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Whirlpool WRS331SDHM side-by-side refrigerator review

The Whirlpool WRS331SDHM has a stainless steel exterior with robust handles, a through-the-door dispenser on its left door, and a brand badge in the top right corner.

Opening up the right door reveals the fridge compartment. It has a series of glass shelves over two stacked crispers. The shelves notably don’t have spill-capture lips and also can’t be repositioned. The door has a standard array of bins that do move per your preference.

The left door opens up into the freezer compartment. A lot of room is dedicated to the ice-maker and the backside of the through-the-door dispenser. The shelves are all wire instead of glass, and there’s a pull-out storage bin at the bottom.

About the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM side-by-side refrigerator

Credit:
Reviewed / Beckett Dubay

There are a few slots available to allow users to customize the height of the door bins. The shelves don’t have any options for repositioning.

Dimensions: 66.63” x 32.75” x 33.63” (H x W x D)
Depth: Standard depth
Measured capacity: 8.34-cubic-foot refrigerator, 2.92-cubic-foot freezer
Finishes: Stainless steel
Dispensers: Through-the-door ice and water dispenser
Special features: Internal LED lighting
User manual: Whirlpool WRS331SDHM side-by-side refrigerator manual

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What we like

It’s able to keep temperatures steady over time

The Whirlpool WRS331SDHM is able to keep both its fridge and freezer temperatures remarkably steady over time. Normally, steady temperatures are important because they ensure everything stays within an acceptable temperature range.

If you calibrate your fridge to be 37°F, but temperatures can wobble by 4°F, that means some of the time items in your fridge will go above 40°F, the point at which bacteria can start to proliferate quickly.

Over a 72-hour testing period, temperatures varied by less than 1°F in the fridge compartment. This is especially important for this Whirlpool fridge, because of some of its other test results that we will talk about shortly.

The freezer had a small initial spike of a few degrees, but mostly stayed between -1°F and -2°F. Consistent freezer temperatures are important because variance contributes towards the cycle of defrosting and refreezing that causes freezer burn.

Its unique dimensions might make it one of the few options that will work for your home

Most full-size fridges are about 70” tall and 36” wide, so if you’re stuck with a cutout that’s smaller than that, your options are limited. By being both shorter and more narrow than most fridges, the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM might be able to shimmy into kitchens that don’t have enough room for other fridges.

Its through-the-door dispenser provides easy access to filtered water and ice

Credit:
Reviewed / Beckett Dubay

The through-the-door dispenser has a built-in light, which will make grabbing a glass of water in the middle of the night that much easier.

A through-the-door dispenser is one of the few extra features that, in our opinion, is almost always worth paying for. Not only does it deliver fresh filtered water and ice on demand, but it saves room in your fridge that would otherwise be occupied by a filter pitcher.

What we don’t like

Its inconsistent fridge temperatures are difficult to calibrate correctly

Although very few people actually do it, calibration is a vital part of owning a fridge. Many, many fridges run too warm right out of the box, which can cause items to spoil prematurely.

Unfortunately, the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM winds up in this camp. Again, anything over 40°F is going to allow bacteria to grow, and this scales up.

On the whole, the fridge averages 40.78°F, but those temperatures can vary wildly depending on where you are in the fridge column. Temperatures at the top, where the cold air vents out, range between 36°F and 38°F, which is right where they should be. Towards the middle those temperatures rise to 41°F to 42°F, and at the bottom temperatures get up to 44. 73°F.

This problem isn’t unique to the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM—all side-by-sides have tall fridge columns that make temperature consistency difficult. Even so, this is one of the more pronounced examples.

The main issue is that this temperature difference is slightly larger than 8°F, and fridges need to stay between 32°F and 40°F, a range that is notably just 8°F. If the top is over 32°F, to prevent things from freezing, the bottom will also be over 40°F. It won’t be over by much, granted, but we don’t like needing to wrestle with an appliance to get it to perform its core functionality properly and ultimately still come up short.

There is a silver lining to this cloud: The WRS331SDHM’s steady temperature control prevents this temperature gradient issue from being much, much worse. Because proper calibration essentially means keeping the top of the fridge near 32°F to prevent the bottom from getting too high above 40°F, any variation necessarily means pushing temperatures outside of the acceptable temperature range, further cutting into your perishables’ life spans.

