Do your refrigerator is too small? Do you need extra space to store your food? Do you want a private refrigerator to store your favorite snack or drink such as ice cream?

You don’t have to buy a big one. You just need to have the best buy compact refrigerators. It’s small enough to put anywhere you want. You can even put it in your room.

Some models feature a door lock that can keep your food safe and secure. Some models don’t have a freezer.

In the market, there are so many brands and different models. How can I buy the most suitable one for my family?

If you want to know more about the fridge, I suggest you read How To Choose The Best Buy Compact Refrigerator to get more ideas first.

Out of the options below, my #1 choice is RCA RFR321-FR320/8 IGLOO Mini Refrigerator 3.2 Cu Ft Fridge because it features 8 colors, an adjustable thermostat, reversible door, and can dispenser on the door.

Table Of Content

  1. Danby DAR044A6DDB 4.4 cu.ft. Contemporary Classic Compact All Refrigerator – [THE MOST EXPENSIVE]
  2. RCA RFR321-FR320/8 IGLOO Mini Refrigerator 3.2 Cu Ft Fridge – [TOP PICK]
  3. Midea WHD-113FW1 Compact Reversible Double Door Refrigerator and Freezer 3.1 Cubic Feet – [EDITOR CHOICE]
  4. Danby DAR026A2WDB Contemporary Classic Cubic Feet Compact All Refrigerator – [EDITOR CHOICE]
  5. Midea WHS-87LW1 Refrigerator 2.4 Cubic Feet – [BUDGET PRODUCT]
  6. Danby DAR017A3BSLDB Contemporary Classic All Refrigerator
  7. RCA-Igloo 3.2 Cubc Foot 2 Door Fridge and Freezer
  8. Midea WHS-121LSS1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer 3.3 Cubic Feet
  9. EdgeStar CRF150SS-1 1.1 Cu. Ft. Convertible Refrigerator or Freezer w/Lock
  10. BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B Compact Refrigerator Energy Star Single Door Mini Fridge with Freezer 1.7 Cubic Ft.
  11. EdgeStar CRF321SS 3.1 Cu. Ft. Dorm Sized Energy Star Compact Fridge/Freezer
  12. Midea WHS-160RSS1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer 4.4 Cubic Feet
  13. Keystone KSTRC312CB Compact 2-Door Refrigerator/Freezer 3.1 Cubic Feet
  14. RFR329-Red Garage Fridge Tool Box, 3.2 Cubic Feet
  15. Marshall MF3.2-NA Medium Capacity Bar Fridge
  16. How To Choose The Best Buy Compact Refrigerator
  17. The function and use of refrigerator
    1. Cooling method
    2. Mechanical temperature control refrigerator
    3. Computer temperature-controlled refrigerator
    4. Refrigerator energy efficiency rating
  18. How to properly store food in the refrigerator
  19. Frequently asked questions
  20. Conclusion

Best Buy Compact Refrigerators

Danby DAR044A6DDB 4.4 cu.ft. Contemporary Classic Compact All Refrigerator


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[THE MOST EXPENSIVE] This is Danby Refrigerator with 4.4 Cu Ft and weighs 65 pounds. It measures 21.3 x 20.8 x 33.1 inches.

It features a contemporary classic curve door design with Iridium silver metallic door finish that looks beautiful and elegant. The door also comes with a rubber grip chrome ergonomic door handle that lets you grip it more comfortably.

At the bottom of the door, you will see a lock. If you want to keep your food privately that doesn’t want to anybody eat, the lock is extremely useful for you.

It has no freezer. You can not store any ice cream and frozen drink inside. If you like ice cream like me, it’s really a big problem.

This time, the interior is all black. It looks cool and more stain-resistant. There are two and a half tempered glass shelves for you to store any food and drink. You can adjust the glass shelves at any time to accommodate a larger bottles.

It comes with a white LED light. When the door opens, the LED will on. This feature is very useful when you want to take the thing at night. On the bottom, it has a drawer. You can store any fruits and vegetables there.

In the door, it features a CanStor beverage dispensing system that provides 8 individual holders for the beverage. If the drinks are all different, this kind of design provides you the great convenience to take it one by one.

