Amana ABB1921BRM Bottom-freezer Refrigerator Review

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The Amana ABB1921BRM (available at AJ Madison) bottom-freezer refrigerator has steady temperatures and excellent crispers, but there’s not much else to talk about except its unique size. Technically, it’s categorized as a standard-depth fridge, but this fridge is about 6 inches more narrow than the average standard fridge. It makes a good option for smaller households and/or smaller kitchens, especially if you need a slim width rather than depth that a counter-depth style provides. However, we don’t otherwise recommend it and instead suggest the LG LSXS26366S, a full-size model that only costs a little more, offers additional storage, and has a through-the-door dispenser. If you’re looking for a better budget buy, read up on the Hisense HRB171N6ASE, which is cheaper without losing any performance.

The Amana ABB1921BRM bottom-freezer refrigerator has a largely featureless exterior, with just a small logo on the top right and large, square-edged handles on its doors.

The refrigerator compartment has three shelves and two crispers in its interior and a standard array of bins on its door.

Opening up the freezer door reveals the main surprise of this fridge: Unlike most other bottom-freezer refrigerators, which have a freezer drawer, the ABB1921BRM has a swing-style door and a compartment with a wire shelf, basket, and a single, full-width bin on the door.

About the Amana ABB1921BRM bottom-freezer refrigerator

Dimensions: 66.94” x 29.63” x 33.38” (H x W x D)
Measured capacity: 7.68-cubic-foot fridge, 4.13-cubic-foot freezer
Finishes: Black, white, stainless steel ($100 extra)
Dispensers: None
Counter-depth: No
User manual: Not available online

What we like

It boasts stable temperatures in both the fridge and freezer

Fridges need to keep their temperatures within an extremely narrow range. If temperatures fall below 32°F some foods will freeze. Temperatures above 40°F allow germs to quickly spoil your leftovers. So, the ideal fridge temps fall within an 8°F window.

When it comes to consistency, the Amana ABB1921BRM is aces. During testing, temperatures varied by less than 2°F throughout the body of the refrigeration compartment, and over time those temperatures varied by less than 1°F.

The freezer also kept temperatures remarkably stable, with most fluctuations kept under half a degree. This means you won’t run into freezer burn as easily.

Its narrow width is perfect for smaller kitchens

Move over, counter-depth fridges, this skinny Amana is here for your spot in smaller kitchens.

Typically counter-depths are the go-to fridge when space is at a premium. This Amana, however, is shaving down its width rather than its depth: It measures a little under 30 inches from side to side, significantly more narrow than the typical 36 inches.

Because kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, we really like that there are options out there like the Amana ABB1921BRM. The smaller size does have its downsides, but if your kitchen is strapped for space and you live by yourself or with one other person, a fridge this size should be perfect.

These crispers are surprisingly good

While the ABB1921BRM’s twin crisper drawers might appear to be stock standard, they retain humidity extremely well.

We test a crisper’s ability to retain humidity using a ball of florist foam soaked with water and measure the rate at which that water escapes. On average, a crisper might lose humidity at a rate of 0.2 grams per hour, with the lower end of the spectrum around 0.1 g/h and the higher end topping out near 0.4 g/h. We measured the ABB1921BRM’s rate at 0.09 g/h, which is a new record for humidity retention.

This means all your leafy greens will take much longer to wilt in the ABB1921BRM than most other refrigerators. While it’s true that too much humidity retention can cause some fruits and veggies to rot prematurely, these crispers do have toggles that allow you to let out more humidity should the need arise.

What we don’t like

The manufacturer’s suggested temperature calibration runs warm

Most fridge owners never touch their fridge’s control panel, and don’t need to. However, there are times when a refrigerator will run too warm right out of the box. In this case, we recommend checking the manufacturer-specified settings or, barring that, do your own calibration with a thermometer. As long as the refrigerator’s temperatures are stable and consistent, as in the case of the Hisense HRB171N6ASE, you should be good to go.

Unfortunately, not only does the Amana ABB1921BRM get it wrong out of the box, its owner’s manual suggests a calibration of 4 on a scale of 1 to 7. When we did that, temperatures across the Amana continued to register too warm, ranging between 40°F and 42°F.

This is not good: You need to keep your fridge below 40°F to properly staunch bacterial growth. If you do end up buying this refrigerator, we suggest setting it to 3.

A smaller size means less raw storage capacity and a higher price

Unless there’s a remarkable breakthrough in technology, reducing a fridge’s size is going to reduce its storage capacity.

Less space is a common casualty when using counter-depth or more narrow refrigerator models. As we noted, the ABB1921BRM, which is categorized as a standard fridge, is less than 30 inches wide, compared to other standard fridges that are typically closer to 36 inches wide.

In our estimation, this fridge should provide enough storage for someone living on their own, or for a two-person household. It’s too small to handle three or more people on its own.

Counter-depth refrigerators are always more expensive than standard-depth fridges, and this is accounting for its specialized size. While the Amana is still a standard-depth fridge, it is very narrow and comes with a premium price. Cramming all the same components into a smaller space typically requires some impressive feats of engineering, so the more you shrink down an appliance, the higher its price tends to rise.

All said, we advise against buying a counter-depth or narrow fridge if you aren’t specifically shopping for a space-saver.

What owners are saying

Those who own the ABB1921BRM seem to like it, awarding it an average of 4.3 stars out of 5 across major retailers.

Users who love their Amana ABB1921BRM cite it is excellent at making the most of their kitchen space, praise its aesthetics, and find its crispers keep vegetables surprisingly well.

Warranty

Amana has a standard, one-year warranty that covers parts and services.

This is the bare minimum warranty for the refrigeration industry. Many manufacturers will also have specific clauses for fridges, guaranteeing the refrigeration system for up to five, or even 10 years. Given how much this fridge costs, we would’ve liked to see a similar extension clause in its warranty.

Should you buy the Amana ABB1921BRM?

Maybe, but not if you can fit and afford a standard fridge.

Overall, we like the Amana ABB1921BRM. We like its narrow size, although this definitely puts the ABB1921BRM into a niche: It’s great for smaller kitchens in smaller households, but if you have the space (or more than one roommate) it won’t cut it.

We definitely do not like how warm it is without proper calibration, but beyond this hurdle lies steady temperatures and excellent crispers. It should be great at maximizing the shelf life of all your food.

We do not like the ABB1921BRM’s price. Beyond its size, the ABB1921BRM doesn’t have much to put it ahead of other feature-light fridges with stable temperatures—many of which cost significantly less.

If you want a bare-bones bottom-freezer, we highly recommend the excellent Hisense HRB171N6ASE that costs significantly less and still boasts steady temperatures. If you just want the best you can get in roughly the same price range as the Amana ABB1921BRM, you should check out the LG LSXS26366S, which has a through-the-door dispenser and other useful features.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.