Other Refrigerators

This is an excellent question. Both are basically smaller versions of a larger refrigerator and are built to store a wide variety of foods and drinks, but they are different.

Compact refrigerators, or mini fridges, are a common dorm room staple (but can be used anywhere!), enabling those who don’t have the luxury of their own kitchen or who need extra fridge space to keep food and drinks cold. Typically, temperatures are kept at an average of 40°F to keep a variety of food, vegetables and drinks cool.

Under-counter fridges, on the other hand, are designed with front ventilation and are handy to have as a built-in solution. These typically have larger capacities than a mini fridge—some models even have built-in ice makers in their bottom freezer drawers!

If you’re only seeking extra space for your drinks, then you’re looking at a choice between a beverage center or wine cooler. Both are very similar in that they have glass doors, racks, shelves, and dedicated cooling zones for different types of drinks.

Beverage centers, or beverage coolers, have versatile space for bottles and cans of various sizes. They also come in configurations such as freestanding, under-counter and full-size models. Most beverage centers are designed with precise temperature settings, interior lighting, touch controls, and door locks for your convenience.

If you’re more of a wine aficionado, a wine cooler is ideal for you. Most wine fridges have horizontal storage for different sizes of bottles, and some even come with UV-protected glass to keep your vintages and labels safe from harmful rays. Further ensure great taste by looking out for ball-bearing glide racks, anti-vibration rubber motor mounts, or beech wood racks. Check out our own Undercounter Series !

While the answer will be different for everyone, kegerators or "beer-cooler kegerators" are beneficial for those who want to save on costs per glass and have their preferred beer on tap—without having to leave the house. Plus, if you want to keep more than one type of beer, or other types of beverages (like wine, coffee or kombucha), you can install a dual-tap kegerator.

When setting the optimum temperature on your other refrigeration appliance, be sure to keep the following in mind:

• For the basics like sodas, juice and dairy drinks, set your temperatures in the low 30°s for the optimum cool, and look out for a single-zone model.
• Beer is another story. For light beer with a lower alcohol content, set your temps in the 35-42°F range; beer with higher alcohol content should be stored between 55-60°F.
• Wines can be a little more temperamental—and there’s nothing like ruining a good vintage by storing it incorrectly. For sparkling wines, set temperature levels between 55-60°F. Reds need to be kept in the 60-68°F range, while whites should be between 45-55°F.