What Is a French Style Fridge Freezer?

If you’ve spent any time recently shopping for a fridge freezer, you’ll be well aware of just how many different options there are available to you. From compact, tabletop models through to vast American-style models with dual doors and enormous storage capacities, there’s an appliance out there for everyone.

All that choice is a good thing, but it does present a problem: where do you start? We think the best way to start shopping for a fridge freezer is deciding which style suits your needs best, which is why we’ve put together this blog on French style fridge freezers.

Below, we’re going to not only explain what a French door fridge freezer is – and what makes it different – but run through their advantages and disadvantages. At the end, we’ll offer some words of advice to help you decide between a French, American and traditional upright fridge freezer too.

So, what is a French door fridge freezer?

Let’s kick things off with the basics: what is a ‘French-style’ fridge or fridge freezer? The name comes from the type of doors these appliances have. Double French doors are their defining feature, in contrast to the large single doors fitted to traditional fridge freezer models.

Hinged on both sides of the unit and opening from the centre, the two french doors can open independently, allowing you to quickly access one half of the fridge compartment without having to open both doors. Handy, right?

The design differences don’t end there. French door fridge freezers also feature drawers on the lower half of the unit, giving you even more flexibility and storage space. These drawers provide access to the freezer section.

Crucially, French door fridge freezers always have the fridge compartment at the top (accessed via the dual doors) and the freezer compartment at the bottom. They’re not to be confused with side-by-side models, which still feature double doors but have the fridge and freezer sections placed side by side. Side-by-side fridge freezers don’t have drawers, either.

The advantages of a French style fridge freezer

Style and substance

French door fridge freezers offer style aplenty, but they’re more than just aesthetically pleasing. They offer a remarkable amount of storage space too, making it easy to store not just your weekly shop, but all your favourite snacks, drinks and ingredients. They’re ideal for avid meal-preppers, too; with plenty of space in both the fridge and freezer compartments, you’ll never run out of room for your favourite dishes.

Convenience

French-style fridge freezers are great to live with. Their spacious interiors make them easy to organise, and you’ll soon come to appreciate the double-door design.

Efficiency

Because you only have to open one door (or drawer) at a time, less cold air is likely to exit the appliance each time you retrieve food or drink. That means reduced energy consumption and lower bills.

Advanced features

French door fridges are considered a premium choice, and that means they’re usually packed with the latest features. From water dispensers to energy-saving modes and even smart tech, French door models are ideal for those who don’t want to settle for anything less than the best.

Are there any downsides to a French door fridge freezer?

They take up more room

Because they have two doors, both of which open in opposite directions, you’ll need plenty of space around a French door fridge freezer in order to open the doors fully. If you have a compact kitchen, you might want to consider a single-door model instead.

They’re pricier than traditional fridge freezers

As we mentioned earlier, French door models are typically classed as a premium option, and that means you’ll often pay a premium price to get your hands on one. With that said, there are plenty of affordable models (like ours) out there. 

French, American or traditional fridge freezers: Which should you choose?

So, the big question: which type of fridge freezer should you choose, a French door model, an American-style one or a traditional single-door upright version? 

This isn’t an easy one to answer, as all three designs have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re serious about aesthetics but still want plenty of storage capacity, a French door model is well worth considering. If maximum storage capacity is your priority, you’re better off with an American-style fridge freezer. Finally, if space is at a premium and you need a space-efficient (and more affordable) solution, there’s nothing wrong with a tried and tested single-door fridge freezer.