Bosch Refrigerator Model Guide: All The Models We Love

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Barry began to teach himself to repair appliances as a teenager. In later years, his love of cooking led Barry to learn to troubleshoot kitchen appliances around his home. His background in education allows him to combine his love of repair work and passion for writing to bring the most helpful troubleshooting and repair guides to this site. He encourages appliance owners to plan ahead, think about their goals, and always read the manual!

Things to Consider when Looking for a Bosch Refrigerator

Your Budget

Bosch’s most affordable option goes for $2,199. At this budget, you’ll get features like a side-by-side door configuration, an ice and water dispenser among other handy features.

The most expensive option costs $8,599. If your budget can stretch this far, then you’ll enjoy features like smart technology, a bottom freezer, and lots more. Check out our review of the best Bosch refrigerators later in this article.

Consider the maximum amount of money you’re willing to spend and check out the options available to you. Avoid spending too much on extra features that may not be beneficial to you.

Fridge Capacity

There are several refrigerators meant for different households. Generally, you need an average of 5 cubic feet of refrigerator space per adult, plus a little bit extra. Compact refrigerators have a size of about 4 cubic feet to 19 cubic feet. These are appropriate for a single person or two people.

If you have a small apartment with a tiny kitchen then these models would be fine. However, if you live alone but love to cook then you’ll need refrigerators larger than these. Opt for the mid-sized ones. Mid-sized fridges range from 19 cubic feet to 24 cubic feet. These models are ideal for a household of about four people.

Finally, large-capacity refrigerators start from 25 cubic feet and they offer enough space for households with more than five people. Consider buying one that is larger than what you presently need if you foresee a change in your circumstances, like having kids or moving to a larger space.

Food Storage

Consider a refrigerator with multiple storage compartments for flexibility in food organization. These include the door compartments, meat bins, fruit, and vegetable compartments.

Think about the foods that you most buy and whether there’s a specific compartment that you’ll need. This should help you choose the refrigerator with the right storage space for you. Adjustable shelves are also handy to have, to offer you the freedom to customize the refrigerator space to your specific needs.

Size of Refrigerator

Other than capacity, also consider the size of the refrigerator. Make sure you measure the dedicated refrigerator space in your kitchen to know the exact size that will fit.

Bosch has refrigerator models with widths from 18 to 36 inches and heights from 69 to 83 inches. When thinking about the width, also consider the swing space available for the doors. Look for a model with narrower doors if the space in your kitchen is limited.

In this case, a side-by-side refrigerator might be a good option. More on the types of refrigerators below. You should also decide whether you want a refrigerator that extends past the counter or one that’s the same depth as the counter.

Finally, make sure the fridge isn’t too big to fit in your hallway on the way to the kitchen. In short, think about delivery and installation. If you have narrow stairs or hallways, then a large refrigerator might fail to reach its intended spot. So, to avoid frustrations on delivery day, make sure you measure the available space to the kitchen.

Type of Refrigerator

There are different types of refrigerators: side by side, French door, single door, top freezer and bottom freezer designs.

French Door

These models have a top double-door fridge section and a bottom freezer that’s often a drawer setup. These refrigerators offer lots of space in both the fridge and freezer sections. Also, their design is modern and chic, if you want to add a bit of style to your kitchen’s aesthetic.

Side by side

Side-by-side refrigerators have the fridge and freezer compartments next to each other in a vertical configuration. The doors for each compartment swing from the middle. This setup means that the compartments are slim, limiting the size of items you can fit in them. Often, you’ll have to pack your food in smaller containers to get them organized in the refrigerator.

However, thanks to the slim profile of the doors, they don’t need a lot of swing space.

Single door

These are often small or mid-sized refrigerators with just a single door. Inside, they have a dedicated freezer compartment, but this will have a smaller space than the fridge section.