Not a lot of storage space, especially in the freezer

Credit:
Reviewed / Michael Elderbee

The Whirlpool WRS331SDHM is smaller than most other full-size fridges, which leads to lower overall storage. Its freezer is just 10 inches wide.

Side-by-side refrigerators aren’t known for their roomy freezers. Many side-by-sides have through-the-door dispensers that take up a lot of freezer space with their ice-making machinery. The Whirlpool WRS331SDHM’s smaller dimensions only make these issues more pronounced.

Even compared to its peers, the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM is small. It has an 8.34-cubic-foot refrigerator and a 2.92-cubic-foot freezer. The average side-by-side provides 10.92 cubic feet in the fridge and 5.34 cubic feet in the freezer. That means the WRS331SDHM falls short of the average side-by-side by about 2.5 cubic feet in each compartment. Given that a gallon jug of milk is about 0.14 cubic feet, this is a significant difference.

The lack of raw storage space isn’t the entire problem, either. Side-by-sides are notorious for having freezer columns that are too thin to store a frozen pizza box horizontally. The WRS331SDHM has this problem in spades, as its freezer is just under 10 inches in width and “felt cramped enough to the point of being actively frustrating,” according to our testing team.

There’s a similar issue exacerbating the low storage in the fridge compartment: The shelves only have the one slot where they can fit, and they cannot be readjusted to different heights. That means any and all taller items either need to be stored in the door bins or on their sides.

Its crispers don’t hang on to humidity

Credit:
Reviewed / Michael Elderbee

Those who store a lot of fresh vegetables will find their produce wilts more quickly in the WRS331SDHM than it would in another fridge.

Those who love fresh fruits and veggies might want to steer clear of the WRS331SDHM. We test crispers by measuring the rate at which humidity escapes the drawer, and the WRS331SDHM’s rate was about 60% more than the average fridge. This means any leafy greens will wilt way more quickly in this Whirlpool fridge than they would in most others.

What owners are saying

The WRS331SDHM has surprisingly few user reviews for a fridge that’s been out for about four years now—most sites have only a hundred or two—but we can still make some deductions from what’s posted.

Of those who were happy with their purchase, the most common comment was that the fridge fit perfectly into the space they had available. Other points of praise included the fridge’s available storage, the through-the-door dispenser, and internal LED lighting.

Those who aren’t happy with their purchase cite low overall storage area or have had issues with its ice-maker either being too slow or too loud. We did not see (or hear) any issues with the WRS331SDHM’s ice maker in our testing, and the severity of the issues described leads us to believe those customers received lemons.

Warranty

Whirlpool offers an industry-standard one-year warranty for its fridges. While this should protect you from receiving a lemon, other manufacturers go above and beyond, guaranteeing specific parts for up to 10 years.

Should you buy the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM

No, there’s just too much temperature variance and not enough space

While there are some things to like about the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM, as a complete package it’s underwhelming at its current price.

We do like its steady temperatures and through-the-door dispenser. However, its faults outweigh a convenient cup of ice water. It has low overall storage, crispers that don’t hang onto humidity, and an immense amount of temperature gradient in its fridge column. While the latter is greatly mitigated by how steady its temperature holds, it still doesn’t present an ideal situation.

Overall, the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM is an average fridge that’s currently not a good value for what it offers. While its problems aren’t outright disqualifying, there are tons of other options available that don’t require you to have to deal with wonky temperatures and precision calibration.

That being said, it’s difficult to find non-custom fridges that have similar dimensions. If the WRS331SDHM is one of a handful of fridges available in your area that will actually fit in your kitchen, you probably won’t be disappointed with it. You might not be thrilled with it, but you won’t be disappointed either.

If you’re just looking for a good side-by-side and don’t require specific dimensions, we recommend the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS, which offers better temperature performance and more storage space for a lower price.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Meet the testers

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski’s reviews

Michael Elderbee

Product Test Technician

Born in Seoul and raised in New England, Michael is currently a Product Test Technician at Reviewed and strives to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.
In the Reviewed lab, Michael regularly tests refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry large appliances, as well as all types of science-based activities.
His 5 years as a behavioral technician has given him a strong appreciation for data collection and research. Michael has a variety of different passions outside of testing appliances including volleyball, snowboarding, and video games. You can also find him nerding out about EDC gear, custom keyboards, and Warhammer 40k.

