3 Top Reasons to NEVER BUY a Counter-Depth Refrigerator

[@YaleAppliance1]

503 comments...mostly unfavorable. How about a webinar in December focusing on refrigerators, answering your questions live....Any interest?

[@YaleAppliance1]

December 7th, 12 high noon...Counter Depth Refrigerator, Wine, and Under Counter Refrigeration...First 3 slides will be why you should not buy a counter depth.....BTW, anyone watch the beginning of this video?

[@markraymond6351]

@@YaleAppliance1 When you say the beginning of this video do you mean the very beginning where you said that counter depth refrigerators are an "inexpensive way to improve the look of your kitchen"? Yes, I watched it. I even remembered it when halfway through the video you talked about how expensive they are.

[@YaleAppliance1]

@@markraymond6351 True...but less expensive than remodeling your kitchen

[@YaleAppliance1]

Actually its December 14th...still high noon. Just a week later

[@DiffEQ]

Not from a hack like you. Nope.

[@susanl8478]

I like a 'shallow' refrigerator ... stuff doesn't get lost, forgotten and left to rot .

[@Thommadura]

I need a shallow refrigerator because My Kitchen is a Galley kitchen and the new Refrigerators are getting deeper and deeper - which means I cannot even open the doors Fully (Makes it hard to clean the shelves)

[@men2dewy]

I solved that problem with Oxo 16" lazy Susans; I may need smaller ones with counter depth models. I keep tall infrequent items off the platters in the back corners. I do like the looks of counter depth plus items would move more swiftly from fridge to adjacent counter.

[@elephantgrass631]

First world problem. Where I’m from we never waste food because we don’t know when we’re going to fill fridge again.

[@paigeherrin29]

I prefer the deep drawer under the counter fridge

[@highnrising]

@@Thommadura I got a 6'ft. 10-in. 24-in. wide, counter depth Liebherr for my narrow galley kitchen. It's great. If I needed more refigerator volume, I'd get the 30'in wide Liebherr. It's great.

[@CaptainRon1913]

I absolutely love our counter depth fridge. We've learned to be better stewards of what is stored in the fridge. We found we stored more useless crap in our old full size, and never had the need to put full size oven pans in there. No problems anymore. We store what we actually use now. It looks better, more efficient, easier to access, easier to clean. A definite win win. Won't ever own a full size again.

[@tweedeldee8122]

What if you only had one refrigerator?

[@TackKeyNack]

@@tweedeldee8122 i’m not sure what that has got to do with their point. they said they’ll never own a full size again, which indicates that they do not own their full size anymore, which most likely means that they only have one fridge.

[@niccidee782]

@Tweedel Dee : I completely agree. These are the same reasons I'm getting one for Christmas. Thanks for your opinions on this subject. I know I'm not alone in hating those deep, cavernous, food-swallowing boxes that are super hard-to-clean.

[@stepside2839]

Agreed, and there is no need for two refrigerators, as the older model consumes more energy and it’s like paying rent to the utility company to store excess that ends up months later in the g a r b á g e 👀

[@ewannabloom]

Thank you, I just bought a counter-depth fridge :)

[@Gk2003m]

I have an LG. I spent $100 more for counter depth, and in return did not have to re-do all my walls and counters. Money well spent. Additionally, the counter depth means I don’t have science projects growing all the way in the back corners of the fridge! With counter depth, “everything is always up front”. Best fridge I’ve ever had.

[@TotyVale]

😂😂😂😂😂 love the “science projects”

[@ms.n4878]

When this popped up in my feed, I was very curious about what he had to say. Interesting to see that many of the reviewers feel exactly the same as I do. I just recently remodeled my kitchen and I searched high and low for a fridge to replace the 40 YO side-by-side refrigerator that came with the house. I had a love/hate relationship with this fridge. It was faithful and never gave me a bit of trouble, but it was so narrow and deep and I wasted too much food because things got lost. It was actually very small, only 20 cu. ft., 29x29 so the replacement had to have similar dimensions (especially the depth) in order to fit my kitchen. This leads to my discovery of counter depth. After much research, I purchased one (22 cu. ft. 29x36) and it has been great! I can see what I have; I can adjust the shelves to accommodate odd shapes and I can organize efficiently. I don't waste food. I can plan better and I am not buying things I already have. Great choice!

[@azhotmom]

Ya, this video sounds like it was created by someone who clearly doesn't spend any time in the kitchen lol

[@francineclave2207]

We recently bought a Bosch counter depth fridge and it is by far the best unit we have ever owned! We choose if for its features and the lay out is so smart. Before it was delivered I worried if we were making a mistake because this unit had 5 cubic feet less space. But I wanted what this unit was offering, good light, a middle crisper drawer, great freezer. As it turns out we gained easy access to every square inch and good vision seems silly but now we see everything and nothing gets lost. Plus we can easily reach in and remove anything we want. In six months it has been able to accommodate everything I have ever needed to put into it. YES It was more expensive but this fridge is hands down the best fridge purchase we have ever made!

[@krollpeter]

US refrigerators have very clever layouts - to minimize useful space and therefore make customers buy a bigger model. Also, what was said in this video, you can buy a bigger model for less money - the US is still not off from big big is good.

[@JonCollinsMedia]

Bosch fridge are amongst the best fridges in the world

[@ready4anything284]

I just bought one too, and I agree 💯

[@42_universe]

would you mind sharing the model pls?

[@knothead35]

I just bought a Bosch CD french door refrigerator. I like that the ice maker is on the freezer and makes a ton of ice. I love the middle drawer. What I absolutely HATE about it is that the right door will not shut on it's own like every other fridge I've ever owned. Even if I give it a fling to close...it won't. You have to slam it shut or push it shut. Very annoying, but glad that the door alarm works because I hear it every, single day. After buying it, I read reviews complaining of the same problem.

[@firstchoice7761]

I bought a counter-depth refrigerator and am extremely happy with it. I live in Europe where you shop more often so your food is fresher. I don't like a big giant refrigerator sticking out taking over my kitchen. Excuse me, but I cannot afford to 'build cabinets' around my refrigerator. I no longer lose food, and I am much happier with less uncooked food in my house.

