Large refrigerators have long been the only way to keep drinks cold and keep food at a good temperature. But for several years there have also been mini refrigerators. The mini refrigerator has many practical advantages such as the fact that it can be built-in and easily transportable. Some models of mini fridges are even designed to accompany you when you are camping. In addition, they are much more economical than large refrigerators. Due to their practicality in certain situations, an increasing number of people are purchasing them.
In this article dedicated to the mini fridge, we will present several essential criteria to make an informed choice. We will also answer several questions that a good number of Internet users ask themselves.
When is a mini fridge useful?
A device of this type is indispensable if, for various reasons (for example lack of space or sporadic use) it is not possible to take advantage of the classic models.
It is appreciated not only for resorts and hotels, but is also a basic equipment for those who travel by motorhome, are a lover of camping or for those who in the office or in other rooms of the house want to keep drinks, perishable foods cool or even store medicines.
What characteristics should it have?
To be truly useful, in addition to having compact dimensions, the best Mini Fridge in India must also have a capacity suitable for specific conservation needs.
It is also essential to understand what use it will be intended for, for example if you need a simple camping model or one from home. In the first case the appliance must be light and easy to handle, in the second it may be necessary to find it built-in.
And, again, it must be considered whether the presence inside a mini freezer is necessary.
Other evaluations are related to the design and silence, to the possibility of choosing the opening side of the door and to the number of shelves available.
What is its ideal capacity?
Even if the dimensions of a mini fridge are compact, it is not certain that models with different capacities cannot be chosen. The average is typically 15 liters and there are obviously larger or smaller models.
The space affects what and how much we can insert, depending on the floors and rooms.
The presence of a freezer compartment takes away space from the rest of the appliance: this aspect must therefore be taken into account when purchasing.
What can be kept in it?
Generally it is estimated that its ability to generate cold has a gradient with respect to the external ambient temperature of about 20 ° C.
Therefore highly perishable foods must be kept for a very short time, in pain of a deterioration in quality and organoleptic deterioration beyond the safety threshold.
It is therefore certainly good for storing drinks, packaged foods that are not particularly delicate that withstand a temperature between 8 and 10 ° C and medicines that need to be kept in cool places.
How is the cold produced?
Before choosing, it is good to understand the difference between the classic refrigeration systems with gas and the so-called “thermoelectric” refrigeration systems that use Peltier cells.
The former are usually more powerful but at the same time have to sacrifice part of their space for the refrigeration engine and its compressor. The latter, on the other hand, can exploit all the available space but, when compared with the former, they are a little less powerful.
On this basis, you can choose the device that best suits your specific needs.
What are the characteristics to consider?
In the first place we put the power, expressed in Watts, which gives an idea of the cooling potential of the refrigerator in terms of cooling.
The cooling level is calculated in degrees centigrade with respect to the ambient temperature. Usually a good device can make the temperature inside it drop by about 20 ° compared to the surrounding temperature.
The internal capacity is expressed in liters and, to ensure a good level of usability, it must be at least 10 liters.
Some models offer the adjustable temperature / power function, to be taken into consideration if you want to preserve foods with different organoleptic characteristics.
The sound level is expressed in decibels. The higher it is, the more the appliance can annoy you with the classic hum of refrigerators.
Almost all mini fridges have feet that increase stability. However, they are not always adjustable in height.
If the mini fridge is intended to be inserted into a piece of furniture, it is good to take a look at the description as not all models are easily built-in.
The models with reversible doors are equipped with special hinges that can be mounted on the right or on the left. In this way it will be possible to decide the opening direction of the door.
While not essential, an interior light that turns on automatically when the refrigerator is opened can come in handy if the room is dimly lit or when you are in the dark.
Finally, it is good to always check that they have the energy efficiency mark: in addition to saving on the electricity bill, you will help protect the environment.
How to defrost it?
In addition to the usual internal cleaning, it is important to defrost every two months: just remove all the contents, bring the temperature to zero and remove the plug from the socket.
This small but very important trick will make it last much longer and keep it in optimal condition, without having to change it ahead of time.
Also remember to never overfill the mini fridge, as the door seals could swell and fail.
Conclusion
When it comes to using the refrigerator, you must follow certain rules every day. For optimal performance, it is advisable to defrost the freezer when the layer of frost formed within it reaches a thickness of 3 to 5 millimeters.