The Best Mini Fridges To Keep Your Favorite Cold Ones Handy – Forbes

bar-fridges-and-display-chillers January 3, 2024

The best mini fridges almost rival full-size refrigerators when it comes to keeping your lunch, snacks and favorite beverages chilled. We’d also argue that there’s also no better space-saving appliance for a tiny dorm room or garage. After researching our way through dozens of models in several categories, we awarded the RCA Compact Refrigerator the title of best mini fridge overall because of its reasonable price tag and excellent temperature control. Another favorite is the budget-friendly Magic Chef Freezerless Mini Fridge, a compact, no-frills pick if you don’t need freezer space; and for impeccable style, we like the adorably retro Smeg Fab5 Mini Fridge.

The best mini fridges, like the Smeg Fab5 Mini, combine function and style without compromise.

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / IMAGE: RETAILER

There are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for a mini refrigerator. According to Mallory Micetich, home and small space living expert at Angi, the size of your space, the fridge’s storage capacity, whether it has a built-in freezer and its noise level while running are some of the most important things to consider. In addition to our own appliance expertise (the Forbes Vetted home team has covered stories on the best refrigerators and side by side refrigerators, for starters), we researched popular products and enlisted Micetich and other home experts’ insights to round up the best mini fridges for all your chilling needs.

Good Value

Amazon

RCA RFR321 Compact Refrigerator

This traditional-looking 3.2-cubic foot mini fridge and freezer combo is a solid choice for chilling a gamut of foodstuffs, from chilling beverages to storing produce. The moveable shelves, sizable door bins and soda rack give plenty of options for storage. It includes an adjustable thermostat for keeping everything at the right level of cool while helping to conserve energy.

But what really gives this mini refrigerator an edge is the modern design: An invisible door handle gives the fridge a sleek look, especially for this price range. What’s more, it comes in six colors and the door is reversible so you can open it from either side, depending on the space you’re working with. Before you buy this, though, it’s worth noting that you may need to consistently monitor the freezer for frost buildup, and some reviewers say that it may take some finagling to get the internal temperature just right.

Home Depot

Magic Chef Freezerless Mini Fridge

Finding a great mini fridge for under $150 can be a challenge but this 1.7 cubic-foot model from Magic Chef fits tight budgets and spaces. While you shouldn’t expect a miracle at this price range (there’s no freezer, for instance, and the styling isn’t particularly chic), this petite-but-mighty model is big enough to hold several containers in the main compartment.

It also has room for drinks on the door, an adjustable temperature control and removable shelves, making it a great fit for a dorm room or bedroom. All in all, if you’re looking for something small and efficient to keep things cool on a budget, this one does the job.

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Smeg Freestanding Fab5 Mini Refrigerator

Smeg’s 1950s-inspired refrigerators are charming little retro-styled appliances at any size, including this 2.5-foot tall beauty. The Italian-made mini fridge has adjustable glass shelves inside and stainless steel handles for ‘50’s-inspired charm. Unlike fridges from yesteryear, however, the Smeg is equipped with an adjustable thermostat and internal LED lighting for a natural and decidedly modern feel. Further, you can get this model with either a right- or left-handed door—it’s not reversible, though.

Keep in mind that with a capacity of 1.2 cubic feet, this fridge doesn’t hold as much as the other options on our list. Still, if a certain aesthetic is more what you’re after, its compactness might actually work in your favor. Better yet, the Smeg Fab5 is among many home appliances going on sale for Black Friday: You’ll find $300 slashed off its sticker price across multiple retailers until November 28.

What the experts say: Malarkey praises this unit’s retro design. “It is perfect if you are going for this specific look. [It] definitely catches your eye and makes your mini fridge more of a statement. I love that the inside storage is flexible since you can adjust the bin placement,” she says.

Midea

Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Double Door Compact Refrigerator

Ditch the stereotypical mini-fridge cube and upgrade to a model that looks and works like a full-size refrigerator and freezer. This pint-size fridge is like a dollhouse version of the one in your kitchen, complete with a totally independent freezer that’s big enough for a few pint-sized ice cream containers or ice trays—almost 1 cubic foot in total.

The two compartments have separate thermostats. You also get a separate fruit and vegetable drawer and door storage for cans and small bottles. The finish comes in white, black or stainless—both neutral and functional. All that’s missing are your favorite magnets.

What the experts say: Interior designer and home chef Chantelle Hartman Malarkey approves of this unit’s removable adjustable shelving and legs. She adds, “I like that it features separate fruit and vegetable drawers … and an interior light.”

