love love love the bottom freezers on both of mine. nice and neat, easy access.

Thanks Susan. You love your bottom freezer and DO have two freezers. I'll only have one. This is the kind of feedback I need :)
Monica

I have a bottom freezer (Amana) and I love it. Yes, I do have an extra freezer elsewhere, but I've always had an extra freezer. I think the bottom freezer gives more storage options than a SXS, mostly because it offers a wider space to store things.

Ideally, I'd love to have a french door with the bottom freezer, but, alas, that will have to await the budget.

My parents needed to get the supplemental freezer when they got their SxS which they have hated since day one. It replaced a bottom mount from the 60s during the 80s sometime when bottom mounts were out of production.(Except maybe Amana)--However their SxS is only 33" wide and could not fit a turkey, frozen pizza or even some pies completely flat. So it depends on how wide the SxS is, and how you use it.

I have a bottom freezer that's a pull-out drawer. I don't like it because if the drawers are full, the things on top have to be placed carefully so they don't catch when the drawer gets closed. I wouldn't buy one again like this.

I also have a small chest freezer in the garage, but that was purchased before the fridge.

I have a bottom freezer, and I love it. I also have a large freezer in the basement--but even if I didn't, I'd still like my bottom freezer. It gives me bigger veggie bins, which is why I chose it in the first place.

Cj

We have a bottom freezer Amana that is 12 years old but no additional freezer or frig in the garage. We had a sxs at our previous house and swore we would never have another one because of the problems that Palimpsest has already mentioned. In addition, since we do lots of fruits and veggies, it is much easier to have that at waist height versus on the bottom of the frig.

We are looking for a new frig and are planning for a bottom mount whether it is single door or French will be decided when we purchase it.

We have a bottom freezer (Amana) and will (may) get a bottom-freezer Liebherr. Yes, I have a 16 c.f. upright freezer in the basement. I prefer the bottom-freezer design because of the easier access to vegetables if the refrigerator part is on top. I open the refrigerator door at least ten times more often than the freezer door, and I hate bending.

HTH!

rc

I've always had a second freezer, whether I've had a top or bottom freezer fridge. Since we've moved into the new house, I've gotten along for several months without a second freezer -- my Samsung FD has a sizeable one. However, one of these days we'll supplement it with a separate freezer.

Hi,
Our house had a sxs when we bought it. But, it was a narrow sxs. I hated it.
When our old garage fridge died, I celebrated, put the sxs in the garage, and bought a kitchenaid bottom freezer..... love it! (I didn't intentially kill my garage fridge. Honest.)
Maybe a wide sxs would be ok. But, if you have a relatively narrow or even 'normal' width, I'd never do it.
Our bottom freezer has top and bottom bins. (We chose no outside water-ice because I wanted a cleaner look so we have an internal freezer ice bin. It's still better than the sxs freezer!)
Good luck in your search.

In the condo we are living in during the reno, we just replaced a craptastic KA bottom freezer with a GE FD Bottom freezer and have no other freezer storage. I love the way they look, but I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to storage. I'm constantly playing freezer musical chairs trying to fit things in after trips to Costco, etc. If I had extra freezer storage I would love it.

For the new house we have a 48 Sub SxS on order, I would have preferred 36 Fridge adn 36 freezer but we don't have the space, because I didn't want to play musical frozen food anymore.

Bottom freezer refrigeraters offer roughly the same amount of cubic space as SxS's. What differs is the amount of shelf space. They act more as a chest freezer in practical usage because of the large bin on the bottom, but most do have a pull out tray on top of the bin and some door organization as well.

Whether or not you'll be happy with one will depend on how you shop and what you plan to store in it. It's less forgiving of mostly convenience foods as those small packages tend to quickly overwhelm the pull out shelf and get lost in the larger drawer. A SxS may will provide more shelf space and be easier to organize your smaller items. However, you're also left with the narrower refrigerator side, which isn't as optimal for how most people need to store fresh foods.

