Measuring the interior of your fridge is a much more complicated issue. The door seems to have an internal mechanism to help it close and stay closed. Though it does have some performance and usability issues, the Galanz GLR31TBEER still looks great and offers a ton of usable storage area. Whatever you're looking for, be it a built-in option or one made for wine, you'll find the best mini fridges for your needs below. Its freezer temperatures aren't as consistent, though it didn't stray far from -2F during testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links. This mini fridge has two glass shelves that separate its 2.5 cubic feet of storage space into three compartments. Cons: It costs a lot more than the average mini fridge. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. There isn't much to say about its usability or storage space. Subscribe to the HGTV Inspiration newsletter to get our best tips and ideas delivered weekly. On average, you can keep a mini fridge going for up to 10 years. If your freezer gets warmer than 0F, it means your food isn't being truly frozen. The Costway EP22672BK, has a standard interior, with a 2-liter bin and a can dispenser rack on its door. A: It will depend on the manufacturer and cooling capabilities, but most mini fridges use between 50 and 100 watts per hour. Its less than $250 (with free shipping for Amazon Prime members). Mini fridges weigh between 30100 pounds. But, the best feature? On top of that, overstocked fridges often result in lower visibility, which means food will get hidden and forgotten, only to be uncovered later, teeming with new life. Compared to similar fridges, this model performs better in a larger range of ambient temperature, allowing your bottles to remain at a constant temperature even if the room it's in gets close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. While mini fridges, on the whole, do seem to be more or less the same, the difference between good, bad, and average can be significant. Read More, The Midea WHD-113FSS1 comes in a handsome stainless steel, but runs warm enough that calibration is needed to keep food safe. For comparison, a standard fridge averages anywhere from 350 to 780 watts per hour. Other features to consider include door storage and whether or not you want a freezer space. Those who loved the product listed storage capacity, noise level, and temperature control as their favorite qualities. One of the ATMP032AES's best features is its stainless steel facade, which looks much nicer than some of the other, glossy-finished mini fridges we tested. There are a lot of choices and a lot of features to consider when shopping for a mini fridge. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. You cant store a lot of refrigerated items in it, and you can store even fewer items in its freezer section. Though they look similar, a beverage chiller and a mini fridge have different cooling settings and a beverage chiller will not keep perishable food at a cool enough temperature to safely store and consume. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Despite its name, the Arctic King ATMP032AES has some of the warmer default fridge temperatures that we measured. With two temperature zones that can be set between 41 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit, you can store age-worthy reds in one section and ready-to-drink whites or sparkling wines in the other. Sealing the drawer shut takes a bit of a push. The future is now. Those who were disappointed with their purchase expressed that it was difficult to contact customer service. Here are our top five recommendations. The temperature also wasn't particularly consistent, making it our worst freezer test result by a large margin. Additionally, this mini fridge is one of the quietest products in this review with a noise level of 42 decibels. When taking measurements, be sure to keep your clearance needs in mind. It also features a separate freezer door that actually keeps items ice-cold, unlike those sad little freezer flaps. As opposed to a full-sized fridge that takes up a large area of your kitchen, a mini fridge is small enough to fit under a counter to give you additional storage space. Once thats done, you next need to figure out which items make sense to be on the door. Don't sleep on these dreamy deals and outfit your dorm bed to perfection. Its freezer performance wasn't much better either, hovering around 5F instead of 0F. Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. With around two to five cubic feet of storage space, these appliances use less energy than full-sized fridges. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that the mini fridge was loud and accumulated ice. Refrigerators pull in the surrounding air and cool it down to around 37F to preserve food and inhibit bacteria growth. Another factor that narrows the search is whether a unit is a compressor or thermoelectric model. This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. If you're searching for a fridge that will keep a consistently cold temperature, a compressor type offers the best performance. As a result, we decided to test some of the highest-rated mini fridges on the market to see how they hold up. Indeed, capacity and overall size were two factors we considered when looking at the top mini fridges on the market, in addition to their configuration and features. We do have a guide that breaks down the process of cleaning and organizing your fridge, but theres really only a few points to remember. All rights reserved. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. Also available at Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma. Furthermore, if temperatures in your freezer bounce around, that will greatly exacerbate the build-up of freezer burn. 2022 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. For best results, consult your fridge's manual for model-specific instructions. Our top pick is the freestanding GE Mini Fridge with Freezer, a compact but sturdy model that features separate doors for the refrigerator and freezer. It has a decent-sized fridge compartment at a little over 2 cubic feet, which is towards the larger size of all the fridges we tested. The GLR31TBEER also has the auto-close door issue, but worse: If you don't shut the door hard enough, it'll actually bounce open again. The combination of these two types of experiences allows us to recommend the best fridge for you at any price point. Plus, it comes in a few fun colors if neutrals aren't your thing. Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds. Offering 3.2 cubic feet of storage, it includes a separate freezer section and ice tray. Its an oxymoron, but there are some great jumbo mini fridges out there. Very few people actually shop around for their mini fridge. While this isn't ideal, the one saving grace is that its freezer temps were stable: Just turn its temp down slightly and the freezer should be just fine. Since most are relatively inexpensive and destined for a dorm room or garage, it's easy to just pick up the first one you run across in a big box store or the highest rated one on Amazon. The small and stylish Italian-made unit packs in two easy-to-clean glass shelves and two inside the door for tall bottles, condiments, and more, with LED lighting to illuminate it all. Cons: Its LED lighting seems dim, and it's made for freestanding use only. All rights reserved. Ft. Mini Fridge With Eraser Board, Upcycle a Hutch Into an Outdoor Bar and Buffet. We rarely see mini fridges even the small ones drop below $150, so, if you're on a budget, this is one is a great value. In cold weather, the fridge can struggle to operate in general. Get ahead of the game and see which organizers are essential for students living on campus. In terms of temperature performance, the NS-CF26BK9 maintained very steady, stable temperatures during testing, though it did use more than twice as much electricity as almost every other mini fridge we tested, topping out at 6.08 kWh while most other models used less than 4 kWh. Our research led us to name the GE Mini Fridge With Freezer as our top pick. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best solar generators on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you and your home. Its also important to keep fruits and vegetables separate. Ideally, your fridge should be exactly 37F and your freezer should be 0F. This list consists of compressor units, as these maintain cooler and more consistent temperatures. This fridge has seven temperature options that start at 34 degrees and go up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite having a slightly more expensive upkeep, the NS-CF26BK9 is excellent for those looking to maximize fridge storage space without sacrificing too much performance. A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Whether you need more fridge space or are furnishing a dorm room, a mini fridge can be a convenient appliance to have. On the sliding scale of features vs. budget, this Midea mini fridge hits the sweet spot for all-around value. Let your coffee table double as a refrigerator. Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? Design enthusiasts will be pleased to know that this elegant freezer comes in three base colors with five hardware options, so you'll be able to match just about any existing kitchen decor. Food and a fully charged phone at the ready? The Best Water Filter Pitchers and Dispensers, 2022 Warner Bros. Consider where you plan to use the mini fridge. For those with a different budget, style, and feature preferences, we have plenty of other recommendations that will work in your space for a similar price. Our one qualm was the door sometimes bounces open. The door is designed to hold six 12-ounce cans and a two-liter bottle, with an additional storage shelf for smaller items like condiments or yogurt. At a whopping 4.5 cubic feet total, this thing can hold a 12-pack of soda and a full gallon of milk with tons of room to spare. The Cooluli C20LDXW is advertised on some retailers as being both a mini fridge and a cooler for cosmetics. Customers said that they liked the energy efficiency and storage capacity of this mini fridge. This piece was written by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, a Los Angeles-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. Most reviewers were satisfied with their purchase, as the mini fridge was lightweight and stylish. Its just over three cubic feet, which is fairly large for a mini fridge. The HMCR320WE was actually the only mini fridge we tested to have a properly calibrated freezer. Black+Decker Energy Star Refrigerator With Freezer, Wine Enthusiast 32-Bottle Dual Zone MAX Compressor Wine Cooler. Over the course of a week, including a day for calibration, we put each mini fridge through its paces. This combination gives us a great sense for how these appliances behave, both in terms of raw performance and overall user friendliness. They don't support a lot of weight. Most manufacturers will at least cover the first year in their warranty, but some companies will offer more robust programs that will cover specific parts up to five years, 10 years, or for the lifetime of the product. Ft. 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Once you've figured out the fridge's external dimension needs, go for maximum internal capacity. We're always reviewing new products, so stay tuned for our reviews and roundups of the latest products in laundry, refrigerators, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The way we measure the interior of a fridge is to get the measurements of each shelf, bin, or other storage locationthe places you can actually put foodand add those together. Level legs help stabilize it. Nobody is storing food in the crevices around their ice maker or hovering in the gap between the shelves and door (if you are, please let us know your technique). You also need to be careful while stocking or grabbing items, as its flimsy plastic shelves bow very easily and shake as you add or remove items. Read this DIY guide to hinges, their design, style, and purpose. That way were only accounting for the usable storage inside the fridge, and different models capacities are more cross-comparable. The freezer does run warm, however. Instead of a basic white box, why not have fun with a 50s-inspired, throwback-style fridge? The refrigerator section has two glass shelves that can be removed to make more space. The downside of this design is that it actually causes the door to spring open if you don't close it with sufficient force. However, we found this two-door model from Walmart for less than $200! To help you select the right model for you, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best mini fridges on Amazon. How to Install an Electrical Receptacle on a Kitchen Island, Adjustable fridge temperature between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Adjustable freezer temperature between -11.2 and five degrees Fahrenheit, Two shelves, one drawer, three in-door compartments for the fridge, One shelf and one in-door compartment for the freezer, Adjustable fridge temperature as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, Three shelves and three in-door compartments for the fridge, Adjustable temperature between 34 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Adjustable temperature between 32 and 150 degrees, Cigarette lighter and wall outlet adapters, Three shelves and four in-door compartments for the fridge. Oftentimes, freestanding units require a little bit of clearance around the sides, top, and back for proper air circulation, and some require additional clearance for a hinge or for the door to swing open. The C20LDXW is definitely the cutest and smallest mini fridge we tested, with a total capacity smaller than most of the other mini fridge's freezers. Mini fridges can range in size from compact models with under 2 cubic feet of storage to more spacious units with around 5 cubic feet. This allows you to set the fridge to the right temperature for the type of beverage youre storing. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. It feels like you need to get the door to go up and over a hill in order to close properly, and could encourage slamming. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. Our product reviews expert researched the topic and, drawing on her own expertise in kitchen tools and cutlery, scoured the market for the best options available. This is a somewhat ambiguous question that we get asked a lot. Help your student learn to fend for themselves with these brilliant (and budget-friendly) cookbooks.