Frigidaire vs. Jenn-Air Counter Depth Refrigerators (Reviews/Ratings)

Jenn-Air is the upscale brand of the Whirlpool company. They have invested 300 million in Jenn-Air over the last few years.

Frigidaire Professional is owned by Electrolux and is best line under the Frigidaire label.

Both are affordable luxury brands meaning they have upscale features without the prices of a Sub-Zero, Thermador or Miele brands.

What is a counter depth refrigerator?

A counter depth refrigerator is a freestanding refrigerator that has more of a built-in look because only the door of the refrigerator will extend beyond a 24’’ depth cabinet. Many customers desire a counter depth refrigerator because you can build cabinetry to surround the body of your refrigerator offering it a more built-in look without paying the price for a true integrated refrigerator

Counter depth refrigerators have less capacity than regular depth refrigerators because they are less deep yet offer the flexibility for a built-in look in a 24’’ cabinet.

French door or Side-By-Side are the most popular with 36 inches being the most popular size, yet there are some manufacturers producing sizes at 24", 25", 27", 30", 33", 42" and 48". 

Jenn-Air

Jenn-Air is the premium brand owned by the Whirlpool Corporation, the largest manufacturer of household appliances in the world. Jenn-Air is one of our favorite appliance brands based on a solid service history and the wide variety of products including some of the best kitchen packages.

Jenn-Air JFC2290VEM - $2869 after rebates

This Jenn-Air luxury freestanding cabinet depth French door refrigerator offers a sleek, built-in appearance for a more integrated look. It features electronic climate control to maintain an ideal environment for keeping ingredients fresh.

Specifications

• Refrigerator Type: French Door
• Total Capacity: 21.8 Cu. Ft.
• Refrigerator Capacity: 16.27 Cu. Ft.
• Freezer Capacity: 5.52 Cu. Ft.
• Energy Star Qualified

Features

• 72-Inch Cabinet Depth Design - This luxury French door refrigerator's cabinet depth design offers a more seamless, built-in look, thanks to an extra three inches that fill the gap 69-inch refrigerators leave below standard cabinets. It's a feature designers will appreciate.
• TriSensor Electronic Climate Control - This feature keeps temperatures consistent by using three separate sensors, which automatically respond to the refrigerator and freezer interiors as well as the kitchen environment itself.
• One-Hand Internal Water Dispenser with PUR Filter - The design of this dispenser features a touch pad that allows you to use it with one hand. This creates convenient access to fresh, filtered water while maintaining the refrigerator's sleek, uninterrupted exterior.
• Glide-out Drawer with SmoothClose Drawer Track System - Features triple-tiered storage for easy organization, viewing and access. The sturdy drawer design with precision ball bearings provides effortless opening and closing - even when fully loaded, ensuring smooth operation every time.
• Electronic Controls with LED Displays - This sleek external control panel allows you to independently adjust and verify temperature settings with just a touch. The controls include intuitive performance features such as Max Cold and Sabbath Mode.
• Automatic Ice Maker with Storage Bin and Ice Scoop - Enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, filtered ice with its own storage bin and accompanying ice scoop for added convenience.

Frigidaire Professional

Frigidaire is a well-known appliance brand in the US market owned by the Electrolux Corporation. Electrolux is the largest manufacturer of household appliances in Europe and is the second largest appliance corporation worldwide. Frigidaire is another favorite appliance brand for their low service history. Frigidaire is well-known for manufacturing products with a smudge-proof stainless steel finish.

Frigidaire FPHG2399PF - $2499 after rebates

Frigidaire Professional 22.6 Cu. Ft. French Door Counter-Depth Refrigerator

Features

• Adjustable Interior Storage: Over 100 ways to organize and customize your refrigerator.
• SpillSafe Slide Under Shelf: Easily make room for tall or large items with the new Slide-Under shelf.
• Effortless Glide Crisper Drawers: Our humidity-controlled crisper drawers drawers can be configured any number of ways, either side-by-side or stacked on top of each other so you can organize your refrigerator the way you want.
• Counter-Depth Design: Maximize your kitchen space with our counter-depth refrigerator that gives you back 5 inches of kitchen space while still offering over 100 ways to organize.
• Smudge-Proof Stainless Steel: Resists fingerprints and smudges so it's easy to clean.
• PureSource Ultra Ice Filtration: Clean, pure, refreshing water that removes impurities straight from your refrigerator.
• Multi Level LED Lighting: Corner to corner LED lighting throughout the refrigerator for better visibility.
• Full-Width Cool-Zone Drawer: A large capacity Cool Zone drawer extends completely and provides space to easily store anything from sheet cakes and large platters to snacks and juice boxes.
• Dual Ice Makers: Provides a greater amount of ice so you don't have to worry about running out of ice when you're on the go.
• PowerPlus Freeze: Quickly freeze whatever you store to keep foods at their freshest. Freezer Basket with Divider: Deep freezer storage with adjustable divider keeps food organized and accessible.
• PureAir Ultra Filters: Our PureAir Ultra air filters effortlessly keep the air in your refrigerator fresh.
• Energy Saver Plus Technology:
• Effortless Glide Freezer Drawers: Drawers glide out smoothly and fully extend, giving you easy access to what's inside.
• Automatic Alerts: Refrigerator alerts you if the door is left open or if the temperature rises.
• Pro-Select Controls: Easily select options with the touch of a button.
• Sabbath Mode (Star-K Certified)

Which would I buy?

These are two of the nicest 36’’ counter-depth French door refrigerators in the industry. Listed below are some questions I would ask myself before choosing a refrigerator on features alone.

Do you want smudgeproof coated stainless steel?

The Frigidaire refrigerator advertizes a smudge proof stainless coating on their Frigidaire Professional and Gallery appliances.  Many families with young children like the Frigidaire smudge-proof finish because it will not show fingerprints as much as regular stainless steel.

Although the smudge proof stainless is conceptually a great idea, the smudge proof stainless has a lighter finish than traditional stainless steel and will not match regular stainless appliances. Generally if customers purchase a smudgeproof project, the smudge proof appliance is not in close proximity to other regular stainless appliances or customers opt to go with an entirely smudge proof stainless kitchen package.

How much are you looking to customize the interior?

Although this question is subjective, different refrigerators have varying configurations. The Frigidaire Professional refrigerator gives you the freedom to rearrange shelves and crisper bins to best accommodate your organization technique whereas the Jenn-Air refrigerator only has adjustable split shelves. I like how the ice bin on the Jenn-Air refrigerator can lock onto the freezer door so that every time you pull the door out the bin will come with the drawer.

Conclusion

Personally, I like adjustability of the Frigidaire refrigerator and the smudge-proof stainless would be great if I had young children at home. You can mismatch appliance brands to find the products that work best for you in each category.

However, in designing your “dream kitchen” I would also consider a refrigerator with a regular stainless steel finish. You have a more homogenous look and can maximize rebate opportunities. Jenn-Air has better kitchen packages including the single best selling package in the store.

Counter depth Video

Related Articles

• 5 Best Counter Depth Refrigerators
• 5 Best Integrated Refrigerators

Dounload the Yale Counter Depth Refrigerator Buying Guide with features, specs and inside tips to all the major brands. Well over 55,000 people have read a Yale Guide.