On the top, it is a scratch-resistant worktop for you to put any kind of food or drink there. you can also put whatever you like such as a cup of water.

RCA RFR321-FR320/8 IGLOO Mini Refrigerator 3.2 Cu Ft Fridge


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[TOP PICK] This is RCA IGLOO Mini Refrigerator with 3.2 Cu Ft and weighs 45 pounds. It measures 20 x 18 x 32 inches.

It has 8 colors you can choose. They are black, white, blue, red, stainless steel, green, orange, and purple.

It’s a compact refrigerator. It’s small enough to put in your bedroom or if you are living in a college dorm room, small apartment, or want more place to keep your beverage cold,

The fridge has an adjustable thermostat so you can keep your food and drink at the optimal temperature. If the temperature is not appropriate, you can adjust it at any time.

The reversible door allows you to open it right or left. It gives you a great convenience to place in under different environments or according to your dominant hand.

There are 2 adjustable interior racks. You can easily adjust the height between the racks by simply slide it out and slide it in to accommodate the different heights of the drinks.

There is a can dispenser on the door for you to put a different drink. When you take away the drink on the bottom, the drink will shift down automatically. I like this design. It’s convenient and fun.

There are 4 adjustable lever feet that allow you to adjust it according to the floor so you can keep it stable all the time.

This fridge is compressor cooled. No matter what the outside temperature is, it won’t affect the temperature inside. That means when the weather is very hot, you can still enjoy the cold drink.

Midea WHD-113FW1 Compact Reversible Double Door Refrigerator and Freezer 3.1 Cubic Feet


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[EDITOR CHOICE] This is Midea Compact Reversible Double Door Refrigerator and Freezer with 3.1 Cu Ft and weighs 52.2 pounds. It measures 18.5 x 19.4 x 33 inches.

It has 3 colors for you to choose from. They are black, stainless steel, and white.

Both doors are reversible. You can open it from the right or left. It can accommodate different environments to make it easier to open. There are adjustable legs for you to accommodate a different floor to make it more stable.

The door features a beverage holder. You can load 7 can of beverage there and take it from the bottom easily. Then the rest of them will shift down automatically. This design can fully use the space to load the can.

The interior features a crisper drawer for you to store different fruits, vegetables, chess, and more. There is only one rack to place the glass shelf. You can take it away to clean at any time. When you open the door, the interior light will on for you to see inside clearly.

The temperature of the refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment is adjustable that ranges from 32 degrees F to 30 degrees F and -11.2 degrees F to 5 degrees F respectively. You can adjust it at any time according to your needs.

The invisible door handle makes it more elegant and modern.

The door of the freezer compartment also provides you some space to store the food. It’s better to put the food in the box. The interior is large enough to put a box of ice cream.

Danby DAR026A2WDB Contemporary Classic Cubic Feet Compact All Refrigerator


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[EDITOR CHOICE] This is Danby Refrigerator with 2.6 Cu Ft and weighs 55 pounds. It measures 20.4 x 17.7 x 27 inches.

There is no freezer in this refrigerator. If you like ice cream or any frozen food, this one may not suitable for you.

Because of no freezer, there are two and a half tempered glass shelves for you to store your food and drinks. The glass shelves can be adjusted according to your need to accommodate the different heights of food or drink.

The interior features an LED light. When you open the door, the LED will illuminate without adding any heat to the food. You can see inside clear without a torch. It’s especially useful when you take something at night.

The reversible door hinge allows you to open the door from the left or from the right to accommodate a different environment. It gives you more flexibility to place it.

In the door, it has 8 individual beverage holders. You can take it one by one. the main advantage of this design is you can take what you like at any time. The beverage will not stack together.

Besides the beverage holder, it has a place to put a tall bottle drink such as a big coco cola.

On the top, it can use as a worktop that is scratch resistant. You can put the food or drink there that don’t need to put in the fridge.

The rubber-grip ergonomic door handle allows you to open the door more comfortable. It looks nice and sturdy.