[@deekang6244]

Cabinets are done differently in the US. If we didn’t have matching cabinets, we would not be able to resell our home. Meanwhile, it looks nice for us.

[@mymasmith7848]

My sister lives in Rome, and her fridge is not only counter depth, but below counter.

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

@@deekang6244lol, lots of kitchens in Europe have fridges built into the cabinet, so you don’t see it at all. It’s great

[@melanies.6030]

@@mymasmith7848 Yikes. That hurts my back just imagining it! So glad I went with a CD model with the freezer on the bottom so I don't have to stoop to look in the fridge. I couldn't cope with a Euro below-counter fridge, but I know that's quite common over there.

[@lenoreleitch5297]

This video should have been titled “pros & cons of counter-depth refrigerators”. There are LOTS of reasons to opt for counter-depth and all of them applied when we recently gut-renovated our kitchen. Millions of baby-boomers are now downsizing & remodeling for one or two persons and don’t need giant refrigerators, and at this stage of life cost is not usually an impediment to having what they want. I LOVE our new Fisher-Paykel counter-depth fridge. Also love our F-P dishwasher-drawer. Best invention ever!

[@francineclave2207]

You make some great points. We love our new counter depth unit too! We see everything, its easy to retrieve whatever we want and nothing gets lost! I am so glad we bought it.

[@teddysdadcory]

Lenore, which F&P refrig did you choose? We are looking at those for ours as well.

[@nickgeorgiou7770]

Storing platters or chef’s pan? Isn’t that what Tupperware is for? Counter depth is just fine for most people. It’s rare I disagree with him.

[@iluv2worship]

@@teddysdadcory FYI: you may want to “click on reply” on her actual post, then she’ll see your comment.

[@n.nanemnat6820]

@@nickgeorgiou7770 Not if you are preparing a large platter, etc. ahead of time for an upcoming potluck or dinner at a friend's home, etc. I've attended 4 potluck/dinners within two weeks plus a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday at a friend's home in which we all brought some food. I was grateful I could fit my large platter with hors d'oeuvres, a large Thanksgiving green bean casserole, etc. for these recent dinners in my NON-counter depth large frig. I do see some advantages with the counter depth style but am afraid I would be very frustrated when unable to refrigerate food for special occasions.

[@Dogsnark]

One consideration you didn’t mention, is that the deeper any cabinet is, the harder it is to reach things in back and the easier it is to forget them entirely. Out of sight, out of mind. That certainly goes for fridges, too. Drawer type fridges help in this regard, but at a price.

[@YaleAppliance1]

This has been a common feedback. Thank you!

[@stipcrane]

We have a counter depth refer and we still lose jars and containers in the back, especially on the upper shelves. We've had as many a 3 ranch dressings open at one time because no one can see (or bothers to see) what is in the back. The same is true of pantry shelving: keep it ≤16". The video is totally correct on pricing and value, but I'm at the point where I would be happy to pay $300 to not have 2 of everything open for the next ten years.

[@francineclave2207]

@@stipcrane We put all our dressing on one shelf on the door. They go back there every time. We are a family of just two but we usually have 7-8 dressing choices. Our new counter depth has incredibly big door shelves. This is another thing I love about it because we are so organized now!

[@bethheerten1132]

I have a standard fridge and don't have a problem with spoilage. We keep our salad dressings, pickles, olives etc on a lazy Susan in our fridge. Another one for yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream etc. Leftovers get rotated with oldest in front to use first. Nothing gets lost and I have room for a big pan/platter when entertaining.

[@greenidguy9292]

I have a standard depth Samsung 4 door Flex and we lose nothing , don’t you keep your refrigerator interior clean??

[@Chloe0418]

Couldn’t disagree more. Absolutely love my new CD fridge. Looks great, gives more room to get past it in my kitchen layout and I don’t notice any loss of food storage room

[@takethenaturalpath7350]

EXACTLY

[@Cocpain]

You're not wrong in how you feel, and in most cases if you are just replacing the appliance it is the only way to go which is why they are more expensive, they got you over a barrel. As a someone who dose kitchen remodels, and more to the point makes custom cabinetry, I tend to lean into people buying standard size as to be able to make larger cabinets for a pantry to surround it to localize all cooking supplies, and it is one of the few times in a remodel that you get more for less. So, you are both right.

[@priestesslucy]

@@Cocpain I know there's an electrical efficiency sacrifice being made, but I'm a huge fan of getting multiple cheap small refrigerators (without a freezer) and assigning a purpose to each. Say one for meat and produce and one for drinks and leftovers. That's 400-500$ (as opposed to 2,000$ or more, granted you still need a freezer but chest freezers are better anyway) and really helps organize the kitchen. As family size goes up it's easy to add more and further divide purposes.

[@obitwizzle3766]

If you've got a family of 4 or more, the 4-6 cubic feet less of storage is massive. To each his own.

[@chuckhoyle1211]

@@obitwizzle3766 I had 3 teenage boys (two are not teenagers any more) and when their friends come over and eat everything in sight like a pack of locusts, you need all the storage space you can get to store food. Once they all move out, a counter-depth is probably all we would need. You need to look at your needs and if you buy things in bulk.

[@sheilashort9717]

When I remodeled my kitchen several years ago, I switched to a counter depth refrigerator instead of replacing the big albatross of a refrigerator that I had previously. After some initial adjustments/accommodations for food storage, I have no regrets whatsoever. With my larger refrigerator, I could easily put a really large pot of spaghetti or huge baking pan of lasagna in there with room to spare. Not anymore. Now, I have to be strategic in how I store large amounts of food because I don't have the width or depth to do that anymore. I buy jumbo sized (2.5 gallon) storage bags and over-sized rubber maid containers for food storage that works for me just fine when I need it. I'm widowed now with adult children so I don't cook the amounts of food that I did when my family was intact. And when I do cook large meals for family and friend gatherings, I can easily store what I need. I love my counter depth refrigerator.

[@sherylgoodman2134]

We had a counter-depth refrigerator in our last home. It worked well since we had an island in the small kitchen. Our present home has a standard refrigerator. It has more space for food storage. Unfortunately, we also have a lot more food spoilage.

