The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS is a high-end 36-inch standard-depth French-door refrigerator. It has a freezer compartment with storage organizers, as well as an in-fridge ice maker with a through-door dispenser. There are additional convenience features like ethylene filters for its crisper drawers to extend produce freshness, along with a temperature-controlled pull-out drawer for storing everything from wine to deli meats. Its cooling system includes an inverter-controlled compressor and separate evaporators for more precise humidity regulation across its fridge and freezer cabinets.
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 KitchenAid KRMF536RPS is decent for everyday use. It has an impressively spacious fridge cabinet that can be extensively reconfigured depending on your needs, and has a decently-sized freezer compartment with plenty of dividers to keep things organized. Temperatures are amazingly uniform within its freezer. However, temperatures in the fridge are far less consistent, with door bins that trend noticeably warmer than the rest of the cabinet. It also doesn't do the best job of keeping fresh produce crisp, particularly for a dual-evaporator fridge.
Spacious, highly-reconfigurable fridge cabinet.
Additional climate-controlled drawer.
Excellent freezer temperature consistency.
Freezer dividers keep groceries organized.
Freezer dividers limit overall usable space.
Deep door bins restrict airflow inside fridge cabinet.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS' produce preservation performance is okay. Humidity levels inside the fridge cabinet are quite low for a fridge with a dual-evaporator cooling system. Combined with the somewhat poorly sealing crisper drawers, it doesn't offer much of an advantage in keeping produce fresh compared to some alternatives with simpler single-evaporator cooling systems.
Additional climate-controlled drawer.
Produce preservation performance is unimpressive for a dual-evaporator fridge.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS' fridge capacity is impressive. The cabinet itself is deep and wide, as is expected for a 36-inch standard-depth fridge, and doesn't feature any major obstructions. The split shelving and fold-away shelf also make it easier to fit taller items inside. The additional temperature-controlled drawer is also handy for keeping items like drinks, deli meat, or cheese out of the way. Even the in-fridge ice maker, traditionally a space-hogging obstruction in other models, occupies comparatively little room along the top of the cabinet. That said, the in-door ice bucket and dispenser does cut into door storage, and effectively renders only one door useful for bulk storage of drinks.
Spacious, highly-reconfigurable fridge cabinet.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS' freezer cabinet is decently spacious. The many storage organizers are both a blessing and a curse here. The twin upper shelves are great for neatly stowing away smaller items, but also render the upper half of the freezer useless for putting away bulky items. Similarly, while the larger lower bin is able to fit bigger boxed items, the separators for thinner boxes can get in the way when it comes to unpacking bulky grocery runs.
Freezer dividers keep groceries organized.
Freezer dividers limit overall usable space.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS' overall temperature uniformity is impressive. Temperatures inside the freezer are amazingly uniform, even if the thermostat's calibration trends a little high. That said, the refrigerator's deep door bins restrict airflow inside the fridge compartment, resulting in inconsistent distribution of cold air inside.
Excellent freezer temperature consistency.
Deep door bins restrict airflow inside fridge cabinet.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS delivers good ice making performance. The in-fridge ice maker can produce and hold enough ice for small to medium-sized gatherings, but if you plan on slinging drinks for really big groups, it's best to invest in some extra bags of ice.
Ice bucket capacity is sufficient for small to medium-sized gatherings.
Ice maker will struggle to keep up with larger parties.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This refrigerator is available in two color variants, but they're otherwise mechanically identical.
| Model Name | Surface Finish / Color |
|---|---|
| KRMF536RPS | PrintShield Stainless Steel |
| KRMF536RBS | Black Stainless Steel |
We bought and tested the KRMF536RPS variant with the PrintShield stainless steel finish, and for those interested, here's a photo of our 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 KitchenAid KRMF536RPS is a high-end French-door refrigerator. It has its fair share of strengths: the refrigerator cabinet provides great overall capacity, and can be reconfigured to suit your needs pretty simply. The freezer also has a plethora of dividers to keep your groceries organized. Beyond that, it has an exceptionally reliable supply of spare parts, and KitchenAid's service network is among the farthest-reaching in the industry, all of which makes for a pretty painless servicing experience. That said, it falls well short in terms of performance versus comparably premium alternatives like the Café CGE29DP2TS1 or Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS, both of which have the KitchenAid beat in terms of both temperature uniformity and produce preservation.
See our recommendations for the best French door refrigerators, the best refrigerator brands, and the best refrigerators overall if you're searching for an alternative.
The Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS is a better 36-inch French-door fridge than the KitchenAid KRMF536RPS. The Bosch has more fridge space, more freezer space, and despite having a more conventional single-evaporator cooling system, does a better job of keeping produce crisp, at least within the confines of its produce drawers. The Bosch also provides more uniform fridge and freezer temperatures. With all that being said, the KitchenAid does have a more reliable supply of spare parts, which can make it easier to get back up and running should you have an issue.
The Café CGE29DP2TS1 comprehensively outmatches the KitchenAid KRMF536RPS. The Café provides more uniform temperatures in its fridge, and does a much better job of keeping fresh produce crisp. Its ice maker design also presents fewer potential failure points, since it's located within the freezer, which also results in more room within its fridge cabinet. While the KitchenAid has a plethora of organizers to keep your groceries tucked away, the Café's simpler freezer design actually has more space overall. Lastly, the Café's climate-controlled drawer has an additional temperature preset to freeze food.
The KitchenAid KRMF536RPS and KitchenAid KRMF706ESS are both very similar 36-inch fridges. The KRMF706ESS features a slightly more complex door arrangement, with one climate-controlled half-width drawer and the other half being reserved for additional fridge space; the KRMF536RPS simply has a full-width temperature-controlled drawer, with more uninterrupted space. The KRMF536RPS also has bigger door bins, which give you more interior storage than the KRMF706ESS, but impede airflow and result in less consistent fridge temperatures.
Test Results
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