Top Freezer

This is the oldie-but-goodie refrigerator design we’re all familiar with. As the name suggests, the freezer is at the top, with its own separate door, and the fridge section is at the bottom. These types of refrigerators are more affordable than their counterparts.

Bottom Freezer

This design has grown in popularity since we mostly use the fridge section, which is at eye level in these models. Some Bosch models have a bottom drawer freezer but the company also offers standard-door freezers.

Built-in vs Freestanding

Decide whether you want a built-in refrigerator or a freestanding model. Built-in options are designed to be built into your kitchen cabinetry. Add can also be customized to the color of your cabinets so that they blend into the existing style. These models are best for those who own their homes.

Freestanding refrigerators are simply installed in the existing space and can be moved without the need to alter the kitchen cabinetry. They’re best for those who might move houses in the foreseeable future.

Energy Efficiency

Because a refrigerator is constantly running, you need one that uses as little energy as possible. Thankfully, modern refrigerators don’t consume as much energy as older ones; today’s models are said to consume 33% less energy than older models.

Consider a refrigerator that’s Energy Star certified to maximize on savings. According to Energy Star , a certified refrigerator model will save you about $200 over the course of its lifetime.

Check your preferred refrigerator’s EnergyGuide label, which indicates the amount of energy it will consume in a year. Consider models that have a lower energy consumption, indicated by the KWh (kilowatt-hours) labeled. The guide also indicates the annual operating cost of the refrigerator.

Color and Finish

Since refrigerators last for years, you should look for one that’s elegant, not just functional. Consider the color that best fits the aesthetic of your kitchen. If, for example, you have a stainless steel oven and microwave, a refrigerator with the same color maintains uniformity in your kitchen.

You can also opt for a model with a fingerprint-resistant finish, especially if you have little ones who are always touching the refrigerator. This will save you the hassle of always wiping off smudges that make the appliance unsightly.

Bosch’s lineup is made up of black, black stainless steel, regular stainless steel, and white color options.

Extra Features

You can choose to buy a refrigerator with extra features that add convenience. However, the more extra features you want, the more you’ll have to spend. So, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be limited to just the basic functions of a refrigerator.

Here are some extra features you can consider;

Ice and Water Dispensers

With this, you won’t have to open the refrigerator door if all you need is ice or cold water. This, in turn, will save energy on top of the convenience of this feature. However, the dispensers take up additional space within the refrigerator, eating into the overall capacity.

Speed Chilling

Some refrigerator models have a handy speed chilling feature that rapidly drops the temperature of food within minutes.

Smart Features

Even refrigerators have gotten smarter. These models have WiFi connectivity that enables you to pair them with your smartphone. Most manufacturers have their own smartphone apps that allow you to remotely operate your refrigerator using your phone.

High-end models allow you to set different temperatures for the different compartments. Others also have in-fridge cameras that allow you to see what’s inside straight from your phone. Although smart features are quite convenient, they make the refrigerator more expensive. So, consider whether these features are important to you before spending extra.

Reviews

Read the reviews and see whether there are any recurring issues that past customers complain about. This lets you know whether a particular model is troublesome or not. Some refrigerators might have seemingly impressive specifications yet the reviews say something different.

You can also read articles such as the ones we post on this site to get an objective view of the refrigerator’s performance.

Warranty and Customer Support

Bosch offers a standard warranty of one year on the entire appliance, parts, and labor. You also get a lifetime warranty for rust on stainless steel parts. Always consider an appliance with at least a year’s warranty. However, make sure that the company has a service center near your home so that it is easy for you to reach a technician in person if you need to.

Main Features of Bosch Refrigerators

Home Connect

Bosch’s smartphone app is known as Home Connect. You can use this app to change the temperature and humidity in your Bosch refrigerator, as long as you have a model with WiFi connectivity.

With the app, you can also diagnose problems with your refrigerator when it starts acting up. This will help you quickly fix any issues that don’t require professional intervention.

