Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The Magic Chef HMCR320 has excellent temperature control, decent capacity, and a unique look. Our one qualm was the door sometimes bounces open. Read More
The Insignia NS-CF26BK9 lacks a freezer, but keeps its fridge temps consistent. It isn’t the most energy efficient, however. Read More
The Galanz GLR31TBEER’s bold look, maximized storage, and consistent fridge temps are offset by its warm, inconsistent freezer. Read More
The Midea WHD-113FSS1 comes in a handsome stainless steel, but runs warm enough that calibration is needed to keep food safe. Read More
While expensive, the Costway EP22672BK is a decent mini fridge that provides stable fridge temperatures. The freezer does run warm, however. Read More
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.
Here at Reviewed, our experts have tested hundreds of full-size refrigerators over the years and found some are definitely better than others. After testing some of the most popular mini refrigerators on the market, we can definitively say the same is true here.
Our favorite mini fridge is the Magic Chef HMCR320WE (available at Walmart for $398.04) , which is a good fit for those looking for a high-performance mini refrigerator at a great price. While it isn’t one of the bigger models out there, we do love its retro look and consistent temperatures.
For those looking for a different style or features, there are quite a few winners on this list at a lower price point.
Fill it with beverages.
Trick out your room's aesthetics.
Keep it cold, right in the dorm room.
More frozen peas, please.
Stainless steel exterior
Fridge and freezer run too warm and must be calibrated
Consistent fridge temperatures
Fridge runs warm and must be calibrated
Freezer only drops to 22°F
Freezer temps are inconsistent
Hello! We're Reviewed's appliance testing team. We've collectively spent decades testing major appliances in our lab.
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.
We tested mini fridges the same way we test full-size fridges—just scaled down to size.
In our tests, we consider temperature consistency, storage capacity, and usability as the most important aspects of a good mini fridge.
To ensure consistent performance, we keep the laboratory air conditioned to 72°F +/- 5°F (basically, room temperature), 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.
We spend a week testing each miniature refrigerator with our standardized battery of tests. First we fill the fridge with water ballast, because (fridges operate better when there’s less empty space). We then measure the temperature consistency in both the fridge and freezer compartments over the course of a week, the rate of humidity loss in any crisper drawers, the total usable storage space on each shelf and bin, and the total energy draw.
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While the lifespan of any appliance can vary wildly due to several factors, you should expect your fridge—either full-size or mini—to last for about 10 years.
The industry-standard warranty covers one year of parts and service. Some companies offer more robust programs that will cover specific parts for up to five years, 10 years, or even for the lifetime of the product.
Most manufacturers measure the interior of a fridge by essentially flooding it with water and accounting for every empty inch inside the fridge. We don’t use these measurements for our testing. They would suggest you could store items in the area between the shelves and the door bins, or floating up against the ceiling.
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. Plus, it gives us a better idea of how much space is actually useful.
The ideal temperature settings are 37°F for the fridge and 0°F in the freezer.
Fridge temperatures higher than 40°F allow bacteria to proliferate quickly. Fridge temperatures lower than 32°F can cause some food to freeze.
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.
Defrosting a mini fridge is a relatively simple process. All you have to do is empty it out, turn it off, and let it melt—just make sure you have a plan for all the water. If it makes sense to do so, you can also chip away at the ice and remove it by hand.
Defrosting your mini fridge is important. 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.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
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. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. 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. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Kyle Hamilton
Product Tester
Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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