This week we have been talking about refrigerators! Earlier this week we rounded up some models of the very popular French-door style of refrigerator. But a lot of you aren't looking for a 28 cubic foot refrigerator: You need something small and slim for a city kitchen. Some of you may even want an ultra-compact under-counter fridge. Here's a look at some of the most widely available and popular options for small refrigerators. Do you have a recommendation for another model? Jump in and add it!
Styles of Small Refrigerators
When it comes to small refrigerators, you have a few different options.
First up, and smallest, is the office-style cube fridge. These are tiny boxes, and you can't do much more than store cans of soda and a lunchbox. For the purpose of this roundup, we're skipping this sort.
Next there is the mid-size dorm-style mini-fridge. These are still quite small, but they are also relatively inexpensive. You can store a few days' worth of groceries in them, but freezer space is limited, and forget about refrigerating trays of prepared foods. One advantage of these mini-refrigerators is that they fit underneath the countertop. So you can maximize workspace by putting them underneath. If you sacrifice one more cupboard you can also add an undercounter freezer. One other option in this size category is a set of stand-alone refrigerator drawers.
Then there is the apartment-sized compact fridge. These are small and slim, but they have most of the height and relative proportions of a full-size refrigerator. They tend to be about 10-12 cubic feet, as opposed to the 20-25 cubic feet of full-sized refrigerators.
And finally, a category that overlaps with the apartment-sized fridge: Extra-narrow models of popular fridge brands. Some brands of refrigerators offer models in 24-inch or 28-inch widths (as opposed to the 32 to 36-inch widths of most standard-sized refrigerators. These seem to be the types of refrigerators many of you are looking for.
One final note, and then we'll get to the roundup. A question for apartment-dwellers is: Do you really need a freezer? Some of us cook in ways that would allow us to sacrifice a freezer altogether. Fridge-only refrigerators are less expensive, and also more durable, since they are only designed to do one thing.
If you have a little extra space you can also fit in a small chest freezer, or an under-counter freezer. Buying your fridge and freezer separately, depending on your space limitations, can actually be a great way to save a little money.
Small Refrigerators
A look at some apartment-sized and narrow refrigerators widely available in today's market. Prices vary pretty widely, depending on where you buy a fridge. We used a couple retailers here just for reference, but this doesn't necessarily mean that these are the best place to buy.
These models are all 24" wide, or less, and all are counter-depth.
TOP ROW
• 1. Liebherr Freestanding 24", CS 1311 - About $2200, from various dealers. 13 cubic feet, 24" wide, 80" tall. This is a really popular model among our readers. You can see it in use in Art and Chel's kitchen.
• 2. Northland 24" Fridge - $4600 at AJ Madison. 15 cubic feet, 24" inches, 84" tall. Seriously pricey fridge! But it does offer extra space in a very slim profile. There are also a lot of options in creating a built-in look.
• 3. Fagor - $2000 at AJ Madison. 13 cubic feet. 24" wide, 79" tall. Another stylish option like the Liebherr, with a similar amount of storage and space. Main difference between Liebherr and Fagor, on the surface anyway, is the Liebherr is about 22" deep and the Fagor is 24" deep.
• 4. Summit Commercial Series CP171SS - $1016 at AJ Madison. 12 cubic feet, 24" wide, 80" tall. Previously marketed as the Conserv. A budget option, but the former high Energy Star rating may not apply to the latest version of this refrigerator. Check the specifications carefully. You can see this fridge in use in Jill's kitchen.
• 5. LG Cabinet-Depth Fridge - LRBP1031W, about $530 from AJ Madison. 10 cubic feet, 24" wide, 67" tall. Another good budget option. You can see this model of fridge in Sudie's pocket-sized renovation.
BOTTOM ROW
• 6. Whirlpool Top-Freezer Refrigerator - $459 at AJ Madison. 10 cubic feet, 24" wide, 60" tall. A true budget option, with a slightly smaller footprint and capacity.
• 7. RA752PST - Avanti Apartment Sized Refrigerator - $332 at Compact Appliance. 7.6 cubic feet, 22" wide, 57" tall. Small, slim, and very, very budget-friendly.
• 8. Marvel Built-In Undercounter Refrigerator - $1100 at Compact Appliance. 6.1 cubic feet, 24" wide, 34" tall. No freezer, just a fridge, and a good amount of storage in a small space.
• 9. Danby Under-Counter Fridge - $268 at Compact Appliance. 3.1 cubic feet, 18" wide, 34" tall. Very budget-friendly, and fits under the counter.
• 10. KitchenAid Stainless Steel Double-Drawer Refrigerator - $1890 at Sears. 5.1 cubic feet, 24" wide, 34" tall. A hefty price, but some might find these drawers the sleekest way to put a fridge into a tiny kitchen.