Midea WHS-87LW1 Refrigerator 2.4 Cubic Feet


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[BUDGET PRODUCT] This is Midea Refrigerator with 2.4 Cu Ft and weighs 37.9 pounds. It measures 17.5 x 20.1 x 24.8 inches. It has 3 colors. They are black, stainless steel, and white.

It’s a very small refrigerator. It fits to put in your bedroom. Although it’s small, it comes with a small freezer inside. I think the freezer only can store 2 beverages. It cannot use to store a box of ice cream.

It has a mechanical temperature control that ranges from 32 degrees F to 35.6 degrees F.

In the door, it has a place for you to store 3 beverages on top. On the bottom, you can either put a large bottle such as coca-cola or ketchup or beverages.

The interior has one and a half racks that are adjustable. It is not a glass that’s not easy to break even you drop it on the floor. You can adjust it at any time for different drinks and food. On the bottom, it fits to store some small fruits such as apple, orange, or lemon.

It comes with adjustable legs. You can adjust it according to the situation of the floor to make it more stable.

The reversible door allows you to open it left or right. You can adjust the door hinge at any time according to your environment. The fridge is energy star rated.

This is one of the most inexpensive refrigerators in the market so the size is very small. if you want to buy, make sure the size is enough for you.

Danby DAR017A3BSLDB Contemporary Classic All Refrigerator


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This is a Danby Refrigerator with 1.7 Cu Ft and weighs 47 pounds. It measures 20.4 x 17.7 x 20.1 inches. It features a contemporary classic curved door design.

It’s a very small fridge that doesn’t come with a freezer. If you like ice creams like me or frozen food, this one is not suitable for you.

In the door, it features a CanStor beverage dispensing system that has 6 individual holders for the beverage. It separates the beverage one by one so you can take anyone you want easier.

It also comes with tall bottle storage. You can put a large bottle of drink there such as coca-cola or whatever you want. It has a rubber grip handle so you can open the door more comfortable.

The interior features one and a half tempered glass shelves to maximize storage. The glass can be adjusted at any time to accommodate different food and drink. If you want to store the tall drink, I think you have to remove the top glass shelf.

The adjustable feet on the bottom allow you to adjust it at any time according to the environment to make the fridge more stable.

On top of the fridge, it can use as a worktop. You can put anything you want such as bread, snack, cup, water, and more.

This fridge is very small. I think it’s not suitable for family use. It’s only suitable to use in the bedroom, dorm, and small apartment.

If you really like ice cream, you can spend more to buy the one with a freezer.

RCA-Igloo 3.2 Cubc Foot 2 Door Fridge and Freezer


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This is RCA-Igloo 2 Door Fridge and Freezer with 3.2 Cu Ft and weighs 57 pounds. It measures 22 x 20 x 34 inches. It has 3 colors. They are black, stainless steel, and white.

When the fridge has 2 doors, it includes a separate true freezer compartment. It’s suitable for those who love ice cream and frozen food. In the door, it features a full-width shelf for you to put more food.

In the summer, it’s impossible not to eat ice cream, especially under the air conditioner.

In the fridge compartment, the door features a can dispenser. You can load 6 cans of beverages there. This design can fully use the space. All the beverages stack together.

But it also has a disadvantage. You cannot choose the one in the middle. You can only take the bottom one. If all the beverages are the same, then you will not have this problem.

Other than the can dispenser, it also comes with a bottle holder for you to put the different size of the bottle.

It has a crisper drawer that is designed for preserving green such as fruits and vegetables. If you are a vegetarian, it’s very useful for you.

The door is reversible. You can adjust it at any time to accommodate different environments and your hands.

The adjustable feet on the bottom allow you to adjust it at any time to keep the fridge stable on the uneven floor.

the compressor cooling can keep the food and drink at the perfect temperature. If you want to adjust the temperature, you can adjust it with the adjustable thermostat.

Midea WHS-121LSS1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer 3.3 Cubic Feet


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This is Midea Refrigerator with 3.3 Cu Ft and weighs 39.5 pounds. It measures 18.6 x 17.7 x 33.9 inches. It has 3 colors. They are black, stainless steel, and white.

The door features a can dispenser. You can put 8 can of beverages there from down to top. Every time you take the drink from the bottom, the drink will shift down automatically.

