The bottom freezer refrigerator is one of the best appliance styling innovations of the century! Okay, maybe we're a little over-excited about not needing to bend over to access the refrigerator cavity, but the convenience of the bottom freezer style is what has made it so popular!
If you're looking for a new bottom freezer refrigerator model, you have tons of choices. In this bottom freezer refrigerator review, we compare models from KitchenAid and Whirlpool to help you decide on the features and styling options you prefer. Although KitchenAid is now owned by Whirlpool, these two models offer different features and options. For more bottom freezer refrigerator reviews, check out our article on the five best bottom freezer refrigerators of the year!
1. The KitchenAid KRBR109ESS - 30" - 19 cu ft - $1,899
Let's start out with the KitchenAid KRBR109ESS, available in stainless steel only at $1,899. With a narrow 30" width and 19 cubic feet of storage, this model is a great pick for kitchens with limited space available. The capacity is enough to handle the food storage needs of up to five people. It's Energy Star rated and has an eye-catching professionally-inspired design. Check out those satin-textured bar handles! An optional ice maker kit is available as well.
The refrigerator cavity offers great storage and organization and features to keep your food fresher for longer. A removal metal wine rack offers storage for up to four bottles of wine or two-liter bottles, perfect for wine lovers (or soda appreciators). A full-width pantry drawer provides an easy way to store deli meats and cheeses without losing them in a pile, and two humidity-controlled crisper drawers keep fruits and veggies fresh. Plus, the produce preserver in these crisper drawers absorbs the gas emitted by ripening fruits and vegetables to help them last longer.
Other features include an ExtendFresh temperature management system that monitors refrigerator and freezer temperatures separately to maintain the perfect temperature in both. This bottom freezer refrigerator keeps things simple on your end, and is a winner for space-limited kitchens.
Click here to read over 100 real customer reviews of this product!
KitchenAid KRBR109ESS - $1,899
2. The Whirlpool WRB322DMBM - 33" - 22 cu. ft. - $1,599
The next model in our bottom freezer refrigerator review is the Whirlpool WRB322DMBM. It comes in black or white at $1,499, stainless steel at $1,599 or black stainless steel at $1,699. It’s Energy Star rated with an extra-large 22 cubic foot capacity packed into a 33’’ width. Unlike the previous model, this Whirlpool option comes with a factory-installed icemaker.
Lots of customizable storage, including spill-proof glass shelves and adjustable bins, help you make the most out of this bottom freezer refrigerator's large capacity. Humidity-controlled crisper drawers with the FreshFlow produce preserver seen in the KitchenAid model keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer. Other features include Adaptive Defrost to automatically run the freezer defrost cycle when needed, and the Accu-Chill Temperature Management System to quickly respond to temperature changes.
Obviously, this model wins out over the KitchenAid option in terms of size, so it's a great pick for larger households. The factory-installed icemaker is another nice feature if you like to have plenty of ready-made ice on hand at any time rather than filling and freezing trays over and over.
Click here to read over 4,415 real customer reviews of this product!
Features Comparison
-
Capacity & Storage: For a narrower model, KitchenAid's 19 cubic feet isn't bad - a few 30" models from GE have managed to reach 21 cubic feet, but that's about as good as it gets. Whirlpool's 22 cubic feet for a 33" width is average among current bottom freezer options. As for storage, they have similar interior layouts, although the KitchenAid model comes with a full-width pantry drawer and a dairy door bin. If you want an icemaker included, you may prefer the Whirlpool model.
-
Look & Feel: The KitchenAid model has a more commercial feel thanks to the bar handles. The Whirlpool model comes in more color options, including sleek new black stainless steel.
-
Price & Warranty: These models are priced pretty closely, but there is a minor difference in the manufacturer warranties. Both come with one year parts and labor on the full appliance and a 2nd through 5th year parts and labor on the cavity liner and sealed refrigeration system. The KitchenAid model covers an additional 6th through 10th years on the sealed system, parts only.
We hope these bottom freezer refrigerator reviews have helped make the buying process easier. These models both feature Energy Star ratings, LED lighting, and great storage options, but have differences in styling and extra features. If you love the idea of a full-width pantry drawer and included wine rack, and don't need a huge refrigerator, the KitchenAid model may be perfect for you. If you're looking for the largest refrigerator you can find and know you need an icemaker, you may prefer the Whirlpool model.
Which do you think is the best bottom freezer refrigerator? What do you look for in bottom freezer refrigerators? Or do you prefer side by side refrigerator models? Let us know what you think - Leave us a comment below!
Editor's Note: This blog was originally written in June of 2018 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy as of the publication date noted above.
