Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ Review

Introduction

Design & Usability

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The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ is a bottom-freezer unit with a simple, clean look.

The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ has a refrigerator on top and a pull-out freezer drawer underneath. It boasts a pristine, glossy white finish with no frills, though a stainless exterior is available for a little more money. The two covered screw holes on the side allow the door to be hinged in the opposite direction, depending on your kitchen's layout.

Though this is a single compressor fridge, temperature controls are independent of each other and both located at the top of the refrigerator. We recommend you pick up a thermometer, since the thermostat's scale ranges from 0-7, and doesn't correspond to actual temperatures.

The interior of the Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ matches the exterior in its simplicity. It features four adjustable half shelves, as well as a full-width fixed shelf on the bottom resting above two identical crisper drawers, each with its own humidity control. The half shelves adjust using hooks on the back, which are cumbersome to manipulate but offer extensive options for customization. On the door, there's a full-width fixed shelf on the bottom that's deep enough to hold gallon-sized containers, along with three adjustable half shelves which can accommodate liter-sized bottles. There is also an adjustable dairy tray on the top-left corner.

The freezer has two pull-out wire shelves, dividing it into upper and lower levels. The ice maker is in the back, with an ice tray that slides out when you open the door. There's no through-the-door ice or water.

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Features

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A straightforward product with easy accessibility and minimal features.

Depending on your lifestyle, this fridge may be set up ideally. If you want fresh foods at eye-level, you've got 'em. But storing frozen foods requires bending down and rooting through a slide-out drawer.

The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ’s ice maker is found in the rear-left corner of the upper freezer drawer. The control switch is simple to manipulate and the ice tray beneath it can be removed for additional storage space if desired.

The fridge's glossy white finish is very easy to clean, mostly because the surface picks up few stains. All but the bottom shelf in the fridge have spill guards on all four sides that will help contain small messes, while the door shelves will hold large ones. Most shelves and drawers can be removed for easy cleaning, excluding the dairy tray and the bottom shelf on both the door and the main section of the refrigerator.

Performance

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The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ exhibited solid performance across the board on all our tests.

Throughout our tests, the Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ exhibited incredibly consistent temperature readings from the top shelf to the bottom. We kept the temperature control set to "4" based on the manufacturer’s recommended setting, but in our temperature-controlled lab, the overall temperature ran about three degrees higher than the optimal 37ºF. We'd recommend turning the temperature down just a little lower. Temperatures remained consistent over time, though, and the vegetable drawer performed adequately, retaining much moisture.

Bottom freezers are known for consistency and reliability, and the Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ is no exception. The smaller freezer unit means that the cold air circulates easily and keeps temperatures consistent. The temperature in this freezer, regardless of sensor placement, fluctuated less than a full degree during the course of our testing process, which means you won’t have to worry about your food getting any freezer burn.

This Whirlpool functions at a very efficient rate of energy consumption. At a standard rate of $0.09 per kW-h, the Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ costs about $36.75 per year.

Conclusion

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An excellent bottom-freezer that is easy on energy consumption and consistent with performance.

A bottom-freezer with solid ratings across the board, the Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ is a great choice, especially if you can find it for a reduced price. Fridge and freezer temperatures stayed consistent, plus energy consumption was pleasantly low. We found it online for as low as $1,200, substantially lower than the MSRP of $1,449. Its smooth white finish brightens a room and its consistent temperature performance and low energy use means your food will be well taken care of. What more could you ask for?

Science Introduction

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The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ was very consistent throughout for temperature readings in both the freezer and fridge compartments. Additionally, the crisper drawers retained an acceptably average amount of moisture over time and energy consumption was low.

Moisture Retention

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An acceptable rate of moisture retention

The crisper drawers managed to lose only about 0.19 grams of water per hour, a very acceptable amount of water loss. This figure is about average, meaning you can store produce comfortably in the drawer as long as you don’t leave it in there indefinitely.

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Freezing Performance

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Although not perfect, freezing time is a bit less than average.

When food is flash frozen, it guarantees the best quality when thawed. This means that the faster a freezer can get to instantaneous freezing, the better. We test this by measuring the data recorded by an internal temperature sensor to determine how quickly it freezes room temperature items. The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ only took 1 hour and 35 minutes to freeze its contents, which is quite good and will minimize texture loss in food.

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Storage Space

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A smaller freezer makes this a poor choice for people who stock up on lots of frozen foods, but there’s substantial storage space in the fridge.

The numbers published by manufacturers reflect estimated total space. Our measurements, however, only take into account the space available to store items, meaning we subtract space taken up shelves, drawers, and any other interior feature where food storage is blocked. The Whirlpool GB2FHDXWQ has 10.13 cubic feet of storage space, including space found on top of all the shelves and the three drawers found in the main section.

The freezer, on the other hand, isn’t too large, clocking in at 2.85 cubic feet of usable storage. Most of the space is found in the lower, deeper drawer. Much of the space that would be found on the upper shelf is taken up by the Whirlpool’s ice maker.

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Other Tests

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