Overall, shopping for a refrigerator, especially one with tight constraints of size and budget, can be a very frustrating and overwhelming process. If you have won your way into a good purchase or some wisdom on shopping for a compact fridge, share it here!
Some Sources for Small Appliances
• Compact Appliance (Marketplace listing)
• AJ Madison
Related: French-Door Refrigerators: 10 Models From High to Low
(Images: Southern Living; refrigerator manufacturers and retailers)
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From previous experience, I'll say that a mini-fridge can be a real PITA if it has temperature issues. And I can't imagine not having a freezer, if only for ice and/or ice cream.
[Also, you've got an unclosed bold tag in there.]
GE also makes a very nice looking 24" wide, 71" tall, bottom freezer for about $1300 that is 11.6 cubic ft.
Yep, closed! Thanks Kakugori.
There's really a dizzying array of options out there, and no one easy place to go and compare sizes, features, and quality. It's a very difficult process to shop for appliances - heck, just putting this post together took me all day! So any hands-on reports are definitely really valuable.
i had the LG in my last kitchen and *loved* it. it was perfect for our two person household and so much more pleasant to use than the large top-freezer fridge we've got in our new place. i miss having everything at eye level, never losing anything in the back of the fridge, and the freezer drawers. also, i like that it wasn't actually stainless steel (the finish was "titanium") b/c it never showed fingerprints.
I would love an apartment sized refrigerator but find the price completely prohibitive! It's unfortunate that the smaller, more efficient fridges are so expensive.
also, if you're in the dc area, m&m appliance has a small selection of the small fridges in their showroom, if you want to check out a small fridge in person.
It's posts like this that make me wish I owned my apartment (or at least lived in a place with a person landlord instead of a corporate landlord)! My current fridge isn't enormous, but even a few inches for storage on one side or the other would be a welcome addition to my kitchen (I would have some place to store that handy folding island I was reading about here earlier, for a start. ;) ). Alas. I'll just have to store this info away for the day when I can design my own kitchen. :)
I have the Summit, and for the price tag, it's a great fridge. (Couldn't stomach the extra $$ for the Liebherr, even though it does have an awesome handle). It works fine for two and I've heard of people adding a second fridge (with the door flipped to create a large, french door style assembly) as their family grows. Even though our version is not Energy Star, I've *heard* that it's the most energy efficient model out there.
I will be living with the u-line echelon series soon. It looks sufficient for a few days worth of food and some basic condiments. Good thing the Whole Foods is next door.
I love the first one -- it's beautiful and totally functional.
I don't think I'd be willing to sacrifice my freezer for more fridge space. I figure it forces me to edit my purchases accordingly, and to clean out and organize my fridge on a weekly basis to make space. I use my freezer for ice cubes, frozen vegetables, and leftovers. There's no way I'll go through an entire pot of soup or a lasagna by myself. I like that I can divide whatever I cook and freeze portions for when I don't feel like cooking.
No SMEG?
Also be very careful with something like a Northland. Those a re considered commercial units and a lot of companies won't work on them if you have a problem.
As a matter of fact the one thing I would make sure of before buying any appliance is that there is someone locally to you who will service it (even brands like Liebherr and LG have problems in that area).
Do I really need a freezer? Yes.
I hear a lot about the "ideal" lifestyle with a weekly shopping trip to pick up everything I need for all my breakfast, lunch and dinners that week, but I know I will never be organized or motivated enough to do so. For instance, my vegetable intake would go way down if I had to wash, chop, and prepare fresh vegetables all the time instead of having a bag of frozen veg to fall back on.
Also, buying in bulk and freezing is cheaper.
finally! thank you! i've been pleading for this info for months, feeling like i'm banging my head against a brick wall of silence. this helps. a lot.
as for the freezer, we live in an area of seasonal bounty, so a freezer is a must for those in-season fruits and veg, however i'm very likely to consider a separate unit that would go in the storage room.
again, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Had the LG in my old apartment for 4 years. Once I got used to the freezer drawers, I loved it! The best tiny apartment fridge I've ever had.
I'm loving the fact that I'll soon be using a "normal" fridge/freezer again, not the little thing that goes under the countertop. You always have to almost sit on the floor to be able to reach in and it's even more difficult to reach after stuff in the back row. I don't see how it can accomodate the needs of more than two people in a household, but I guess anything is possible if it's a necessity. And I should be grateful for having had a fridge with a small freezer compartment at all, but phew am I glad to have the tall one soon, with freezer in the lower compartment and fridge in the upper.
Carolynapplebee - How do you like the magic chef? I have been considering it for both size and budgetary reasons...