See all of Michael Elderbee’s reviews

Beckett Dubay

Product Test Technician

Beckett Dubay is a product tester at Reviewed, regularly using science-based protocol to test refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry large appliances, and photographing the process in the lab from start to finish.
Before Reviewed, working as a lighting designer for several years has left him with strong opinions about overhead lighting.

See all of Beckett Dubay’s reviews

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Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you’re confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we’ll compare notes.

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Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ French-Door Refrigerator Review

About the Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ French door refrigerator
What we like
What we don’t like
What owners are saying
Warranty
Should you buy the Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ?
Related content

The WRX735SDHZ really nails the characteristics of what makes a good fridge. For starters, it has a sleek, modern design that is at home in any kitchen. It also notably features a fingerprint-resistant finish that keeps smudges out of the spotlight.

The refrigerator’s external ice and water dispenser also acts as its control hub, which means that in addition to delivering filtered water and cubed or crushed ice, it allows you to customize the temperatures of the fridge, freezer, and exterior drawer from the outside. You can also use this control panel to customize how the dispenser’s lights operate.

About the Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ French door refrigerator

Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton

The control panel above the dispenser will allow you to control the temperatures of the fridge, freezer, and exterior drawer.

Dimensions: 70.13” x 35.63” x 34.63″ (H x W x D)
Finishes: Black, white, fingerprint-resistant stainless steel ($100 extra), black stainless ($200 extra)
Measured capacity: 10. 33 cu. ft. (refrigerator), 3.68 cu. ft. (freezer)
Dispensers: Exterior ice (cubed/crushed) and water (filtered)
User manual: Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ owner’s manual
Warranty info: Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ warranty

What we like

Temperatures are steady

Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton

The WRX735SDHZ features a standard freezer drawer design with two levels and maintains a very steady temperature.

Keeping things cool is the core functionality of a fridge, so you’d assume the ability to do so would be an easy test to pass—but you’d be surprised.

Refrigerators need to maintain a very narrow temperature band, between the point where food freezes (32°F) and the point where bacteria can proliferate (40°F). They have to do this despite defrost cycles and external influences—like users opening the door during normal use. Additionally, fridge manufacturers provide a recommended temperature setting for the model that ensures normal temperature fluctuations will not cause your food to spend time outside of this 8-degree Goldilocks zone.

It’s rare to encounter a fridge that nails both components of its core competency, but the WRX735SDHZ really does. When set on Whirlpool’s recommended settings for this model, the WRX735SDHZ’s temperature is less than one degree shy of the ideal 37°F, and it only fluctuates within a 2-degree range. This is impressively steady temperature maintenance.

The exterior drawer is temperature-controlled

Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton

The exterior drawer has a customizable temperature and is large enough to accommodate a lot of different items—how you use it is up to you!

Over the last five years, a temperature-controlled exterior draw is a feature that has gradually progressed from a niche extra to a staple. This huge value-add is great for keeping certain items at temperatures that are either too warm or too cold to be kept within the entire fridge space. Wine connoisseurs can enjoy a favorite bottle chilled to perfection, when otherwise storing it in the fridge would be too cold. Anyone who wants a near-frosty soda or beer can accomplish that without also freezing the rest of their perishables.

What we don’t like

Storage space is at a minimum

Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton

The only real downside to the Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ is its slightly smaller capacity. The exterior drawer and dispensers take up a lot of extra space.

Whenever we get a new fridge into our labs, one of the first things we do is measure its usable storage capacity.

Manufacturers do provide their own capacity numbers, but there’s no real consistency around how this number is reached. In practice, many measure every square inch of open space in the fridge, which we’ve found isn’t particularly helpful. So, to get a more consistent measurement, we manually measure every shelf, bin and drawer throughout the fridge, only counting the areas in which users would actually store something.

Fridges are loaded with nooks and crannies, and nobody is realistically going to utilize that sliver of free space between the wall and ice maker.

For a French door refrigerator, the average usable storage capacity of the refrigeration compartment, by our count, is about 11.2 cu. ft.; for the freezer compartment, it’s 4.7 cu. ft.

We measured the WRX735SDHZ’s fridge compartment at 10.33 cu. ft. (8% smaller) and its freezer at 3.68 cu. ft. (22% smaller). Though both compartments are smaller than average, it’s not an anomaly.