It also has other door shelves for you to put other drinks there. On the bottom, you can put a large bottle of coca-cola or ketchup.

The door is reversible so that you can choose to open it from the left or right. You also can adjust it according to the different environments.

There are two and a half-rack for you to store. Only the bottom rack can be adjusted. You can adjust it according to different food and drink.

It’s suitable to store a small number of fruits such as orange, apple, or lemon on the bottom. Watermelon or pineapple is too large for the fridge.

It has a mechanical temperature adjustment for you to adjust the temperature at any time that ranges from 32 degrees F to 35.6 degrees F.

The freezer is very small. It’s only enough to make some chilling beverages or snacks but it cannot store any frozen food or make ice cubes.

The adjustable leg is perfect to accommodate the uneven floor. You can adjust it at any time when you need it.

On top of the fridge, you can use it as a worktop to store anything you want such as water and a cup.

EdgeStar CRF150SS-1 1.1 Cu. Ft. Convertible Refrigerator or Freezer w/Lock


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This is EdgeStar Convertible Refrigerator or Freezer with 1.1 Cu Ft and weighs 42 pounds. It measures 17.8 x 18.5 x 19.2 inches.

Why does it call convertible refrigerator or freezer? Because it features a full range thermostat temperature control ranges from 0 degrees F to 40 degrees F. you can change the function from refrigerator to freezer at any time.

It features a lock on the bottom of the door. You can keep your food safe and secure. If you find your favorite ice cream or drink always disappears, this feature is extremely useful for you.

The door is true stainless steel. It looks elegant and durable. It’s also a reversible door. You can choose either to open at the left or right. It can accommodate different environments and your hands.

The door comes with a recessed handle for you to grip more comfortable. The door has no shelf for you to store anything. Everything you have to put inside.

The interior has only one rack located in the middle. It only has one place for the rack. You cannot adjust it when you need it.

Inside has no LED light when the door opens. If you want to find the food at night, I think you have to prepare a torch if you don’t want to turn the light.

On the bottom, it comes with a removable drip tray. When you adjust the temperature from the freezer to the refrigerator, the ice will melt. The drip tray will catch all the drops.

I think it’s one of the smallest refrigerators in the market. If you don’t have much food or drink need to freeze or want to save place, this one is a good choice.

BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B Compact Refrigerator Energy Star Single Door Mini Fridge with Freezer 1.7 Cubic Ft.


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This is BLACK+DECKER Compact Refrigerator with 1.7 Cu Ft and weighs 33.1 pounds. It measures 18.5 x 17.5 x 19.7 inches. It has 3 colors. They are black, silver, and white.

It’s a mini-fridge again. Although it’s mini, it comes with a small freezer with an ice cube tray for you to make the ice. The freezer is large enough for you to put in a few ice bars. I think it’s impossible to put a box of ice cream.

It comes with an adjustable thermostat control on the top right corner that has 7 levels for you to choose from. You can adjust it at any time according to your needs.

The door is reversible. You can choose to open at the left or right by adjusting the hinge at any time according to the environment.

It has 1 full-width door shelf for you to put the different size of the bottle. You can store the tallest bottle on the left. It also comes with a half-width door shelf to store a small bottle.

Inside the fridge, it only has one removable glass shelf. There is only one place for the shelf. You can choose to remove it to store anything very large.

It comes with a drip tray. You can always put it on the glass shelf. When the ice melts or defrost, the drip tray can catch all the drops.

The adjustable leveling legs allow you to make the fridge more stable on the uneven floor.

It doesn’t have an interior light. If you don’t turn on the light at night, you may find it difficult to see the food. At that time, you may need a torch.

EdgeStar CRF321SS 3.1 Cu. Ft. Dorm Sized Energy Star Compact Fridge/Freezer


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This is EdgeStar Compact Fridge/Freezer with 3.1 Cu Ft and weighs 52 pounds. It measures 19.8 x 18.8 x 33.5 inches.

The door is true stainless steel with black cabinets. It looks nice and sturdy. It’s also reversible. You can adjust the hinge according to your needs at any time.

There is a can dispenser that able to store 8 beverages. Every time you take it from the bottom. The beverages will shift down automatically. It’s very funny. If you have kids, I think they will always play for this.

Besides the can dispenser, it has a door shelf for you to store a 2L bottle. The upper part can store a small drink.

It comes with a crisper drawer. You can put any fruits and vegetables there. But I think it’s not big enough for the pineapple or watermelon unless you cut it into small pieces.

On the above, there are 2 slide-out glass shelves. The bottom shelf is the top of the crisper drawer. There are no more slots to place the shelf. So, either remove it or leave it there.

It has an interior light. When you open the door, it will go on. It’s useful when you want to find food or drink at night.

The freezer is about 1 cup. Ft. it‘s large enough for you to put a box of ice cream. In the door, it has a full-width door shelf. It’s suitable to put a box of food such as a box of the ice bar.

The ice cube tray and scraper are included for free.

Midea WHS-160RSS1 Compact Single Reversible Door Refrigerator and Freezer 4.4 Cubic Feet


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This is Midea Compact Refrigerator and Freezer with 4.4 Cu Ft and weighs 52.9 pounds. It measures 19.7 x 21.3 x 33.9 inches. It has 3 colors. They are black, white, and stainless steel.

When you open the door, you will see with can dispenser that can hold 8 beverages at one time. Every time you take the beverage from the bottom, the others will shift down automatically. It’s a convenient design but you cannot take the middle one.

On the side, it has a shelf that enough to put a 2L large bottle. On the top, it has a full-width shelf for you to put more drinks.

The door is reversible. You can adjust it according to your dominant hand and different environment to open left or right.

There are two and a half wire shelves. You can adjust it to fit different food or drink. On the bottom, it’s suitable to put some fruits and vegetables. If you want to put a larger food or drink, you can remove one shelf to fit it.

The freezer is very small. it cannot use to store any frozen food or make ice cubes but you can use it to make some chilling drinks.

It comes with a drip tray under the freezer. When the ice is melted or you defrost the freezer, the drip tray can catch all the drops.

There are adjustable legs. You can adjust it to accommodate the uneven floor easily.

On top of the fridge, you can use it as a worktop. You can put whatever you want such as a cup so you can have a nice drink at any time.

Keystone KSTRC312CB Compact 2-Door Refrigerator/Freezer 3.1 Cubic Feet


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This is Keystone 2-Door Refrigerator/Freezer with 3.1 Cu Ft and weighs 55.4 pounds. It measures 20 x 18.5 x 33.2 inches. It has 2 colors. They are black and white.

2 doors mean the fridge comes with a separate top-mount freezer. It also means the size will bigger than a single door.

The door of the freezer has a full-width shelf which adds extra space for you to store more frozen food or ice cream. In my opinion, I think the freezer should always have some ice bar there to enjoy at any time.

In the fridge compartment, the door has many places to store the drink. On the left-hand side, it has a can dispenser. You can only take the can from the bottom. Then the other cans will shift down automatically.

On the right-hand side, it has a 2-liter bottle space and a small item rack. On the top, you can put a small item like a yogurt there.

It has a crisper drawer. You can put some small fruits and vegetables there. I think it’s not big enough if you want to put a whole watermelon.

There are 2 glass shelves. If you want to put a large food or tall drink, you can remove the upper shelf at any time.

When the door opens, the interior light will on. You can see inside clearly without any extra light.

Similarly, the door is reversible. You can adjust it to open from the left or right according to the environment. The door has a recessed handle. It keeps the door flat and will not occupy any space.

RFR329-Red Garage Fridge Tool Box, 3.2 Cubic Feet


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This is Red Garage Fridge with 3.2 Cu Ft and weighs 48 pounds. It measures 18 x 20 x 32 inches.

The door of this fridge is very special. It is red in color with 3 horizontal silver color bars. It really looks like a toolbox in the garage. If you are looking for something special, this one is special.

It does not feature adjustable feet. It features 4 caster wheels instead. You can move it around easily. Everyone can do that even your kids.

The door comes with a can dispenser on the left that can hold 7 beverages at one time. You can take it from the bottom. The other beverages will shift down automatically.

On the left, it has a 2-liter bottle space and a small item rack. There is a full-width shelf on the top for you to store more beverages.

In just a door, you can store a lot of different drinks.

There are 2 glass shelves. You can adjust it to a different slot according to your needs. If you want to store more 2-liter bottles, you can remove the upper shelf.

The freeze is small as usual. It cannot store too much. If you like the chilling beverage, I think it can do the best job for you. Below the freezer, it is a drip tray. When the ice melts or you defrost the freezer, the drip tray will catch all the drops.

I think this fridge is suitable to send as a gift. I think no one will know this is a fridge if they don’t open the door.

Marshall MF3.2-NA Medium Capacity Bar Fridge


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This is Marshall Medium Capacity Bar Fridge with 3.2 Cu Ft and weighs 48.8 pounds. It measures 18.5 x 17.8 x 30.3 inches.

When you look at the product images, do you think the fridge comes with 2 doors, the upper compartment is the freezer, and the lower compartment is just the fridge?

Actually, it’s a single door fridge that looks like a Marshall amp front. Everything in the door is just decoration. But the button is work. You can press. It’s just no response. The knob can actually turn. It’s no response too.

There are 2 models, high capacity, and medium capacity. It has some differences. High capacity comes with a freezer and can dispenser in the door. Medium capacity has no freezer and no can dispenser in the door.

Here, I will mainly introduce the feature of medium capacity.

In the door, there are 3 full-width shelves. The bottom shelf can put a tall bottle such as beer. The middle shelf is only tall enough to put a small drink such as a beverage. The upper one can put the egg or small fruits.

It has 3 glass shelves. You can adjust it to different slots according to the food or drink. According to the estimation, you can approximate store 5 min cans, 35 small cans, 25 large cans, and 4 wine bottles.

Normally, it comes with white light. But this fridge comes with an arctic blue interior LED. It looks more beautiful.

It also comes with a temperature control range from 34 degrees F to 48 degrees F.

Overall, the fridge is very stylish and modern. It definitely can be a decoration of your kitchen or music room.

How To Choose The Best Buy Compact Refrigerator

After this section, I think most of you will understand how to choose the best one according to your requirements. It’s not as difficult as you think.

Size

Normally, the bigger is the size, the larger is the capacity. Sometimes you will see the size of some fridges is obviously different, but the capacity doesn’t have big differences.

Therefore, don’t make a decision by appearance only. You have to know the detailed specification.

Normally, the capacity ranges from 1.1 cu. Ft. to 4.4 cu. Ft.

Freezer

Not all single door fridge comes with a freezer. I can tell you certainly. Some don’t have a freezer. Even though the fridge comes with a freezer, the manufacturer will state clearly that the fridge cannot store frozen or make an ice cube.

You have to ask clearly and know the temperature range.

Can Dispenser

With the can dispense, you can add the beverage like the automatic vending machine. It can fully use the space. Every time you want to take the drink, you have to take it from the bottom. Then the others will shift down automatically.

The disadvantage of this design is you cannot take the drink in the middle if you fill the can dispenser with different beverages.

Interior Light

When you open the door, the interior light will go on automatically. Then you can see inside clearly. This feature is particularly useful when you open the door at night.

Scratch Resistant Worktop

On top of the fridge, it can use as a worktop. You can put something useful there.

Reversible Door

You can adjust the door hinge to change the orientation of the door to open left or open right according to a different environment or your dominant hand.

Lock

Some fridges have a door lock. You can keep your food or item safely and securely. If you find your favorite ice cream or food always disappears, the lock will be very useful.

Convertible Refrigerator or Freezer

This feature only available in EdgeStar CRF150SS-1 1.1 Cu. Ft. Convertible Refrigerator or Freezer w/Lock.

It can be convertible because it features a full range thermostat temperature control so you can change the function when you need it.

Door Shelf

The different fridge comes with different door shelf design. You can choose it according to your personal preference.

Number of Wire Rack/Glass Shelf

Some fridge comes with the wire rack. Some fridge comes with a tempered glass shelf.

