Double door vs side by side door refrigerator: Which is better?

Summer often means getting into mission mode to choose the right appliances for your home and kitchen. While ACs rule the home, the refrigerator becomes the unsung hero, keeping your beverages chill, ice creams frozen, and veggies crisp. However, when it comes to choosing a refrigerator, there is decision paralysis, leading many to wonder, “bada hai toh behtar hai?”

That brings us to the question of choosing between a double-door refrigerator and a side-by-side door refrigerator. While bada (big) doesn’t always mean better, there are some real pros to choosing a bigger refrigerator and if you are stuck in the double door vs side by side door refrigerator battle, here’s how to choose the right one for your home.

Double door refrigerator

A double-door refrigerator is the easy choice or the classic choice in the refrigerator market. Every other uncle or auntie you meet will recommend one, and there are merits to that recommendation. It has a freezer and the fridge separated into vertical compartments, giving you separate zones for everyday groceries and frozen staples. Most models even come with frost-free tech, so you don’t have to manually chip ice. Here are three ways they work the best for Indian consumers:

– Capacity and value: A double-door refrigerator offers the perfect balance between capacity and price. They are ideal for most Indian families, and with a capacity ranging from 250L to 500L, they offer enough space for vegetables, chilled drinks, sweets, and other staples.
– Energy and efficiency: Most double-door refrigerators come with competitive BEE star ratings, and some even use inverter compressors to deliver excellent performance at low power consumption. With the need to open the fridge higher during summer, this tech can save energy and your wallet.
– Fit: The biggest advantage of a double-door refrigerator is its ability to fit in most Indian homes without any width constraints. You can easily position them without worrying about your refrigerator touching walls or cabinets.

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Just like a single-door refrigerator, the double-door refrigerator no longer holds a visual appeal, and they also lack fancy features like built-in water/ice dispensers. While it isn’t a drawback, a double-door refrigerator has its limits, and that can be seen from the features available on a side-by-side refrigerator.

Side by side door refrigerator

If a double-door refrigerator is classic, then a side-by-side refrigerator is a luxury. They are instantly discoverable, recognisable, and some might even mistake them for a wardrobe. They scream maximum space, stylish design and have features that are conceived for a modern family with a smart kitchen. They make sense this summer for the following reasons:

– Space: A side-by-side refrigerator often has storage of 500L and above, meaning they are great for big families, storing large amounts of staples, and for those who buy in bulk.
– Ease of access: The symmetrical design means you don’t need to bend to reach your frozen food or vegetables. A side-by-side refrigerator allows plenty of customisation, with most of your staples easy to reach and sort.
– Design: This is not another refrigerator since most side-by-side refrigerators look premium, offer interesting colour options and blend seamlessly with kitchen interiors.
– Features: From touchscreen controls and through-door water and ice dispensers to AI assistant and smart tech integration, a side-by-side refrigerator is the epitome of tech and features.

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All those features also cost a lot of money and consume a lot of energy, meaning they are not for those on a tight budget or trying to keep their electricity bill in check. Another downside is size, since the doors need clearance to swing open, which is something not all homes have these days.

Side-by-side vs double-door refrigerator

For most Indian homes, a double-door refrigerator is both practical and value-driven compared to a side-by-side refrigerator. If your kitchen is spacious, family size is large, spending a premium isn’t a concern, and you want modern features, then a side-by-side refrigerator has your name written all over it.

While there is no direct answer to which is better, and that depends mostly on your use case and lifestyle, your choice shouldn’t just be about going big but also be smart. Before choosing between a double-door and side-by-side refrigerator, consider your family size, storage capacity, available kitchen space, and budget.