reach into this freezer. That might be annoying or uncomfortable for you. You also might want more shelving and storage options. Meanwhile, consider getting an extra chest freezer in your garage or basement if you need massive freezer storage.

The Other Refrigerator Types

To pick the right fridge, you need to be aware of all the types out there. After all, you don’t want to buy one only to find out that there was a better option available. Several bottom freezer refrigerators made it onto our best refrigerator list, but still, it's just one of many different types. You'll also see these:

French Door
French door refrigerators also have a bottom freezer. However, they have two doors up top on the fridge compartment. Many people like the look of French doors—they’re pretty and modern, and give you two separate sets of door bins to organize. Just be aware that French doors take up a lot of room in your kitchen compared with a single door bottom freezer refrigerator. In general, bottom freezer refrigerators with a single top door are better space savers.

Side by Side
Instead of a bottom or top freezer, side by side refrigerators are just that: freezer on one full side, fridge on the other. The door on the left is usually for the freezer; it may have an ice maker or water dispenser on the interior or the exterior. The right compartment is usually the fridge. Both the fridge and freezer compartments are narrower on these fridges than in a French door or single door bottom freezer refrigerator. You can find options with a larger fridge compartment and a narrower freezer if that works better for you.

Top Freezer
This is the OG fridge your grandmother had. It’s what you picture when you hear the word refrigerator: a smaller but full width freezer compartment on top with a single door, and a larger, full width fridge compartment on the bottom with a single door. Compared with all the other options today, these tend to look a little dated, but they’re an affordable entry-level option, and they can be really energy efficient. On the other end of the spectrum, premium retro-look brands like Smeg and Big Chill have brought this look back into style in bold colors.

How to Shop for a Fridge (Without Mistakes)

We recommend taking these steps to avoid making a costly and inconvenient mistake.

1. Confirm the Dimensions

One big reason people favor bottom freezer fridges is that they’re space savers. As we mentioned, a single door requires less clearance than a French door. Before you buy, make sure your potential new fridge fits your space. Modifying your cabinets is expensive and requires a pro carpenter.

2. Know the Fit (Counter Depth, Full Depth, Built-in)

Refrigerators fit into your cabinets three ways: Built in, counter depth, or full depth.

Built in refrigerators, the most expensive, sit flush with the rest of your kitchen, and can even disappear behind cabinet panels.

Counter depth fridges give you a close to flush look at a lower price point. Full depth fridges stick out the most, but give you more storage space than counter depth ones do. For more details, check out our article on the differences between a counter depth vs standard refrigerator. As we mentioned above, a built in refrigerator fits seamlessly into your kitchen. The style you choose depends on your budget and your design. If you're replacing an existing fridge, be sure to triple check the depth.

3. Check the Hinges

Which direction do you want the fridge door to open? Double check that the door hinge is on the proper side before you bring it home. Few things are worse than installing a new fridge only to find that the door opens in an inconvenient way. If this is tricky for you to envision or you want to be double sure, ask where the handle is. If the handle is on the right of the door, the hinge will be on the left, and vice versa.

The Things That Make a Fridge a Good Fridge

There are three key aspects to consider when deciding whether or not any refrigerator is a worthy investment. For a more in-depth look, read our full article on identifying a good refrigerator. For now, here’s a quick rundown:

Quality
No matter what type of fridge you decide to purchase for your home, you want to make sure that you're investing in a high-quality and durable fridge that is going to last. This includes the smaller elements, such as the ice maker. The best way to decide whether or not a refrigerator is a generally good fridge is to read online reviews from real customers. That helps ensure you’re getting your money’s worth and investing in a fridge that's going to last for many years.

Technology
The tech features dictate your fridge's functionality and how you'll use it. These advancements can help better preserve your food and might include features such as:

• Temperature management
• Humidity management
• Air flow and air filtration
  You'll also find Wi-Fi connectivity on some models.

