While upgrading refrigerator for their homes people in India nowadays are considering side by side by models too if budget is not a factor. Most get attracted to bigger size side by side fridge mostly shown in TV ads. Double door models are hardly shown.
Lets discuss if for a typical Indian home is it a wise decision to buy a side by side refrigerator. Biggest factor against side by side refrigerator is freezer to fridge ratio(space of freezer out of total available space). In side by side refrigerators this is approx 40:60% of total space while in normal double door fridge it is 20:80%. Infact in single door refrigerators its even lower at 10:90%.
This is good mostly for working couple who like to cook and freeze there food on weekends so as to use it on working days. I doubt we have that kind of culture in India as we are strictly against frozen foods as our parents love to cook due to easily available fresh veggies from cart/vendor nearby.
Plus there is extra power consumption too due to this higher freezer space ratio. You’ll mostly notice that these side by side refrigerators are low on star rating due to this and become a major cost in electricity bills.
Better alternative for Indian home is to instead buy a refrigerator with following features:
- Bottom Freezer – So that fridge part is easily accessible as Women mostly tend to have back problems.
- Inverter compressor – Not only these are latest and power saving. These also tend to operate on wide range on voltage thus saving transformer cost and are super silent too.
- Convertible fridge – Are the future where you can change freezer to fridge mode or even put it off for holidays. Tend to save power and increase life of compressor too.
- Spend more on 5star or 4star power saving models as refrigerator is kept on 24/7 365 days.
Have a look at few good Bottom Freezer Refrigerators:
Haier 325 L, 3 Star, Convertible 14-in-1 Triple Inverter & Fan Motor Technology, with Display Frost Free Double Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator (HEB-333DS-P, Dazzle Steel)
- Frost Free Refrigerator: Premium auto defrost with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance. Manage your flexible storage needs with convertible 14 in 1 technology of this double door fridge: Normal Mode | Veg Mode | Cold Drink Mode | Soft Freezer Mode | Vacation Mode | Power Cool Mode | Power Saving Mode | Surprise Party Mode | Turbo Mode | Holiday Mode | Freezer Mode | Preserve Curd Mode | Snow Beverages Mode | Dessert Mode.
- Capacity: 325 Litres Double Door Fridge; This refrigerator is suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 85 Ltr, Fresh food capacity: 240 Ltr.
- Energy Rating: 3 Star Double Door Fridge - Energy Efficiency | Annual Energy Consumption: 250 KWH.
- Manufacturer Warranty: This refrigerator comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty on product and a 10 years warranty on the inverter compressor.
- Compressor With Cooling Technology: Triple Inverter Compressor of this double door fridge provides greater energy efficiency, less noise and long-lasting performance, backed up by 10 years warranty.
Haier 237 L, 3 Star, 8 In 1 Convertible, Twin Inverter Technology, Bottom Mounted Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator (HEB-243GS-P, Moon Silver)
- Frost Free Refrigerator: Premium auto defrost with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance. Manage your flexible storage needs with convertible 8 in1 technology of this double door fridge: Normal Mode | Veg Mode | Vacation Mode | Surprise Party Mode | Summer Mode | Turbo Mode | Home Alone Mode | Freezer Mode.
- Capacity: 237 Litres Double Door Refrigerator; This fridge is suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 66 Ltr, Fresh food capacity: 171 Ltr.
- Energy Rating: 3 Star Double Door Fridge - Energy Efficiency | Annual Energy Consumption: 236 KWH.
- Manufacturer Warranty: This refrigerator comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty on product and a 10 years warranty on the compressor.
- Compressor With Cooling Technology: Twin Inverter Technology of this double door fridge helps run both the fan motor and compressor at Inverter causing fewer fluctuations and more energy savings by automatically adjusting the cooling supply of this refrigerator in regards to the cooling demand. Adding on to it also gives 10 years warranty on compressor.
Haier 355 L, 3 Star, Convertible 14-in-1 Triple Inverter & Fan Motor Technology, with Display Frost Free, Bottom Mounted Double Door Refrigerator (HEB-363TS-P, Inox Steel)
- Frost Free Refrigerator : Premium Auto Defrost Refrigerator with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance with Convertible 14in1 & Triple Inverter & Fan Motor Technology
- Capacity 355 Litres: Suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 85 Ltr , Fresh food capacity: 270 Ltr
- Energy Rating: 3 Stars - Energy Efficiency
- Manufacturer Warranty : The product comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty and a 10 years warranty on the inverter compressor
- Triple Inverter Compressor provides greater energy efficiency, less noise and long-lasting performance, backed up by 10 years warranty
Haier 325 L, 3 Star, Convertible 14-in-1, Triple Inverter & Fan Motor Technology, with Display Frost Free, Bottom Mounted Double Door Refrigerator (HEB-333GB-P, GE Black)
- Frost Free Refrigerator: Premium auto defrost with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance. Manage your flexible storage needs with convertible 14 in 1 technology of this double door fridge: Normal Mode | Veg Mode | Cold Drink Mode | Soft Freezer Mode | Vacation Mode | Power Cool Mode | Power Saving Mode | Surprise Party Mode | Turbo Mode | Holiday Mode | Freezer Mode | Preserve Curd Mode | Snow Beverages Mode | Dessert Mode.
- Capacity: 325 Litres Double Door Fridge; This refrigerator is suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 85 Ltr, Fresh food capacity: 240 Ltr.
