My verdict
This is my starting choice for a room where frozen meals are part of the normal routine. The freezer has its own door, so the design makes more sense for that job than a small internal ice compartment. The refrigerator section includes removable glass shelves and a produce drawer.
I would choose it with a clear idea of the fresh-food load. The 3.1 cu. ft. headline includes the freezer; the refrigerated compartment is 2.2 cu. ft. If you mainly need lunches and milk, an all-fridge layout may make better use of the space.
Reasons to choose it
- Separate freezer and a clear documented compartment split.
- Removable glass shelving and a produce drawer for everyday food.
- A published annual energy figure that can be used in a running-cost estimate.
Reasons to choose differently
- Manufacturer and certification defrost descriptions conflict.
- Manufacturer and retailer cabinet measurements differ.
- The freezer reduces the room available for fresh groceries.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Exact model | Midea WHD-113FSS1 |
| Total capacity | 3.1 cu. ft. |
| Cabinet W × D × H | 18.5 × 19.9 × 33 in. |
| Defrost | Documentation conflict |
| Annual energy | 270 kWh/year (published) |
| Documented supply | 115 V; follow the exact electrical instructions |
| Weight and basis | 52.2 lb, manufacturer product weight |
Buy the compartment split you will actually use
I would plan this fridge around a modest, regular food shop: refrigerated basics below and a few frozen items above. The key comparison is the space needed by your containers and packets. We have not measured a lunch-box or frozen-meal count, and the headline volume cannot establish one.
Two removable glass shelves allow some rearrangement. Moving a shelf for a tall container can reduce the number of useful layers, so I would think through the usual load rather than assume adjustable storage solves every fit problem. Check the door bins and crisper access as well.
Confirm the shelves, drawer and any loose accessories in the exact seller’s package. A photograph can show the storage layout without proving that every ice tray or small accessory is included in the current shipment.
Does the separate freezer earn its share of the cabinet?
About 29% of the stated 3.1 cu. ft. total belongs to the 0.9 cu. ft. freezer. That calculation explains the compromise: the fridge gives frozen food a dedicated compartment, but leaves less room for fresh food than the headline capacity suggests. I would make that trade for a routine built around both groceries and frozen meals. I would not make it simply because an extra door looks useful.
Consider a household that already has a convenient full-size freezer. In that situation the Danby DAR044A6DDB offers twice the Midea’s stated refrigerated volume, 4.4 versus 2.2 cu. ft. That is a comparison of nominal food space, not a claim that it holds twice as many containers. Danby also asks for substantially more installation room.
The GE is the closer substitute if the freezer is essential. At the illustrative 18-cent electricity rate, the published annual figures differ by $9.18, or about 77 cents a month. I would let container access and installation decide before treating that modest estimated difference as the whole purchase decision. The Midea–GE comparison separates those tradeoffs.
| Your situation | My choice and reason |
|---|---|
| Fresh food plus frozen meals | Shortlist this Midea. Allocate the two compartments separately and confirm the maintenance instructions. |
| Mostly milk, lunches and produce | Compare a freezerless food fridge. Paying for freezer volume you rarely use can make restocking more frequent. |
| A tightly measured opening | Resolve the exact installation dimensions first. The GE has a clearer documented envelope; neither should be assumed built-in. |
Check the installation before ordering
Midea lists 18.5 inches wide, 19.9 inches deep and 33 inches high for the US WHD-113FSS1. Some retailer fields disagree. If the location is tight, resolve the shipped model’s dimensions and required ventilation before buying.
The linked instructions specify three inches at each side and four inches behind. That takes the nominal width and depth to 24.5 × 23.9 inches before door access. An overhead figure is not quantified, and retailer cabinet measurements differ. The finder therefore keeps this model out of a full measured-space match until those remaining details are confirmed.
Evidence and source notes ↗Living with this fridge
I would resolve the defrost instructions before buying. Manufacturer material describes manual defrost, but an exact-model ENERGY STAR record lists automatic. The current shipped unit’s instructions should determine the maintenance routine; neither label supports an unverified frost-free promise.
The published 270 kWh annual figure produces an illustrative $48.60 electricity cost at 18 cents per kWh. That is an estimate from a published figure and an example tariff, not a measurement in Annette’s home. Actual conditions can change consumption.
For everyday organisation, I would keep the most frequently used refrigerated items reachable without removing a whole shelf. Plan a separate place for frozen food during any required defrosting. This is a reason to choose the layout deliberately: a small separate freezer can be useful without behaving like a full-size household freezer.
Support, condition and warranty
Manufacturer: one-year limited warranty; as-is/refurbished purchases are excluded in the linked manual. Check the selected seller and condition.
Use Midea’s support information for WHD-113FSS1 and keep the receipt, full model and serial label. Check the warranty conditions for the seller and unit condition before purchase. Do not assume a used offer has the same protection as a new qualifying purchase.
Inspect the cabinet and seal after delivery, follow the start-up instructions and verify temperatures before loading perishables. Record any damage promptly through the seller’s process.
When I would choose a different model
Another food + freezer option
GE GDE03GGKBB
Compare the GE if its shelf arrangement or documented door-open space works better. Its published energy use is higher and its freezer still needs maintenance.
Read the full GDE03GGKBB review →
More room for fresh food
Danby DAR044A6DDB
Investigate the Danby if almost everything you store is refrigerated food. It has no freezer, requires substantial airflow space and needs a suitable offer confirmed.
Buy on AmazonConfirm a current offer for this exact model on Amazon before choosing it.
Read the full DAR044A6DDB review →Before you buy
Match WHD-113FSS1 and the stainless-steel finish. MERM31D2AST is a different Midea model; the letters and numbers are not interchangeable. Check condition, seller, delivery and the complete total for your address.
The checked Amazon listing offered a separate Buy New option sold and shipped by Amazon.com alongside resale stock. I would compare the selected new offer and its warranty with any resale saving; a used offer elsewhere on the page does not make every option used. Availability and delivery still depend on the selected offer and your address.
I would resolve the fit first, then compare the current offer. A return caused by an avoidable installation mismatch can outweigh a modest price difference.
Evidence and source notes ↗Questions before you choose
Is all 3.1 cu. ft. available for groceries?
No. Midea lists 2.2 cu. ft. refrigerated storage and 0.9 cu. ft. freezer. Plan the food section separately.
Is the WHD-113FSS1 frost-free?
Manufacturer material describes manual defrost while an exact ENERGY STAR record lists automatic. Confirm the current unit’s instructions; no frost-free freezer claim is established.
Is this the same as MERM31D2AST?
No. They are different model identifiers. This review, photograph and Amazon destination concern WHD-113FSS1.