If you do a mix of larger frozen items like chickens and family packs of meat with fewer convenience items, then a bottom freezer will suit your lifestyle more. It will also provide the full width of the cavity and more usable refrigerator shelf space than a SxS will.

Since most people are in and out of the fridge portion of a combo unit 80/20 to freezer usage, it makes the most sense to pick the type unit that will suit your refrigerator use style more. This is why French door refrigerators have quickly become market dominators in the over 2K range. For a budget refrigerator, SxS's still dominate.

However, I highly recommend the additional upright freezer elsewhere just to be able to buy in bulk size in this (and the future) economy. It will cost very little to run and take up very little space. One year of buying in bulk for most of your grocery needs will pay for the freezer. Mine is 25 years old and has paid for itself many times over.

I have a bottom freezer (Kenmore, came with the house) and a chest freezer in the basement. I would have bought the chest freezer regardless....I wanted more freezer space than "regular" fridge could offer, and I don't have the layout or space for a large fridge in the kitchen.

I find the "issues" with a bottom freezer to be exactly as live wire oak stated. I can live with those "issues" better than I could live with the issues a normal SxS fridge would have. I do use the fridge to get veggies, milk, etc. way more often that I use the freezer.

I do usually try to figure out every thing I'll want out of the freezer for a particular meal at one time and get it all out, because I find that it's easier to get down once and get everything than rearrange those pull out drawers 4 times in one night.

As I already knew, the majority love their bottom freezer. What I didn't realize is that majority also have a second freezer. That's got to make a difference. And as with most choices, you're accepting some things you don't like to get what you do like. You just have to weigh the options.

Does anyone know that the differences are in the (almost identical) model numbers of the Samsung FDs are? There is a
RFG298AABP
RFG295AABP
RFG297AABP
For Samsung owners, do you find the outside of the fridge to be made of light weight metal and easily dented if you just knock on it like you'd knock on a door?

I know the advantage of a counter depth fridge but what are the disadvantages?

I'd LOVE to have something quiet. Wouldn't it be nice to have refrigerators as quiet as a 45dB (or less) dw? :)

What's the current thoughts on Kenmore? Haven't had a Kenmore appliance in YEARS!

I'm sorry if I'm all over the place with this. I'm in panic mode, needing to do a week's worth of research in one night with a bulging disc that is screaming for me to GET UP OFF THIS CHAIR!) :o
Monica

I LOVE my bottom freezer. I do have a spare fridge/freezer in the garage but I am considering getting rid of it because I just don't use it anymore. I used to use it ALL the time when I had a side by side - nothing big fit in the SxS! No pizza, no lasagna, heck, some frozen dinners were too wide!

IF my bottom freezer had only one compartment, it would drive me nuts. But it has a drawer that pulls out on top, 2 separate bins on bottom, and a pizza compartment.

I've got a Samsung 297 - I think the differences are all in the display on the front and the type of lighting inside. Mine does not have touch screen, but does have LED lights inside. The display is prettier IMO than the model before, but it was not worth the extra for touch screen.

Without a second freezer, I'd have a huge problem on my hands. My bottom freezer is filled to the gills....and my side by side out in the gargage is also completely filled. I could use a 3rd freezer.

I like the bottom freezer cause it's small and I can find everything fairly easily. It's small enough for the meats to be in the bottom and veggies and ice on top. Overflow of each is in the garage.

When our old side by side was in the kitchen, most everything DID fit, but I had to empty most of the freezer out to find anything. It was all buried and packed in. It was a HUGE, HUGE hassle. Meanwhile I didn't use the garage freezer that much cause everything fit in the side by side.

Now I have a small organized freezer in the kitchen and a bigger organized freezer in the garage (cause not so much stuff is packed in). I like it way better this way. My vote is for the bottom freezer with a backup.

really pondered before getting amana stainless bottom freezer
drawer.very happy with it/no 2nd freezer.use freezer grade cling wrap-purchase in canning area of grocery. wrap meat and leftover servings of casseroles and frozen blueberries-in other words avoid "containers" when poss.Omit ice maker and make trays of ice in summer and store them in heavy plastic bag-just pull out bag for a few seconds, grab a few cubes and
put the bag back in.Adapt behaviour and you'll be surprised.

