Sometimes your mini-fridge doesn’t seem cold enough. Maybe you’ve spent money on foods that need to be kept refrigerated and now you have to do something about it.
Or maybe you‘re just curious, you know, like we all get sometimes. Regardless of your reasoning, this article will help you determine just how cold mini-fridges can get and what you can do about it.
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How Cold Do Mini Fridges Get
The freezer of a mini fridge typically reaches temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some refrigerators can reach much lower temperatures. This temperature range is enough to keep food fresh for several days.
The temperature in the fridge section of a refrigerator varies from about 35 to 40 degrees. This can be used to store perishable foods like cheese, butter, and lunch meat that must be kept cold but don’t need to be frozen. The temperature in the fresh food compartment is usually around 45 degrees, although it usually ranges between 38 and 50 degrees.
What is the coldest temperature for a mini-fridge?
The coldest temperature for mini fridges is usually around 34 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the recommended setting for home refrigerators and it’s perfect for keeping your food cold without freezing it.
The coldest temperature for mini fridges will depend on the model you have and the settings you’ve chosen. You don’t want to keep your fridge too cold, or the food will freeze and be ruined. Mini fridges are best used in rooms where there’s no extreme heat or cold, just a moderate temperature. If you have a basement, that’s where your mini fridge should go, because basements tend to have a steady temperature.
If you have an office or other space in your house that stays at a slightly colder temperature, your mini fridge can live there as well.
Is 1 or 5 Colder On A Mini fridge?
If you’ve ever wondered if a 1 or 5 setting on your mini-fridge is colder, the answer is neither.
When you’re trying to decide which setting on your mini refrigerator is colder, 1 or 5, there are a few things you can do. Each manufacturer has a different way of making their coolers and the temperature settings could be in Celsius or Fahrenheit but the temperature settings should roughly be the same for each setting.
If you want to know the exact temperature for each setting, the best thing to do is just read the user manual that came with your mini fridge. If you don’t have it handy then here is how you do it.
I would say to set it on 1 and let it run for a few hours and see how cool it gets then set it on 5 and let it run for a few hours and compare. With this, you can generally get a feel of which one of the two is cooler, though if you want to be absolutely sure, then you can get yourself a fridge thermometer.
How Can I Make My Mini Fridge Colder?
There are a lot of ways to keep your fridge colder, but not all of them work. You can try out the following methods though:
Keep the door closed as much as possible
This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s surprising how often people don’t do this! When the door is open, cold air is escaping into the room. Closing the door will help prevent that from happening.
Just like with your freezer, the more you open the door to your mini-fridge, the warmer it will get.
Don’t pile food on top of each other
We know you like to organize your fridge with some semblance of order, but it’s not helping when you put food on top of warm or hot dishes. It doesn’t matter if they’re still cool because you’re only making it harder for them to cool down.
Keep your mini-fridge away from the wall.
If it’s too close to the wall, the fridge’s compressor won’t be able to release all the heat it’s generating, and your fridge will have to work harder (and use more energy) to keep things cool.
Change thermostat settings
Seems obvious right? Wrong! Many people tend to assume that their fridges already come with the most ideal setting. While this could be right, “ideal” is subjective, and what might be ideal for you could be a lot cooler than someone else.
Look for your mini-fridge’s thermostat and experiment until you find a setting that works for you.
Clean the condenser coils
Your mini-fridge has coils on the back that help dissipate heat. If these coils are dusty, they won’t be able to do their job as effectively. It’s recommended to clean your condenser coils at least once or twice a year depending on how dusty your location is.
Read more about how to clean fridge condenser coils here
Do not put hot items inside your mini-fridge
Let your food items cool down before you place them in the mini-fridge. Putting hot food inside will only cause the temperature inside your fridge to rise.
How long does it take for a mini-fridge to get cold?
It depends on the size of your mini-fridge. The smaller the fridge, the faster it will get cold. If you have a small mini-fridge, it will take about 15 minutes for it to get cold. A medium-sized mini fridge will take about 30 minutes to get cold and a large-sized mini fridge will take about 45 minutes to get cold.
How long does a mini-fridge last?
The life of a mini-fridge depends on the quality of the fridge. The better the quality, the longer it will last. On average though, a mini-fridge should last about 10 years though many suggest that it should last between 6 to 14 years.
Conclusion
A mini-fridge is a great appliance for keeping food, water, and beverages cold. While mini-fridges might not store as much food or drinks as bigger fridges, they sure do work well enough to keep your perishables fresh and your drinks cold.
