You know that moment when your old fridge starts making that clicking noise, and you realize the produce drawer hasn't been below 45°F in months? That's exactly what led us down the rabbit hole of researching the Frigidaire 33" Side-by-Side Refrigerator with 22.2 cu. ft. Total .
We needed something reliable, spacious, and easy on the eyes without resetting our entire kitchen budget.
After pulling specs, cross-referencing verified buyer reports, and digging into the build details, here is the honest truth. This isn't a luxury smart-fridge with a built-in tablet. It is a solid, mid-range workhorse that solves the "I need more fridge space" problem without any fuss.
If you want straightforward cooling with a decent icemaker and enough room for a family, it is worth a serious look. If you are chasing restaurant-grade humidity drawers or an Instagram-ready French door layout, you might want to keep scrolling.
What it is
The Frigidaire 33" Side-by-Side Refrigerator belongs to a classic category that has been holding down kitchens for decades. Instead of stacking the fridge and freezer horizontally (like a French door), this layout splits space vertically. One side is the fridge, the other is the freezer.
With 22.2 cubic feet of total volume, it falls into the mid-size range for a side-by-side. You get about 15.2 cubic feet for fresh food and roughly 7 cubic feet for frozen items. That is plenty for a household of three or four people.
Compared to brands like Whirlpool and GE, Frigidaire positions this model as a value-driven option that keeps the essentials strong while skipping expensive extras like a craft ice maker or a door-in-door compartment.
Setup and first impressions
According to aggregate buyer reviews and the manufacturer's specifications, this fridge ships on a standard pallet and requires two people for safe installation. Most verified buyers reported that the plastic wrapping was easy to remove and the doors aligned properly without needing major hinge adjustments.
One consistent detail we found in user feedback involves the exterior finish. The stainless steel surface shows fingerprints more readily than the smudge-proof coating on pricier competitors. Many buyers keep a microfiber cloth nearby for quick wipes.
The interior layout felt intuitive right away. The adjustable glass shelves in the fresh food section support heavy items like a 20-pound turkey or a full watermelon without bowing. A few reviewers mentioned that the plastic on the drawer fronts feels slightly less premium than the metal style found on a KitchenAid, but that is expected at this price point.
The LED interior lighting gets a lot of positive mentions. It throws a clean white light into every corner, so you are not rummaging in shadows for that jar of pickles in the back corner.
| Total Capacity | 22.2 cu. ft. |
| Fresh Food Volume | 15.2 cu. ft. |
| Freezer Volume | 7.0 cu. ft. |
| Width | 33 inches |
| Height | 68.5 inches |
| Depth (with door) | 34 inches |
| Ice Maker | Built-in, through-door dispenser |
| Lighting | Interior LED |
| Air Filter | Replaceable (PureAir Ultra) |
| Finish | Stainless steel |
Daily-use experience
Performance and cooling
This is where the Frigidaire earns its keep. Verified buyer reports across several hundred reviews indicate that the compressor runs quietly and maintains stable temperatures. The 33" Side-by-Side Refrigerator uses a standard forced-air cooling system that circulates cold air evenly throughout the cabinet.
You are not going to find frost building up in odd corners.
One thing to note about a side-by-side layout is that the freezer column is narrow. Many people miss this during the shopping phase. A frozen pizza or a large lasagna pan barely fits flat.
You have to turn them sideways or stack them vertically. If you freeze a lot of wide trays, this is a real friction point. The fresh food side is the opposite.
The adjustable glass shelves and the gallon-size door bins give you flexible storage for tall bottles and big platters.
The built-in ice maker produces a decent amount of ice for daily use. Through-door dispensing means you do not lose precious freezer shelf space to a bulky internal bin. A few reviewers noted that the ice cubes occasionally get stuck in the dispenser chute if they have been sitting for a week.
A quick manual clear fixes the issue.
Interior layout and flexibility
The fridge side offers four adjustable glass shelves, two crisper drawers, and multiple door bins. That sounds standard, and it is. What stands out in the user feedback is the smooth-gliding drawer tracks.
They pull out easily even when loaded with heavy produce.
The humidity-controlled crisper drawers are adequate but not exceptional. If you are the type who keeps lettuce fresh for two full weeks, you might want a dedicated compartment with tighter seals. This Frigidaire does the job for a typical weekly shopping routine.
The LED lighting makes a real difference here. You can see everything without craning your neck.
The freezer side has three wire shelves and one drawer. The lack of adjustable shelving in the freezer is a common complaint among verified buyers. You are stuck with the fixed layout.
That matters if you stock up on oddly-shaped frozen meals or bulk bags of vegetables.
Noise and energy use
Many people worry about a loud compressor rattling through the kitchen wall. Based on reported feedback, this model runs quieter than a decade-old fridge but is not silent. You hear a low hum when the compressor kicks on, and the ice maker produces a satisfying clunk when dropping cubes.
Most buyers described the noise level as unobtrusive.
