Curto's Appliances – Westchester County, NYC

Six years ago I sat in an auditorium at Sub-Zero headquarters in Wisconsin and asked one of their engineers a pointed question:
“Will Sub-Zero make a french door refrigerator?”

At that point the answer was a resounding “no”, but times have changed and we are now staring at the near-imminent release of Sub-Zero’s first foray into the French door style – the Bi-36UFD (there are plans for a 42″ to be released in the next year or so).

I was fortunate to spend some time with the new fridge at the recent Architectural Digest show in NYC, took some nice booty pics, so let’s get in deep now. First, a list of the feature set or as I like to call it, the “tale of the tape”

- Width: 36″
- Available in stainless, overlay and flush inset
- Annual energy usage is 571 kWh or $61
- Star-K certified
- Automatic ice maker
- Water and air filter systems
- Dual refrigerator system so freezer and fridge don’t exchange air

OK, now let’s get into the grist. The biggest issues with French door refrigerators is the way that they seal, or, their lack
of sealing! If you open a typical French door you will see an annoying “flap” in between the doors that is needed to get most of the doors to seal. The problem with this flap is that I’ve had plenty of customers complain that they break, get loose, etc.
The Sub-Zero Bi36UFD utilizes the flap as well, BUT, Sub-Zero spent 4 years working on the way the fridge seals so as to avoid the issues that most other French doors encounter.

That’s why you will pay more for a Sub-Zero – insane focus on customer usability. While most, if not all of the other premium fridge manufacturers were rolling out French Door fridges in the last 5 years, the engineers at Sub-Zero sat back and said we’ll be patient, we’re going to get this right. It seems to me that they did. The fridge doors open and close with the security and sureness that one would equate with Sub-Zero. The fit and finish is beautiful.

Enough of the words, onto the evidence…..

This pic shows the Bi36ufd with the classic Sub-Zero handle. It can also be purchased with a Pro-handle to match your Wolf range.

Sub-Zero Bi36ufd French Door Refrigerator

Inside the SubZero BI36UFD. Ample storage space for a 36" built-in fridge.

Yes you can fit a platter in the Sub-Zero Bi36UFD. One of the advantages of a French door!

The freezer space is identical to that of the Bi-36 single door fridge.

Shop for the SubZero French Door Refrigerator at Curto’s Appliances.

Here we go!

Update 04/13/12 – booty shots of the new SubZero french door refrigerator BI36UFD