Normally, it comes with a minimum of 1 rack to a maximum of 3 racks. Sometimes, the same capacity will have a different number of racks. If you care about the rack or glass shelf, pay more attention to this.

Wheel

This feature only available in RFR329-Red Garage Fridge Tool Box, 3.2 Cubic Feet.

The bottom of the fridge is not the adjustable leg. It comes with 4 wheels. If you always need to move the fridge around different places, this feature is very useful for you.

Drip Tray

Some single door fridges include the drip tray under the freezer. It can help you to catch all the drops when the ice melts or defrost.

Adjustable Leg

With this feature, you can adjust it at any time to make the fridge to accommodate uneven floor.

Door seal

The workmanship of the door seal directly affects power consumption and cooling capacity.

Care should be taken to choose a door seal with a large thickness, a soft texture, and a tight fit.

Door hinge

The refrigerator box and the door should be flat and straight, the assembly should be firm, the door should not be skewed, and the clearance between the rotation shaft and the shaft pin should be well matched.

When the door is pushed and pulled by hand, the hand feels flexible.

Insulation

Theoretically, the thicker the insulation layer, the better the insulation effect, but this cannot be done at the expense of space.

Consumers should pursue a “balance”, that is, the thickness of the insulation layer is appropriate, and the external volume of the refrigerator cannot be too large and the internal space cannot be too small.

Material quality

There are many internal shelves and drawers in the refrigerator.

Consumers should disassemble them when purchasing, check the thickness and smell if there is any heavy odor.

Internal structure

Whether the design is reasonable, such as whether the shelf can be moved, whether there is a wine rack, and whether it can hold large food such as watermelon.

The function and use of refrigerator

Cooling method

Air-cooled type: also called frost-free refrigerator, with complex structure, high power consumption, and high price.

The refrigerating room has a fast cooling speed and good refrigeration quality.

The automatic defrosting device is easy to use. It is suitable for use in coastal areas with high humidity, along the Yangtze River and in the south.

Direct cooling type: It is also called a frosted refrigerator with a simple structure and low price.

The freezer compartment has a good cooling effect, and the refrigerator compartment cools slowly, easy to form frost, and defrosting is troublesome.

Hybrid: Combining the advantages of the first two types of refrigerators.

The refrigerator compartment is directly cooled, which can quickly freeze and lock the water to avoid food moisture loss, while the freezer compartment is air-cooled, which can keep vegetables and other storage items fresh and freeze.

Mechanical temperature control refrigerator

It’s the traditional refrigerator temperature control method.

It has a simple structure and high-cost performance.

The control on the left is a clear mark of mechanical temperature control.

The larger the number, the lower the temperature.

Computer temperature-controlled refrigerator

It’s also called electronic temperature control.

It is a method of temperature control operated by the external console of the refrigerator through the conduction and control of electronic temperature sensing elements.

The consumer experience and aesthetics are more ideal.

However, the computer temperature control method is complicated, which is not conducive to maintenance, and the price is higher.

Refrigerator energy efficiency rating

The energy efficiency rating of a refrigerator is determined based on the 24-hour power consumption of a refrigerator.

At present, the energy efficiency labeling system is divided into five levels, with level 1 being the most energy-efficient and level 5 the most energy-consuming.

TIP: Energy efficiency rating is not equal to freezing capacity.

How to properly store food in the refrigerator

Food that does not need to be put in the refrigerator

  1. Foods with low water content: biscuits, cereal powder, tea, milk powder, coffee, beef jerky, dried shrimp, etc.
  2. Foods with high salt/sugar content: honey, pickles, preserves, sauces
  3. Sealed and packaged food after high-temperature sterilization: canned food, boxed milk, vacuum packaged cooked food, beverages, etc.
  4. Generally, the low-temperature environment is good for fruit preservation, but for tropical and subtropical fruits and vegetables, the most suitable storage temperature is above 4°;
  5. Starchy foods such as bread and steamed buns are most prone to starch aging in an environment of 2-4°C. After being placed in the refrigerator, these foods will become dry and hardened quickly, which will affect the taste. It is better to put the buns that cannot be eaten directly into the freezer.

