Choosing the right fridge isn’t as simple as picking the one that looks sleek or fits into your kitchen space. After using a side-by-side fridge for 4 years, I’ve learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and what I’d prioritize if I had to buy one again.

In this post, I’ll share my honest review and some tips to help you choose the perfect fridge for your home.

Why We Chose a Side-by-Side Fridge

When we were fridge shopping, we immediately were drawn to the side-by-side design. It promised plenty of storage that would never run out as home cooking enthusiasts. Why we bought our side-by-side fridge:

• Large Capacity: We needed a fridge that could handle groceries for our daily cooking and random kitchen experiments. & especially during festive seasons when we have to stock up on food for 1 - 2 weeks and receive desserts, fruits, pizza & beverages from guests.

• Convenience Features: The built-in ice and water dispenser was a dream to have! No more filling ice trays and we get ice cold water on demand!

Our fridge model: LG GSL6013PZ (seems to be out of stock/not for sale anymore)

What We Love About It

Four years later, there are still many things we love about our fridge:

1. Massive 601L Capacity
   There are fridges with a larger capacity, but as a family of 2, I acknowledge that 601L is way more than needed. We are so grateful that this is the fridge in our first home and I just hope we can find another fridge that will live up to this capacity in the future!

2. Reliability
   In 4 years, we’ve never had any technical or performance issues. That level of reliability has been a major plus.

3. Energy Efficiency
   Its energy efficiency rating has kept our utility bills manageable and it’s a feature we’d definitely prioritise in any future purchase.

But Why We Wouldn’t Buy It Again

There are a few things about the design and functionality of our fridge that we feel could be improved:

1. Bulky Ice and Water Dispenser
   Although convenient, the built-in dispenser takes up significant freezer space. It’s not something you think about until you’re struggling to fit frozen items or wide trays on the rare occasion. Rare, but still essential.

2. Narrow Storage and Temperature Concerns
   Side-by-side fridges tend to have narrower storage for both the fridge and freezer. This means a lot of groceries, including dairy, end up stored on the fridge door, where they’re more susceptible to temperature changes. Ideally, items like milk or yogurt shouldn’t be stored there.

3. Filter Replacement Hassles
   Unlike standalone water dispensers, replacing the filter on this fridge has been unnecessarily complicated. Since we have our tabletop water dispenser now, it’s not something we even bother to keep up with. Unlike water dispensers that most of us are familiar with, I still have no idea where the filter cartridge for the fridge’s dispenser is!

4. Lack of Vacuum Storage
   Some fridge models come with built-in vacuum storage compartments, which help keep produce fresher for longer. It’s a feature I’d love to prioritise in the future to reduce food waste in our small household.

Lessons for Choosing the Right Fridge

If you’re in the market for a new fridge, here are a few lessons I’ve learned:

1. Think About Your Storage Needs
   Consider the size and type of groceries you typically store. If you often have large trays or containers, a side-by-side fridge might be limiting.

2. Evaluate Special Features
   Ice and water dispensers might look convenient, but think about whether you’ll actually use them enough to justify the trade-off in freezer space. Tabletop dispensers are so common these days too, and they dispense more than cold water. There are models with automatic ice makers too.

3. Prioritize Energy Efficiency
   An energy-efficient fridge isn’t just better for the environment — it also saves you money in the long run.

4. Look for Long-Term Usability
   Features like adjustable shelves, easy-to-replace parts, and compartments that make cleaning simple are worth prioritising. Japan made fridges tend to come with a lot of drawers and parts that can help organise your food, but they may be more difficult to clean as compared to a minimal storage design.

What Fridge Style is Right for You?

Here’s a quick breakdown of popular fridge styles and what they’re best for:

1. Side-by-side
   Best For families who want equal fridge/freezer space and narrower doors that won’t take up too much space in the kitchen when opened

2. French door
   Best for families looking for a wide fridge section with adjustable shelves for flexible storage

3. Top-freezer
   Best for smaller families and/or the budget conscious, they tend to cost less

4. Bottom-freezer
   Best for easy fridge/freezer access. I personally prefer this than top-freezer design as it provides easier accessibility and better storage space.

Final Thoughts

Our side-by-side fridge has served us well for 4 years, but if I had to choose again, I’d prioritise a model with more flexible storage and skip the bulky ice dispenser.

I think I would still enjoy an automatic ice maker somewhere in the freezer section. Maybe french doors fridge might work well for us! Or even another side-by-side with a better design! After all, it’s been years since our fridge was launched, I’m sure there are better designs and technology now & in the future.