I have a narrowish older galley kitchen and my cabinets are about 22 inches deep.
Also, importantly to me - it is White, has a Smooth finish with an Enclosed back. It was hard to find reviews on the model at my local home depot - mcrw 1020 - is that the model you have? Would you please write of your experience with it in detail? Is it quiet and cold? Sturdy shelfs? I don't care about the can storage system, but oh well. I figure maybe condiments, yogurt, vitamins or water bottles might fit there...
Thank-you VERY much!
carolynapplebee - can you also tell me if you placed yours flush against the wall, or even just an inch from the wall in back/on the sides? The manuel I downloaded said it needs 5 inches of clearance on all sides - which would make it protrude 30/31 inches into my kitchen - something I want to avoid! Also, do you feel the door holders are sturdy?
Thanks again!
A warning about the Magic Chef; I bought one 20 months ago- loved the size, loved the price- and it just died yesterday. Less than 2 years old! Bought from home depot and when I called yesterday to get service info I was told "yeah, magic chef- that's not really a surprise." I won't ever buy another magic chef and I also will never buy another appliance from home depot- they were beyond unhelpful.
This is the website with the best data on my condo fridge:
http://www.conservrefrigerators.com/conserv.html
But i bought it at HODO a couple years ago on sale for $900. That LG for under $600 looked good until i realized its two feet shorter than my VF. The VF has a top shelf thats a bottle rack (my favorite feature) and the freezer isn't frost free. Less of a hassle than you'd think and the energy consumption is insanely low... so crazy. If i had the money i would have bought two for side by side in my house, but i found a subzero at the salvage yard, hard to beat the prices.
have the Liebherr and LOVE it. It is a bigger version of the one shown here and if you clean up and throw out the old stuff and keep it that way then a slim fridge is big enough. Ours also has 2 special crispers that really do keep veggies fresh much longer than our old fridge. Worth the extra money for the quality.
Thank-you for the Magic chef info - CarolynApplebee, you make it sound wonderful & IzzyIzzy you make it sound like a nightmare - I don't want it to die in a year and a half! Anyone else have experience with the magic chef???
Ugg, my frig died a year ago and my freezer is almost dead. I am on a big big budget! ANd am leery of used frigs (had one before that had roaches and once in the motor, you can't get them out, it was bombed and sprayed and then I just returned it!). Alos, don't want it to die on me when for a $100 I could have a new one. But don't want that new one to die either!
Thank-you every one for any info you provide(d).
I mean, for a $100 more for the new one vs. a used one.
Liebherr are great, but expensive. If you want this look, get a Blonberg: http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/BRFB1450.html
They are built to look exactly like Liebherr, but at almost half the price. We have one and love it. And it looks great.
Meant to say Blomberg ;-)
oh wow... i am all kinds of in love with that first one. (is it weird to lust after an appliance so much?)
....wait, 10-12 cubic feet is small? Are we talking external dimensions here?
Shoot. I've been awaiting this post with bated breath but alas, it won't help me.
I need something BETWEEN 12 cf and 22 cf. We live in a house with a small kitchen. I need something that is only counter depth (~28 inches) and no more than 32 inches wide. That tends to produce a 17-19 cf fridge, but boy are they hard to find. There are actually a lot more options for smaller apartment fridges--as shown here.
The U-line Echelon is a great product and I have one in my 45 SF kitchen. It is the only undercounter model that has a frost free freezer. While terribly expensive, its totally worth it!
Does anyone know anything about this fridge, it's a samsung.
http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/RB197ABRS.html
I'm in London right now, where tall, skinny fridges -- and compact under-counter refrigerators and freezers -- are the norm, and oh, so reasonably priced. And let's not even get into the dizzying array of washer/dryer combos. Curse my 120-volt outlets! If it weren't for them, I'd be willing to buy a whole kitchen's worth of appliances and ship them home. Even with freight costs, I'd still come out ahead.
Thanks for this post, though, because in the near future I'll be shopping for one of these refrigerators instead.
I have the Fisher & Paykel 17.6 cu. ft. While it is a little larger than the units listed in post it is smaller than a traditional fridge and is counter depth. I like that it has a flat front. Water in the door works great, also can fit party platters. Have had for little over a year with no problems.
http://www.fisherpaykel.com/product/refrigeration/refrigerators/index.cfm?productuid=497DB13D-0CFC-87F6-DC261F771891FE6C
I've had three (three!) compact fridges die in five years in my tiny rental kitchen. One was the Magic Chef 10 cu ft. When the old fridge dies my landlord always buys the least expensive thing on the market which isn't such a bad thing generally, but seems to be a risky strategy with these compact fridges. My bad experiences with the cheap brands suggests this is an item where a fancier maker may buy you significantly better quality. I do love the small size and energy efficiency of the compacts though.
