Pros vs. Cons: Column Refrigerators and Freezers

08 Oct.,2023

 

Column refrigerators and column freezers are tall, sleek, single-door appliances that can be built into your cabinetry. They can be used singly, in home kitchens, or incorporated into column sets, each utilized for a specific food or beverage storage purpose. Integrated refrigerator columns or integrated freezer columns create a finished, seamless look that is perfect for luxury and high-end kitchens.

People choose column refrigerators and freezers for the versatility they provide. These appliances can be constructed to suit the style of your kitchen, and your personal preferences, like steel or glass-fronted door panels, or panels that match your cabinetry. They can be placed in the most appropriate site, based on your requirements, like an out-of-the-way space, or next to a beverage center or food-prep station.

Does a column refrigerator or freezer suit your food storage and kitchen design needs? We'll help you decide by presenting some pros vs cons regarding today's innovative column freezers and column refrigerators. The latest models provide precision food preservation features combined with high tech features like iPhone and Android compatible Wi-Fi connectivity.

Pros of Column Refrigerators and Freezers

There are good reasons to add a column refrigerator or freezer to your kitchen. Here are some perks of these attractive and sleek kitchen appliances.

  • Flexible, Customizable Installation is Possible

    - Column refrigeration can go anywhere within your kitchen thanks to the built-in design of column refrigerators and freezers. Additionally, many column refrigerator/freezer sets can be installed in whatever order you want.
  • Column Refrigerators Feature Copious Interior Storage

    - The full height door of column refrigeration units facilitates flexible interior storage. The storage capabilities are versatile, with several drawers and adjustable shelves included in most models.
  • Quiet Operation

    - The low-profile design of column refrigeration units is enhanced by their quiet operation. This overall impression helps maintain a minimalist feel.

Cons of Column Refrigerators and Freezers

Column refrigerators and freezers are the right choice for many kitchens. But they may not provide the best solution for everyone's needs and budget considerations. The following points will help you determine whether a column refrigerator, or a column set, will solve your storage problems, while adding understated style to your home or commercial kitchen.

  • Requires a Larger Budget

    - Since column refrigerators and freezers are built-in units, they come at a premium on the front end. But if you can manage the investment cost, their high-end designs and features can make the price worthwhile for over the long term.
  • Limit Replacement Options

    - A built-in design has its benefits. But it does also require that a replacement unit will need to match the dimensions and space requirements of the previous model. If you purchase a column refrigeration unit, be prepared and plan ahead as time passes and the unit may need to be replaced.

A review of these prominent pros and cons of column refrigerators and freezers should help you decide whether one or more units would provide what your kitchen needs.

Our Expert Picks

This 33-in. counter depth refrigerator and freezer pair from Frigidaire Professional is one of the most budget-friendly luxury options out there. Both the fridge and the freezer come with high-end features such as a fully adjustable SpacePro™ shelving system. With this combination of adjustable door bins, crisper bins, shelves, and full-width drawers, you can easily configure the pair to handle anything from your farmer's market haul to a giant ice cream cake. PrecisionPro Controls™ let you tweak the settings on both units with just the press of a few buttons. Redesigned air outlets and the EvenTemp™ Cooling System combine to help make sure the cold air is properly distributed throughout the 19 cu. ft. fridge and freezer cavities, and the PureAir Ultra® filtration system reduces flavor transfer so you can even store the onions next to the bread if you want to. The exterior, meanwhile, is clad in Smudge-Proof™ stainless steel, which means that you can easily wipe the entire surface clean with just a damp cloth.

Dacor's Contemporary Series brings us this refrigerator and freezer column pair. The fridge offers a 21.5 cu. ft. storage capacity, while the freezer tops out at 21.4 cu. ft., making this the most spacious pair on our list. Their interior is clad with SteelCool™ stainless steel, which helps keep your food fresh longer, and the hidden control panels fade away when you don't need them. You can also monitor the fridge's conditions using smart technology: it integrates with your Wi-Fi to let you control it from anywhere, and with the iQ RemoteView™ cameras, you can even view the inside of your fridge while you're at the grocery store. 3DLighting linear LEDs line the entire cavity of both appliances, making it easy to see all the way inside them. And both appliances come with PreciseCooling™ technology to automatically maintain the ideal temperature for any food item.

Thermador appliances are among the most high-end on the market, and this built-in 30-in. column refrigerator and freezer pair from the Freedom Series is no different. Both the 16.8 cu. ft. refrigerator and the 15.8 cu. ft. freezer are smart appliances, connecting to your Wi-Fi with Home Connect™ technology. The ThermaFresh System, meanwhile, provides fine-tuned humidity and temperature management, and the full stainless steel inner liner means that your food will stay cool with less power than a traditional fridge or freezer. LED sidewall and theater lighting lets you find your way around without increasing the cavities' internal temperature, and the Freedom® Hinge enables both appliances to be installed truly flush with your cabinetry. Even better, these are the only panel ready refrigerator and freezer columns on our list, so the sky is the limit when it comes to matching (or contrasting with) the rest of your kitchen.

This fridge and freezer column from Electrolux each offer 18.6 cu. ft. of interior capacity, giving you plenty of room to store all your fresh food. Adjustable glass shelves and a LuxCool temperature system combine to provide luxury storage and air filtration with minimal need to clean the appliances' spacious interiors. Look for features like an internal ice maker, door and temperature alarms, and sleek stainless steel exteriors to complete the effect. The integrated electronic control panel comes with touch-to-wake controls that are completely hidden from view until you tap them. When you do, the temperature and humidity settings appear on your shelf as if by magic. Meanwhile, the EvenTemp cooling system dynamically adjusts the airflow through a series of outlets, ensuring a uniform interior temperature with no hot or cold spots.

Related Questions

What's the difference between installing a panel-ready freestanding refrigerator and a column refrigerator?

When you install a panel on a built-in column fridge model, you can achieve a fully flush installation. And columns have fully articulating hinges. So only a barely noticeable gap is revealed on each side—resulting in a smooth, professional appearance.

A panel-ready refrigerator's appearance is less seamless. It simply looks like a refrigerator with panels attached.

Can you use a column refrigerator as a wine cellar?

Definitely, yes. That's one trending use for this appliance. The specific temperature and humidity requirements for optimal serving conditions can easily be regulated with a designated refrigeration appliance. Separate wine storage also protects the quality of its flavor by eliminating the risk of absorbed aromas from leftover foods that could transfer through the corks.

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