Sub-Zero is an American maker of refrigerators in standard sizes, plus columns (separate fridge/freezer units), under-counter fridges, and wine coolers. It is a brand synonymous with luxury and has a price to match. You can mix and match options up to 72" wide, all fridge, all freezer, or any combination of each, including wine coolers.
This offers a lot of options. But is Sub-Zero really better than other refrigerators? And are they worth the premium price tag? (The current price for a basic 36" over/under fridge-freezer is about $10,500.)
Here we take an in-depth look at the luxury brand to find out its unique features and whether it really has something to offer that other brands don't have.
Sub-Zero at a Glance
Sub-Zero makes three lines of refrigerators/freezers: the Classic Series, Designer Series, and Pro Series. As there are several configurations of each, plus wine storage and under counter refrigeration, we're just linking to Sub-Zero's pages rather than try to list all of the options.
Sub-Zero refrigerators are available as column (separate fridge/freezer units), side-by-side, over/under (bottom pull-out freezers), and French door. Not all models are available in all sizes (for example, the 48" Classic fridge is not available with French doors or a bottom freezer).
Additionally, most Classic and Pro models come with Wi-Fi, internal ice maker and water dispenser, or external ice maker and water dispenser, or just ice maker and no water dispenser. Sub-Zero's have a replaceable charcoal filter for water that removes chlorine, bad smells, and other impurities (which is great, but not nearly as comprehensive as a reverse osmosis filter).
Sub-Zero also offers glass doors on the fridges, which is currently a popular look on luxury refrigerators.
The Classic Series has a stainless steel exterior and comes in several sizes and configurations (e.g., bottom freezer, side-by-side, French door with bottom freezer, and columns so you can mix and match). The interior has adjustable glass shelves, adjustable door bins, and polycarbonate drawers that gently self-close (very nice). Diffused LED lighting makes for outstanding visuals. Rather than list all the configurations, we'll point you to Sub-Zero's website to see their Classic Series options.
Sub-Zero Classic over/under.
The Designer Series has no front panels so the units are ready to be customized to match your kitchen. Designer Series Sub-Zeros have hidden grills and hinges, so the refrigerator looks like a large cabinet. The interior is similar to the Classic Series but has a few extra features such as Night Mode lighting. Here are Sub-Zero's Designer Series options.
Sub-Zero Designer side-by-side (with panels and water dispenser).
The Pro Series comes in only the 36" over/under and 48" side-by-side units in a stainless finish. The Pro Series has an extra evaporator which provides separate cooling for the drawers. The separate crisper and freezer drawers provide even more superb food preservation. The Pro Series has a rugged glass and stainless interior (very little polycarbonate). Note that the Pro Series has no door bins, so the shelves are deeper than on other models. To compensate for this, one of the shelves slides out for easier access.
Here are Sub-Zero's Pro Series options.
Wine Storage. Sub-Zero also offer several configurations for wine storage as independent units or as part of a fridge/freezer combo. Here are Sub-Zero's wine cooler options.
Under Counter. Finally, Sub-Zero has under-counter refrigeration (and freezers) in several configurations, whether for extra space in your kitchen, in an outdoor kitchen, or anywhere you want under counter refrigeration or freezing. These units are available in stainless or as designer built-ins. Here are Sub-Zero's under-counter options.
About Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero was founded in 1945 in Madison, Wisconsin by Westye Bakke. He was looking for a way to preserve insulin for his son's juvenile diabetes. Bakke built his first freezer in his basement out of scrap metal.
Sub-Zero quickly developed a reputation for quality and innovation, so much so that Frank LLoyd Wright hired the company to design custom refrigerators for his homes.
Sub-Zero retains its excellent reputation today. Both their design and their innovative food preservation technologies have been copied by many other makers. You can find many of Sub-Zero's innovations (or style) in other brands, but you can't find all of them.
Sub-Zero acquired Wolf stoves in 2000 and Cove dishwashers in 2018. Together these brands create a pinnacle of high-end kitchen appliances.
All Sub-Zero appliances are made in the USA.
