While having a mini fridge with freezer from your college dorm room might seem like a completely unnecessary thing to do, it offers lots of perks that can be hard to ignore.
And since you’re here, I believe you understand that this is one of the best ways to store your leftovers and get a chilled/frozen drink during summer.
But choosing the right mini fridge among the plethora of options flooding the market can be overwhelming and time-consuming.
Luckily, we’ve whipped up the best mini fridge with freezer for dorm, garage, and, even better, we’ve covered the key factors to consider when shopping for this handy appliance.
Table of Contents
Why do you need a mini fridge
Still, wondering if purchasing a mini fridge for your garage or dorm is a good idea? Read on to find out reasons why you need this device;
Save money
Large refrigerators like the side-by-side, top freezer, or french door come with a hefty price tag. Besides, you only need an appliance to store water, soda/beer cans, wine bottles, and a small amount of food for a dorm or garage. So what’s the point of having an expensive, large fridge if you only need to store little things. Plus, mini fridge costs way less than the large versions.
Saves space
Mini refrigerators feature a compact design, which allows users to place them just about anywhere without giving up a lot of space. This way, they are recommended for small bedrooms, dorm rooms, and office spaces.
Cut cost on electricity bills
Since these appliances are much smaller than the side-by-side, top freezer, or the french door refrigerator, they consume about ten times less electricity. Thus, you should expect the mini fridges to consume less energy and save you on high monthly bills. While the large fridges might be a must-have for kitchens, it might not be appropriate for a person living in a college dorm or looking to store beers in the garage.
Easy portability
A mini refrigerator is easy to take anywhere without a sweat. Although not all small refrigerators are portable enough for the on-the-go experience, some models tag along really nicely to allow you to have your fridge around anytime, whenever you need it.
Reviews of the Best Mini Fridge With Freezer for Dorm, College, Garage to buy
Here are top rated freezer small refrigerator combo for sale
Top 1 – Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator
The Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator is a top-quality mini fridge built to pay off. This model has a freezer with enough room to store your vegetables, fruits, meats, ice cream and seafood for the long term.
What’s more? The fridge is eco-friendly and energy-efficient, which means you don’t have to bother about higher monthly bills. This model is made of heavy-duty stainless steel that guarantees extreme durability.
The Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator’s stainless steel construction makes it resistant to fingerprints, scratches and any sort of marks. With such a lightweight and compact design, you should have no issue fitting this mini fridge into any room.
Even better, it features a reversible door to allow you to place the mini-fridge anywhere you deem fit and still enjoy easy access to your essentials inside the appliance.
Pros:
- Quiet operation
- Made of top-quality materials
- Energy-efficient
- Compact and lightweight design
Cons:
- Requires de-icing on a monthly bases
Top 2 – Walsh WSR31TBK Small Refrigerator
The Walsh WSR31TBK Compact Refrigerator is another stylish and compact unit with sufficient space to store your beer, soda, food and other beverages without having to sacrifice a lot of space.
Its sleek, modern design is one of many reasons we recommended this device for college dorm rooms, home bars, garages, and offices. This appliance has two compartments, the refrigerator offering a temperature range of 32 – 47 degrees F and a freezer compartment that goes below 0 degrees F. On top of that, it comes with adjustable mechanical thermostat control to set the preferred cooling temperature.
Here’s more; this model has a reversible door to allow you to open from right or life, making it a perfect fit for any kitchen layout. Also, it comes with an adjustable levelling leg to guarantee a level placement.
Pros:
- Adjustable thermostat control
- Interior light for proper vision
- Large capacity to hold vegetables and food
- Levelling legs to keep level placement anywhere
Cons:
- It can be a little bit noisy at times
Top 3 – Galanz GLR31TRDER Retro Mini Refrigerator
The Galanz GLR31TRDER Retro Compact Refrigerator is another option for anyone looking for an appliance with a modern appeal to enrich their college dorms, home office, and kitchen with style. This product feels and looks amazing. It has more than enough space to store snacks and chill your soda/beers for a perfect drink on a scorching sunny day.
That’s not all; it is equipped with an adjustable thermostat to control the compartment’s temperature separately. The freezer offers a temperature range below 0 degrees F, while the refrigerator has a range between 32 – 47 degrees F.
Moving on, it has glass shelves to separate and organize your foods. This freestanding model is energy efficient and reliable for your storage needs.
Pros:
- Retro-style handles to conveniently open and close the door
- Adjustable thermostat control
- Elegant design with reliable performance
- Large storage capacity
Cons:
- The handle seems flimsy, and a bit challenging to install
Top 4 – EdgeStar CRF321SS 3.1 Cu. Ft. Dorm Mini Fridge/Freezer
Next on our list is the EdgeStar CRF321SS. This product has a reversible door to allow you to install this mini fridge just about anywhere. Further, it comes with door bins in both the freezer and refrigerators sections for easy cleanout.
This model rocks a true stainless steel door with black cabinets that make this freestanding fridge appealing to the eyes. Also, it comes with automatic defrost in the refrigerator compartment and a manual version in the other section. This way, you don’t have to sweat when removing the ice buildup.