I have a bottom freezer...it's a GE profile. I do like the bottom freezer, but not so much this particular one. The design of the storage isn't all that great. I still like it much better than my old side by side, but wish I had paid a little better attention to the usability of the trays and baskets that the GE is fitted with. And yes....I do have a large freezer in my garage. My hubby hunts and we both garden, so I need a place to store lots of meat and veggies.

Thank you, thank you ALL so much for taking the time to help me with my fridge questions. I so appreciate these forums and why I've stayed here for almost 8 years :)
DH did a complete turn around this morning from what I just KNEW he would do :o We have a Caribbean cruise scheduled for next month. We just bought a new car. When the fridge went out, I said "it's the cruise or a fridge". I just don't want to get into anymore debt. So, being the responsible, sensible hubby that he is, I KNEW he'd choose the fridge...I didn't want to make this call! Got up this morning ready to go shopping and he says "With the economy like it is, I think we better just spend the $400 and fix the fridge" :o What?? The cruise is 2X the cost of a new fridge! What happened to sensible and responsible? Well poop! I guess I'm being hauled off on a Caribbean cruise, roughing it in the Penthouse Suite I really wanted to get rid of the last of the bisque appliances tho. Everything is black except for the fridge. But your replies are still of value to me. Sooner or later I'll be getting a new fridge :)
Thanks again!
Monica

Faced with similar problem. All set to get FD CD until I started to really think about that bottom freezer space. Decided it's not very big so looked at s x s models. 40 yrs. ago ref. was top freezer and hated having to rummage around for things. Isn't that the same principle with bottom freezer only positions reversed?? Researched Electrolux both s x s and FD Specs on all- 23 cubic ft. model the 2 FD models have 15.7 cu. ft. in ref. section and 6.9 in freezer section. S x s models both have 14.01 in ref. and 8.52 in freezer. If you have more to store in ref. section than freezer FD may work for you. In our case, not wanting to buy a separate freezer for downstairs, we looked at our lifestyle. Just the 2 of us, in our 60s, retired so shop several times week instead of once. No huge frozen pizza boxes for us-we make our own-or 25 lbs. turkeys except maybe at Thanksgiving for family get together. Even though I still maintain that the FD LOOKS the best the s x s will WORK the best for US. I know there's a lot of debate on FD versus s x s but in the end we will buy what is the best function for us.
Monica-forget about your ref. woes and enjoy that cruise!! The Caribbean is the place to be especially this time of year and especially if you live where there's snow!!
We also are taking a break from our kitchen redo and going to Turks and Caicos so DH can scuba and I can lay on the beach. LOL-we'll return to upstate NY with renewed determination to finish this kitchen!!

I HATE my sidexside. The food is hard to locate, I have to take everything out to find what is in the back. Plus everything falls out when you open the door. The freezer is small. Maybe it depends on how many Cubic feet your sidexside is.

I have a new Samsung FD w/freezer on the bottom. Really like it over the side by side I had previously. What I like best is not being assaulted by my frozen food falling out of the freezer side. Sure, there are issues w/packing it all in the drawer and yes, we do have a traditional fridge/freezer (freezer on top) in our laundry room for overflow.

I really can't tell if it actually holds more than the side freezer in our old KA, but it holds at least the same amount.

Nothing's perfect but not having to deal with falling food each time I open the freezer is a huge improvement!

Hey Monica!

And our DHs call us unpredictable! LOL! What I found looking at the Samsung 26cf size is the freezer space has slightly different arrangements and that is what I am supposing is the case for the size you are looking at. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't always show that in photos, so I do recommend looking at the models even now ;;), so that you will be ready next time your current frig goes out.

Our Samsung is model #RFG299AARS -- we were told it's 29cf space in the same outside dimensions as the 26 cf, because of different/new insulation. We carved out some space in the adjoining pantry and "sunk" it so it appears to be counter depth.

