<p>Anyone have any experience with mini fridges with freezers? Suggestions on brands and sizes would be appreciated. Do they really freeze ice?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>The small cheap ones do not work well. The freezer consists of an aluminum box which frosts up quickly. In humid weather this can occur in a couple of weeks and gets so bad the plastic freezer door will not work. Frozen food will not stay frozen.</p>
<p>Get a unit with a completely separate freezer compartment. This type is usually a bit taller and, of course, more expensive. We did this 4 years ago, so I don’t remember the brands. As I remember it, the cheap units were under $100 and we paid about $175. The unit still runs well, is still frost free, and is quiet. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more.</p>
<p>As noted on another thread, becareful how you transport these units. If not transported upright, oil will move around. Another poster said give it 24 hours upright before turning on – you might want to ask strore about this.</p>
<p>We bought S the Sanyo 3.7 cu. ft. fridge from costco.com a couple of years ago and had it shipped to his college since we live 1000 miles away. It was less than $200 including the shipping. This isn’t the small mini-cube size, it’s 34" high. </p>
<p>The reviews on costco.com (posted after we purchased) aren’t good, but my S has had no problems at all with his fridge going into its third year of use.</p>
<p>Target has one for $179 when it is on sale. Will find the brand. It has the separate freezer and fridge doors and is nice and compact. It is rectangular and not square.</p>
<p>I am so undecided. Should I return the Walmart one – a small one. I love how the Target one looks, but I dont know why my D needs a freezer. I am afraid of her room becoming the party room.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to check any dorm restrictions. Some schools only allow certain types.</p>
<p>kayf, probably better to have one than not. If your D is an athlete, or simply wants to keep bottled water or Diet Coke for a drink in it, the dorm fridge will save money in the long run. At D’s school, a soda costs $1.50 at the student center, where as she could buy a 12 pack on sale for double that.</p>
<p>oh, I am definitely getting a frig. The walmart mni is in my basement ready to go. The question is do I return it for the bigger one with the working freezer. Idk what she would need for a freezer for. Ice cubes? yes, i checked dorm rules on size.</p>
<p>Target has it on sale today for $139! Its an Emerson. DS had one of thoselittle cube sized things b/c his room was small and he didnt think he needed a freezer (we got the one that didnt even have the little aluminum thing in the top corner for ice cubes-- just all open), but now thats what he owns and no need to replace it. I believe one of his suitemates is bringing a microfridge.</p>
<p>OK, just call my pscho mom. Changed my mind again. It is 33.5 inches tall – will go to store and check. Will not fit in my SUV (small suv) upright.</p>
<p>See issues </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.target.com/Emerson-CR500-2-Door-Compact-Refrigerator/dp/B0014E448U[/url]”>http://www.target.com/Emerson-CR500-2-Door-Compact-Refrigerator/dp/B0014E448U</a></p>
<p>The one at target is a steal!!! That is the exact one. I just saw the ad. Go for it before it sells out if you are interested. I think the freezer comes in handy. And a good buy is a Brita filter pitcher. There is a small one that fits in the door of the fridge. Saves big bucks on bottled water. D did that on her own and loves the taste of the cold water, without the price and hassle of buying and lugging a case of water up to the room.</p>
<p>The reviews on that one are mixed, but it is a great deal even if it doesnt last. I was going to get the microwave thats on sale, but the reviews all say its dangerous and shoots sparks out after a few mos. No thanks!</p>
<p>Agree about the challenge transporting a big fridge, kayf. Thats also partly why we got the smaller one (and he left it at a friends over the summer-- it wouldnt fit in the car to make it home). Many do rent summer storage units, but he didnt. This one at Target is in-store only-- not online, so cant be ordered and shipped (well you could ship, but would be very expensive)</p>
<p>*** edit-- your link says its available on line-- my local ad says in store only!! Hmmmmmmm</p>
<p>*** I was able to do an on-line order (though I didnt-- just wanted to see th s&h). It showed s&h for this fridge at around $40. Is that what others are seeing??</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant to post link only for review issues, I dont think it is avialble online.</p>
<p>I am not so worried about replacing – I am worried HOW we get it replaced.</p>
<p>We got a 3.0 cubic foot (max size allowed in our dorm) with a little freezer compartment, made by Professional Series, at Menard’s for $109. Unlike all the other ones we saw, it is very narrow & tall, good for limited-space rooms. Comes in glossy black or white.</p>
<p>My daughter has a frigidaire mini fridge from Lowes. It has a separate freezer which she wanted for ice cream and ice and freezing stuff for the smoothies she loves to make. The smaller size is a 3.1 cubic foot I think, and it also comes in a larger size which she has. She loves it. A friends daughter has the small one and loves it also. I think the smaller one is about $150 ish.</p>
<p>She only lived in the dorms a year before moving into an apartment. If I had known that would have happened I would have got the fridge in the same fridge but in the small (3.1) size rather than the slightly larger one.</p>
<p>^^^^^
That might be great for the OP, she had stated on another thread that her D wanted a freezer for making smoothies!</p>
<p>I just got mine and its a GE, 2.9 cubic foot. Its very quiet.</p>
<p>I was in Target today NOT to buy a minifridge LOL those days are behind me. It looks like a great unit. S has a similarly sized one he got freshman year,he’s a senior now living off campus.The guys in the apt (4 of them ) use it for beverages since 4 in an apt sized fridge is alot of stuff! When he was in a dorm he used the freezer for icy treats (think kiddie freezy pops) and things like frozen burritos and other manly meals.Hes down south and appreciated having cheap frozen treats handy! There is a narrow Brita that fits on the door as someone has said and that saves tons of $$ on bottled water.</p>