[@datsuntoyy]

In our case, bigger fridge means more condiments. We have 3 different soy sauces, 3 different BBQ sauce, Horseradish, Catsup, 3 different mustards, etc etc etc. And yes the leftovers get pushed behind all those and go bad. Still, we waste more food by our finicky 8 year old than going bad in the fridge.

[@deekang6244]

Yup

[@browneyedgirlnn]

Counter depth is better. Better to store less and buy fresh food more often. There’s no reason a counter depth fridge wont work for a small young family. You could incorporate a beverage fridge if you need additional storage in your island

[@YaleAppliance1]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mbs8001]

It’s been so much easier to keep my counter depth fridge clean and organized! We have a family of 5 (but my husband eats for like 3+) and we’ve always had enough room. And I cook all our meals at home :-)

[@ziggy33399]

We bought a counter depth refrigerator. We LOVE LOVE it! The entire kitchen looks so much better. But that said, I like it functionally better as well. It’s a 4 door (we got it at Costco ). I can SEE everything & nothing gets lost way in the back. The top French doors are what we have & it has all the bells 🔔 & whistles but I can REACH everything without having to move things out , then get what I want , then returning items. The drawer in the middle is convenient for beverages & holds quite a bit ~ I have never missed the regular sizes frig only that it took me this long to get a counter depth. It IS worth it!

[@bkinouye]

Builders should make their counters deeper to match that of standard-depth refrigerators. 😁

[@stipcrane]

I am a builder, and it's rarely easy to do. A 30" deep counter just won't function for most human beings. To keep a std. refer flush with cabinets you'll need to steal 6-7 inches from the room behind the refer, but if the location is an exterior wall you're outta luck. The last house had a refrigerator alcove under a staircase so there was room for a standard refer plus ample workspace to hook up the waterline for the icemaker.

[@justaskdad]

Doesn't work you can't get to the rear of wall cabinets.

[@gratefulketo2211]

Making deeper standard cabinets is not helpful. It pushes you 6 inches further away from your upper cabinets. Upper cabinets are already difficult enough to reach. However, as a kitchen designer, I have successfully used deeper base cabinets in areas under a window where the added depth does not matter as much. I did not use custom cabinets. I simply mounted the base cabinets 6in away from the wall.

[@bnwinsf]

When I completely remodeled the kitchen in my San Francisco house a few years ago, where space is tight, a counter depth fridge was definitely the way to go. I was able to do much more with the space not having to contend with a deep fridge. I love the look… it slips into its space quite nicely. Sure, it’s smaller and not as deep. It’s actually fine for two people. I also have another fridge (regular depth) in the basement/garage; and I’d have it even if I had a regular depth fridge upstairs. It all depends on your unique situation. I’m glad that there are depth options in refrigerators.

[@janegoodwin1823]

I have 2 counter depth fridge/freezers and I LOVE Them. They make my floor space much nicer. They don't look like a moving van on end in my kitchen. I don't lose food in the back of the fridge.. I love everything about them. I would NEVER go back. I cannot tell the difference in what mine hold. Every pan, try and pot I have in my kitchen fits perfectly in the fridge. I do have to cut the left-over pizza to put that in freezer. But I cut it when we eat it so why not? . And I found them at great prices.

[@williamsstephens]

What did you buy? I'm agonizing over this! The freezer is a problem.

[@animeB0y01]

They make pizza boxes that cut in half. My local pizzeria has this style box.

[@stephaniesochan5273]

Lol I woke up this morning and my husband has a full size large pizza box in ours 😂. Who says counter depth lacks space, what more do you need that a large pizza haha!

[@azhotmom]

"moving van in the kitchen" 😅😅

[@cynthiaryan2901]

2 weeks ago I bought a counter depth Bosch. Has 3 doors & is waaaaay better my previous GE counter depth fridge. It is incredibly well planned out. Holds much more than the GE. Iove it!

[@brent1041]

We had the builder recess the wall behind the fridge so a full size fridge fit but looks like a counter depth. It was totally worth making that wall a 2x6 studded wall to give enough room to recess a full size fridge. Because of that we get the sleeker look but with more fridge space with a cheaper fridge. It was definitely the best option.

[@gratefulketo2211]

Good for you! As a kitchen designer, this is a solution that I have used many times. The location of the fridge plug is trickier however.

[@alessandrarod4806]

This is an awesome idea. We're remodeling our kitchen in June and I will absolutely not compromise with a smaller fridge. We cook 3 timee a day so I definitely need space. My husband want an easy flow in the kitchen and wants cd. Will definitely mention him this.

[@dougschmidt5132]

as a 35 yr remodeler contractor I have used this method many many times. The trick is to be very accurate in dimensions and use cabinetry to conceal the pocket. I get a kick how homeowners are blown away by this trick. LOL Also make sure you put a cold air return grill on back wall to allow any heat build up to escape behind fridge ( interior walls only ) .

[@art4soul]

We did the same when building our home. It was and excellent solution to keep everything sleek while giving me the space I needed in my fridge. When you have a lot of gatherings you want the food space.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Very smart.

[@dperreno]

Thank you for also pointing out the reasons TO buy a counter depth refrigerator. I remodeled my small galley style kitchen and getting a counter-depth fridge was one of the best decisions I made - it really opened up the small space. Since it was a very small 3 bedroom home, there wasn't a big need for the extra capacity of a standard depth refrigerator. It was just me at the time and I sold the house to another bachelor, so no issues at all.

[@evhvariac2]

I live on my own and my new Samsung counter depth refrigerator is one of the best purchases I have made. Looks great and makes me store things efficiently and saves me from throwing out food in the long run

[@alanlau3278]

We learned the hard way. 16 yrs ago we bought the top of the line GE Monogram refrigerator. It was countertop depth, went from floor to ceiling. We had a hard time fitting a turkey in it. It was about $5000 at that time. It finally gave out after 15 yrs and we got a conventional Samsung frig. It didn’t reach the ceiling, had space one both sides (unlike the GE Monogram) and had much more capacity. We’ve never been happier… oh did I mention it cost only $1000. Love our Samsung.