Convenience
This is where a bottom freezer reigns supreme, thanks to its layout, but there are other features that make fridges user friendly. Common ones include ice makers, water dispensers, and shelves that are designed to be easy to clean and contain spills. However, some refrigerators also have doors or drawers with temperatures you can adjust to keep specific types of groceries, such as meat or produce, at just the right temperature.

These fridges from LG, Whirlpool, GE, Sub Zero, and Bosch are our current favorites. We're looking forward to seeing what manufacturers release in the next year, including a great new option from residential True refrigerator.

1. Best Overall: LG LRDCS2603S

LG LRDCS2603S

33-inch 25.5 cu. ft. Full-Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
LG innovation. The Korean tech company impresses us with its focus on solving customer pain points. For instance, its fridges have a unique cooling system helps keep the temperature consistent in the areas that warm up most quickly when you open the door. That's good for your groceries and your energy bill. The freezer on this LG refrigerator is also the largest bottom freezer in LG's whole lineup, at 8.3 cu. ft.

Key Features

• EnergyStar Most Efficient qualified
• LED recessed lighting
• DoorCooling+ for even temperature
• Multi-AirFlow sensors monitor and adjust temperature and humidity
• Adjustable tempered glass shelves with spill-resistant tops
• Three fridge drawers for easy organization, including two humidity controlled crispers
• Included icemaker
• Fingerprint resistant stainless steel or black stainless steel finish
• Reversible door
• Hidden hinges

2. Most Reliable: Whirlpool WRB322DMBM

Whirlpool WRB322DMBM

32 3/4-inch 21.9 cu. ft. Full-Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
The thing we like best thing about Whirlpool refrigerator is its extensive nationwide service network. Its fridges are made in the U.S.A., and you can get reliable service in any part of the country, even if you live somewhere pretty remote. This particular Whirlpool bottom freezer refrigerator also has smart features to help maintain an even temperature and reduce energy usage.

Key Features

• EnergyStar qualified
• LED interior lights
• FreshFlow filter in crisper to help produce last up to 4 days longer
• Accu-Chill sensor temperature management
• 2 humidity controlled crispers
• Deli drawer
• Included icemaker
• Sturdy wire freezer drawer
• Reversible door
• Visible hinges

3. Best on a Budget: GE GDE21ESKSS

GE GBE21DSKSS

30-inch 20.9 cu. ft. Full-Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
This GE refrigerator may be a little smaller than its peers, but it has plenty of space and rings up for nearly $500 less. Open the door and you'll immediately see something unique: a handy snack drawer that slides across the center rack, so you can move it around to fit tall things like drink bottles on the shelf below. It also has two crisper drawers, and a technology called Turbo Cool to help maintain an even temperature in spite of frequent door openings throughout. This GE fridge has an advanced water filter for higher quality ice too.

Key Features

• EnergyStar qualified
• LED interior lights
• Turbo Cool to maintain even temperature
• Adjustable glass shelves
• Unique moveable snack drawer
• Icemaker optional
• 1 plastic freezer drawer, 1 plastic freezer shelf
• Regular stainless steel, black, or white finish
• Reversible door
• Sabbath mode

If you’re looking for a wider GE fridge with these features, the GE GDE25ESKSS is identical but is three inches wider at 33 inches.

4. Best Counter Depth: GE GLE12HSPSS

GE GLE12HSPSS

24-inch 11.9 cu. ft. Counter-Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
At 24 inches wide, this GE fridge is designed to help you make the most of a limited amount of space while fitting seamlessly into your kitchen. We like its adjustable, sliding glass shelves and unique bottle storage rack that can fold up when you’re not using it. There’s a snack drawer plus a crisper that lets you select the right temperature for meats, cheeses, and drinks. Just note that it doesn’t come with an ice maker, although you can install one if you’d like to.

