Compact refrigerators come in different colors and finishes, including black, white, faux stainless steel, and wood grain. Black is most popular, perhaps because it blends into many décors, and a stainless-look metallic finish is a close second. Take a look at your school’s housing policy to find out what dimensions are acceptable (many schools require ones that are 5 cubic feet or smaller, though some max out at 3.5 feet). You’ll also want to factor in where you might place it, once you consider the major furniture that’s provided—and that you’ll be bringing with you.
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. Mini Frigidaire fridge fridges are also great for use at home when you might need a bit of extra cold storage for groceries like meat, drinks, and vegetables. The Smeg Mini Refrigerator is an Italian-made, 1950s-inspired mini fridge that comes in a variety of colors . We love the sturdy handle, which makes the unit easy to open, and the adjustable door bins, which are perfect for fitting taller bottles.
If it’s above 5 degrees F, the freezer’s not reliable for long term food storage. They don’t keep foods at a set temperature but rather change in relationship to the room condition. When it’s very warm, they don’t cool to an acceptable level for food safety. And, when the temperature changes, the temp in the fridge goes up or down. We measure each shelf, bin, or other storage location separately, then add those areas together. It’s easier to compare capacities across different models that way.
Due to supply chain challenges and soaring demand, there is widespread unavailability of home appliances and long wait times for delivery of backordered products. If you’re a consumer in need of a compact refrigerator, here are the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now. Tackle mealtime from start to finish with compact refrigerators, wall ovens, microwaves, cooktops, hoods and dishwashers designed for small spaces. ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
One-door compact refrigerators often have the most capacity for cold items such as snacks, drinks and produce. However, the small frozen compartment contained within most one-door models is often very small and not as functional. Unless all you need a frozen section for is to hold an ice tray, you may be better off choosing a two-door compact fridge.
On the door of the fridge, there’s a can dispenser as well as two shelves, including one for tall soda bottles and a smaller one for condiments. We tested mini fridges the same way we test full-size fridges—just scaled down to size. The Costway EP22672BK offers an average amount of storage space, but with a slightly smaller fridge and a slightly larger freezer.
Stainless steel pots and pans are a great addition to every kitchen. They look gorgeous, last a lifetime, and can be used for everything from steaming rice to braising chicken to simmering soup. In addition to black and white, you can have it in either red or aqua to make even more of a design statement in a game room or college dorm. Food isn’t properly frozen at freezer temperatures above 0°F. Furthermore, the less consistent a freezer’s temperature is, the more trouble you’ll have with freezer burn.
While most miniature refrigerators are relatively inexpensive and destined for a dorm room or garage, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still have the best mini fridge. Frigidaire fridge Below, shop Target’s discounted mini fridge deals and enjoy the storage possibilities. I wish it had a temperature contol just for the freezer however.
Get the best deals and the best advice dropped right in your inbox. Mark Brezinski is a senior writer with over ten years of experience reviewing consumer tech and home appliances. To ensure consistent performance, we keep the laboratory air conditioned to 72°F +/- 5°F , and keep relative humidity to 50% RH +/- 15% RH. This ensures that each fridge has a chance to perform its best, and is working under the same conditions.