[@animeB0y01]

If you have space a good compromise is counter depth in kitchen to maximize floor space and standard depth in basement or garage for mass storage

[@trishayamada807]

@@animeB0y01 my grandparents did the garage bull$hit and a large freezer in the basement. I hate that. I want my food where we cook it and eat it. I guess other people like taking their food for a walk. I’m not that person. I do enough shopping and prepping and cooking. I don’t want to schlep around the house getting food.

[@lauriescott7964]

I am about to completely remodel my kitchen, including all new appliances. Your channel has been very helpful, I wish you weren't so far away or I'd buy from your store. I disagree with you on counter-depth refrigerators though, and the title of this video was a bit negative considering so many of us are perfectly happy with counter-depth refrigerators. I like the clean lines of a contemporary kitchen and I think a refrigerator that sticks out like an afterthought is unattractive. In addition, the last time I had a huge refrigerator I ended up wasting food, it's too easy for items to be hidden and forgotten about. So I am off to watch your video on the best counter-depth refrigerators of 2021, I hope I don't click on it only for you to tell me not to buy one, lol.

[@shank296]

I have a counter depth as well....It is the best way to improve the look of your kitchen. I wrote this a while back when people were buying secondary refrigerators to store food during the pandemic. If they had a regular depth with greater cubic footage, it may not have been necessary....Just trying to show alternatives and different ways to build/remodel

[@areyoureyesstillblue]

I just got rid of my non-counter depth fridge and bought a counter depth one. I love everything about my new one! It looks soo much better in the kitchen and food doesn't get lost in the back.

[@gracepope3800]

I don't agree with him on counter-depth at all. I have not had any issues with large roasting and large pizza boxes. This is my second counter-depth fridge. The first time I purchased one I took a pizza box to the store with me.

[@60Airflyte]

It depends on how you cook. I had my first counter depth fridge and ended up having to buy a standard depth for the garage. I do a lot of chilling and freezing on sheet pans and several times a month I found myself with not enough room in my fridge. I agree, counter depth looks better, but for some people it just doesn’t work.

[@jcheck6]

Well said Laurie and completely agree. We have had nothing but counter-depth.

[@juliefitzgerald-frangos2211]

I just got an LG counter depth and I love it. It’s 27cubic feet so actually more room than I had before. I found using bins to keep things organized was helpful . The ice maker is in the freezer and water is in the inside of the fridge so no space it taken up in the door areas. So far I’m loving it and love the extra space it gave my kitchen !

[@stephaniesochan5273]

Good points that should be considered but I love my counter depth fridge. There are the obvious reasons such as it blends into my small kitchen better without taking up valuable space but my favorite is the depth, it’s so easy to keep organized and not have items get lost in the far back. I hate having to haul out armfuls of stuff just to get an item that was shoved behind. We are pretty conscious of food waste and only buy what we need for the week so a huge fridge isn’t needed.

[@liannebenn2097]

When fridges are deep everything gets lost at the back.

[@elengstrom]

Yes! I switched to a counter-depth Samsung 4 door flex when our original fridge died. We now waste a lot less food because you can see most everything without having to spend enormous amounts of time rearranging things to get the items you want.

[@gratefulketo2211]

I tend to store things in bins in my refrigerator. Some of my bins are small enough that I can tuck extra bricks of butter, lard and shortening behind them. Cheese, bacon, lunch meat, condiments, etc.all work very well with bins.

[@DavidJGillCA]

When purchasing a refrigerator recently I was amazed by the variety of sizes of refrigerators available. There is less standardization of sizes than one might reasonably expect. I managed to find a unit that nicely fit the cabinetry in my kitchen that dates from 1945 when refrigerators were very different, to say the least.

[@cavilier]

As a real estate agent, it has been my experience the obvious major selling point to a home is the kitchen. I once appraised and listed a home with a standard size refrigerator that stuck out. After many comments about the refrigerator by potential buyers without an offer the owner replaced the refrigerator for a counter depth refrigerator for $3,200. He then increased the asking price by $10,000 sold the house at full ask

[@emilyjohnston8703]

When remodeling our kitchen we looked at counter-top depth. A knowledgeable sales person asked if we could create a bump out into the adjoining room. Builder designed and executed it perfectly.

[@catreader9733]

Two points to consider with counter-depth: 1. If there are cabinets, countertops, and other existing items on either side, be careful that referigerator depth at the door(s) hinge is sufficient to allow the doors to swing widely enough for comfortble access and to fully utilize any sliding options the model offers. The options and features that can be uncumbered include some shelves, bins, compartment covers, and ice maker (for clearing jams and cleaning). 2. Many refrigerators do not have fully recessed or zero-clearance hinges on the doors, which means the refrigerator is wider as soon as you begin to open the door. On a counter depth refrigerator, the hinge design is usually more critical (see above). On a recent casual shop of refrigerators, it seemed that the counter-depth refrigerators more often had hinge design that caused the opening door to protrude farther past the side wall. It might have been, however, that I was more aware of it because, in the display areas of rows of refrigerators, the counter-depth refrigerators were often impossible to open fully.

[@johngalt5205]

Our counter depth refrigerator transformed our tiny kitchen. It's only about 9x9, and the extra 2 square feet of floor space made a huge difference in usability.

[@moltenbullet]

Seeing some comments below regarding the back of a deep shelf - my solution at home for this is to use 2 - 3 inch tall stationery organizers (the plastic lidless containers/trays you would put into drawers to organize things). But then, flip these containers around so they become "platforms" of sorts. Then put these in the back of the shelf. This raises everything in the back up, so that they're easier to see and grab.

[@sharonpottorff6146]

I previously had a reg size refrigerator. The door had a dent where the refrigerator door opened and would hit the door handle of the pantry. I did some research with neighbors and discovered a counter depth refrigerator door does not open wide enough to hit the door handle so I ordered a counter depth one. Well it s now installed and guess what my neighbors were correct. I am so pleased with my counter depth refrigerator that does not have a dent in the door

[@cherylimeson3006]

Have had a counter depth refrigerator for a year now. After 8 different refrigerators in my lifetime, counterdepth is by far my favorite. It was our only option because of layout of new kitchen. No regrets and wouldn't go back to regular.