Homelabs

Homelabs Beverage Refrigerator And Cooler

Type: Thermoelectric | Dimensions: 17.3 x 18.9 x 33.3 inches | Weight: 68 pounds | Capacity: 3.2 cubic feet | Energy Star certified: Yes

If your cooling priority is keeping beverages frosty, this mini fridge more than delivers. Instead of using a compressor like many of the other models on this list, this pick is thermoelectric. “Thermoelectric coolers are best used as wine and beverage coolers because they are quiet,” says Micetich, and reviews attest to its barely-there sound. Plus, the 3.2 cubic foot capacity can accommodate a truly ridiculous number of cans of beer or soda—120 in all. (Simply adjust the three chrome shelves, and it’ll also accommodate several bottles of wine.)

The fridge’s signature feature, though, is its see-through glass door that lets you make your beverage selection before opening up. But be aware that this fridge isn’t intended to store any sort of food or produce—it’s for canned beverages only. That’s because “[thermoelectric fridges] can’t keep the temperature as steady as a compressor fridge,” explains Micetich.

Amazon

Cooluli Classic Compact Cooler/Warmer Mini Fridge

Type: Thermoelectric | Dimensions: 7.3 x 10.3 x 10.8 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Capacity: 4 liters (6 12-ounce cans) | Energy Star certified: Not listed

Whether you like to keep hummus and bottled cold brew on hand at your desk or are a nursing mom who needs a tiny cooler for storing breastmilk, Cooluli has you covered. Unlike most mini fridges, this one runs on multiple power sources: AC, of course, as well as USB (handy if you keep it at your desk and want to plug it into your computer) or your car’s power adapter.

It’s also super-portable, weighing in at 4 pounds and easy to pick up with a handle on top. It’s designed to keep its contents up to 45 degrees cooler than the ambient room temperature. And just in case you need to keep something warm, it also has a warming capacity of up to 144 degrees.

What the experts say: Malarkey highlights this mini refrigerator’s portability and light weight, adding, “It can be easily plugged into an outlet; perfect for someone who is on the go. Visually, this one is very cute and comes in a ton of color options, which is nice.”

Type: Thermoelectric | Dimensions: 18.1 x 16.9 x 29.1 inches | Weight: 44 pounds | Total capacity: 2.3 cubic feet | Energy Star certified: Not listed

Keep your best bottles of wine and champagne close at hand and at just the right temperature with this 24-bottle capacity fridge. The fridge is airtight with a reinforced glass door. It also has a quiet cooling system, which clocks in at 38 dB, barely more than a whisper (as vouched for by several reviewers). Plus, that system can keep your bottles between 40 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit and in constant humidity—ideal for long-term aging.

In addition, the aesthetics are awesome. The sleek design includes adjustable metal shelves and a gentle blue interior light that gives you (and perhaps your dinner guests) an optimal view of your wine selection.

Best Features

Amazon

FaceTory Skincare Mini Fridge Ice Cream Series

Type: Thermoelectric | Dimensions: 8.5 x 12.2 x 12.9 inches | Capacity: 5 liters | Weight: 8.82 pounds | Energy Star certified: Not listed

Serums, creams, jade rollers, essential oils, face scrubs and other cosmetics stay fresh longer when chilled, but there is no need for them to share fridge door space with your ketchup and mayo. Facetory’s ice cream-inspired mini beauty fridge (which happens to be one of Forbes Vetted’s picks for the best skincare fridges) is designed to keep cosmetics at the optimal temperature—in this case, somewhere between the range of 50 to 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The fridge is petite and cute enough to sit on your vanity or bathroom counter, though it also has a very stylish faux-leather handle for portability. Plus, it comes with an adjustable temperature display, a built-in LED light, a removable inside shelf and (perhaps most important for skincare buffs) a sheet mask organizer.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted home team has extensively covered kitchen and dining stories, including roundups on appliances, big and small. In addition to leaning on our expertise, we researched popular mini fridges on the market and enlisted the help of two home appliance experts to inform our final picks: Mallory Micetich, home and small space living expert at Angi, and Chantelle Hartman Malarkey, interior designer and home chef.

This story is overseen by our experienced home edit team, which includes senior editor Christina Poletto and editors Sholeen Damarwala and Amanda Arnold. Our staff also frequently refreshes this story to ensure our selections are accurately reported and still the best in their categories; it was last updated in December 2023 by home writer Fran Sales.

How We Chose The Best Mini Fridges

We spent hours browsing dozens of mini fridges on the market in several categories, including ones that are best for dorm rooms, those fit for small spaces, picks with separate freezers, stylish options and more. We also took into careful account the number and quality of reviews regarding each fridge from customers at various online retailers, making sure that each has garnered an average rating of 4 stars or above.

We also consulted two home experts, Micetich and Malarkey, to shed light on which features to look and analyzed specs like size, capacity, whether they have a built-in freezer, noise level, the type of cooling mechanism (compressor vs. thermoelectric) and how well each model regulates temperature and seals coolness inside.

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