ᐅ Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer units are now rarely seen without an ice maker.

We are considering getting a new kitchen in the next few years. For that, we want to install a separate side-by-side fridge/freezer unit. While browsing, it feels like about 80% of the models come with an ice cube dispenser. I seriously wonder who constantly needs ice cubes? I don’t know anyone—literally no one in my entire circle of friends and family—who uses ice cubes, and that’s been the case for over 40 years. So why do so many models have these features? If you don’t want one, the selection drops drastically. Another issue is that the new location wouldn’t have a water connection, which I assume is needed for the dispenser?

Does anyone here have one of these dispensers, and how often do you use it? Is it really something that improves your life, or just nonsense that gets dirty and sits unused?

Check if they need a fixed water connection; many just use a tank.

Need: rarely.
The rule here is: having one is better than needing one.
It’s quite convenient in summer.

I use a lot of ice cubes, but not from the usual side-by-side refrigerator dispenser—instead, I use the ice maker in the freezer compartment of my Liebherr.

If you don’t need water or ice, and if you want to have such a device, you should rather look at French door models. Cooling is at the top with double doors and full usable width, and the freezer is at the bottom. I find this much more practical to handle.

We didn’t like the double door. You always have to open two doors instead of one, which I find rather annoying, and you basically need a third hand to grab things and close all the doors at the same time. Of course, the usable width is a nice feature.

Liebherr would have been my preferred brand as well, but in my opinion, they only offer a 120cm (47 inches) width. We can fit a maximum of 110cm (43 inches), so we have to settle for a 90cm (35 inches) model.

I find the ice maker disappointing.

We need quite a lot of ice because of making cocktails and enjoying soft drinks with ice.

Good ice CUBES (meaning large and solid) are best made simply by using a mold with water in the freezer compartment. What comes out of the dispensers… well, not so good.

Rewe sells these large ice spheres in a bag that are very good. It’s better than dealing with a water connection and all that fuss.

I think the doors can also be opened independently ... but maybe a 70cm (28 inch) wide model of a stand-alone fridge-freezer combo would make more sense. Combined, just one door, wider overall, and a practical layout with the freezer on the bottom and the fridge on top.