The Kenmore Elite 50043 is a large family refrigerator, however, it's now not available widely in a new condition. To find more recent models, check out our guide to the best side-by-side refrigerators, or keep reading to find out what we thought about the Kenmore Elite 50043. Alternatively, for a different type altogether, check out our guide to the best French door refrigerators.
The refrigerator capacity is 15.5 cubic feet, which is about average for side-by-side refrigerators in our review. The freezer capacity is 9.11 cubic feet, which is more than average. Its dimensions are within standard ranges, so it's great that so much storage capacity is inside while the outside isn’t bulky or disproportionate. It lacks some important refrigerator features, however.
This refrigerator is not Energy Star qualified. Its estimated yearly operating costs are about $84 per year in energy costs, which is on par with many of the refrigerators in our lineup. Its electric use is more than average, using an estimated 702 kilowatts a year. It’s still a relatively energy efficient unit. Plus, it’s one of the more affordable refrigerators we evaluated.
There are two drawers and four shelves within the refrigerator compartment of the Kenmore Elite 50043. There are also four door bins for holding additional items. This side-by-side refrigerator has adjustable shelves, so you can customize the space to your needs. Another nice feature is it has humidity-controlled crisper drawers to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for a long time.
The ice machine and dispenser is located in the freezer door. The freezer section has four spacious door bins and four shelves. All of the freezer space is well laid out and there is plenty of space for items of different sizes. There is a basket beneath the shelves that slide out to make it easier for you to place and retrieve items. The control panel lets you lock the dispenser so that little children cannot play with it. Aside from these conveniences, this fridge doesn’t have a lot of extras. In contrast, the Samsung RS25J500DSR/AA is an affordable fridge with a lot of extras.
One common complaint we saw when reading online reviews was a problem with the water and ice dispenser. While most of the reviews were positive, several people complained of a defect that caused water to spray out over the front of the refrigerator whenever it dispensed ice.
The Kenmore Elite 50043 comes with a standard one-year warranty for parts and labor on the entire unit. It also includes an additional five-year warranty for the sealed system, the mechanical parts that cool the refrigerator. This is a standard extended warranty for the refrigerator industry. For help with contacting a repairman, setting the controls on your refrigerator or any other issues you have, you can find many answers within the online user guides. You can also receive personalized assistance through either email or phone support.
The Kenmore Elite 50043 is a large-capacity side-by-side refrigerator with plenty of storage space. The freezer is especially generous in terms of capacity. The refrigerator shelves are adjustable to customize space and accommodate taller items. It also has a humidity controlled crisper drawer to keep fruits and veggies fresh longer. It is not Energy Star compliant, like the LG LRSES2706V is, but it’s still relatively energy efficient. This is one of the more affordable refrigerators in our comparison and it has a lot of space for a big family.
