The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD is a 36" standard-depth French door refrigerator. It's part of Frigidaire's higher-end Gallery lineup and differs from the cheaper but similarly-designed Frigidaire FRFN2813AF with a few extra convenience features. These include dual fridge and freezer ice makers, a temperature-controlled deli drawer, and CrispSeal Plus produce drawers, which feature ethylene absorber filters to slow spoilage. Otherwise, it's fairly conventional, with an inverter compressor/single evaporator cooling system.
We've tested over 35 refrigerators. We purchase ourselves each unit independently from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free of brand influence. Each refrigerator undergoes the same tests to measure objective metrics such as temperature uniformity, ice making, produce preservation, parts availability, and actual storage capacity, so you can easily compare results.
Our Verdict
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD is decent for everyday use. Fridge capacity is a high point: even with the space-hogging in-fridge ice maker, there's more than enough room for home cooks to stock up on bulk groceries or fit larger containers inside. The space is also highly reconfigurable thanks to the split shelving. Freezer space is satisfactory, though you'll gain nearly 20% more space by removing the in-freezer ice tray. Unfortunately, this fridge isn't a standout in terms of performance. While freezer temperatures are very uniform, there's dramatic temperature inconsistency inside the fridge cabinet. As a single-evaporator unit, it also doesn't do the best job of keeping fresh produce crisp.
High-capacity fridge cabinet.
Highly consistent freezer temperatures.
Large lower bins in freezer.
Relatively little storage space along the top freezer shelf.
In-fridge ice maker takes up a fair amount of room.
Poor temperature uniformity in fridge.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD's produce preservation performance is okay. As a single evaporator fridge, cold and dry air is shared across the fridge and freezer cabinets. This creates a low-humidity environment inside the fridge cabinet, and causes produce with a high water content, like celery or spinach, to wilt quickly.
Fridge cabinet is quite low in humidity.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD has excellent capacity in its fridge cabinet. The fridge cabinet is deep, wide, and tall, and is highly adaptable thanks to its split shelving. The door bins can also accommodate larger beverage jugs, and the crisper drawers are big enough to fit bulky produce like cabbage or heads of broccoli. It also features a temperature-controlled deli drawer, which can be used to keep cheese and meat, or smaller canned drinks, out of the way. The main drawback is the in-fridge ice maker, which sits at the top of the cabinet and occupies quite a bit of space.
High-capacity fridge cabinet.
Fridge cabinet offers plenty of flexible storage solutions.
In-fridge ice maker takes up a fair amount of room.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD has decent freezer capacity. This is a standard-depth fridge with a generous 36" width: its lower bins are plenty big, and are well-suited to family-sized boxes and bags of frozen meat or vegetables. That said, quite a bit of space on its upper shelf is taken by the high-capacity ice tray, to the point where that section is really only useful for smaller containers.
Large lower bins in freezer.
Relatively little storage space along the top freezer shelf.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD's temperature uniformity performance is only satisfactory overall. Temperatures in the freezer cabinet are very consistent, so you can place items like ice cream wherever it's most efficient without worrying that it won't freeze fully. That said, temperatures in the fridge are something of a mess: the upper shelf and door bins are dramatically warmer than the desired setpoint, while the lower fridge shelf is noticeably cooler. As a result of all this, you should place the most temperature-sensitive items in the middle of the fridge cabinet.
Highly consistent freezer temperatures.
Poor temperature uniformity in fridge.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD is an excellent option for making ice. This unit is equipped with twin ice makers: one in the freezer and the other in the fridge. While the latter's production rate is slower than the in-freezer unit, the combined output of both systems is more than enough for most family dinners. If you have time to fill both trays, you should have enough ice for serving cold drinks even at large family barbeques or cocktail parties.
High ice production rate.
Combined ice tray capacity is sufficient for large gatherings.
Performance Usages
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AF/GRFS2853AD is available in two color finishes, but they're otherwise identical in terms of specifications.
| Model Name | Surface Finish/Color |
|---|---|
| GRFS2853AF | Stainless Steel |
| GRFS2853AD | Black Stainless Steel |
We bought and tested the GRFS2853AD variant with a black stainless steel finish, and for those interested, here's the product label. Let us know in the comments below if you come across another variant of this refrigerator so that we can update our review.
Popular Refrigerator Comparisons
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD is an upper mid-range 36" French door refrigerator. While it offers sufficient capacity for the biggest of families and is excellent for producing ice, it doesn't stand out much beyond that compared to other similarly priced options. The cheaper Frigidaire FRFN2813AF has even more capacity and fewer potential failure areas thanks to the lack of an in-fridge ice maker, all the while delivering near identical performance. Meanwhile, alternatives like the GE Profile PGE29BYTFS feature dual-evaporator cooling systems and do a better job of keeping produce fresh and maintaining consistent temperatures across their fridge and freezer cabinets.
If you're looking for other options, see our recommendations for the best French door refrigerators, the best refrigerator brands, and the best refrigerators overall.
The Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL is a better-performing 36" French door refrigerator than the Frigidaire GRFS2853AD. The Samsung delivers superior temperature consistency performance across its fridge and freezer cabinets, and its dual-evaporator cooling system keeps produce crisp and fresh for longer. It also runs quieter than the Frigidaire. With that being said, the Frigidaire offers more convenient serviceability, with a more robust service network and a more reliable supply of spare parts. Its maximum ice capacity is also significantly greater.
The LG LF29H8330S ultimately edges out the Frigidaire GRFS2853AD in a few key areas. The LG has a better-executed implementation of the climate-controlled drawer design, as it's physically isolated from the fridge and freezer cabinets and can be used to freeze items. It also does a better job of maintaining uniform temperatures inside its fridge and freezer cabinets, and runs quieter to boot. That said, the Frigidaire has a more consistent supply of spare parts and a farther-reaching service network that'll make it easier to get in touch with an authorized service provider.
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD and the Frigidaire FRFN2813AF are both similarly designed products, though given the fact that the FRFN2813AF is often sold at a lower price, it's typically the smarter buy. The FRFN2813AF's lack of an in-fridge ice maker minimizes potential failure points and increases storage volume, though it's far from the best choice if you do make use of your fridge ice maker regularly; the FRFN2813AF's in-freezer system is very slow when it comes to making ice.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
