The KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is one of the most magnificent looking fridges you’re likely to come across. It’s capacious, built to run efficiently, and designed to tackle your food wastage head-on. But you may well pass out when you see the price tag for this beauty. KitchenAid makes some of the world’s best side-by-side refrigerators, so it has real form when it comes to large appliances.
The KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is considerably more expensive than competitor models, but if it helps you to avoid food and money wastage, it might be worth the investment in the long-run. And this is an important note to touch upon, as according to a new study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the average US household wastes 31.9% of its food every year, at an annual cost of $1,866.
One of the key reasons people gave for this food wastage was not getting a chance to consume perishables before they began to deteriorate. The KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is packed with next-gen tech designed to make your food stay fresh for longer, cutting down on waste. In our review, we look at the fridge in terms of features, design, size and energy performance to help you figure out if it’s the right choice for your home.
For other large appliances buying advice, check out our guides to the best French door refrigerators, and the best freezers for all budgets.
KitchenAid KBSD608ESS side-by-side refrigerator review: Features
- ExtendFresh Plus keeps coolness at optimum level throughout
- Produce Preserver absorbs ethylene gas from fruit and veg
- There's an external, door-mounted ice and filtered water dispenser
As we mentioned in the introduction, the KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is all about keeping your perishables as fresh as possible for as long as possible. The refrigerator contains something called an ExtendFresh Plus temperature management system, which uses sensors in the fridge and freezer to continuously monitor the temperature. By doing so, it can keep both at an optimal coolness, ensuring that the food within retains its taste and texture.
Working alongside the ExtendFresh Plus is a rather brilliant piece of kit called a Produce Preserver. As fruit and veg matures, it emits ethylene gas, which can cause your apples, nectarines, carrots, etc, to over-ripen. The Produce Preserver absorbs this gas, helping to prolong your items' shelf life.
On the front of the unit, there's an ice and filtered water dispenser with touch controls, meaning you can easily cool yourself down on those warm summer afternoons. And another bonus with this refrigerator is that the interior LED lighting gradually increases to full intensity when you open the doors, sparing you from a blinding glare when you're looking for a sneaky snack at night.
Finally, if you have small children with mucky fingers, you'll appreciate the KBSD608ESS's PrintShield finish. By repelling smudges and smears, it keeps the appliance looking clean at all times – and considering it's likely to dominate your kitchen, that's surely a good thing.
KitchenAid KBSD608ESS side-by-side refrigerator review: Size and dimensions
- This is a huge unit at 48 x 83.5 x 28 inches (WHD)
- It has a capacity of 29.5 cubic feet (19 fridge; 10.5 freezer)
- Fit System Guarantee covers you in case the appliance doesn't fit your space
If you prefer your kitchen appliances to keep a low profile, then prepare to balk at the size of this behemoth. The KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is a massive piece of equipment, measuring 48 x 83.5 x 28 inches (WHD). For obvious reasons, side-by-side fridges already take up more kitchen space than their top-and-bottom counterparts – but this particular model is even larger than most of its peers.
To give you a comparison, the two appliances that sit at one and two in our side-by-side refrigerators guide – read our LG LSXS26366S review and the Samsung RS25J500DSR/AA review for more – measure 36 x 70 x 36.5 and 38 x 70 x 36 inches respectively.
Obviously, a larger size means a greater capacity, and the KitchenAid KBSD608ESS will give you a cavernous 29.5 cubic feet of space (approx. 19 for the fridge and 10.5 for the freezer). This overall capacity is considerably more generous than both of the aforementioned models, the LG offering 26.1 cubic feet and the Samsung 24.5.
As for how you can store your food, the KitchenAid's fridge is fitted with two large drawers at the bottom, and a smaller one on top of that for cheeses, etc. These boast something called SatinGlide tech, which enables you to open and close them with minimal effort. Above these are five shelves, four of which are made from spill-resistant glass.
Additionally, there are five door bins, including three standard-sized ones, an extra-tall one for containing bottles, and a compact, enclosed one for storing eggs, etc. On the other side, the freezer is fitted with two drawers, six shelves and three door bins. You're really not going to have difficulty finding room for all your stuff.
By the way, if your old side-by-side refrigerator measured 48 inches across but for some reason the KBSD608ESS doesn't fit into the same space, KitchenAid will activate its Fit System Guarantee, whereby the manufacturer will provide up to $300 for a professional to come to your home and adjust the size of your cabinets. That’s very generous.
KitchenAid KBSD608ESS side-by-side refrigerator review: Price
- At $10,999, it's much more expensive than most side-by-side refrigerators
- You may be eligible to purchase it on finance
This is a hefty appliance, so it comes at a hefty cost too. At $10,999, it's way outside the price bracket (approx. $1,200 to $3,500) most side-by-side refrigerators fall into. If you're wondering why it commands so much money, it's because of the high-end tech built in (see Features above).
It's not alone in this category, and Liebherr and Northland both make appliances that offer a similar spec at a similarly eye-watering price. If it makes you feel any better about shelling out that kind of money, just remember how much money you could save each year by keeping your food fresh for longer.
If you need help with paying for the KBSD608ES, you may be able to purchase the appliance on finance through KitchenAid's partner Affirm. Three-, six-, 12-, 18-, 24- and 36-month loan terms are available, with 10-30% APR payable. For an instant decision on whether you qualify, select 'Affirm' at checkout.
KitchenAid KBSD608ESS side-by-side refrigerator review: Efficiency & warranty
- The appliance is Energy Star-rated
- It expends an estimated 805 kWh/yr
- A range of warranties are available
It's not just the initial outlay you have to consider when buying a refrigerator – energy efficiency is a very important factor, as this dictates how much it will cost you in electricity to run each year. Thanks in part to its advanced foam insulation, the KitchenAid KBSD608ESS does pretty well in this department, using an estimated 805 kWh/yr. That's higher than our top two choices (the LG LSXS26366S using 715 kWh/yr, and the Samsung RS25J500DSR expending 695 kWh/yr), but this appliance is significantly bigger than those models.
According to KitchenAid, that foam insulation also results in the KBSD608ESS having 99.9% less global warming potential. It shouldn't be surprising, then, to learn that the refrigerator has received an Energy Star certification.
KitchenAid's built-in refrigerators come with a choice of warranties, from a one-year parts and labor warranty to a lifetime limited warranty on the refrigerator door bins. All of the available options have stipulations attached to them – to find out more, read this KitchenAid warranty guide. For an alternative model with a generous 10-year warranty, read our KitchenAid KRSF705HPS review.
Should you buy the KitchenAid KBSD608ESS side-by-side refrigerator?
It's very hard to find fault with this refrigerator's capabilities – and this is reflected in the excellent ratings it's been given by customers online. On the Best Buy website, it scores an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 88 reviews, and it achieves an identical rating on The Home Depot's site, this time from 214 reviews.
Among the positive comments, there is praise for the KBSD608ESS's sharp look, easily adjustable shelves, quiet operation, roominess and ability to keep things fresh. Inevitably, there are some users who've had problems with the refrigerator (stated issues include poor filtration from the water dispenser and ill-fitting drawers in the freezer), but this is to be expected with any kitchen appliance.
Whether the KitchenAid KBSD608ESS is right for you really depends on whether you're prepared to spend what is a substantial amount of money, whether you have the space in your kitchen or utility room, and whether you even need such a large appliance. If you have a small family, large parts of the KBSD608ESS are likely to remain empty, but if you live in a big, busy household, it’s a superb choice if your pockets are deep enough.
