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Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,019
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

I'm considering buying a counter-depth fridge and I'd love some feedback from those of you who own one. 

 

What do you like or dislike about yours?

 

Thank you.

~ house cat ~
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,050
Registered: ‎03-15-2021

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

I really like my counter depth refrigerator. It does not protrude into the walkway in my kitchen. Although the shelves lack some depth, I have not seen it as a problem. Mine is a French door, and I can easily reach everything inside the fridge. There seems to be plenty of space, and we have never filled all the shelves or door space. It has a bottom freezer that we use for ice and items that do not need to be cooked (frozen fruit, ice cream, etc.)

 

The counter depth fridge is what works best in our kitchen, but we have a second fridge that fits in our utility room where we store raw meat and items that need to be cooked. It is an inexpensive top freezer style that was bought to fit the space we had available. It is self-defrosting but has no other features like water or ice.  I do not know how I would feel if the counter depth were our only fridge.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,019
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

@On It 

 

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I've done a little research and I can see that the options for the counter-depth fridges are quite limited. Many of them do not have the water dispenser on the door, and I use that a lot.  I have an old-school top freezer model in my basement, but it's a trek up and down the stairs.

~ house cat ~
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,135
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

@house_cat    I have a counter depth fridge.  I like it since I have a small kitchen and the extra floor space is nice...not having the fridge protrude.  That 'custom' size is more expenive that a traditional size, at least in our area.

 

The sales person told me I would not notice the difference in space inside the fridge, wrong, I did notice but I can deal with it.  We have a small freezer in the garage.  Freezer space in a side by side is small.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 44,347
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

[ Edited ]

We bought a new refrigerator and size freezer a year ago as did our son who lost his house due to a fire a month (yeah!) after Christmas!

 

We both went to different stores.

 

I got a big Samsung side by side refrigerator freezer.  He got a different brand at his vendor.

I looked for a model that I could thaw a turkey in and still cook that week!

Turns out, it sticks out about 2 1/2 inches from the counter!  This difference hasn't made one grain of difference to us, however, performance of the refrigerator did!  

I got my turkey, all 24 pounds of it and have extra room on the shelf of the refrigerator.  Totally happy. 

DS is not happy!  He and his beautiful wife want my model!!!

Moral:  Mom KNOWS!!!!!!!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,423
Registered: ‎07-10-2019

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

[ Edited ]

I have a counter depth french door refrigerator because I have cabinetry over it.   It can't be too high.  I love them.  They look custom made for your home.  

 

I would go crazy if the refrigerator stuck out even a tiny bit. A little OCD. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,602
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

I like the counter depth fridge. Less intrusive on your space. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,305
Registered: ‎01-02-2015

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

I have the counter depth with french doors .. love it ....

Side by side ....freezer is too small ....

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,752
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

@Mom2Dogs 

 

At our former vacation place, we had a side by side fridge. DH removed the ice cube maker and made lots of room in the freezer.    ( he made ice cubes in a tray and stored them in a ziplock bag. )

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,113
Registered: ‎04-14-2013

Re: Counter-depth refrigerators - pros and cons?

OK, @house_cat , this is the reverse of the answer you're looking for, but I do not have a counter depth (they were all too tall when I was in the market) but considering the layout of the kitchen, it makes not one bit of difference - here, anyway.

 

I have a very small fridge (just over 15' sq) and I can't even imagine it being any slimmer.  It replaced an old side-by-side that held virtually nothing.  OMG that freezer.

 

Anyway, good luck in your search.  Of course you will, but measure carefully and if it fits, buy it.

 

(PS - I don't use an ice maker nor ever had an outside the door water dispenser, so that wasn't part of my consideration, unlike you)

Cogito ergo sum