Drawers are much less space-efficient than shelves, and the WRX735SDHZ’s stand-alone, temperature-controlled exterior drawer takes up more space than the average drawer. While we think this exterior drawer adds value overall, a reduced storage capacity is its trade-off.

The WRX735SDHZ should still be large enough for the average user, but if you’re chronically short of fridge storage space you might want to look at a different model.

What owners are saying

Owners seem to really like their Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ, awarding it an average 4.5 out of 5 stars across major retailers. Common points of praise include a great layout that improves overall visibility, aesthetic appeal, dispensers, and temperature-controlled drawer.

Complaints were few and far between, but a few users all seemed to have problems with the freezer or ice-maker failing soon after purchase. We didn’t have any issues like these on the unit we had in for testing, but it’s something to keep an eye out for if you do buy this fridge.

Warranty

The Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ features a standard one-year warranty for parts and services.

Should you buy the Whirlpool WRX735SDHZ?

Yes. This is a great fridge that has useful extra features and none of the add-ons that tend to jack up the price tag. Temperatures are solid and steady. And, we love its temperature-controlled exterior drawer, though if you don’t think you’ll get much use from that feature you can find similar great performance and useful features on a more affordable French-door.

Meet the testers

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski’s reviews

Kyle Hamilton

Product Tester

Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.

See all of Kyle Hamilton’s reviews

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Refrigerator Reviews

Reviews of Whirlpool refrigerators

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Tatyana Nikolaevna / 07/21/2023

I ordered a BEKO RCNK 270K20 W Refrigerator. Delivered on time. as promised. Very carefully delivered and installed. The old one was taken out immediately. Comfortable. Payment in different ways – it was convenient for me in cash upon receipt. Fridge. runs quieter than the old one. During installation, I received full information about installing a refrigerator or calling a wizard to install a refrigerator. Full package of documents presented, no reminders

Andrey / 07/16/2023

The Samsung RL50RR refrigerator was purchased in December 2014, it worked not bad for 3 years, but then the freezer began to tune up until an error appeared and the refrigerator turned off, the periodic appearance of water on the floor under the freezer door indicated that that the cause of poor performance is most likely a blockage of the drainage channel. I contacted the Samsung technical support hotline, outlined the problem in detail and asked how I could clean the drainage channel and where the drainage hole was located, i.e. how to carry out maintenance of the refrigerator – in fact, its cleaning, because the documents attached to the product do not contain this information. A day later, I received an answer that this information is secret and that I need to contact an official service center that will service my refrigerator. In the operational documents for the refrigerator, there is no (hidden from the consumer) the need to clean the refrigerator in the service center (and for a lot of money), which is a misleading of the buyer and a manifestation of a disrespectful attitude towards him. And therefore, I do not recommend to acquaintances and close people to buy Samsung equipment.

Lyubishkin Nikolai / 07/13/2023

I have a Liebherr refrigerator and freezer. There are no complaints about work. They work quietly. Defrosting is not required. I have had them for over 5 years. Whoever chooses this model, be prepared to change handles after this time. I have already replaced one. This is the most unworked place in this design. Either the plastic in the handle will burst, then the spring in the handle will break. One pen in the refrigerator costs 1700 rubles. Yes, the fridge is good.

Osipov Dmitry / 07/04/2023

I bought a wine cabinet here, I am satisfied with the purchase, so far there are no complaints about the store. Delivered the next day after ordering. I advise shopping malls more than their offers, I didn’t find anywhere

Burdasov Ilya / 06/26/2023

We chose a refrigerator for a long time, agreed on models of the hitachi brand, brought it on the day of the order, from that moment and still delighted, the refrigerator can literally All ! I recommend this shop and this brand.

Alena Kormysheva / 06/19/2023

Advantages: fast delivery. service, the largest selection of refrigerators that we have seen.
Cons: There are simply none.
Comments: the best service we have seen, everyone told, explained what would be best, delivered the next day. We are completely satisfied with the choice of the store

Natalya / 06/13/2023

We ordered an LG refrigerator. Delivered on the day of order, installed quickly. Thanks to the store for the promptness and help in choosing the best refrigerator for our requirements.

Andrey Filipov / 06/08/2023

Yesterday we bought a bosh side-by-side refrigerator on this site. Arrived the next day after ordering. We are very satisfied with the purchase, as we wanted to throw ice into a glass for drinks of different sizes and the color is very suitable for our kitchen. We recommend this shop for shopping.

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