Frigidaire FFSC2323LS 22.6 Cu. Ft. Side By Side Stainless Steel Review

Ease of Access

The smaller number of shelves means you won't have to worry too much about having to move things around in order to get to items stored in the back. Door storage is also very accessible, with the spread out layout taking advantage of the Frigidaire's full height. Drawers, however, don't move terribly smoothly. They occasionally emit a loud, disruptive squeal, the result of plastic on plastic. It's easy to get at food stored there, but you may not want to put much in them to avoid having to listen to them open.

Controls

The control panel is located just above the water dispenser on the freezer door. The buttons are quite large with big, clear labels. They're also very spread out, resulting in a larger-than-average panel that takes up a lot of door space.

The main control panel's cheap-looking black plastic may make for a tacky look, but its large size and big text result in a panel that's easy to read and intuitive to use. There aren't any changing displays to cycle through, no menus to dissect. It's all plain and visible, with a very low learning curve. The use of an actual degree scale for temperature control is a plus, too. The vegetable drawer's humidity and the Chill Drawer's temperature are both operated using separate, adjustable dials that are also clearly labeled.

Water Dispenser

The Frigidaire's water dispenser is a bit...odd. It uses a standard paddle that is easy to depress, but the paddle is rather short. It's dispenser cavity is rather tall overall, so you can angle in even larger containers, but the lip isn't very deep. It's almost as if the design was half-finished, allowing for easy access but denying you the ability to set your glass down while filling it.

Ice Maker

The ice maker has a rather awkward removable front. In order to turn the machine on or off, or to remove the large tray in order to access bulk ice, this cover has to be removed.

Cleaning

The three adjustable fridge shelves at least attempt to contain spills using a small spill-guard, but otherwise you're pretty much out of luck. The top of the Chill Drawer has no spill protection, so if anything drips, you'll have to take out all three drawers in order to clean it. The freezer interior has all wire shelves, so anything that splits, like frozen peas, will get absolutely everywhere. It may be cold comfort, but at least the shelves on both doors are all self-contained. The fridge shelves are even easier to clean since they're removable.

Noise

Despite its size and numerous features, the Frigidaire actually remained quite quiet. It's not a completely silent appliance, but unless you're deliberately listening for the whir of the fan, you'll forget it's there.

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