- Energy Rating: 3 Star Double Door Fridge - Energy Efficiency | Annual Energy Consumption: 250 KWH.
- Manufacturer Warranty: This refrigerator comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty on product and a 10 years warranty on the inverter compressor.
- Compressor With Cooling Technology: Triple Inverter Compressor of this double door fridge provides greater energy efficiency, less noise and long-lasting performance, backed up by 10 years warranty.
Haier 237 L, 2 Star, 8 In 1 Convertible, Frost Free Double Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator (HEB-242GS-P, Moon Silver)
- Frost Free Refrigerator: Premium Auto Defrost with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance. Manage your flexible storage needs with Convertible 8in1 technology : |Normal Mode|Veg Mode|Vacation Mode|Surprise Party Mode|Summer Mode|Turbo Mode|Home Alone Mode|Freezer Mode
- Capacity 237 Litres: Suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 66 Ltr , Fresh food capacity: 171 Ltr
- Energy Rating: 2 Stars - Energy Efficiency
- Manufacturer Warranty : The product comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty on Product and a 10 years warranty on the compressor
- Compressor with Cooling technology – Compressor provides greater energy efficiency, less noise and long-lasting performance, backed up by 10 years warranty
Haier 300 L, 2 Star, Twin Inverter Technology, Frost Free Double Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator (HRB-3502BS-P, Brushline Silver)
- Frost Free Refrigerator : Premium Auto Defrost Refrigerator with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance with Twin Inverter Technology
- Capacity 300 Litres: Suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 75 Ltr , Fresh food capacity: 225 Ltr
- Energy Rating: 2 Stars - Energy Efficiency
- Manufacturer Warranty : The product comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty and a 10 years warranty on the inverter compressor
- Interior Description : Fresh Food Capacity : 225L | Freezer Capacity : 75L | Total No Of Compartments : 2 | Vegetable Drawers : 1 | Shelves : 3 | Shelf Type : Toughened Glass Shelves | Anti-Bacterial Gasket
Haier 445 L, 2 Star, Convertible 14-in-1 Triple Inverter & Fan Motor Technology, with Display Frost Free, Bottom Mounted Double Door Refrigerator (HRB-4952BIS-P, Inox Steel)
- Frost Free Refrigerator: Premium auto defrost with powerful cooling and long lasting freshness and performance. Manage your flexible storage needs with convertible 14 in 1 technology of this double door fridge: Normal Mode | Veg Mode | Cold Drink Mode | Soft Freezer Mode | Vacation Mode | Power Cool Mode | Power Saving Mode | Surprise Party Mode | Turbo Mode | Holiday Mode | Freezer Mode | Preserve Curd Mode | Snow Beverages Mode | Dessert Mode.
- Capacity: 445 Litres Double Door Fridge; This refrigerator is suitable for families with 3 to 4 members | Freezer capacity: 109 Ltr, Fresh food capacity: 336 Ltr.
- Energy Rating: 3 Star Double Door Fridge - Energy Efficiency | Annual Energy Consumption: 295 KWH.
- Manufacturer Warranty: This refrigerator comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty on product and a 10 years warranty on the inverter compressor.
- Compressor With Cooling Technology: Triple Inverter Compressor of this double door fridge provides greater energy efficiency, less noise and long-lasting performance, backed up by 10 years warranty.
Toshiba 349L 2 Star Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigirator (GR-RB423WE-PMI(37, Satin Grey, Bottom Freezer)
- The star rating changes are as per BEE guidelines on or before 1st Jan 2023
- Forst Free Refrigertor:Auto Defrost Function
- Capacity 349L:Suitable for Family 5 or more members
- Energy Efficiency:2 Star
- Manufacturer Warranty: 1 Year on Product and 10 Year on Compressor
Amazon Basics Double Door Deep Freezer, With Bottom Wheels, Total Volume 330 L, White
- Double Door Deep Freezer with capacity of 300 L, perfect for storing frozen food and ice-cream.
- Stabilizer-free: Operates between 190V and 260V, 50 Hz
- Comes with lock and key, suitable for use in shops and offices as well
- High cooling retention: Maintains high-cooling conditions (-18*C to -9*C) without electricity up to a duration of 15 to 20 hours
- Made from eco-friendly insulation material and R290 Refrigerant.
Electrolux 529L Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigerator, Bottom Freezer, TasteLockAuto & TasteGuard Technology, Stainless Steel, UltimateTaste 500, EBE5302C-S
- 1 Year Standard Warranty; 10 Year Warranty on Compressor (Refrigerant/Gas is chargeable)
- MOISTURE-FREE VEGTABLES AND FRUITS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK: The TasteLockAuto technology releases excess moisture to reduce condensation and keep the food fresh for up to one week.
- ODOUR-FREE & HYGIENIC STORAGE: This double door refrigerator comes with TasteGuard Deodorizer function that uses carbon filter to keep your food fresh, hygienic, and free from unwanted odours.
- DELICIOUS MEALS AT ALL TIMES: The EvenTemp function, helps in protecting the flavour and texture of your food. It ensures each shelf is cool and maintains a constant temperature across the entire compartment.
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR FRIDGE EFFORTLESSLY: With FlexStor function, you can arrange your refrigerator as per your needs with adjustable door bins and shelves. This double door refrigerator comes with different-sized compartments that effortlessly accommodate items, whether they are big or small.
Hope this helps in your refrigerator buying process.