Handles. I have longer nails and I can’t imagine trying to open a door with no way to grip around it.

Handles for me, too.

Karen, thank you very much for your answer. I just read on another thread that this is an issue for women. Also, by having handles it helps to prevent scratches on the stainless steel. I am looking at my old refrigerator now that has recessed handles and I'm noticing that there is quite of bit of wear and tear around the area where the recessed handles meet the front of the refrigerator. I'm now leaning towards handles. I would like others to weigh in.

I'd choose handles. I have now one with recessed handles and it's a little annoying.

Aesthetically the one without handles is sleeker and more attractive - at least in my opinion.

Have you tried the recessed handles to see what it would be like to open. My friend has a SubZero and it seems to take more effort to open than a normal refrigerator but that could just be her specific unit since she has the only SZ refrigerator that I have open ended privileges for :-)

In terms of function, I would find cleaning a straight surface to be easier than cleaning around handles so it would seem to be a wash in terms of functionality.

"In terms of function, I would find cleaning a straight surface to be easier than cleaning around handles so it would seem to be a wash in terms of functionality."

Good point, Helen. I wish I could start a poll so everyone could vote here.

Thank you for your comments. O.K., it's a bit late but I figured out how to do a poll on houzz. I'm starting to love this forum. : ) I know you all posted your comments here but would you please past your comments on the polling page and vote? You have been very helpful and I would like to see what a whole lot of people would prefer over the long haul.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/refrigerator-with-handles-or-recessed-handles-vote-here-dsvw-vd~5653572

I don't think I could answer a poll with a straight yes or no as I would really need to know how difficult it is to use a recessed handle.

If it really wasn't functionally difficult, I would opt for it on aesthetic grounds (as well as possible ease of cleaning). If it would bug the crap out of me over the long term I would opt for handles.

I am confused as to the configuration of the unit though. Is the bottom unit a freezer that opens at the side or does it pull out like a drawer. If it is a drawer, the handle on the side is strange as generally drawers have a horizontal handle in the middle.

I would lean towards handles- as long as I could easily clean them. You know how some handles have that gradual angle into the door that creates a tiny crevice impossible to clean? If it were handles like that - I’d go without them. But neat right angles I could clean, I would prefer!

I would vote for handles as well.

The Fisher & Paykel has neat, right angle handles so they would be easy to clean.

The recessed handle looks nicer, but I would have to pick the one with handles..even then you have to assert some pressure to open the door, I would find a recessed handle a problem and an annoyance.

Handles. Sometimes you need to get into the fridge and you have a boatload of stuff in your hands and you need to hook a finger on something

But I agree, check the force needed to open the doors. If it is minimal...come back and post a new poll

FWIW we are getting a thermador; it has a push to open feature which is really nice
Alternatively, you could panel your fridge to make it really seamless

Another vote for handles, particularly because it helps to have more leverage to open the door. Refrigerator doors, particularly ones that are cabinet depth, tend to be pretty heavy/have a tight seal. Much easier to tug open the door when you have something solid to grab.

Please vote here: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/refrigerator-with-handles-or-recessed-handles-vote-here-dsvw-vd~5653572

Handles. They identify which way the door swings to open, not like annoying store beverage coolers with only recessed grip spaces.

I debated over this for a few days and decided on with handles. Many times when I am cooking my hands are wet or can be dry. I figured having handles would reduce any hassle during my busy dinner cooking time. No handles look really sleep and I know I don't have worry about matching handles with other appliances from different manufactures. It was hard to let go but I decided on function

My current refrigerator is handle-less. It has a nice streamlined look but it does get a lot of smudges on the front of the refrigerator around the recessed areas where you open the doors.

We wrestled with this decision when we purchased our Bosch 800 series refrigerator this spring. Once I found out the lead time for the recessed handled frig was months longer (If at all) that made the decision for us. Handles. Readily available. With covid supply delays, if availability is important to you, that might help make your decision too.

@Architectural Noticce which type do you have? How long did you have? Any issues so far and are you satisfied with your purchase?

I have the FP refrigerator with handles, and love it. I think the model without handles required a little more effort to open the door.

I have a 10 year old Kenmore with top freezer, no ice or water.. Works great, very quiet, no problems at all in the entire time we've had it.

Definitely a fridge with handles I have a balance disability and the handles are easy to grip and open doors. The fridge looks more elegent especially the Fisher & Paykel model mine is 27 years old. No recessed handles for me !

Let me explain something to those of you not in the know. Appliance manufacturers do just about anything to drive down cost. In order to do that they advertise and attempt to set a new style or trend. Pure marketing BS. Two examples are stainless steel and no handles. It is more expensive to make a painted fridge than stainless fridge. With a stainless fridge the buyer has to deal with endless fingerprints (there is no such thing as fingerprint proof stainless and they scratch if you breath on them). It is more expensive to make a fridge with no handles and market it as sleek rather than market it a PITA. Appliance makers will do anything for your money and will sell you the lowest quality product they can get away with.

The trouble with no handles iis that fingerprints and scratches. This is by far the worst and most expensive refrigerator I have ever had my cheep kenmore is stainless and I have had it for years with hardky a scratch. We had it in our cabin for years now it lives in the garage and still no scratches.....