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. Under-counter refrigerators provide a sleek look for your home while offering the same practicality Arctic King as a compact unit. They are ideal for keeping your favorite beverages stocked for your next big get together and vary from 20 to 24 inches in width and 18 to 26 inches in depth. The lines between these styles are blurry and pretty much disappear around $4,000, where many freestanding fridges are both well equipped and well appointed.
They tend to be slimmer with a width of 24 inches, yet maintain standard heights of 60 to 75 inches. The common capacity for these models range from 11 to 13 cubic feet. Through-the-door ice and water dispensers tend to make a fridge less efficient, partly because they’re essentially a hole in an otherwise insulated box, and partly because the ice maker has extra work to do. It’s usually a difference of a few dozen kilowatt-hours per year compared with fridges of a similar size and style.
The door of this apartment or dorm room-sized fridge has a cubby for your soda cans and a space for two-liter bottles or milk. A drawer gives you a great place for your fruits and veggies while the shelving is just the right size for your other necessities. Don’t forget about keeping some treats in the freezer for late-night snacks or study sessions.
In a Wirecutter reader survey, far more real-life LG owners said they were satisfied with their fridges than owners of other brands did, and fewer said they hated their fridges. And as of summer 2021, all of the major brands now claim to use a climate-friendly refrigerant in at least some of their lineups—and a couple have transitioned all of their new fridges in that regard. So without even trying hard, you’ll probably end up with an environmentally sound refrigerator.
Once completed, place an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb any remaining odours. Have you recently opened and then closed the fridge (over the last 1-5 minutes)? If so, being unable to open the fridge again right away is an indication that your door seal is working well. If you go to open the fridge again within 5 minutes for the pudding, it might be difficult to open the seal. Wait 5-10 minutes , when you try opening it again there should be no problem. Products that are recognized as ENERGY STAR Most Efficient deliver cutting edge energy efficiency along with the latest in technological innovation.
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. They maintain more even temperatures and give you more storage for frozen goods — at the cost of refrigerated space. My pick for the best mini fridge is the Hisense LCR44D6NSE with its reversible door hinge, 4.4 cubic feet of interior storage, and stainless steel design that will complement almost any kitchen or garage decor. Having a mini fridge in your dorm is a great way to keep drinks and food handy for study sessions and hangouts with friends. 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.
Unless you’re purchasing something like the SMEG or iio refrigerator on our list, odds are your mini fridge is best for short-term storage. While this mini fridge doesn’t have a freezer per se, it does have a chiller compartment to store anything you want to keep extra cold. Aside from its compact, cube-like shape, its best feature is the two-liter bottle rack.
GE has its own repair fleet in some metro areas, which might have something to do with it. To be clear, our data suggests that GE French-door fridges need repairs at a rate similar to that of LG French-door models, and whirlpool mini refrigerator we did see some complaints about customer service among the analyzed reviews. Minor problems like noise may be slightly more common, and a small percentage of customer reviews still cite major cooling failures.
Earlier versions of this guide took that approach, but it never felt like the optimal way to tackle the topic, so we’re trying something different these days. And fridges come in so many different looks and layouts that we can’t pick the “best” ones. But based on a survey of more than 5,000 Wirecutter readers and an AI-assisted analysis of 28,000 customer reviews, we can give you guidance on how to find the fridge that’s right for you. This mini fridge has a convenient 2-shelf fridge design with 1/2-width freezer compartment, reversible front door, adjustable thermostat and includes 4-can dispenser, 2-liter bottle storage and slide-out shelf. For the folks with a little bit more square footage—maybe you’re living in a small apartment off campus—this fridge is a lot roomier, but it won’t take up half the apartment.