Who Should Buy a Sub-Zero?
Sub-Zero is definitely a premium brand for the premium buyer. People who buy a Sub-Zero refrigerator will have these traits or concerns:
- Have a large budget
- Are a serious cook
- Care about food preservation
- Care about design
- Care about energy efficiency (Sub-Zeros are extremely energy efficient)
- Want a customized fridge that matches their cabinetry or fits special requirements (e.g., wine cooler)
- Want a refrigerator with a longer-than-average warranty (12 years) and life span
- Want excellent customer service
- Want a brand with excellent resale value for their home.
What Is a Built-In Refrigerator?
Sub-Zero refrigerators are built-ins, as opposed to freestanding refrigerators. Built-ins, whether stainless steel or paneled to match your cabinetry, are designed to integrate seamlessly into any kitchen design. They typically have hidden (or nearly hidden) hinges, and sometimes hidden grills, as well, so the refrigerator looks much like a large cabinet.
Built-ins have long been the choice of interior designers for their great looks. Built-ins also tend to have cutting-edge technology, such as the dual compressors and air purification system of Sub-Zero.
Though you will now find some similar food preservation technology on many freestanding refrigerators, you won't find them all, so Sub-Zero is still the king of technology. However, the main reason people buy built-in brands is for their sleek appearance--and possibly for the resale value they'll add to their kitchen.
What Is a Counter-Depth Refrigerator?
Sub-Zero 48" Designer Series: seamless looks.
Most built-in refrigerators are also counter-depth. Sub-Zero makes only counter-depth refrigerators with a depth of 24 inches. This means the refrigerator (excluding handles) is approximately the same depth as your counters and cabinets.
Counter-depth fridges are also typically taller than standard depth fridges (more on Sub-Zero height below).
Standard depth refrigerators are deeper than counters and stick out 5-10 inches.
Pros of counter-depth refrigerators:
- Look more custom
- Streamline the kitchen
- Easier to find food (because of the shallow depth).
Cons of counter-depth refrigerators:
- More expensive than standard-depth fridges (approximately 15-20%)
- Typically less storage space (because of the shallow depth)
- Doors might require more clearance.
Counter-depth refrigerators are associated with higher end, more expensive brands and are typically found in upscale kitchens. Most people think they look better, but they also have a longer life span and the very best food preservation technology.
Several makers offer counter-depth fridges, including Frigidaire, GE, Bosch, Samsung, and all the higher-end brands (e.g., Thermador, Miele, Viking).
You'll pay more for a counter depth fridge regardless of which brand you buy.
In fact, Sub-Zero is not even the most expensive counter depth-brand. Depending on the model, you can pay more for Miele, Viking, and Thermador.
What Does Sub-Zero Have that Other Refrigerators Don't Have?
Dual compressor air flow in a Sub-Zero.
Sub-Zero has several innovative features. You can find some of these on other brands, but no other brand has all of them. This includes:
Dual Compressors: All Sub-Zero refrigerators have separate compressors for the fridge and freezer. This allows a Sub-Zero to maintain the proper temperature and humidity levels ideal for each compartment: humidity in the fridge to keep produce fresh and dry air in the freezer to prevent freezer burn.
Patented Vacuum/Magnetic Doors: The doors on a Sub-Zero magnetically seal each time you close them. This ensures a tight fit and no air leakage in or out. If you have a power outage, a Sub-Zero will preserve food longer than other brands (if you don't open the doors).
Air Purification: A NASA-inspired antimicrobial air purification system scrubs the air every 20 minutes to eliminate the production of mold spores, viruses, bacteria, and ethylene gas. There is a filter that needs to be changed about once a year. The control panel (or smart capability, if you're using it), will alert you when the filter needs to be changes. Sub-Zero also provides detailed instructions for filter changes for each model.
Temperature and Humidity Controls: A microprocessor constantly monitors temperature so the fluctuation is less than one degree (other brands can fluctuate 15 degrees or more). The humidity is maintained at an ideal level in both fridge and freezer compartments (i.e., humid in the fridge, dry in the freezer).
