KitchenAid KRFC704FBS/PS Counter Depth Refrigerator Review

The 24-cu.-ft. counter depth refrigerator also features industrial-style handles, a silvery platinum interior, and—on the KRFC704FBS we tested—a black stainless exterior.

But it's not just about looks. Our lab tests showed that this new KitchenAid also does a great job cooling and preserving food. If you want a unique fridge—and can afford its $3,800 sale price— it's worth your consideration. (Check out our picks for the best counter-depth refrigerators)

You've never seen inside a fridge like this before

Like all counter depth fridges, this KitchenAid is shallow enough that it doesn't stick out too far from your cabinetry. Available in regular or fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel, its controls sit on the inside edge of the left door to keep the exterior sleek and uncluttered.

The one thing that does break up its facade is a water dispenser with the modern features you’d expect. The controls allow you to select a “measured fill” that automatically dispenses pre-set amounts of water in cups, ounces, or fractions of a liter. There’s also a “Favorite Fill” option that allows you to dispense just the right amount of water to fill your favorite cup or bottle. Measured and favorite water fill can take your fingers off the controls and hold your cup with both hands.

Open the doors, and the first thing you'll notice is the platinum interior. The whole thing feels higher-end than your typical white plastic walls. Tall strips of energy-efficient panoramic LED lighting run up the walls, and keep the interior from feeling too dark.

Instead of hanging from plastic hooks as they do in most fridges, the KRFC704F's door-mounted storage bins rest inside metal bases. They look great, and they readily remove for easy cleaning.

And while most fridges have a special bin for butter and other dairy items, this Kitchenaid goes one step further. The dairy bin features a gasket seal to help preserve freshness. (Or alternatively, to store foods with strong smells that you don’t want taking over your fridge.)

But the boldest design choice? The wooden shelves, of course. Although it's not real wood—KitchenAid calls it a "moisture- and stain-resistant" trim—the juxtaposition of a natural finish against glass shelves and silver trim is like nothing else we've ever seen. You might think it's hokey, but most of our reviewers were excited to see something different behind the French doors.

There's also a practical aspect: The KRFC704F's shelves span the whole width of the fridge, but retract to accommodate taller items. It's a stadium seating-style twist on the retractable shelf, and it’s meant to make it easier to store large items without blocking your view of smaller ones.

Honestly, we don't really see how there's much of a difference other than orientation—the slide-away shelf is just moved to the center instead of sitting on the right or left side. But we admit it does look nice, and a slide-away shelf that retracts like this is an important feature in a fridge that needs to maximize its space.

You also get some nifty little add-ons with this model. First, a plastic cylindrical tube serves as herb storage. It's meant to lock in extra moisture and keep herbs fresher for longer. There's also an oven- and dishwasher-safe metal tray for marinating inside the fridge.

All the drawers for the refrigerator compartments have a soft-close feature, like high-end cabinets. These full-extension, self-close drawers are great at maximizing space, like the rest of the appliance. Unfortunately, the rollers they slide on feel far too rickety for a $3,800 refrigerator.

Another downside: The pull-out freezer feels cramped, which isn't unusual for a shallower counter depth model. KitchenAid tries to help by splitting the upper freezer drawer into multiple sections and tiers. The barriers should help keep food organized and accessible, but it does mean less storage compared to more conventional models.

It's not just another pretty fridge

We've covered how it looks. But how does this KitchenAid function as a fridge?

In terms of cooling, freezing, and food preservation, it's excellent. The fridge maintained stable temperatures around the ideal 37°F during our 72-hour test period. The freezer drawer with Extend-Freeze stayed below 0°F. Kitchenaid’s “Extend-Freeze” setting is the lowest temperature their freezers offer, and it can help minimize the moisture migration that causes freezer burn.

It took a perfectly acceptable 79 minutes to freeze room temperature food, the crispers retained just enough moisture to keep produce fresh without rotting, and—despite its lack of an Energy Star badge—the fridge was still quite efficient.

If anything should fail, KitchenAid offers a three-part, 10-year warranty that includes five years of parts and labor coverage on the cavity liner, as well as five years of labor and 10 years of parts coverage for the sealed refrigeration system.

Why We Like It

Let's face it: It's not often that a refrigerator stands out because of its design. But that's exactly what the KitchenAid KRFC704FBS does. With an optional black stainless exterior, a unique interior finish, easy-to-organize shelves, and wood trim, this upscale KitchenAid is unlike anything else out there.

Counter-depth refrigerators have an inherent disadvantage when it comes to storage space, but this refrigerator is filled with clever engineering touches that help it make the most out of the space that it is.

Some of the shelves and drawers don’t feel as sturdy as we’d like, perhaps because of the drive to maximize space. However, it comes with a great warranty and will treat your food right. If you like how it looks, there's no big reason not to put the KRFC704FBS in your own kitchen—especially if the price drops.

Meet the tester

Matthew Zahnzinger

Logistics Manager & Staff Writer

@ReviewedHome

Matthew is a native of Brockton, MA and a graduate of Northeastern, where he earned a degree in English and Theatre. He has also studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and spends most of his free time pursuing a performance career in the greater Boston area.

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