Key Features

• Energy Star qualified
• LED interior lighting
• QuickSpace adjustable sliding glass shelf
• Snack drawer
• Temp Zone Select temperature controlled crisper drawer
• Two plastic freezer drawers and one removable tray
• Icemaker ready; does NOT come with an ice maker
• Reversible door
• Sabbath mode

5. Sleekest Finish: LG LBNC15231V

LG LBNC15231V

28-inch 14.7 cu. ft. Full Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
Where most of its competitors have a freezer drawer, this model has a drawer that opens just like its refrigerator compartment. That gives you more space in the freezer: three drawers to organize. Up top, it has Door Cooling+ technology to keep the temperature consistent no matter how often you peek inside and and Multi-Air Flow sensors to automatically adjust the temperature and humidity to keep your food fresh. Pocket-style handles on the fridge and freezer keep the whole front smooth and seamless.

Key Features

• EnergyStar qualified
• LED interior lighting
• DoorCooling+ for even temperature
• Multi-AirFlow sensors monitor and adjust temperature and humidity
• Adjustable tempered glass spill resistant shelves, one of which folds
• 2 humidity controlled crispers
• Icemaker with 12 lb. capacity
• Freezer door instead of drawer
• Plastic freezer shelves with clear front
• Fingerprint resistant stainless steel finish
• Reversible doors

Watch our exclusive video review of Sub Zero fridges

6. Best Built In: Sub-Zero BI-36U/S/TH-RH

Sub-Zero BI-36U/S/TH-RH

36-inch 21.1 cu. ft. Built In Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
If you’re looking for fridge with a luxurious appearance that’ll help you make the most of your space, this Sub Zero refrigerator gives you all that and more. It calls this model its classic over-and-under refrigerator. The sleek stainless steel door with pro-style tubular handles immediately looks high end. If you’d rather hide your fridge behind cabinets, a panel-ready version is also available. Inside, you get air purification, water filtration, and food preservation technologies that Sub-Zero is famous for, plus the magnetic seal to keep in all that cold air. A microprocessor learns your habits and adjusts the temperature and humidity settings accordingly, so that the temperature varies by less than 1 degree at any time. The integrated ice maker lets you make extra easily when you need it for entertaining. It's also the only bottom freezer refrigerator on our list with Wi-Fi.

Key Features

• EnergyStar qualified
• Wi-Fi enabled
• LED interior lights
• Dual compressor refrigeration
• 2 sealed crisper drawers for low temperature, high humidity storage
• Air purification
• Water filter
• Ice maker with ice boost option to make 30 percent more for entertaining
• Sabbath mode
• Hinges/door CAN'T be reversed
• Wi-Fi enabled

7. Best for Apartments: Bosch B11CB50SSS

Bosch B11CB50SSS

24-inch 11 cu. ft. Counter Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

Why We Like It
Bosch refrigerators are top performers, just like the German company's dishwashers. A few years ago, Bosch started manufacturing its refrigerators in house, and we've seen the upswing in quality that we expected to see. These are reliable appliances that regularly gets praised by reviewers for their excellent temperature control and quiet operation. This one has a dual evaporator and multi-airflow to keep your food fresh. In the freezer, three layered drawers help you stay organized. For even more details, check out our review of the full Bosch refrigerator lineup.

Key Features

• EnergyStar qualified
• LED interior lighting
• Door open alarm
• Glass shelves with metal trim
• Clever metal wine rack
• 2 fridge drawers
• Three-tier layered freezer drawers
• Available with or without ice maker
• Automatic Super Freeze function to chill freezer food fast and save energy
• Fingerprint resistant stainless steel finish

Conclusion

When shopping for the best fridge for you, it’s important to research all of the choices available. That way, you can plan ahead and prevent mistakes, like not having enough space or buying a fridge with hinges on the wrong side.

Bottom freezer refrigerators look modern, have family friendly organization features, and help you make smart use of your space. You can find them at every price point, from high end to affordable. The only potential downside is that your freezer space and organization possibilities may be limited. Other than that, a fridge with a freezer door or drawer on the bottom and a single door up top can improve the way you store food and operate your kitchen. You'll spend less time reorganizing your fridge and finding ingredients you know you bought and more time on the things that matter.

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