Side-by-Side vs. French Door Refrigerators
Side-by-side and French door refrigerators showcase a modern and sleek look and feel, while also showcasing features designed for durability, power and control. Keep reading to learn the differences between French door and side-by-side refrigerators and discover which option may be best for you.
What are French Door Refrigerators?
French door refrigerators have a sectioned design, with two evenly split doors on the top and a pull out drawer on the bottom. The top doors open outward to reveal the refrigerator section and bottom drawer features the freezer. French door refrigerators are typically wider than other refrigerators.
Some Maytag® French door refrigerators also come with additional features, such as exterior ice and water dispensers and fingerprint resistant stainless steel finishes.
What are Side-by-Side Refrigerators?
Side-by-side refrigerators showcase a top-to-bottom design and consist of two narrow doors. One side is dedicated to the refrigerator and the other contains the freezer. Since both sides are roughly the same size, you can store just about as much fresh produce as frozen items.
Maytag® side-by-side refrigerators can be helpful if you want to keep your favorite items at eye level, with some selections like this Maytag® 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator offering BrightSeries™ LED lighting that helps you quickly find what you’re looking for while using less energy.
What Are the Differences between Side-by-Side and French Door Refrigerators?
The main differences between French door and side-by-side refrigerators is their design and configuration. French door refrigerators have top and bottom sections, whereas the side-by-side refrigerators are divided by left and right sections.
Because of their different designs, these two types of refrigerators have different capacities and are typically utilized differently depending on your lifestyle. For example, the large refrigerator section in French doors can help you organize your refrigerator items.
Which Refrigerator Style Is Most Popular?
Each style of refrigerator is unique and designed to fit a different lifestyle. Discovering which types of refrigerators are the most popular can be helpful, but it can be better to base your purchase on what refrigerator features are most important to you.
French door refrigerators are quite popular because they showcase a wide top portion that can easily display what’s inside. However, side-by-side refrigerators may be more ideal, as their vertical storage design helps you keep more items from both the refrigerator and freezer at eye level for easy access.
Which Type of Refrigerator Is More Energy Efficient?
French door refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators are comparable when it comes to energy efficiency. If you want to maximize your energy savings, look for refrigerators that are ENERGY STAR® certified, like this Maytag® French door refrigerator.
Referencing a refrigerator organization guide and using the correct temperature settings for your refrigerator can also help your appliance to function properly and conserve energy.
Which Is Better for You, Side-by-Side or French Door Refrigerators?
Finding your ideal refrigerator depends on your lifestyle, the features you desire and the design you most prefer. When choosing between French door refrigerators vs. side-by-side refrigerators, it’s important to understand that these two options differ in subtle ways.
Generally, French doors are more suitable for large families, since they have a wide refrigerator section, whereas side-by-side refrigerators are ideal if you want more space to keep frozen items.
What to Consider When Choosing between Side-By-Side and French Door Fridges
When deciding between a side-by-side or French door refrigerator, you should take their capacity, size, additional features and your household’s needs into account. Keep reading to discover more details about each of these aspects and reference the refrigerator buying guide to help you make your decision.
1. Capacity
Both French door and side-by-side refrigerators offer a comparable amount of capacity, but you should consider which option’s layout fits your needs. Options like this Maytag® 36-inch wide French door refrigerator that comes with a Wide-N-Fresh™ Deli Drawer, are a better option if you typically buy more fresh produce and store wider items.
However, if you want a refrigerator with a streamlined layout that keeps items at eye level, options like this Maytag® 36-inch refrigerator model might be more suitable. Learning how to organize your side-by-side refrigerator and how to organize your French door refrigerator will help you maximize your appliance’s space.
2. Sizes
Although their capacity is comparable, side-by-side and French door refrigerators have unique dimensions. Before purchasing your kitchen appliance, it’s best to understand the size and measurements of refrigerators. Doing so will help you have a seamless installation process and ensure your refrigerator fits your current layout.
You may also want to consider counter-depth refrigerators, which are a sleeker, space-saving option. Counter-depth refrigerators give you similar capacity in a refrigerator, but with dimensions that keep them flush against your counters.
3. Features
Once you’ve determined whether you want a side-by-side or French door refrigerator, narrow down your options by their features. Understanding the different parts of a refrigerator, along with features such as different crisper drawers, ice and water dispensers and finishes can help you make an informed purchase.
Explore All Maytag® Refrigerators
Maytag® refrigerators come in a variety of styles, sizes and showcase plenty of different features, but each one is designed to be durable and dependable so you can handle whatever the day brings.