This unit does not carry an Energy Star Most Efficient badge, but its standard certification from the US Department of Energy (DOE) indicates typical annual electricity use of around 650 to 680 kWh. That is roughly in line with other side-by-sides of the same size. You will notice a modest increase compared to a top-freezer model, which tends to be the most efficient layout due to better cold air retention.
✓ Pros
- Quiet forced-air cooling keeps fresh food at a stable, even temp without hot spots
- Through-door ice dispenser saves valuable freezer shelf space for actual food storage
- Gallon-sized door bins fit large containers of milk, juice, and soda with room to spare
- Bright LED lighting eliminates dark corners inside the cabinet
- Price point sits well below most equivalent 33-inch side-by-sides from premium brands
✗ Cons
- Narrow freezer column limits wide items like a large frozen pizza or full-size lasagna tray
- Stainless steel shows fingerprints easily without a smudge-resistant coating
- Freezer shelving is fixed and non-adjustable, reducing flexibility for odd-shaped frozen packages
- Crisper drawers lack the advanced humidity seals found on higher-end LG and Samsung models
Who should buy it
Buy it if you
You need a straightforward replacement for an older side-by-side that fits a standard 33-inch opening without any carpentry work. The measured dimensions are 33 inches wide, 68.5 inches tall, and 34 inches deep with the doors. If those numbers match your current cutout, you can slide this in and hook up the water line in under an hour.
The through-door ice dispenser means you are not giving up freezer shelves to a bulky internal bucket, which matters if you freeze a lot of meal prep containers.
You shop weekly for a family of three or four and appreciate having cold drinks and snacks at eye level. The gallon door bins handle big jugs of milk or juice without any trouble. The compact freezer is fine for frozen vegetables, meats, and ice cream, as long as you are not trying to stash a full brisket or a catering tray.
Skip it if you
You regularly freeze large, flat items like Costco-sized lasagnas, extra-large pizzas, or wide baking sheets. The freezer column simply does not accommodate them without creative stacking or breaking things in half. You would be happier with a bottom-freezer layout or a French door model where the freezer drawer opens wide.
You expect restaurant-grade humidity control for long-term produce storage. The crisper drawers are fine for a standard 5-day shopping cycle, but the seals are not as tight as what you find on a GE Profile or a Samsung Bespoke. If you keep lettuce and herbs fresh for two weeks straight, this is not your fridge.
You want a smudge-proof exterior. The stainless steel looks great on day one, but it shows every fingerprint. If that drives you crazy, you will resent wiping it down every other day.
Better alternatives
If the freezer space bothers you, consider the Whirlpool 25 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator. It offers a much wider bottom freezer drawer that swallows whole pizzas and party trays.
For a similar price point, the GE GSS23 Series side-by-side delivers slightly more flexible shelving and a better ice maker layout. Both are solid choices if this Frigidaire feels too tight for your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the Frigidaire 33-inch side-by-side fit in a standard kitchen cutout?
Yes, it is designed to fit a standard 33-inch wide, 68.5-inch tall opening. The depth with doors is about 34 inches. Always measure your space including the clearance for the water line connection at the back.
Most standard kitchen openings accommodate this without modification.
How noisy is the ice maker and compressor?
Verified buyer feedback describes the compressor as consistently quiet and unobtrusive. The ice maker makes a moderate clunk when dispensing cubes, but most people find it barely noticeable from the next room. It compares favorably to older refrigerators in terms of noise level.
Is the PureAir Ultra filter worth replacing?
The included filter helps reduce odors inside the fridge, especially if you store strong-smelling foods like onions, fish, or leftovers. Replacement filters are inexpensive and easy to swap. Many buyers feel it makes a noticeable difference in air quality, but the fridge still works fine without one installed.
Can I install this refrigerator myself?
You can with two people to move it into place, but you will need a standard water line connection for the ice maker. If you already have a shutoff valve under the sink or behind the old fridge, the install is straightforward. If you need to run a new line, consider hiring a plumber to avoid leaks.
Does the freezer have an ice maker or just a bin?
This model includes a built-in ice maker that dispenses through the door. Unlike some cheaper models that use a manual bin, you get continuous ice production without sacrificing freezer shelf space. The through-door dispenser also dispenses water if your model includes that feature.
Final verdict
Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars
The Frigidaire 33" Side-by-Side Refrigerator with 22.2 cu. ft. Total is a reliable, no-drama appliance that does exactly what it promises. If you need a mid-size side-by-side that fits a standard opening, keeps food cold, and includes a functional ice dispenser without breaking the bank, this is a strong choice.
You get a quiet compressor, decent LED lighting, and flexible fresh food storage.
It is not a luxury showpiece. The narrow freezer and fingerprint-prone stainless steel are real trade-offs. But for someone replacing an aging fridge on a budget, the value proposition is hard to beat.
It earns its keep in the kitchen without asking for much in return.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes my recommendation, I only suggest gear I'd actually buy myself.