Have FUN on your cruise . . . hoist a mai tai to all of us back here freezing our "ahems" off. Even us in middle Tennessee . . .

I store a lot of things in the freezer and use mine fairly often. Even though I know they are popular, I never loved the idea of a bottom freezer . For me the best of all worlds was to do a larger (48") side by side and keep my old top freezer as a spare. The freezer section of my side by side is big enough for almost everything, including full sized pizza boxes, a huge turkey (though I don't use frozen) etc. The only thing that wouldn't fit is a sheet cake, but then I'd still have the second fridge for that.

Like I said earlier, I knew bottom freezers were #1 to most people. What I didn't realize is that 90+% of those people have a backup freezer. I'm glad my daughter suggested I ask. And I totally agree that the FDs look better (maybe because it's a newer style). Here comes the "but". But, I truly don't have a problem with my sxs. Stuff doesn't fall out of the freezer, I don't have to dig for things anymore than one would with a top freezer and I'm assuming the same with a bottom freezer, especially if it's your only freezer. My sxs is 25 cubic feet. Maybe that's a little larger than average?? I was a bit relieved to read that I wasn't the only one that didn't have a problem with the sxs. Not that I won't get a FD when the time comes. I don't know. But, oddly enough, thanks to this thread I feel better about keeping a sxs as an option :) But for now...the fridge is fixed and I'm going to concentrate on important things like CRUISEWEAR, the beautiful aqua colored seas of the Caribbean and gazing at a full moon on my private balcony (sigh). Good choice husband! Sometimes he knows what I need more than I know what I need.
Monica

I had a bottom freezer before the last remodel and then got a sxs. Its now about 4 years old and we are losing it in this remodel.

Why? Its too big for two people and the through-the-door dispensers are starting to be a pita. Other than that, I have really liked it.

Why did we dump the bottom freezer? Partly because you have less ref room and more freezer space and its practically inaccessible. The little trays and what not use up all the height so you kinda have one shelf for tall items and one shelf for shorter stuff. I never felt organized, just crowded.

I don't understand the french door thing. Why have to open two doors? It has an application in kitchens with small aisles, I guess, but I dunno - I'd rather have the aisle spaced correctly. The ones with the big trays across the bottom are the worst to me.

"I don't understand the french door thing. Why have to open two doors? It has an application in kitchens with small aisles, I guess, but I dunno - I'd rather have the aisle spaced correctly. The ones with the big trays across the bottom are the worst to me."

LOL - side by side fridges are basically French Door fridges - it's just the freezer is one side and the fridge is another - get an old school fridge with the freezer on top or bottom with one door the entire width of the fridge and I don't care how big your kitchen is, you will be desiring side by side or french door for the half-width doors. Also, if you prefer a side by side, why would you have to open both doors on a french door fridge? Your already used to accessing the fridge through a narrow door anyway :o)

The side by side fridge I have came with my house - otherwise I would never own one. You can't put in odd-ball sized stuff, and normal stuff doesn't even fit well. It has allot less drawer space than the Samsung freezer on the bottom I had in my town house, and my Samsung was the smaller 18 cubic foot and my side by side is 25.5!

To me, a side by side is like a 1500 square foot two story house vs. a 1500 square foot ranch. Theoretically they are the same square footage, but in the two story you loose space to stairs and hallways - not nearly as much actual usual space.

I too have an extra chest freezer, but as others stated I would have one anyway. I have a foodsaver and I'm not afraid to use it. I buy things in bulk, on sale, and freeze them routinely. I wish I could find a fridge with a single height freezer drawer for quick access to the stuff I use regularly and the rest dedicated to fridge space. That would be ideal. Indeed, if I ever remodel my kitchen I'm seriously considering putting a fridge only in where my side by side is and a single freezer drawer (if they make such a thing? Surely someone does) in my island. I'd gladly sacrifice a little cabinet space for some more fridge space.

I guess if you don't cook at home often, or eat that many fresh fruits or vegetables it's less important, but I never seem to have enough fridge space.