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Finding the Best Mini Fridge for Your Dorm

If you're starting college in the fall, or know someone who is, then you're probably excited about, and slightly dreading, moving into a dorm.  Soon you'll be receiving your roommate assignment and your room number, and the next thing you have to think about is what each person is going to bring.

My freshman year roommate and I tried to split this down the middle based on what we already had and what needed to be purchased. I brought the TV and DVD player, she brought a stereo. Luckily for us though, a mini fridge and microwave were already provided by the dormitory. If I could have brought my own mini fridge I would have though.The compact refrigerator they supplied wasn't bad, it kept our food cold, but it wasn't right for what I wanted.

Which is why I have put together this guide to finding the perfect mini fridge for you. Below are examples of the most common mini fridges on the market and their pros and cons.

The Cube Mini Fridge

A cube mini fridge is the smallest unit you can buy; they are usually no bigger than 2.7 cubit feet. Most cube mini fridges have a full-range thermometer which means they can be used as a refrigerator or as a freezer. This is good if you plan on using it for only one or the other.

Another great feature of many cube fridges is that they come with a lock and key. If you don't plan on sharing your drinks and snacks or fridge space with your roommate, then you might want to keep your small fridge locked so they can't steal anything while you're not in the room.

There are also cube mini fridges that come in a variety of colors and models that have a dry erase board door so you can write notes on it.

Compact All Refrigerators

This might be the most common midsize fridge available. It is called an all refrigerator, because the entire unit is a fridge, unlike regular-sized kitchen fridges which feature a refrigerator and a freezer. Some of the compact all refrigerator units do have a small freezer box inside the refrigerator, but they are usually too small to hold more than a couple of frozen dinners. The freezer box is also not very reliable since it is inside a refrigerator.

There are some compact all fridge models that come with a lock and key, like the cube mini fridge, so you can keep others out of your food and drinks. Many of these units also have extra storage space in the door for soda cans and condiments. Compact all refrigerators have about twice the space of cube fridges and are great for those who only want to store drinks and refrigerated snacks, like yogurt, vegetables or sandwich fixings.

Midsize Refrigerators

This is the mini fridge I would have wanted in college. It's around the same size as a compact all refrigerator, but it features a separate freezer. You won't always want to eat the "food" being served in the cafeteria, and as a college student your budget can be tight at times, which is why frozen meals will be your friend. You can store plenty of drinks and snacks in the refrigerator portion and the freezer will hold frozen meals and ice cream.

Unfortunately, midsize refrigerators do not have a lock on them to keep other people out, but there's enough room to share the storage space with your roommate. They also have a vegetable crisper and additional storage space in the door for holding soda cans, 2 liter bottles, milk and/or orange juice. The amount of refrigerator space might be slightly less than that of an all refrigerator, but midsize fridges still have 2 shelves in addition to the crisper and door storage space.

Combination Microwave Refrigerators

These refrigerators are exactly like the midsize or all refrigerators, depending on which you choose, but they come with a mounting rack and microwave. If your dorm room doesn't come with a mini fridge, then it probably doesn't have a microwave either. Microwaves are the quintessential dorm room cooking appliances. Many dormitories won't allow toasters or toaster ovens or even small grills, so if you want hot food, you need a microwave. By mounting the microwave to the top of the mini fridge, you are able to save precious counter space. It is also required in many dorms that if a microwave is on top of a compact refrigerator that it be mounted for safety.

A combination microwave mini fridge is the perfect duo for those that will find themselves wanting study snacks or avoiding the cafeteria.