The best mini fridges for drinks, skin care and more, according to an appliance expert

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If you live in a small home, need extra fridge space or want to keep things cold somewhere other than your kitchen, a mini fridge, also known as a compact refrigerator, is a great option. They tend to cost less than a regular fridge and have a small footprint. They also tend to require much less energy, too. You can even use them to store skin care products so they feel cooling and soothing when you apply them.

If you are on the hunt for a mini fridge, there are a few things to keep in mind as you shop. To help, I asked an appliance expert with three decades of experience in the industry for the most important considerations. I also compiled a list of highly-rated mini fridges with a range of prices and styles.

Selected. Our top picks

Top-rated mini fridges to consider

To come up with this list of mini fridges, I used expert guidance (more on that later) to source options that meet different size and style needs. All of the models below are highly rated, with at least a four-star average rating from hundreds of reviews.

Best overall

Euhomy Mini Fridge with Freezer

This compact Euhomy mini fridge gives you the convenience of both a refrigerator and a separate freezer without taking up much space. It has adjustable shelves, a crisper drawer and a reversible door for flexible placement, plus it has a quiet, energy-efficient compressor that won’t be distracting while you work or sleep.

RCA Mini Refrigerator

On the larger side, this mini refrigerator comes with an adjustable thermostat, built-in freezer and has a reversible door. It also comes in eight colors, including green, purple and blue. It also has an area that can hold cans in the door.

Most stylish

Frigidaire Retro Bar Fridge

If you like a retro vibe, consider this option from Frigidaire. It has a built-in bottle opener on the outside and a can dispenser on the inside of the door. There are two adjustable slide-out shelves and the back of the fridge is flat so it can sit flush against a wall.

Best for drinks

Whynter Beverage Refrigerator with Internal Fan

This beverage fridge has a glass front and can hold up to 120 cans. It has five wire slide-out racks, LED lighting and a reversible door. The internal fan-forced circulation results in even temperature distribution throughout the interior, according to the brand.

Best option with a freezer

Midea Double Door Mini Fridge

If you need freezer space, too, this mini fridge has a small one on top with a separate door. The fridge portion gives just over two cubic feet of space and has glass shelves and a produce drawer. The doors can be switched to open on either side and there is an interior LED light that allows you to see what you are looking for in a dark room.

Best portable option

BougeRV 12v Portable Fridge and Freezer

This portable mini fridge is a versatile option for your on-the-go cooling needs. Whether you’re heading out on a road trip, camping weekend or tailgate, this BougeRV portable mini fridge will keep drinks and perishables cold without the hassle of ice. It cools down in as little as 15 minutes, runs quietly and has built-in battery protection to help prevent draining your vehicle’s battery. Plus, its lightweight design makes it easy to move between your car, RV, boat or campsite.

Best small option

Antarctic Star Compact Refrigerator

When my son was born last year, I bought this small fridge to get us through late-night feedings. We live in a multi-level house and the thought of going up and down the stairs to get formula or stored breast milk from our kitchen fridge in the middle of the night sounded exhausting. Instead, I put this in his nursery and stored bottles in there each night. It is a pretty basic fridge, with a small freezer space and one shelf. The door also has two different compartments — one that you can store taller bottles in and another for smaller objects.

Editor’s Pick

Galanz Mini Fridge

With its sleek, minimalist design, this Galanz mini fridge is a stylish pick that looks just as at home in a first apartment or home office as it does in a college dorm. Despite its compact size, it offers adjustable glass shelves, dedicated can and bottle storage, plus a separate chiller compartment for drinks and snacks you want extra cold. Its clean, modern look blends seamlessly into almost any space, making it a practical purchase you’ll likely keep using long after graduation.

Best for skin care

Crownful Mini Fridge

Looking for an option to use as a skin care fridge ? Consider stashing this mini pick on your bathroom counter or vanity. Even if you are not interested in chilling your moisturizer, you can use this compact unit to keep a few sodas or mini bottles of champagne cold and ready to drink. You can cool the temperature of this fridge down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can also use it as a warmer by turning it up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. The fridge has a removable shelf and a slim pocket in the door.

How to shop for a mini fridge

Choosing the right mini fridge depends on the space you have and your needs. To help you hone in on exactly what you need, experts suggest asking yourself the following questions before you shop:

Frequently asked questions

When it comes to different types of mini fridges, most are classified by size — they can range from 1.6 to 5.5 cubic feet. This range includes compact mini fridges for makeup and small items, medium-size mini fridges for soda cans, juice, and wine bottles, and large varieties that can hold many of the same food items as a regular-size fridge.

A compact fridge is another name for a mini fridge. Often, a brand will label a mini fridge as compact when it is on the smaller side and is smaller than 3 cubic feet. Fridges this size are good for things like makeup, small drinks or snacks (think applesauce pouches and yogurt cups).

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service , a sector of the United States Department of Agriculture, refrigerators should be set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit at most. Many of the fridges on this list can maintain a temperature as low as 32 degrees. This can be nice if you like your drinks extra cold. If your mini fridge has a freezer with an adjustable temperature, it should be set to zero degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Food and Drug Administration .

According to Mooers, if you want to clean your mini fridge, empty it and wipe the entire inside down with hot water mixed with a little dish soap. Then, wipe it down with clean water to remove any soap residue and dry it with a clean towel. Another food-safe alternative is mixing vinegar and hot water in a bottle and spraying the fridge with it to break down grease and grime.

Meet our appliance expert

At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Why trust NBC Selected?

I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected who regularly covers topics like home, beauty and lifestyle. I have written about the best vacuum storage bags , where to get effective mouse traps and how dermarolling for hair works . For this story, I interviewed an appliance expert on what to look for when shopping for a mini fridge.

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