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

I bought a counter depth french door refrigerator afew years ago. It works perfectly in my kitchen. A standard depth refridgerator sticks out too far and you cannot fully open its doors because the range is in the way. There's a narrow hallway in between the range and the fridge and switching to a counter depth fridge added 6 inches more walking room. Plus, I can open the doors fully. Yes, it is small, but that's why I have a freezer in my basement. In my kitchen a full depth fridge makes life more difficult while the counter depth fridge solves problems.

[@jonathanleonard1152]

We live tiny. This is our decision and it fits our life style at our age. Our kitchen is 7’ 9” both directions. There is no room for standard size fridge and two people work in our kitchen. After a year of living with a standard size fridge we made plans and in time had a beautiful new kitchen that we can both work in. The fridge is counter depth, Oven is 24”, There is no range top. We have two induction burners which we can position as needed as there are three different circuits serving the kitchen. The induction burners go in drawers along with the toaster when not in use. It is so clean looking yet tiny. There are no under counter cupboard with shelves. All below counter space has drawers. This includes the fridge with a bottom freezer having three drawers.

[@lorcashine]

I have a small kitchen too, and LOVE my induction burners. I just use a toaster oven. I'm trying to decide which narrow, tall refrigerator to get. I wish I could find a designer to help me reconfigure my space in this 100 year old house!

[@janicestuerzl6976]

We have a counter depth refrigerator and love it. Saves significant space in our small kitchen, looks nice, and is more than adequate in size,

[@tobirates916]

We got a deal on a slightly dinged counter-depth fridge and we love it. We have 2 teenaged boys and it holds plenty of food for all of us. Better yet, we can see it all. Works especially well for me since I’m on the short side.

[@larrymcgraw5133]

I have a counter depth in my kitchen to accomodate a doorway in the kitchen that leads to my garage. To make up for the difference in storage size, I keep an inexpensive std size refrigerator in my garage which also then expands my freezer capacity. Works great for not a huge cost difference.

[@kimbroom556]

Oh heck yes! We have the "beer fridge" in our utility room that was an old style white refrigerator with freezer on top that we got at a scratch & dent place from Sears for dirt cheap. We have no problems keeping all the drinks and extras back there plus it helps when defrosting the turkey for thanksgiving. No more wars between cold beer and preserving food.

[@vegasrenie]

When I moved into my home nearly 7 years ago, there was a standard-depth fridge in place. Tiny kitchen, townhouse configuration +budget = no room to reconfigure anything. I had to move my trash bin in order to open the refrigerator door. Purchased a counter depth and have never looked back. It added room to my tiny kitchen and I’m very happy.

[@gratefulketo2211]

Just wanted to thank you for your well thought-out presentation. I also want to thank all of your viewers that commented. It shows many different perspectives and is very helpful!

[@YaleAppliance1]

You're very welcome!

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

We are empty nesters and bought a counter depth side by side when we moved house - its been GREAT for us. We cook mostly from scratch.

[@stevesedio1656]

When we remodeled our kitchen, we cut out the wall behind the refrigerator (into a closet, closet side sheet rock remained), to give us a pocket 4" deeper. Also, the pantry (left side) and oven cabinet (right side) are 2" deeper. This allows a standard depth refrigerator to fit like a cabinet depth.

[@markbajek2541]

can you hear the fridge in the room with the closet?

[@allaboutthebonillas2137]

What’s the total depth now with the extra 4 inches of space to fit a standard fridge. I currently have 30 3/4 inches of depth and can’t decide on counter vs standard size

[@audiobrad99]

Everything you said is true. However, there are two big reasons why counter depth refrigerators make sense, or may be the only option. Refrigerators have gotten bigger in every dimension over the last 25 years. Many of us live in homes that just can't accomodate the added depth (and the added height in many cases). These are painfully obvious in pictures of homes for sale where the seller rushed out and replaced the kitchen appliances before listing without taking measurements, and the fridge juts way into the kitchen, impedes traffic, and looks ridiculous (it's not just the unfinished sides). Also, the extra space in deep fridges can actually be a problem. The space in the back is where leftovers and old food go to die! Many people under 5' 8" can't see or reach the stuff in back--especially on the upper shelves, and the stuff on the lower shelves may require getting on your hands and knees to dig it out. (How about getting a woman's input on this?) A counter depth fridge keeps everything forward where it's accessible, and because of the reduced space, and visibility, you use it more efficiently and throw the crap out.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Great points!

[@gordibito]

After having standard models for 18 years we went to a counter depth. Absolutely love it! It fits the kitchen better. Everything seems more visible. As for space it is smaller but we do have a second fridge in the garage.

[@donnaallgaier-lamberti3933]

I just remodeled my condo's gallery kitchen. I chose a counter depth fridge/freezer because 1) It is a small galley kitchen and 2) where we enter the kitchen we walk right by the fridge. 3) My husband and I have to be able to both be in the kitchen, move freely around it and still cook together. So, the compromise on the interior size of the fridge was made due to the narrowness of having a galley kitchen.

[@kdubs3]

totally agree with your comments/observations. I have never understood paying more for a refrigerator with less space, particularly one that won't hold a platter, tray, pan, etc because they are too shallow. For an integrated counter depth look in our kitchen, we framed a recessed alcove for a standard depth refrigerator rather than building out the cabinets deeper. This way we have the look of counter depth without loosing floor space in the kitchen.

[@suzieferguson1065]

I just bought a counter depth Bosch, it will hopefully help me focus on not buying too much food - control waste 😊

[@eklectiktoni]

I really appreciate this. I would never pay more for less product. Some people are saying that standard depth fridges encourage food waste. But that's a lifestyle issue, not the appliance's fault. Stop overstocking your fridge with food you won't eat. Problem solved.

[@Kenkemp540]

We have an LG French Door counter-depth fridge and absolutely love it. There is zero need for a standard size in our kitchen.

[@gigimartinez9853]

Love my counter - depth refrigerator! It's easy to keep it clean and organized. Recommended to my aunt and she loves it too. I will buy it again. 🙂

[@MaxTSanches]

A few years ago when we built our kitchen we had the builder cut a hole for the refrigerator in the 2x6 wall and install a 2x4 wall that jutted out into the other room, a library. This allowed the refrigerator to extend back into the wall space just under six inches. The library has one book shelf that is a few inches less deep.

[@dporrasxtremeLS3]

We bought the LG counter depth 3 door fridge. This is the Best Fridge we have ever owned!!! I went the other direction. I moved our fridge to the traffic side of our kitchen because of the access to a side by side original placement. To truly use a counter depth fridge I opened the sheet rock and vented it at the top. I then used FRP to finish the back wall. I also side mounted the electrical. Also I tied in the cold water to our Reverse Osmosis filter. We then finished the kitchen with soft close drawers, under counter LED light , new S/.S sink, and spray faucet. paint backsplash and more! Now we have a really Nice Kitchen. It's just my wife and I.

[@generaclesdey4622]

The compressor of the CD refrigerator is the same as the SD. The smaller volume means that there is less cooling load on the CD, which increases the life of the compressor, SAVING repair and Electricity costs! In some older apartments, the entry doors will accommodate only a CD unit. The smaller depth makes it easier to clean.

[@lennym2407]

For a full size refrigerator, you can also open up the rear wall installing a header if required. Gain would be 2+ inches.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Good point

[@gratefulketo2211]

Using this method you could gain an extra three and a half inches. Simply glue a half inch piece of plywood against the drywall of the adjoining room. Secure it with angle brackets if you are worried about stability. In my installation, I did not bother securing it and I find that the wall is very stable. The tricky part however is actually figuring out what to do with the electrical plug in. We double studded the side of our opening and nailed one stud to the other. This allowed to cut away a bit of one stud to recess our electrical. It is also important to note that newer fridges have shorter cords so electrical should be mounted a lot lower than you might previously be used to.

[@trbstang]

We wanted to enlarge our island from 3 stools to 4 to accommodate our 4 kids, so the best option for us was a counter depth refrigerator so we could move the edge of the island closer to the cabinets. The only thing we gave up was the water/ice dispensers in our basic models. We got the matching 17 cu ft refrigerator and separate freezer and they have been great for 14 years. When we have to replace it, we will likely stick with a 36" wide counter depth refrigerator freezer and gain a few more cabinets on the sides. And ours holds 16" wide pizza boxes and platters just fine!

[@Einsteinsmum]

Love my counter depth fridge. Absolutely love It! Holds all we need. We use rectangular or square containers to maximize storage space.

[@davidbalentine2110]

Nice clean lines in the kitchen. A counter depth refrigerator does not stick out like someone made a mistake. I spend lots of time in my kitchen. It is a small kitchen. The counter depth refrigerator allows more room in the ‘minds eye’ in addition to the relatively small increase of actual space it saves. Nice clean lines. Advice: most of the warranty issues on any brand involve the water/ice door dispensers. Dispense with the dispensers. Simple = dependable. Again, nice clean lines.

[@weifeng5958]

The insight provided was priceless as I’ve been complaining about our to small for me counter depth refrigerator for years. It’s okay for one person, but for two, forget about it. I’ve read a lot of the pushback to this video, but I venture to say that the choice between the two MAY likely be a function of location, lifestyle, and possibly convenience. For example: a person or family living outside of an urban environment may find a larger standard fridge more conducive to that way of life because of having access to farms and bulkier types foods on more of a regular basis. The urban dweller is more likely to be concerned about the convenience of smaller packaging with single serve items , may be more prone to visiting a neighborhood supermarket or grocery store on a much more frequent basis, thus opting for the counter depth. The commonly voiced complaint of losing food in the refrigerator is not the fault of the refrigerator, but rather an unchecked function of human nature that has far reaching effects well beyond a refrigerated box. Be it bags, boxes, living & storage spaces, people tend to fill up whatever space they have available to them, whether they need to or not. Thanks for the video, my next refrigerator purchase will be the largest unit that I can find. ✌🏾

[@animeB0y01]

Food wastage is a function of the appliance. If it’s too large it encourages waste.

[@stephaniesochan5273]

Counter depth works for us as 2 adults in an environment exactly as your described haha. I get a weekly CSA farm box, shop the local markets, juice (uses a lot of produce), bake sourdough (need space for 2 loaves to ferment overnight), shop at Costco sometimes… eat mainly home cooked meals and we have never had an issue. I think a certain demographic matters less than specific persons.

[@annitamenogan5107]

Why does it encourage waste? Only buy what you will use. Poor shopping habits are the culprit. Not the size of the refrigerator.

[@CoorsLight2025]

My CD refrigerator was not cutting it because the freezer was too small. After buying a larger fridge i was able to stock up on expensive food items that went on sale and freeze them. I have saved lots of money.

[@MiloniD]

I just switched from standard depth and counter depth and I love the counter depth. It’s not so deep where things get pushed to the back and I forget about them or I can’t reach them. It also flushes with my cabinets which was a big plus. I don’t feel like I lost too much cubic feet. I regret not buying a counter depth earlier.

[@powderhog7272]

The best thing about the shallow depth refrigerator is I can easily see to the back of the fridge. Food does not get forgotten at the back.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Good point

[@KeithandPamBilyeu]

We love our counter depth fridge. Much prefer less depth inside. I go to my sisters house and their is so much old food stuffed in the back that is hard to get to. It fits perfect in my smaller foot print kitchen where we were unable to create the deeper set into the wall behind because of the electrical and furnace ductwork. We opted to have another fridge for storage for over flow.

[@michman1956]

Love my counter depth fridge. Just ordered a new one to replace my 20 y/o GE cd one.

[@FabienTeulieres93]

Counter depth is 100% the way to go, in my opinion. I've had 2 so far, and I never felt like I was running out of storage space, even with my family of 5. It's also incredibly more aesthetically pleasing and convenient in the kitchen that a jumbo fridge that (literally) sticks out like a sore thumb. Much easier to clean inside too. My 2 cents: counter depth all the way - unless of course you have deeper counters and cabinetry in your kitchen (but that's pretty rare).

[@watcher223]

We love our counter depth fridge! We do have a backup fridge in our garage- used mainly for drinks and at holiday time.

[@colleenosullivan857]

I bight a counter depth 16 years ago. When I replaced my appliances this year. I bought another one. I have never had an issue with any platter or pot I needed to put in there.

[@032319581]

I bought a counter dept only because the home I purchased was renovated and they seemed to forget where to put a fridge. Sticks out in room. Yes, I would love a standard, but it also makes me clean it every weekend. No ruined meals I forgot.

