Make the most of every inch with flexible storage, like hanging storage for cans, ways to instantly add shelf space, and bins that slide up and down. You can also free up shelf space by storing bulky items like milk in a gallon door bin. Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it’s likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company’s efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear.
Your mini fridge should be set to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit to help curb the growth of harmful bacteria that can grow on your food and beverages and make you sick. Many mini fridges use between 55 and 85 watts of electricity per hour, which means that over the course of a year, it will cost less than $20 to run one in your home. You can always opt for an Energy Star certified model for even better energy efficiency and lower operating costs throughout the year. But keep in mind that use cases and environmental factors will have an impact on energy use. A mini fridge can absolutely be worth the cost, especially if you’re going off to college. Having a small refrigerator in your dorm room makes it easy to keep fresh food and cool drinks on hand between classes or when you just can’t bring yourself to eat another meal in the dining hall.
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Some of these small refrigerators even come with their own freezers. With appliances designed to make small space living easier.
This model has a single wire shelf that can be removed, making it easier to lug around when moving in and out of dorms or when you need to wipe out the mini fridge. Mini fridges are also fairly affordable, retailing for just a few hundred dollars for a 3 to 4 cubic foot model, though it is possible to find some for even cheaper. And there are very expensive high-end models that would be at home in a commercial kitchen or a fancy home-chef kitchen that come with motion-activated interior lights, touch controls, and door alarms. To help you find the perfect mini fridge for your budget and needs, I put together a list of the five best models you can buy. I’ve broken down their features and price points so you can compare and choose the one that is the best fit for your home, office, or dorm.
As the ventilation system becomes iced up, the freezer loses some of its ability to circulate cold air throughout the compartment. This can prevent the freeze from reaching sufficiently cold temperatures. In the future if I notice milk spoiling whirlpool washing machine 7kg early, I’ll take note and start shopping around sooner instead of just turning it up colder. Clark Howard says that with kitchen appliances, it is better to replace rather than fix, after the 3-5 year mark, which I found surprising.
And the Frigidaire EFR494 almost feels like it was designed for use in an office. The matte, retro design won’t stand out too much from the rest of your office furniture, and the door hinge is reversible so it can open to the left or right. It also features a 1 gallon water tank and dispenser so you can fill your reusable water bottle with fresh, cool water whenever you like. The interior has 4.5 cubic feet of space, and the door has enough room for gallon water jugs and 2 liter soda bottles. There’s a freezer section at the top that you can either use to make ice for your drinks or to store frozen meals for quick lunches at your desk. It also has three removable glass shelves for making more room for tall items or when you need to wipe out the fridge.
Do not place temperature sensitive items, such as eggs and liquids, in these areas. If you want a wet or mini bar fridge, look for a model with a (double-paned) glass door. This allows you to keep an eye on your inventory and not have to stand there with the door open while fishing around or deciding what you want. As we mentioned earlier, the longer and more often you open your mini fridge door, the more you overwork the poor little built-in compressor, and the faster you shorten the appliance’s life. A mini fridge can be a convenient addition to your dorm, home office, garage, or anywhere else you care to have chilled drinks or assortment of snacks at the ready.
The LED interior light uses a motion sensor to automatically turn on as you approach. The door has an alarm system that signals when whirlpool mini fridge it’s left open for too long. ZDNet’s No.1 choice is the Hisense LCR44D6NSE for its stainless steel design and ample interior space.