Longer Life Produce and Deli Drawers: The produce drawers are near the evaporator, which keeps them a few degrees cooler than the rest of the fridge. The drawers also seal to lock out air and have removable dividers that can help keep some produce fresh for longer.
Freshness Cards: All Sub-Zeros come with cards that provide tips on food preservation. They are conveniently located in a slot inside the fridge (not in the way of food) so you don't have to look up the information in a user manual (or on the Internet).
12 Year Warranty: All Sub-Zero's come with a complete 2-year warranty that covers everything, a slightly less comprehensive 5-year warranty and a 12 year limited warranty. They have a reputation for excellent customer service.
Long Life Span: Sub-Zeros have an average life span of 20 years; compare this to other brands, which have an average life span of 8-12 years.
Also: Sub-Zeros also have great features like LED lighting, spill-proof shelf technology, gently self-closing drawers, a filter for the ice maker/water dispenser, and Wi-Fi/smart phone connections so you can monitor some controls when you're away from the kitchen.
The more expensive Pro Series has a stainless steel interior as well as separate pull-out bins for both fridge and freezer, and a glass door option for the refrigerator:
Are any of these features worth the extra cost? If you have the budget, we think they are. If you want the best in food preservation and design, Sub-Zero is the best refrigerator on the market.
Does Sub-Zero Really Preserve Food Longer than Other Refrigerators?
Yes: Sub-Zero refrigerators do preserve food longer than other refrigerators.
Sub-Zero is the industry leader in innovative food preservation technology. The combination of the dual compressors, microprocessor-controlled temperature and humidity control, and tight-sealing doors really does a phenomenal job of preserving food.
The extra evaporator in the Pro Series preserves produce even longer than the standard Sub-Zero dual compressor system (but you will pay considerably more for it).
How much longer will a Sub-Zero keep food fresh? It's hard to say exactly, but according to Don's Appliances:
"Even if you threw out $10 a week of spoiled food, you could save $500 or more per year with a Sub-Zero. Over the fridge's lifespan, that could be a savings of over $10,000."
So, you will save money on food with a Sub-Zero because of less spoilage. We don't guarantee this makes it worth the premium price, but you'll definitely waste less food.
This probably isn't the biggest reason people go with Sub-Zero, but it's good to know you're getting this kind of performance.
About Columns (When Would You Want Them?)
Sub-Zero column install with fridge, freezer, and wine storage.
Columns are separate refrigerator and freezer units that you can configure any way you want.
Columns are useful if you can't find a refrigerator/freezer unit in the configuration that you want, or if you want a special setup such as double fridge/no freezer, double freezer/no fridge, fridge/wine cooler, etc.
They're also useful if you have a large or custom-sized space. For example, if you have a 72" space, you can get a 36" refrigerator/36" freezer, or two 36" fridges. If your space is this big, you'll probably have to go with columns because fridge/freezer units aren't made that wide.
Or, if you have a 48" space and don't like the standard 30" fridge/18" freezer side-by-side, you can get a 24" fridge/24" freezer.
You can also have your fridge and freezer units in separate spots in your kitchen or pantry if that's what you want (or have room for).
You can see the possibilities: columns make just about any configuration possible in any space.
Several high-end makers offer columns now so people can customize their refrigeration. Columns integrate with each other seamlessly and provide a great look in a high-end kitchen.
Columns are almost always going to be more expensive than buying a single unit, so if you want an expensive look, columns are a good way to go.
Columns are available in the Classic and Designer Series, but not in the Pro Series.
Sub-Zero Interiors
Next to its ability to preserve food, the interior organization of a refrigerator is probably its most important feature. You have to be able to see clearly and reach your food easily. Sub-Zero has a nice interior design that makes food storage easy.
Classic/Designer Series
The Classic and Designer Sub-Zero models have a simple layout, with adjustable glass shelves, roomy door bins, and diffused LED lighting:
The bins and drawers are polycarbonate. Most shelves and door bins are adjustable so you can configure them exactly how you want them.
Crisper drawers have a really cool (forgive the pun) feature in that they self-close