I still can’t believe a refrigerator of this size is so energy efficient! User-reversible door swing allows for more flexibility in placing the unit. Electronic Temperature Controls
Choose the ideal temperature for whatever you’re storing with convenient, up-front controls. Reversible Door
Install the stainless steel door on either side to accommodate unique spaces. Items that are currently in-transit to our warehouse, are currently in-stock at a drop-ship vendor’s, or manufacturer’s warehouse will be marked as “Available”. These products will ship once your order is processed (usually within business hours).
The Magic Chef HMCR320 is our top pick for best miniature fridge. Its interesting look mixes elements of classic car design with a pastel green palette. It also has a good mix of storage options inside, and it’s ENERGY STAR qualified. A few of Arctic King them even offer cabinet and counter modifications (some limitations apply) allowing for an easy transition between your old and new appliance. Let Coast help you with this final step by coordinating with one of their recommended installers.
They maintain more even temperatures and give you more storage for frozen goods — at the cost of refrigerated space. This mini fridge from KitchenAid is a high-end model with lots of premium features that make it well worth the almost $2,400 price tag. It comes in either silver or dark stainless steel, with a design that mimics wine chillers and commercial refrigerators, which means this model will be right at home in any chef-quality home kitchen or home bar. The door features a glass panel for easy identification of what you have inside and to help take stock of beverages and snacks at-a-glance.
When it comes to mini fridges, we look for models that are easy to set up and that keep items properly cold — or even frozen. We also look for handy features like removable shelves, interior lighting and crisper drawers. Basically, you could easily live out of this fridge if you wanted. The ultimate dorm bedroom addition, this Costway option is just like your regular fridge, only smaller. Reviewers even say it’s just as quiet, which is great if you’re trying to get plenty of sleep before finals.
The Frigidaire EFR100 is small enough to fit on a dresser top or under a lofted bed, and the reversible door hinge gives you even more placement options by allowing it to open to the left or right. The door has enough space for 2 liter bottles and the freezer section is perfect for an ice tray or frozen meals for a quick bite between classes. 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.
The US federal government issues the certification to the most energy-efficient appliances available. The goal is to save you money on your utility bills when you choose the most efficient ENERGY STAR model. 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.
The ideal temperature settings for the fridge and the freezer are 37°F and 0°F, respectively. While the Cooluli C20LDXW was the only fridge equipped with a digital readout, we found it wasn’t accurate, as temperatures were 7°F cooler than what we had programmed. We also noticed some frost building up along the back of the fridge within the first few days of operation.
It also has three removable glass shelves for making more room for tall items or when you need to wipe out the fridge. Once you’ve nailed down a budget for your new mini fridge, you’ll next have to decide what you want to use it for. If you need a bit of extra storage for groceries or beverages, opt for a model with at least 4 cubic feet of interior space and temperature controls for optimal cooling.
When shopping for mini fridges, the most important features to consider are shelf configurations (and adjustability), design aesthetics, and whether or not you want a freezer. Mini fridges aren’t generally built to last the way that full-sized ones are, so keep in mind that a good one will need to be replaced around the five-year mark, depending on how much you use it. Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products. Just like full-size fridges, we tested mini fridges in laboratory conditions and used them normally over the course of a week. This combination of approaches gives us a great sense for how these appliances behave, both in terms of raw performance and overall user friendliness. A product must have both of these qualities in order to earn our recommendation.
First we fill the fridge with water ballast, because (fridges operate better when there’s less empty space). The Galanz GLR31TBEER features a 1950s classic car aesthetic and comes in a variety of different colors. This mini fridge offers the most storage area out of all the models we tested, measuring a whopping 3 cubic feet—about 0.5 cubic Arctic King feet larger than the rest of the pack. A mini fridge is a dorm bedroom must, the perfect addition to your home coffee bar and a great tool for storing beauty products in the bathroom. And keeping a mini fridge at your desk is always a great idea if you have food allergies or someone keeps on stealing your lunch from the office fridge.