I appreciate the captions underneath each photo--a definite improvement over having to toggle between photos and a list below. Thanks!
Not about fridges per se ( tho I have a 24" stainless steel Summit. It's nothing fancy but fine for the price. Think I paid $600). Mainly, I'm posting to warn anyone away from buying anything from AJ Madison, which I couldn't help notice is mentioned as the source for most of these refrigerators. When I did my kitchen reno two years ago, I ordered all my appliances from them... oven, fridge, dishwasher, vent. They were a total nightmare and screwed up every. single. order. BADLY. Won't go into the gory details but if you check out their Nextag reviews, you'll see what I'm talking about. The three stars they have are 5 star plants from company employees to balance the equal number of 1's. Big red flag.
http://www.nextag.com/AJMadison~187733zzzreviewsz1zmainz17-htm
I got my fridge from AJ Madison 2 years ago and I had no problem with them, but I only ordered one thing. The guys drove from Brooklyn to Boston in a UHaul, dropped it off and left, and I had to get the damn thing in the apt myself... another story. I actually got the Avanti Apartment sized fridge and it's worked great for me so far! (knock on wood..) When I bought it, it cost in total $300, it was the cheapest for the size, and I liked that it had a freezer because a lot of others I looked at didn't. I do have to make sure I shut the door tightly and I have the chill level on 5, the highest setting but that is the best temp. it seems. All in all it is a low-end fridge that works for me right now, no complaints! And I don't think it uses more energy that any other fridge, the electric bill seems normal to me.
we've got a liebherr under the counter fridge and freezer. And do we love em!! in our 2 person household we manage easyly with the fridge (only full at partys) and we placed the freezer in the bedroom (1 bedroom app). it's so quiet you don't know it's there and it saves space in the tiny kitchen (2mx2m).
the liebherr's might be a bit more expensive (though I havent seen such high prices here in europe) but they are very energy efficient an dthey cut the energy use in half compared to our old lg fridge and bosch freezer.
Anyone have an opinion of Whirlpool refrigerators? I've been looking online at several models and manufacturers and I've got my eye on a Whirlpool. I've read mixed reviews...
I have the LG and love it. We paid over $700 for it 2 years ago though, in "silver". It's less money because it's not stainless, but it still looks amazing! It has been great so far.
I don't think the price of the Liebherr is correct...it should be more like close to $3000. But if anyone could tell me where I can find it for $2,200 I would be most grateful as I'm on the hunt for one now... :)
Happyinny: That Samsung is one of the only fridges that meets my requirements (see upthread). I've looked at it in person (albeit in white, not SS). It's pretty nice, but there is only one adjustable shelf in the fridge (the middle one). There is a very similar model with French doors. The two models are otherwise identical, minus small changes in capacity due to door shape.
Honestly, we're probably going to go with Fisher & Paykel. This one: http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/E522B.html It has a spiffy, European look that just drew me towards it. It has no ice maker, freeing up more space in the freezer. (We couldn't hook up an ice maker anyway.) The freezer does have a spiffy, 2-inch tall drawer that will be perfect for balancing ice trays so they don't tip over. Also, the fridge shelves are abundantly adjustable and there's a bit more room in the door for condiments. (We love our condiments and have lots of 'em!)
I have a long narrow kitchen (everything on one side). Ultimately, it has a fair amount of square footage, but overhead cabinets, a tall refrig. and a stackable washer/dryer really make the space feel small and closed in--not good feng shui for cooking. To open the space up and make it feel more spacious, I am planning to rip out the overhead cabinets and put all the appliances under the counter. I am considering the Ariston or Summit 36-inch refrigerator drawers and a set of 24-inch freezer drawers. (summit/marvel/uline/GE/Jennair/Elecrolux etc.) Together, they will give me a little over 10 cubic ft. of combined fridge/freezer space, which is about what you get with one of these apartment freezers. Curious to know what others think?--especially since I might have to sell this kitchen someday! Assuming I can swing the price (yikes), do folks think this is workable from a functional perspective?
I'm curious to know if anyone has recently (last year or so) bought a 24" Summit/ConServ (Vestfrost). It's the right price & size, but I've heard that Summit's customer service is bad & that this can be a tricky fridge to get serviced. Any concerns or glowing reviews out there?
LG question!! Does the door need to open more than 90 degrees (straight out) for the drawers to open? (I.e., can one side be against the wall?) It's discontinued and I don't know where to see one in person before buying online! Please help!
The LG is such a great refrigerator. It is very reliable, we had it for almost four years now, with zero problems (so different than out previous fridge).
I recommend it in my blog