The 42 inch professional counter-depth is oversized from the standard 36 inch refrigerator.
Consequently, you don’t have as much selection.
In this article, you’ll learn the four best brands, the features and problems. In the end, I’ll show you a different way to buy a 42 inch refrigerator that you may not have thought of.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero refrigerators had the best food preservation system, capacity and adjustability. They were the original refrigerator with two compressors, keeping the warmer refrigerator air separate from the colder, dryer freezer.
The vacuum seal on the door is designed to keep the outside air out of your refrigerator along with magnetic crispers to keep the air in the crisper.
Their food preservation system scrubs the ethylene gas off your fruits and vegetables. That’s the gas that they give off, making them go bad. So essentially they stay fresher, longer.
It’s the most sophisticated on the market. Imagine an avocado lasting two to four weeks in the fridge. That’s how well the system works.
In our project produce experiment, the major brands with identical food and vegetables, Sub-Zero was the best for food preservation.
The shelves are split and allow for many different configurations.
Their nanotechnology coating does not allow those spills to spread, so you won’t be cleaning sticky, juicy bits months after a spill.
Lastly, you now can control your refrigerator from the Sub-Zero app. You’ll receive push notifications when the door is open and when you need to replace the filter.
You have the most options in side by side and French door. You can actually place trays and platters in a 42 inch side by side, and you really can’t do that in a smaller 36 inch size.
Lastly, it’s available with internal water and ice or with an ice dispenser. You can panel Sub-Zero or buy in stainless steel.
True
True is another family-owned American company like Sub-Zero. However, True is mostly known as a commercial manufacturer.
If you ever bought ice cream at your local supermarket, you pulled it out of a True freezer. This unit reflects its commercial styling.
However, you can customize a True with eleven colors and another six for the hinges for truly unique finishes.
Plus, their 42-inch refrigerator is available with a glass door as well. Colors become a trend for appliances and True has some interesting combinations.
A few of my favorites include white with gold accents, green with pewter, and blue with copper accents.
They also copied Sub-Zero’s innovation, including two compressors and two evaporators.
True’s temperature can be controlled in one degree increments like a Sub-Zero as well.
True is a solid piece of steel inside as well as outside. There’s no plastic anywhere.
True’s all stainless steel interior absorbs cold better than a plastic or painted metal.
Stainless doesn’t retain odors and resists spoilers to a certain degree. Additionally, True’s inside crystal bends and shelving are solid glass and steel.
Both Sub-Zero and True are good choices. True has interesting colors and a glass door option, while Sub-Zero can be paneled.
True also does not offer a dispenser or even an ice maker. Both are standard on a Subzero. True, at least for now, has better availability.
Monogram
Then there’s Monogram. Monogram and GE Appliance is now owned by the Hier company whose author turnarounds GE and Fisher Paykel.
This refrigerator is about $5,000 less than the other two, plus has some rather good incentives when you buy other Monogram appliances.
They feature the same two compressor system as the others, but the temperature control is unique. Instead of top down, the air is blown in from each shelf.
They also have some more user friendly settings, like setting the precise temperature in a crsiper bin.
Also express thaw a piece of chicken or super chill that white wine before dinner.
The ice and water dispenser is the most user friendly with different settings as well, and it is made of solid stainless steel.
WiFi connectivity is probably not a huge feature for refrigerator, but Monogram’s platform Smart HQ is the most sophisticated in the industry.
Monogram is available in side-by-side only. You can panel it or buy it in stainless steel.
LG Studio
LG just introduced their stainless steel 42-inch with a dispenser. It’s all stainless inside and outside. Another less expensive refrigerator just over $9,000.
So it may not have the features of Sub-Zero or True. LG was by far the most reliable freestanding refrigerator sold last year at 3.5% service within a year. Over four times better than the average repair of about 14%.
You also have a good array of less expensive packages with the studio lines than with Monogram or Sub-Zero, Wolf.
Pro Tip
So those are the four best. Now here’s a trick if you want a 42-inch in multiple brands.
Whereas most manufacturers have stopped improving, being producing the larger 42-inch refrigerators, all manufacture the smaller integrated types.
Instead of buying a 42-inch, buy a 24-inch refrigerator and then the 18-inch separate freezer. The advantage is you can place these anywhere.
If you’re a lefty, for example, put the refrigerator on the left. If you’re not in the freezer much, place it on the outside perimeter of your kitchen.
Integrated refrigerators also look great because they’re shallower and fit within your cabinet, so you won’t be able to distinguish between the cabinet and refrigerator.
The disadvantage is you lose some cubic footage because of the shallow depth.
Key Takeaways
There certainly are some great choices for 42-inch refrigerators, especially when you’re considering side-by-side refrigerators. You’ll have much better storage than the standard 36.
What will help you decide between them is knowing your priorities.
If you’re looking for function, then the Sub-Zero French door is an excellent choice.
True is interesting. The ability to customize with a more commercial style.
Monogram is a good, less costly alternative with some unique features.
LG studio will be a good consideration for a less expensive suite of appliances.