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The Insignia Mini Fridge with Freezer Simply Can’t be Beat
Updated on Nov. 25, 2024
When shopping for a new appliance, it can be hard to discern which model is actually the best of the best. That’s why our experts on the product testing team do what they do. This time, they set out to find the best mini fridge with freezer and there was one clear winner: the Insignia Mini Fridge with Freezer.
The Insignia mini fridge with freezer impressed our testers with its consistent performance, storage capabilities, sleek, modern design and affordability. And while it’s not a full-size refrigerator that can hold a week’s worth of groceries, it’s a great backup to have on hand for that extra gallon of milk or ice cream.
It’s also the perfect addition to any dorm room, office or bedroom as it’s small and quiet enough to keep your favorite snacks and drinks close by without causing a disturbance. Here’s everything you need to know before adding this fridge to your cart.
What is the Insignia Mini Fridge with Top Freezer?
The Insignia Mini Fridge is a mini fridge with a top door freezer and a total capacity of 3.0 cubic feet. Both doors are reversible and have concealed handles that extend the width of the top of the fridge door and the bottom of the freezer door. It has one power cord that measures 64.5 inches long, and it’s Energy Star certified.
The main compartment of the fridge has interior lighting, two shelves, a crisper drawer, a can storage system and door shelving. It also has a temperature dial ranging from 0 to 7 with 7 being the coldest setting. The freezer compartment has a door rack and comes with an ice cube tray and ice scraper.
The Insignia mini fridge with top freezer measures 19 and 1/8 inches wide, 20 and 1/2 inches deep and 33 and 7/16 inches tall. It weighs 54.9 pounds and comes in a stainless steel finish.
ANDREA LANDOWSKI/FAMILY HANDYMAN
we tried it
Insignia Mini Fridge with Top Freezer
Insignia Mini Fridge Features
Stainless Steel Finish
The Insignia mini fridge with freezer has a black body with black trim and stainless steel doors. According to our testers, it has subtle stripes that add some interesting texture when looking at the fridge from afar and is seemingly fingerprint-resistant.
Mechanical Thermostat
This fridge has an adjustable mechanical thermostat that ranges from 0 to 7, with 0 being the warmest setting and 7 being the coldest. The freezer has no controls.
Internal Storage
The refrigerator has two shelves, a crisper drawer, and integrated door storage. It also has built-in can storage for six cans. The freezer, which has a capacity of 0.9 cubit feet, has one door shelf.
How We Tested It
In the testing lab, product testing manager Annamarie Higley found that some adjustments were needed before she could get things moving. “This one’s legs were really wonky and off-kilter upon arrival, so I had to mess with the levels for a while,” she explains. But once she got the adjustable front feet just right, the fridge was ready for testing.
Over the course of four weeks, Higley ran the Insignia mini fridge with freezer for 500 hours to assess how well it maintained the proper temperature and humidity levels. Per the manual’s instructions, Higley set the thermostat to the middle setting for the duration of our tests.
In order to determine the average temperature of this appliance, Higley placed three thermometers inside—one in the freezer, one in the crisper drawer and one in the main compartment of the fridge.
She recorded the temperature in the morning and again late afternoon, once a week for the entirety of August. She also placed a humidity gauge in the main compartment and checked it along with the temperature. Higley notes that the recommended temperature range for food safety is between 34-40 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels should hover around 65%.
When testing was complete, Higley found that this refrigerator averaged 41 degrees Fahrenheit on the middle thermometer setting, which is one degree higher than the recommended temperature. The freezer averaged 6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly higher than the recommended 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, the humidity level averaged 79% which, as Higley points out, is quite high.
In addition to carefully monitoring temperature and humidity levels, Higley performed a fit test. She gathered an assortment of common refrigerator and freezer items, including a gallon of milk, a 2-liter bottle of soda, a carton of eggs, a gallon of ice cream and a standard-size frozen pizza and checked to see how well each item fit inside this mini fridge with freezer.
Higley was impressed when she discovered that all of the items fit inside the fridge and freezer, although she did have to remove the top shelf in the fridge in order to fit the gallon of milk.
She also appreciated that her 2-liter bottle of soda fit in the door. “The only thing is that it extends into a section for other food storage. For example, if you were attempting to store butter there, the top of the soda bottle would jut into the bottom of the butter box so it wasn’t resting stably,” explains Higley.
Overall, Higley thought so highly of the Insignia mini fridge with freezer that she dubbed it the best overall model. It fits a variety of common refrigerator and freezer items, has smart can storage and features an ergonomic and attractively modern design. It’s also reasonably priced and a breeze to set up and move as needed.
Pros
- Consistent fridge temperatures
- Smart can storage
- Fit all of our test items
- Minimal assembly required
- Ergonomic handles
- Handsome
- Affordable
Cons
- High humidity levels
- Only one color option
Why You Should Trust Us
At Family Handyman, we know how important it is to find quality products that make your life easier and won’t leave you with a bad case of buyer’s remorse. This is especially true for appliances, which can be a significant investment. Our editors and testers have years of personal experience with some of the most reliable refrigerator brands that won’t require frequent repairs, from the RCA Mini Fridge to the Gladiator refrigerator. And we only recommend a product if we believe it’ll enhance your own space as it did ours.
Our product testing experts on the product testing team spent hours in our testing lab closely examining nine mini fridges with freezers. At least 18 of those hours were actively spent with the Insignia mini fridge with freezer, though we ran it for a total of 500 hours. We performed 13 tests on each appliance and collected roughly 500 data points overall.
FAQ
Is the Insignia a good brand?
Insignia is an exclusive Best Buy brand designed for performance and affordability. This particular mini fridge has over 3,640 five-star reviews.
Is 1 or 7 colder on an Insignia mini fridge?
7 is the coldest setting on the Insignia mini fridge.
What is the life expectancy of an Insignia refrigerator?
This Insignia mini fridge is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty that lasts one year from the date of purchase. With proper use, care and maintenance you can expect your Insignia refrigerator to last several years.
Insignia Mini Fridge with Top Freezer vs. Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer
Our product testing team tested nine mini fridges with freezers. We found that the Insignia mini fridge with freezer had very consistent fridge temperatures and was able to store all of our test items. Though Higley found that this mini fridge ran slightly warm, she points out that that issue could be addressed by adjusting the temperature setting accordingly. Our testers also felt that the Insignia mini fridge had a sleek and elevated look.
We also tested the similarly priced Whirlpool mini fridge with freezer. While it also boasted very consistent fridge temps and an attractive stainless steel finish, its freezer averaged 18 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Higley, this is much warmer than you’d want for a freezer. Additionally, the Whirlpool mini fridge did not fit all of our test items.
While both models are a great value, the Insignia mini fridge with freezer is our top pick.
Final Verdict
The Insignia Mini Fridge with Freezer is a great option for those looking for a reliable refrigerator for their home office, bedroom, dorm room or any other small space. It maintains consistent fridge temperatures and humidity levels, has plenty of storage space and looks great in any space.
Where to Buy the Insignia Mini Fridge
The Insignia mini fridge with freezer retails for $219.99 and can be purchased from Best Buy.
ANDREA LANDOWSKI/FAMILY HANDYMAN
we tried it
Insignia Mini Fridge with Top Freezer
Fingerprint resistant stainless steel, ergonomic door handles and consistent fridge temps make the Insignia mini fridge with freezer a smart buy.
