The humble mini fridge has long established its worth in student accommodation across America. Yet it’s also the ideal appliance for bedrooms, games rooms, recreational vehicles and compact kitchens. A good mini fridge makes efficient use of space, has consistent temperature control and will last several years.
The Galanz Retro Compact Refrigerator encourages effective organization with a number of shelves and drink holders. It’s available in five glossy colors and has chrome handles that complement its vintage style.
What to know before you buy a Galanz mini fridge
Why choose Galanz?
Galanz has been producing household appliances for over 40 years and is a leading manufacturer in the industry. They are known for producing high-quality products that are stylish, functional and affordable.
Types of mini fridges
There’s actually a lot more variation in mini fridge style than you might first expect, including differences in capacity and the type of goods that can be stored inside.
Cube fridges: This ultra-compact option is useful when space is limited. Cube fridges are ideal for chilling a few items, but they typically don’t have a freezer and some don’t offer storage in the door either.
Under-counter fridges: As the name suggests, these are designed to fit under a regular kitchen counter. They are sometimes known as mid-sized mini fridges and often feature a freezer compartment. They are usually more energy-efficient than other mini fridges, but they tend to be more expensive, too.
Beverage fridges: This simple style is perfect for keeping your drinks cold. Its depth and the height of the shelves will dictate which designs are best for cans and which are best for wine bottles. It’s important to note that many beverage fridges don’t have accurate enough temperature control to store food safely.
There’s a wide selection of Galanz appliances available, but if you’re interested in checking out some other brands, take a look at the full mini fridge buying guide from BestReviews.
Mini fridge capacity
Fridges are often sized based on the interior volume of the appliance. This allows you to understand how much usable space the fridge actually has, rather than only knowing the outer dimensions. The capacity is measured in cubic feet. Small cube fridges have about 1.5 cubic feet of space, while under counter varieties often have a capacity of roughly 3 cubic feet.
Ventilation
All fridges and freezers require ventilation to prevent them from overheating and becoming damaged. It’s recommended that you leave an inch gap on either side of the appliance and a 2-inch gap at the back to keep it in the best condition.
Galanz mini fridge features
Freezer
Some appliances have a freezer compartment within the fridge. Others have a separate freezer with its own door. The former is suitable for keeping a few items frozen for short periods. However, if you want to freeze things for a long time, it’s best to opt for the latter style.
Door depth
Many fridges have integrated storage within their doors. This space is ideal for holding drinks, confectionery and condiments. Some are deep enough and tall enough to accommodate large soda bottles, others can only house a few small cans.
Door hinges
Some Galanz appliances offer the opportunity to hang the door on either the right or the left side. This provides the owner with more options in which to position their refrigerator within a room. Most reversible doors don’t feature Galanz’s retro chrome handle, though.
Temperature controls
Most Galanz mini fridges have manual control knobs. If your fridge has a freezer compartment, there will be a separate control dial to choose lower temperature for this area. Mid-sized fridges tend to maintain a more consistent temperature than small cube fridges.
Galanz mini fridge cost
The most compact Galanz mini fridge, with a capacity of 1.7 cubic feet, currently sells for roughly $100. Their larger mini fridges, which have separate freezer sections, cost from $250-$350, depending on the desired size.
Galanz mini fridge FAQ
What temperature should my fridge be?
A. The FDA recommends keeping your refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees or below. You can use a fridge thermometer to get an accurate reading.
Is it bad to run an empty freezer?
A. While it won’t necessarily damage your appliance, running a freezer when it’s empty does use more electricity. This is because electricity is the only thing maintaining the sub-zero temperature. When your freezer is fully stocked, the frozen products inside help to keep the freezer cold. If you don’t have enough food to fill your freezer, use bottles of water to pack it out. However, remember to leave room for air to flow around the products, too.
Which Galanz mini fridge should I get?
Best of the best Galanz mini fridge
Galanz Retro Compact Refrigerator: available at Amazon
Our take: This stylish single-door fridge is perfect for chilling drinks and snacks.
What we like: Its glass shelves can be positioned at various heights to help you organize your products. Plus, there’s plenty of storage space in the door, including dedicated can holders.
What we dislike: The 3.3-cubic-feet model might be just an inch too high to fit under some kitchen countertops.
Best bang for your buck Galanz mini fridge
Galanz Compact Dorm Refrigerator: available at Amazon
Our take: This ultra-compact selection is ideal for use in a dorm room or as a personal fridge in an office.
What we like: Even though it’s only 19 inches tall, it has a capacity of 1.7 cubic feet. The door can accommodate a 2-liter soda bottle and it’s reversible, so you can hinge it from either side.
What we dislike: The freezer compartment is rather small.
Honorable mention Galanz mini fridge
Galanz Mini Fridge with Dual Doors: available at Home Depot
Our take: The separate freezer in this model is extremely spacious for a mini fridge.
What we like: This vintage-style fridge sports twin chrome handles and comes in a choice of five colors. There’s storage space in both the fridge and freezer doors, and there’s a salad tray, too.
What we dislike: It can be tough to find the right balance with the temperature controls.
Catherine Bushenis a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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