When deciding on whether or not a mini fridge is the right appliance for you, you might want to consider the pros and cons of owning one. So, what are the benefits a mini fridge has to offer, and what are the drawbacks?
The ease of usage, portability and lower energy consumption are the pros of a mini fridge. However, its lack of space and inability to store frozen items are its cons. Don’t get a mini fridge if you need to share it with several other people at home or if you need to freeze food.
The rest of this article will detail the pros and cons of a mini fridge. So, if you’re unsure if you should get a mini fridge, this article will help you make an informed decision. Keep reading.
Advantages of Owning a Mini Fridge
Just because it’s called a mini fridge doesn’t mean it doesn’t have much to offer. The following discusses several reasons you may want to consider a mini fridge.
A Mini Fridge Doesn’t Require Much Space
A mini fridge, also known as a compact refrigerator, is ideal for people living in small places, like studio apartments, dorm rooms, etc. Since a mini fridge doesn’t require much space, you can place it in any corner.
If you use a full-size fridge, you might struggle to find space to accommodate your other equipment. However, due to its small size, a mini fridge provides you with ample room to fit in other kitchen equipment.
People with small offices can also benefit from using a mini fridge. You can store snacks and beverages in your office and save yourself from the trouble of going out every time you want something. A mini fridge can save your time and money as it eliminates the need to buy overpriced stuff from the stores.
A Mini Fridge Is Multipurpose
As mentioned earlier, a mini fridge is a great space-saving solution for people short on space. However, a compact refrigerator has much more to offer besides fitting in small spaces. It also works well in situations where space availability isn’t a concern.
Suppose you’re one of those people who toil away in a garage. In that case, a mini fridge can make your life a bit easier by turning your garage into a more functional space.
If you’re an outdoor cooking enthusiast, adding a compact refrigerator to your patio can save you trips to and fro the kitchen. Also, it can keep your food and drinks safe for a long time.
If you’re a proud owner of a home bar, a mini fridge can be the cherry on top of your dream space. It keeps your alcohol cool, just like a wine cooler. But what separates it from the latter is that it can also store food and snacks. Another feature that makes a mini fridge a better choice is that it’s easier to clean than a wine cooler.
A Mini Fridge Is Lightweight and Portable
It can be bothersome to move a bulky, conventional fridge from one place to another when you’re relocating. However, you don’t face such a problem with a mini fridge. Thanks to its compact size, a mini fridge is lightweight and easy to transport.
You might think that it’s not every day that you change your place. Well, that’s true. However, a mini fridge is still a better alternative because you can easily move it around the house as per your need. You can place your mini fridge by the poolside in the morning and back inside the house at night—and you can do it all by yourself. A full-size fridge doesn’t offer you such ease.
A Mini Fridge Is Convenient
A mini fridge doesn’t require professional help with transportation and installation. It’s usually less than five pounds or 2.26 kg (4.98 lb.) in weight, and you can carry it back by yourself.
Also, it’s pretty easy to set up a mini fridge, meaning you can set it up and start using it within a few hours of buying the compact fridge.
A mini fridge usually has a flat interior that allows easy access and quick cleaning. Compared to a full-size fridge, a mini fridge saves a lot of cleaning time, making it ideal for people short on time.
A Mini Fridge Is Travel-Friendly
Another area where a mini fridge comes in handy is travel. Whether you’re traveling or camping, a mini fridge has you covered. A mini fridge can take care of your thirst and hunger.
Especially when traveling with children, a mini fridge can make life easy for you. It can keep your baby formula cool and ensure that your baby’s well-being isn’t compromised.
Most mini fridges these days come with a 12-volt charger. So, you can plug it into your car and travel without any worry.
A Mini Fridge Consumes Less Energy
The power consumption of a refrigerator, either compact or full-size, varies depending on the model’s make, size, and features. That means not every mini fridge consumes less power than their full-size counterparts and vice versa.
However, according to a report, the best full-size refrigerators can cost between 47 and $54 per year to operate. By way of comparison, the top-rated mini fridge costs $27 per year to run.
You can bring this cost even lower if you keep your mini fridge in a spot with proper ventilation. When other things don’t surround your mini fridge, it dissipates heat efficiently and saves you money.
A Mini Fridge Is Affordable
A mini fridge usually costs way less than a full-size refrigerator. It’s the reason most students and people on a tight budget prefer a mini-fridge.
However, suppose you want more features and are willing to shell out more bucks. In that case, you can go for a high-end mini fridge that can compete with the fancy features of a full-size fridge.
Disadvantages of Owning a Mini Fridge
After reading about the advantages of owning a mini fridge, you might want to consider getting a mini fridge. Hang on. Keep in mind that a mini fridge has a few shortcomings.
Here are a few things you should know before you get a mini fridge.
A Mini Fridge Doesn’t Offer Much Storage Space
There’s a reason a compact refrigerator is also called a mini fridge. And the reason is the mini storage space it offers. Depending on your needs, it might not be possible for you to fit everything inside a mini fridge.
There will be times when you’ll have to take stuff stored in the mini fridge out to make space for things that need it more. It can sometimes be annoying and not much of a practical solution.
Since a mini fridge is small in size, you may struggle to fit large items inside, like some containers or bottles. A mini fridge is designed to store everyday things, and it’s unlikely that you’ll run into this problem often. However, at times, you might not be able to put those big boxes inside your fridge.
If you’re renting a home—and sharing a fridge—with a few other people, you’ll need to have a full-size fridge, not a mini fridge. A mini fridge won’t be able to keep everyone’s food supplies, especially if everyone in the house cooks their own meals.
A Mini Fridge Doesn’t Offer Temperature Control
These days almost every standard refrigerator comes with a temperature thermostat, which gives you the flexibility to set the temperature according to your needs and wants.
However, a mini fridge typically doesn’t come with this feature. So, you have to make do with the default temperature your mini fridge provides.
You Can’t Use a Mini Fridge To Store Frozen Items
You can’t use a mini fridge to store frozen items. It’s because, unlike its full-size counterpart, a mini fridge doesn’t have a freezer.
Frozen items need a temperature of -17.8°C (-0.04°F) or less to stay fresh. However, the temperature of a mini fridge doesn’t go below 5.56°C (42.008°F). So any frozen item you store in a mini fridge will go stale eventually.
Suppose you want to use a mini fridge to store meat or other frozen items. In that case, you have the option to get a compact refrigerator with a freezer. However, it can be a bit expensive.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.