Flex Bar

Some Bosch refrigerator models have what the company calls Flex Bars. These are adjustable hanging shelves in the fridge, which make it easy to customize the storage space and insert containers or bottles of varied sizes. Here are a couple of models with the Flex Bar feature.

Farm Fresh System

You may notice some Bosch refrigerator models with the company’s Farm Fresh System. This is a series of technologies that boost the performance of your refrigerator. They include:

Vita Fresh Pro: This feature ensures that the humidity and temperature are just right, to keep all food types fresh for longer.
FreshProtect: This is a system that eliminates ethylene gas, which is known to have the ripening of foods. Because of this feature, fruits and vegetables are kept fresh for a longer period than in regular refrigerators.
AirFresh Filter makes sure that strong odor from food like meat and cheese is eliminated.
MultiAir Flow technology keeps the internal temperature consistent thanks to a system that circulates cold air within the refrigerator.

Super Cool and Super Freeze

Super Cool and Super Freeze are features found in some Bosch refrigerator models that rapidly cool or freeze newly added foods.

Whenever you add lots of food to the refrigerator or freezer, the internal temperature will be affected by the warmer temperature of the newly added items. When Super Cool or Super Freeze is activated, your Bosch refrigerator will quickly lower the temperature of the new food items in order to maintain a consistent fridge/freezer temperature.

You can also use this feature if you want to quickly chill drinks.

5 Best Bosch Refrigerators

Bosch B36CL80SNS 800 Series French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator 36”

This is one of Bosch’s most popular refrigerators and, compared to the company’s other models, it’s actually quite reasonably priced. It is a French door model with a top-mount fridge section and a drawer-style freezer at the bottom. It also has a middle-drawer-style section for fruits and veggies.

As is common with Bosch appliances, this model carries on the family line’s sleek looks with its elegant design. This stainless steel refrigerator will certainly upgrade the look of your kitchen.

Main Features

Ample Food Storage

The refrigerator has a capacity of 21 cubic feet, with loads of storage compartments in both the fridge and freezer. Its top section has Bosch’s Flex Bars. These are hanging shelves that can be customized to various configurations to maximize the available refrigerator space.

The middle section is a fresh produce drawer with handy bins that help to organize fruits and veggies. Finally, the freezer drawer has three tiers of shelving that create enough space for foods of varied sizes.

Energy Efficiency

An Energy Star certified refrigerator, this model offers its users electricity savings. Its multi-compartment design also helps to save on energy. This is because you don’t have to open the main refrigerator section if all you need is some veggies.

Smart Technology

This Bosch model is fitted with WiFi connectivity, which facilitates connection to the company’s Home Connect smartphone app. Via the app, you can adjust the humidity level and temperature of the fresh-produce drawer. You’ll also receive an alert in case you leave the refrigerator door open.

Still, whenever there’s an issue with the refrigerator, the app will help you to run diagnostics to figure out what the problem might be.

Food Preservation Performance

Bosch has armed this model with its effective FarmFresh System that’s a combination of four features: Vita Fresh Pro, FreshProtect, AirFresh Filter, and MultiAirFlow. Take a look at the ‘ features ‘ section above (if you haven’t already) to find out more about these technologies.

Pros	Cons
This refrigerator has ample food storage space.	The ice maker seems a tad overzealous as it makes a little too much ice.
It’s Energy Star certified.
It has a sleek stainless steel build.
Food is kept fresh three times longer than regular refrigerators thanks to Bosch’s Farm Fresh System.

Bosch 800 Series French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator B36CT80SNS

Also a member of the 800-series family of Bosch refrigerators, this model lacks the middle fresh-produce drawer that the previous model on our list has. It’s also slightly cheaper but not significantly so.

However, that’s where the differences end. This popular French-door refrigerator boasts Bosch’s cutting-edge technologies similar to those in the model listed above. Because of this, you’ll get to enjoy prolonged food storage as well as handy smart features.