[@boatdesigner12]

We hate the extra depth refrigerators because we can never reach the stuff in the back. It's a pain in the butt when you have to move things to get the forgotten items in the back. Plus sticking way out beyond the counter tops looks like crap. Most of us aren't going to remodel our cabinets just for a replacement refrigerator. Your way out there on this one.

[@shank296]

I know....Its a habit at this point. Seriously, just trying to provide alternatives

[@richardr5888]

I owned a counter depth fridge for 10 years. What I hated was extra large (and some large) pizza boxes never fit. But the biggest problem besides fridge capacity was I never had enough room in the freezer. When I went looking for a new one, I was surprised that the full size actually fit my unique dimensions. Plus, the price difference for the features I wanted made no sense- more money for less capacity. Very happy going back to normal size. My poor mother just moved to a new house and she hates her counter depth fridge. It looks good, but does not serve her needs and springing for a subzero fridge that has the capacity would require brand new cabinetry in addition to the astronominal price of the Subzero. Everyone has different needs, but in our cases, counter depth is not for us.

[@deekang6244]

We bought an extra freezer for about $120. We can fit half a cow plus lots more. It’s in the garage, but my friend puts hers in the laundry room.

[@markraymond6351]

@@deekang6244 Yes, chest freezers are very inexpensive, plus they're very energy efficient. The only drawbacks are that they're not frost free and stuff can get lost at the bottom. But they're a great option.

[@markraymond6351]

I'm a former Sub Zero owner. And I'll always be a former Sub Zero owner. I won't buy another one. I ditched mine when it needed its third expensive out of warranty repair. Do yourself a favor and strike them off your list.

[@veganconservative1109]

@@markraymond6351 Agree. Dad once spent a fortune for his and as soon as the warranty expired it failed again. No more super-expensive appliances.

[@juliaashley2946]

i'm a one person person. the counter depth refrigerator i bought was a smaller refrigerator sure . . . BUT it's not a gigantic thing that takes over the entire look of the kitchen. blends perfectly . . . and NOTHING rots . . .

[@ocpersonofinterest]

I like my counter depth refrigerator. Originally bought because of how small my kitchen was. Remodeled the kitchen, but I find I don't lose as much food to the wilds of the back of the fridge. If I can lose leftovers in a counter depth, imagine how much I could lose in a bigger one.

[@frithbarbat]

I'm in my refrigerator at least a dozen times a day. Some days I don't cook at all, but I'm still in my fridge constantly for milk for tea, smoothies, snacks etc. I would never want a fridge off to the side. I DO want a bottom freezer model though - that's way more important to me than how deep it is.

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

I don’t see too many good comments for Standard Depth so I’ll add that after having a small fridge in the garage as a spare and a regular one in the kitchen, we looked online for various options and the main feature we focused on was BIG. So we saw the Samsung French Door with beverage center Standard Depth fridge and compared it to counter depth and we decided to get Standard Depth. We are a family of 6 with 2 teenagers and 2 kids so we hardly ever leave anything behind. Plus, out fridge sits by itself in the corner of our kitchen which was just remodeled and trying to line it up with out counters was nothing we were ever worried about. My wife especially is totally happy with our new 39 cu Samsung fridge!

[@matt8474]

This dude is fantastic! Not only does he present well, but the information is great!

[@YaleAppliance1]

Glad you think so! Thank you!

[@shank296]

Thanks Matt...I have increased my fandom from 1 to 2. Its you and my mom. Maybe we will have our own Festival like Burning Man or WoodStock..Just you, me, and Mom.

[@Rickmakes]

Our kitchen is small. Our counter depth fridge knocked 4” off the front of our fridge. It is taller and higher capacity than our old fridge. It wasn’t cheap but was way cheaper than expanding our house (which is brick).

[@jstpshply79]

LOVE my LG counter depth! Didn't want a total kitchen remodel. This fridge made a huge impact and was well worth the few extra bucks. It even has the little door to access just door shelf items (and lights up when you knock on it 😅). It probably wouldn't work for a large family, but it's just me and the hubs now, so room is plentiful. I enjoy your videos, but this one was a little short sighted...(no pun intended)

[@YaleAppliance1]

We wanted to share some of the downsides, knowing that they may not apply to most people. Counter depth models are incredibly popular but might not be right for everyone.

[@GiddingsMcCann]

I bought a beautiful counter depth Whirlpool 4 door and LOVE IT. Yes, less capacity, but it's just me and a teenager soon to be moving out. Price was very comparable to the larger units.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Thanks for sharing!

[@paulturner3553]

If doing a rehab, consider building a reset fridge space from the kitchen into a bedroom. Any remaining dead space in the bedroom can be made into a small closet. I did this with our 9.5' X 13' kitchen in order to have a fully functional kitchen with kitchen table. Kitchen sink should always be at an exterior widow unless impossible to do. Stove, sink and fridge should be within a triangle space of each other. Do it right and never have regrets later.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Love all the comments here! We're of course big supporters of the counter-depth style refrigerator. If you watch this and don't have an issue with any of the "problems" we're pointing out, then counter-depth is a great choice for you. But they're not for everyone and we believe it's best to talk about possible issues of every product.

[@222INFINITY]

I start by purchasing a home with a kitchen at the rear of the home. This allows you to purchase any fridge and even a stand alone matching freezer and flush mount them to an outside wall by constructing a bump out. If there's extra space you can add additional cabinets. You get all this extra floor space and end up with a designer kitchen that looks better and performs better than any other. Did I mention at 1/2 the price?

[@lillianlamantia9605]

I am European and I have only ever seen counter-depth fridges, except online, in photos or in show rooms. The bigger ones are a very new thing here in Europe and VERY much more expensive. I have currently got the biggest fridge I have had in my whole life at 318 litres (about 11.2 cu ft), I grew up in a home with 2 adults, 4 children and my mother ran a B&B so made breakfast for up to 6 other people, we had a below counter fridge that was smaller than that. I know families of 6 people that have a smaller fridge than me and they live a long way from the nearest grocery store and only shop every 7-14 days. I cannot imagine how much food you would need to fill up such a large fridge. I think the other type looks nice and modern but I think I will save my money for now.

