The Danby mini fridge provides ample storage and a reliable performance, making it one of our favorite small appliances.
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The Danby Mini Fridge Works Like a Charm in Any Space
Updated Sep. 30, 2024
If you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, consider a mini fridge. These small appliances are ideal for keeping things within arm’s reach in offices, dorms or bedrooms. They’re also perfect for homes that don’t have the space for a full-size garage refrigerator. The best mini fridges will keep your favorite drinks, snacks and mealtime essentials cold and cost just a fraction of a full-size refrigerator.
Our team tested nine different mini fridges with freezers in order to see which ones are worth your hard-earned money. We looked for consistent temperatures and humidity levels, capacity and smart storage solutions among other things. One model stood out for its nondescript profile, consistent fridge temps and ability to fit all of our test items: the Danby Mini Fridge . Here’s everything you need to know before adding this fridge to your cart.
What is the Danby Mini Fridge?
The Danby Mini Fridge is a mini fridge with a top door freezer and a total capacity of 3.1 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 62 inches long, and it’s Energy Star certified.
The main compartment of the fridge has interior lighting, one full-width removable glass shelf, a crisper drawer, a can storage system and adjustable door shelving. It also has a temperature dial ranging from 0 to 7. The freezer compartment has a door rack and one adjustable wire freezer shelf.
The Danby mini fridge with freezer measures 18.69 inches wide, 20.19 inches deep and 33.69 inches tall. It weighs 47.4 pounds and comes in a white or stainless steel finish.
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
Danby 3.1 cu. ft. 2-Door Compact Fridge
The Danby mini fridge with freezer fit all of our test items, including a gallon of milk, and had very consistent fridge temps.
Danby Mini Fridge Features
Two Finish Options
The Danby mini fridge with freezer is available in white or stainless steel. We chose the white model, which our testers described as a 90s throwback thanks to its white door, white trim and white body. The stainless steel model costs $10 more than the white option.
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 one removable glass shelf, a crisper drawer and integrated door storage. On the door is a CanStor beverage dispensing system that holds up to six cans. The freezer, which has a capacity of 0.87 cubit feet, has one full-width adjustable wire freezer shelf.
How We Tested It
Product testing manager Annamarie Higley ran the Danby mini fridge with freezer for 500 hours in the testing lab to assess how well it maintained the proper temperature and humidity levels. Higley set the thermostat to 4, which is the middle setting recommended by the manual.
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 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity levels should hover around 65%.
Over the course of the month, this refrigerator averaged 36 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Higley, the temperatures were very consistent and only went above the recommended fridge temperature (by a hair) one time. The freezer averaged 4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly higher than the recommended 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity levels averaged 67%. While the freezer and humidity averages weren’t far off from the recommended numbers, Higley points out that they were somewhat volatile. One day in particular showed a 17-degree difference between the morning and afternoon temperatures. Others had 10-degree differences and one day had a six-degree difference.
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. She checked to see how well each item fit inside this mini fridge with freezer. This is one of the few mini fridges she tested that was able to fit the gallon of milk along with the soda, eggs and ice cream. The pizza fit in the freezer, though it took some effort. “The pizza barely fits lying down. The door catches on it a bit but does close all the way when pressed firmly,” explains Higley.
What Higley doesn’t love about the Danby mini fridge is its CanStore system. Although it holds up to six cans, she found that it was just barely wide enough to fit them.
“They need to be inserted at the just-right angle to make their way to the bottom where the actual dispenser is. They also need to essentially be dropped into place, which I don’t love,” explains Higley. “It makes me feel like they’re going to explode.” Additionally, she points out that the whole stack of cans needs to be pushed upward in order to snake the can that’s being dispensed out of opening in the bottom of the rack. “It’s not super easy to use,” she concludes.
All in all, Higley recommends the Danby mini fridge with freezer. “This fridge is squat, lighter weight and discreet, with a solid warranty. Plus, it performs. It’s the perfect unit to tuck into the corner of a dorm or bedroom,” she raves. And while it’s not the cheapest mini fridge we tested, its warranty, which provides 18 months of parts and labor coverage with in-home service, makes it a good value.
Pros
- Consistent fridge temperatures
- Compact and lightweight
- Fit all of our test items
- Minimal assembly required
- Available in two finishes
- Generous warranty
Cons
- Somewhat volatile freezer temps and humidity levels
- CanStor system is finicky
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 Danby 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
How do I set the temperature on my Danby mini fridge?
The Danby mini fridge has a mechanical thermostat located inside the main compartment. The dial ranges from 0 to 7 with 7 being the coldest. According to Higley, 0 is technically off, meaning 1 would be the warmest setting.
How long do Danby mini fridges last?
While mini fridges don’t usually last as long as their full-size counterparts, the Danby brand itself claims that its mini fridges can last for 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance and care.
Why is my Danby mini fridge not getting cold?
If your Danby mini fridge isn’t getting cold, Danby recommends checking to see that it is plugged in and turned on. Additionally, ensure that you allowed the fridge to sit upright for at least six hours before plugging it in. If you have done all of the above and it still isn’t getting cold, Danby recommends contacting their support team for further assistance.
Danby Mini Fridge with Freezer vs. Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer
Our product testing team tested nine mini fridges with freezers. We found that the Danby mini fridge with freezer had very consistent fridge temperatures and was able to store all of our test items. And while its freezer temperature and humidity levels were somewhat volatile, they weren’t too far off the normal range.
We also tested the Whirlpool mini fridge with freezer, which boasts a more elevated look and a lower price tag than than the Danby mini fridge. That said, the Whirlpool’s freezer averaged 18 degrees Fahrenheit which is much warmer than you’d want for a freezer, according to Higley. Neither model includes any accessories like an ice cube tray, ice shovel or bottle opener.
Final Verdict
The Danby 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 Danby Mini Fridge
The Danby mini fridge with freezer retails for $289.99 but can often be found on sale at retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target.
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
Danby 3.1 cu. ft. 2-door Compact Fridge
A simple design and two finish options make this compact fridge the perfect addition to any space.
Originally Published: September 30, 2024