Food that must be put in the refrigerator

  1. Leftovers, leftovers, opened milk, cooked food, canned food, these foods are particularly prone to bacteria breeding, the low-temperature environment can inhibit the growth of bacteria, but they cannot be completely eliminated
  2. Seasoning sauces with high-fat content: tahini, peanut butter, salad dressing, etc. This kind of sauce has low salt content, high fat, and fat rancidity is prone to occur under normal temperature environment
  3. Yogurt: Both open and sealed yogurt should be placed in the refrigerator. Generally, the description of yogurt including probiotic health products will mention “low-temperature preservation”.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why is the refrigerator not cooling?

A: a. It is possible that the air-conditioning is leaking, causing the direct cooling effect to be poor; b. The door is not closed properly, or the door seal is poorly sealed, causing the air-conditioning to be exposed and the temperature cannot be lowered; c. The compressor is malfunctioning.

Q: How to defrost the refrigerator?

A: Before putting in frozen food, put a layer of plastic film on the wall of the freezer.

When defrosting is needed, quickly move the frozen food into the freezer for temporary storage.

Just tear off the plastic film of the freezer and it will be quick except for frost.

Q: What can remove the peculiar smell of the refrigerator?

A: Grapefruit peel, toilet paper, tea, apples, activated charcoal, lemon slices, vinegar, baking soda.

Q: How to use the refrigerator to save electricity?

A: Always pay attention to remove dust and keep the condenser with good heat dissipation conditions.

Try to reduce the number of times and opening times of the refrigerator door to reduce the outflow of cold inside the box and the intrusion of hot air outside the box.

Conclusion

In my opinion, I think the first step is to measure the space you plan to place in the fridge. Then choose the brand you like. Actually, the functions are all very similar. It doesn’t have many choices.

If you can balance these 3 factors, space, brand, and the functions, I think it’s not difficult to choose the best one.

If you really like a beverage, I think placing a fridge close to your table is really a good idea. You don’t have to walk and walk. Just move the hand to the fridge next to you. Then you can enjoy a nice drink in a moment.

If you think the compact refrigerator is too large for you, you can choose to buy the portable fridge instead, you can read my post to know more.

I hope my post is helpful for everyone to make the best decision. If you have any questions, please leave them below. I’d love to hear that.


5 Comments

Christine · December 18, 2019 at 4:07 am

Wow, that’s pretty impressive that the first fridge has a lock. It could come in useful. I also love the fact that RCA RFR321-FR320/8 IGLOO comes in different colors. A purple fridge would be really cool. And the can dispenser is an awesome addition. At some point I want to build a writer’s den (I am a writer) and I always wanted a small fridge in my writer’s den. This article shows me some good options.

The Danby DAR017A3BSLDB Contemporary Classic All Refrigerator looks elegant. Would the tall bottle holder in this fridge be good for wine bottles?

I think that those three are my favorite ones, although they all look great.

    CT · December 18, 2019 at 12:57 pm

    Hello Christine, nice to meet you. I think the tall bottle holder is not good for the wine bottle because the temperature is not suitable to keep the wine in the best condition. If you want to keep the wine better, I suggest reading 15 Best Built In Wine Cellars so you can always keep your wines better.

    If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Anthony Hu · December 18, 2019 at 4:13 am

Thank you for your post. It is timely article for me. My son just find a job in New York city and he afford to rent just a small room in the city. There is no refrigerator in the room  and he need to buy one.

Here comes your article. The budget one fits him well. Although small, it has also some freezer space, which he need to freeze pre-made food. He loves soda and I see there are enough space for him to store some cold beverage.

Since this is his first job and he need to save some money. I just have a check the price of the refrigerator, about $130, which is within his budget range.

It is kind of you sharing this useful information with us.

Parveen · December 18, 2019 at 4:46 am

Hey CT, Thanks for writing on Compact Refrigerators. You have done very well. I found your each post is well written and contain best review in my opinion. I read many post earlier and found your each post has unique content. Earlier I read Electric Beverage Coolers. I am very impressed from your writing.
Thank you
Parveen

    CT · December 18, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Hi Parveen, thanks for your comment. I’m happy my post is helpful for you. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

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