[@gratefulketo2211]

It is interesting to see the differences in our cultures. For instance, we store our eggs in the refrigerator while you store them on the counter. In our culture, refrigerators are generally loaded with condiments, soda bottles and packaged Foods. Sad but true.

[@whazzat8015]

Great vid. Had to go CD due to funky space in remodel with inadequate depth that blocked doorway. Wish newer models didn't have the water tap in front, a freezer space killer.

[@jdmb03]

Give yourself a few inches behind the fridge for airflow and water line and that adds to the depth of a standard. Our old fridge is 33.5 with handles and it sticks out a good amount. We are considering switching to counter depth.

[@PizzaJet1984]

My house came with a (new) counter depth side-by-side refrigerator and I absolutely hated it. The fridge was borderline unusable for how little food it could store. Thanks for an informative video - i couldn’t wait to replace my counter depth with a normal one.

[@animeB0y01]

Side by side is useless in any format. It was likely not the fact that it was counter depth that was the problem.

[@knothead35]

@@animeB0y01 completely agree with this. Side by sides are horrible designs. Especially the freezer section..I couldn't even fit a large turkey in it. Large pizza? Forget about it!

[@damienhagedorn8990]

The first "negative" point here is the exact reason that I want one. I want less capacity I want the food up front not hidden The other two points follow because it's less common and that's a trade-off that I'm willing to make for now If they became more common the second two points would become less and less valid

[@roboh27]

I have a counter depth refrigerator and love it. It doesn't look like the monolith from 2001 in my kitchen. It holds everything I need and holds two weeks worth of groceries.

[@danielneighbor4328]

My counter depth was only $1000 new. So much less than what you showed and it was stainless and ice dispenser. It listed the energy consumption less than a standard depth. Four adults use it just fine. Why do I need more volume to cool? It fits thru the front door without taking the refrigerator door off the unit. A bigger refrigerator is only better if you need one. And yes I designed my cabinets myself. I also did what you recommend and recessed the full depth refrigerator into the walk in closet on the back side at my parents house so it didn't stick out since my mom said she needed the biggest refrigerator they made. They both have their place. So to make a claim that you shouldn't buy a counter depth refrigerator is not considerate.

[@stepside2839]

The price of refrigerators has increased since your post and this video 📈 Timing was good for you👍

[@katem6139]

We love our counter depth fridge. GE 24 in is fabulous. Better design vs our huge former fridge.

[@teddyl7006]

This biggest flaw with a deep refrigerator is the depth. That back 5 inches in my fridge is a black hole. I always forget about the stuff in the back and it gets left there so long it goes bad. If given a choice, I'd select a less deep refrigerator and buy smaller platters if I ever needed such a thing. I honestly feel like I have to go mining if I have to go into the back of the fridge.

[@datsuntoyy]

We're redoing our kitchen and switching to a counter depth built in. We've found we have to get a 42" built in to have the same capacity as our regular refrigerator. We're getting a 48" for about 30 cu ft.

[@williamsstephens]

Which brand/model? I'm struggling!

[@nightdipper5178]

Great info. Owning a counter depth 'built in' I agree with the negatives but it works for me. At an additional cost $$ you could go 42" wide counter depth if you have the space or are remodeling and can't move a wall to fit a full depth.

[@LlyleHunter]

I agree with you. I’d rather build out my cabinetry rather than compromise the depth of my refrigerator. I live to entertain guests and I love to cook so having prepared trays on hand after preparing food is of high priority to me. It’s the same reason that I find a side by side refrigerator/freezer unit to be useless because their interior space is too narrow. Two 30” separates would be wonderful however.

[@imquality5]

How much did it cost to build the counters out?

[@SuzanneWho]

Regarding putting the refrigerator off to the side and not near the “triangle” - when you are unpacking from shopping, it needs to have a landing area to put bags on to unpack. Also, when I’m cooking I may need to get addl things from the fridge and don’t want to have to schlep items back and forth across..I now have a fridge in an alcove and it is a pain when my arms are full of items I need to cook or put away.

[@dorothy135]

My kitchen is done. Fridge is a KA side by side counter depth 2003. I have no choice but to keep that depth. I have full standing freezer and full standing fridge in my basement to pick up slack and deal with big pans.

[@dantillson8702]

As an appliance delivery guy, in 4 out of 5 CD fridge deliveries, the number one consideration is the narrow entry into the home or entry way into the kitchen. If these entries are under 29 inches, they cannot get a full sized 36" wide fridge.

[@YaleAppliance1]

I can see that...even with the doors off, its tight

[@auggiedoggiesmommy1734]

I’ve never had my sink and dishwasher off to the side….sink always in front of the window and dishwasher next to the sink. I absolutely despise sinks in islands. You can never have a couple of dirty dishes in a sink there and it wastes almost all of the island. Sink definitely next to dish.washer, but I couldn’t care less where the stove is in relation if it means putting it in the Island. If there’s nowhere else for the sink, at least put it in off-center so you keep as much Island space as possible. I had a counter depth fridge in my last home for two people, a box of soda won’t fit and if you entertain at all ….fitting everything is an issue. I also used to cool chocolate on a standard sheet pan…they barely fit.

[@TotyVale]

I bough one and I love it. Is plenty for our family. I really hate those fridges that stick out!

[@bradmoran5229]

I had a 27 cu ft subzero and moved to a house with a 21 cu ft counter depth, and as a family of 1, it's too small. I got a large wine cooler where I now store my cold brew, beer, water and non-perishables and I'm looking to add a bigger unit (maybe a dual setup). I don't understand how a family can get by with 1 counter depth fridge.in modern times (of course I do work from home so I need more food and beverages than the avg 9 to 5er. Something not mentioned is that while built ins (and built-in look-a-likes like sidekicks and dual setups) are expensive, they do add value to your home, so they're really an investment. A "standard' fridge doesnt add $1 in value to your home, but a sub-zero should very well add $10k in value.

[@YaleAppliance1]

Good point.....LG will have 26 cubic foot counter depths soon

[@barryhaley7430]

We are a senior couple. We shop like Europeans. Focus on fresh more frequently and less volume. So the counter depth works perfectly. But the negative is the freezer is smaller than we would like.