Replacing a GIANT fridge/freezer setup with a normal sized one?
vampirekatebush
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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Bottom Freezers...Do You Have a 2nd Fridge or Freezer?
Comments (28)"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....See MoreFull Fridge (no freezer)?
Comments (19)mikomum - when the Frigidaire ones first came out, the reviews weren't very good. People had problems with them not maintaining temperatures, being noisy, and with the units getting quite warm (I think that was mainly with the freezer). They also weren't energy star rated. The newer ones have much more positive reviews, and they are energy star rated. As I said, we have had ours running in our garage, and as we live in Montana, we have pretty extreme temperature variations. Even in summer, the food stays frozen/cold, and in the winter, our fridge stuff doesn't get frozen. We've already really put ours through the paces and have been pleased with the performance. With the trim kits (you can trim them out side-by-side with the duo trim kit, or individually, like we're doing), they give a nice built-in look for much less money than other options. My only major complaint about them is that the interiors are pretty basic. My current side-by-side has lots of nice customization options for the shelving and bins, but the twins are nothing fancy inside. Rhome410 has the Electrolux Icon all-fridge (two of them) and all-freezer, and they are much nicer looking, inside and out, while still being less expensive than the other options out there. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, they're definitely worth a look....See MoreBest fridge/freezer combo for large family?
Comments (5)It seems difficult to really get a good feel for how we do things. In this temp home I have maybe 5' of actual counter space. That has a small microwave, blender (used a few times a day) and another spot where I usually have my electric skillet. The small bit of counter left is where I chop veggies. LOL Before we moved here I would do more things up ahead and freeze. I still do that with ground beef but nothing else really right now. What I see as our possible uses: 1. Freeze ahead: -gluten free/egg free baked goods for my youngest child -gluten free baked goods for the other four kids -make ahead treats/snacks for myself I do these some already but not in the quanities I would prefer. -browned ground beef -grilled chicken -raw meats I get on sale -casseroles prepped and ready for oven 2. Produce storage -We use a lot of lettuce. Most of the kids like salad and dh and I eat it quite a bit. -bell peppers - these I should really chop in advance but don't do that right now for lack of counter space (and forethought) Honestly though, if I chop them up, I usually just freeze them. -celery, carrots, zuchinni, asparagus and other odds and ends. I tend to make soups with tons of veggies. So one day my fridge might be filled to the brim and the next day 50% empty, but I have dh stop at the store on the way home that night. 3. Containers -I like to make broth and store in jars in the fridge. I might have 6-8 quart jars one day and then none the next. -I keep a few other jars of various items. We don't have a lot of condiments or sodas. Mainly drink water or prepare our drinks fresh. Except almond milk. That I purchase in cartons. So I FEEL like I would utilize quite a bit of fridge space. I would like to buy a half/whole cow. That would use up a lot of freezer space. I tend to his costco and other specialty stores about 1 hour away from here and stock up on things in the freezer. Special bacon, special allergy free deli turkey, special pepperoni are three things I get for sure. I might have 12 packages of the turkey which take up an entire shelf in the upright freezer. But then I use those up over a period of 4-6 months before I get more....See MoreRefrigerator columns: thoughts on separating fridge and freezer
Comments (10)So this goes to function and dividing things. First, I think it sounds like a nice idea as long as its symmetrical. Asymmetry makes me crazy. I moved my fridge with top freezer to the other side of the (pocket) door into the mudroom. It's next to my full-sized freezer. So much counter space now! Within 2 months, it crapped out on me. I picked up a Frigidaire dorm type fridge and stuck it under the counter. Within a MONTH, the fridge started working again, but the full-sized freezer crapped out. Luckily, I was due a binge-cook 'n freeze, so I was low on frozen life. I crammed everything left back into the fridge freezer. Now I'm considering trying to make the bottom part of the fridge the freezer ( can they be set that low? ) and the top the fridge ( can that be set that high? ) Since I can't fit much other than beer cans (dorm fridge, remember?) I'm thinking I might try to set the whole thing down to freezing for ice cubes and small frozen soup, 'getti, or other single-serve frozen stuff I live on. Anyway, I'd dump the full-sized freezer, although it's only 5 years old. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have purchased tall and thin, vs. short and wide. Takes up SOOO too much space! So I guess yes, I'd split them. I must ask, though, in a U kitchen, if space is that tight, why are you blocking it with an island?...See Morevampirekatebush
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