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  • Introduction

  • Design & Usability

  • Features

  • Performance

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Temperature Performance

  • Moisture Retention

  • Freezing & Thawing

  • Storage Space & Energy Efficiency

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design & Usability
  • Features
  • Performance
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Temperature Performance
  • Moisture Retention
  • Freezing & Thawing
  • Storage Space & Energy Efficiency
  • Other Tests

Introduction

Design & Usability

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A top-freezer model that takes some creative liberties with a classic design.

This Whirlpool is a top-freezer model with a stainless finish sporting a vertical grain. This finish is markedly darker than what we’ve seen on other appliances so you’ll want to make sure that it matches your kitchen before purchasing. The handles are recessed, giving it a sleek look compared to other budget models. The doors are not reversible, though, so make sure that your kitchen can accommodate this model.

...most of the unusual tweaks are found on the door.

The fridge proper uses a standard design, while most of the unusual tweaks are found on the door. It has two wide shelves with impressive depth, two smaller ones that are designed to fit gallon-sized containers, a dairy bin, and a "Tilt-N-Go" drawer that pulls out to provide an easy access spot for chocolate chips, ginger roots, or other loose items.

The freezer is bisected into a top and bottom portion with a sturdy glass shelf. It even has its own light source, which may not sound like a big deal, but that's a commonly missing feature in other budget models. There is a single temperature control unit for the entire appliance, located front and center at the top. A cool trick: there's a water dispenser on the inside wall of the fridge.

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Features

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The extra features are streamlined and easy to use, but some of the basic elements fall a bit short.

A simple layout and ample space means is quite easy; a few other shelf slots allow for slight customization. The two adjustable refrigerator shelves are sturdy on their own, but the shelf they hang from doesn't fit snugly into the fridge. This means that when using the deli drawer or adjusting the retractable portion, the whole unit can start to wobble. Thankfully, it never seemed in danger of falling out.

...the control unit is simple and eye-catching.

Conversely, the control unit is simple and eye-catching. More visually interesting than a simple rotating knob, this Whirlpool uses a four point scale illustrated with glowing snowflakes instead of an actual temperature scale. Even though it looks nicer, however, it is still one control for the entire unit, meaning the temperature of one section is at the mercy of the other. The panel also offers an easy-to-read display that conveniently lets you know when the air and water filters need to be replaced.

The water dispenser is about as simple to use as possible, though you have to open the door to reach it and there's no shelf on which to rest your glass. To activate it, simply press a glass against the clearly labeled panel. It's placed far enough back from the front of the fridge that you shouldn’t run the risk of pressing on it when you don’t mean to, but also not so far in that you might have trouble getting your glass under the spout if the shelves are full of food.

Performance

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Slightly inconsistent temperatures, slightly inefficient crisper drawers, and a slightly lengthy freezing time... it slightly missed the mark for being a top contender.

Fridge temperature in this Whirlpool wasn’t completely consistent across the board, but fortunately it was only off by a small margin. The further from the freezer, the warmer it gets; it was never so warm that anything should be adversely affected, but you still may want to keep the most delicate items closer to the top.

...whatever you put in here—and wherever you put it—should probably be eaten within a few days.

The freezer had a similar amount of variation. More importantly, though, when we calibrated the control knob for an ideal fridge temperature, it caused the freezer to run higher than the target of zero degrees. It was so warm, in fact, that you may want to consider cooling the fridge down for the sake of frozen food preservation. Throw in some moderate temperature shifts, and you're at risk of freezer burn.

The crisper drawer wasn't very good, either. It lost more moisture than average, something which may cause produce to actually spoil faster, though the warmer temperatures at the bottom of the fridge may be ideal for certain fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion

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Moderate performance and good looks may outweigh the minor flaws present in this fridge, depending on your grocery shopping style.

A stylish and snappy model, the Whirlpool WRT779RWYM has some nice, subtle touches in design and function that make it an interesting and potentially appealing addition to your kitchen. Slight inconsistencies in temperature and some less-than-smooth functionality may push you in the direction of a model with a bit more substance over flair, though, especially if you can only find it for full price. We managed to find prices as low as $1,000, which is about $250 under MSRP. At that price, and with decent energy efficiency, a well-placed interior water dispenser, and easy accessibility, this Whirlpool makes for a great value if you need a top freezer.

Science Introduction

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The performance here could be summed up by the word almost: The fridge’s temperature was almost consistent, the crisper drawer almost retained the desired amount of moisture, the items in the freezer froze after an amount of time that almost hit the average. This Whirlpool almost hit a good mark across the board, but not quite.

Temperature Performance

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A decent fridge, but the freezer is way too warm for our tastes.

From top to bottom, there was an average shift in the fridge of about two to three degrees. That's getting close to questionable, but still just within the range of an appropriate margin of error. Luckily, the consistency in temperature over time was solid enough that there shouldn't be any issues with food storage.

The freezer only had about a one degree shift from top to bottom, but the average temperatures themselves were somewhat distressing. After calibrating the thermostat to suit average fridge temperatures, the freezer clocked in at 10.2ºF at the top and 8.96ºF at the bottom. This is definitely warmer than we'd like; it's still frozen, but warm enough that freezer burn could be an issue, especially when you factor in the half degree shift over time.

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Moisture Retention

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Moisture loss is slightly worse than average.

The artificial food we placed in the Whirlpool’s crisper drawer lost just a little more moisture than is average. Over three days, it averaged a moisture loss rate of 0.24 grams per hour, just a little more than we like to see. Your produce should be fine, but you may want to keep an eye on it.

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Freezing & Thawing

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A somewhat lengthy freeze time, but the insulation works wonders.

Sensors indicated that items in the freezer were frozen after about 1 hour and 41 minutes. For a unit this size, that’s actually a little longer than is desirable. The longer it takes to freeze items, such as meat, the bigger chance there is that texture will be affected. At the very least, it managed to keep everything frozen even without power, not even cracking 25 degrees after we'd had it unplugged for 36 hours.

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Storage Space & Energy Efficiency

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Easy-to-navigate open spaces bolstered by a low operating cost.

While not exactly cavernous, the Whirlpool offers 9.87 cubic feet of storage space in its refrigerator section. That's pretty good for a fridge of its overall size, especially when you consider the fact that there's 4.52 cubic feet of space in the freezer backing it up.

Using a fixed rate for electricity of $0.09 per kW-h, this fridge costs about $33.89 per year to operate. We also found that, when paired with the amount of usable storage, this machine only requires 0.07 kW-h per cubic foot. That's a fairly low cost with an exceptionally high level of efficiency.

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Other Tests

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Meet the tester

Matthew Zahnzinger

Matthew Zahnzinger

Logistics Manager & Staff Writer

@ReviewedHome

Matthew is a native of Brockton, MA and a graduate of Northeastern, where he earned a degree in English and Theatre. He has also studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and spends most of his free time pursuing a performance career in the greater Boston area.

See all of Matthew Zahnzinger's reviews

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