It sports an adjustable thermostat to choose from 34 – 60 degrees F for the refrigerator. This product comes with a glass shelf, adjustable wire shelf, a vegetable crisper and in-door storage. In addition, it has interior lighting for easy access to your stored drinks and food.
Pros:
- Decent warranty period
- Energy efficient
- Has lots of storage options
- Auto defrost in both sections
Cons:
- It’s a bit loud
Top 5 – RCA RFR832-BLACK, 3.2 cu. ft. 2 Door Fridge with Freezer
When it comes to the best mini fridge with freezer for dorm, garage, you can go wrong with this model. This appliance from RCA offers much more. It’s built to offer chilled beverages either in your office or home. It allows you to preserve your food, snacks, and other essentials.
Coming with a 3.2 Cu Ft storage capacity, the RCA RFR832 can store lots of cans, bottles, vegetables, etc. Unlike other options on this list, this model features two doors. The top door to access the freezer and the bottom door for the refrigerator compartment.
Even better, it’s equipped with the latest compressor cooling technologies and a manually adjustable thermostat control dial to preserve and chill your stuff at the right temp range. And, the RCA RFR832 has two detachable shelves that slide out effortlessly to allow you to customize the storage space and clean the interior without any hassle.
Pros:
- Dual door design
- Adjustable thermostat control
- Detachable shelves for customizable storage space
- It comes with a basket and a can dispenser
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Top 6 – BLACK+DECKER BCRK25B Compact Refrigerator
Another spot, another stylish small refrigerator to check out, is the BLACK+DECKER BCRK25B Compact Refrigerator. This model is perfect for storing beer, soda, food and lots more without consuming a lot of energy while taking up a little space.
This sleek, modern design is available in three colour options: white, stainless steel and black. This elegant model is perfect for offices, home bars, RV campers, small apartments, and college dorm rooms.
Furthermore, it comes with two removable glass shelves to customize the storage space and makes cleaning a snap. Taking about storage space, this unit features additional door storage to hold up to 12 cans, 2-litre door storage to fit taller bottles, and the top-shelf features small containers.
What else? The BLACK+DECKER BCRK25B Compact Refrigerator features adjustable temperature control, levelling legs and a reversible door. More so, it has a super quiet operation mode, which means you can place it anywhere, game rooms, baby rooms, living rooms, etc.
Pros:
- 1-year warranty period
- It comes with several convenient features
- It comes in three modern designs
- Ultra-quiet operation
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Top 7 – RCA RFR320-B-Black-COM RFR321 Mini Refrigerator
By now, you should have figured out that one of the best brands in this space is the RCA, and this unit lives up to the hype. This small fridge couples the top-of-the-line refrigeration technology and contemporary style for a high performing model.
This model comes in a sleek design to match any interior decors. This mini freezer offers 3.2 cubic feet to hold lots of stuff. It comes with two interior racks, beverage holders and shelves to solve your storage options.
Also, the RCA RFR320-B-Black-COM RFR321 Mini Refrigerator features a reversible door that allows you to install them just about anywhere you prefer. It comes with an adjustable thermostat to keep your stuff at the desired temperature.
Pros:
- Compact and stylish design
- Built-in accurate adjustable thermostat
- Easy to clean
- Space-saving flush back design
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Mini Fridge with Freezer for Dorm, Garage
Temperature Control
The temperature control dial is the thermostat, which is a tool to set the right coldness. Generally, the mini fridge is not as powerful as your full-sized kitchen refrigeration. Thus, you might notice the mini fridges have trouble maintaining the correct temperature.
However, some models come with a built-in freezer compartment or freezer setting to allow you to preserve your perishables, such as dairy or meat.
Energy efficiency
The larger the appliance, the larger the energy consumption. Therefore, it’s best to stick with the energy-efficient refrigerator to cut cost energy bills.
Size
If you need a fridge to keep next to your workspace, it’s best to go for a mini, portable refrigerator. If you want something slightly more robust to serve as your primary refrigerator, stick with a mini fridge with a freezer.
Style
There are different styles of mini fridges out there, and not all of them are ugly. Since you’ll be placing this appliance in your room, office, home bar, etc., it’s best to go for a model that looks and feels great. We prefer sleek and simple designs that won’t be an eyesore to look at. You should consider products with colourful or glass doors to match and complement your beautifully decorated space.
FAQs
What size mini fridge for college dorm
The typical mini refrigerator size for dorm rooms with storage capacity ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 cubic feet. However, for a mid-size option, you might want to consider 2.5 to 2.7 cubic feet.
Can a mini fridge be put under a dorm bed?
Yes, provided the mini fridge is small and portable enough to fit under your bed.
What fridges are suitable for a garage?
If you want to store beers and beverages in your garage, you are better off with a mini fridge.
Conclusion
Here you go, the top 7 best mini fridges with freezer for dorm, garage. Now, it’s your turn to make a choice, considering the key factors discussed in our buying guide section.
But if you’re in a rush or not sure which product to splurge on, then stick with our favourite – the Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator.