Insignia 4.4 Cu Ft Mini Fridge Refrigerator Review

Cold and spacious, but shelves not adjustable. Best Buy Affiliate Product Link: https://clnk.in/yQQT As an Best Buy Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #commissionsearned How to Swap Door Hinge Direction: https://youtu.be/qN3krkqUkZE This fridge measures 18.5” W, 32.5” H, and 21.5” D. It has a glossy finish with protective film on it out-of-the-box and all sides of it are magnetic. On the bottom, the feet at the front are threaded and adjustable in height about ¾” to level the unit on uneven floors. The back of the fridge is flat and could be pushed flush with a wall, though it’s recommended to leave 3-4 inches or clearance at the back and sides for ventilation. The power cord is 5 ft long and the unit weighs a little under 50 lbs. The hinge on it is pre-installed at the top right corner and the groove along the top is the door pull, as it has no protruding handle, and it opens towards the hinged side. The hinge position is reversible and can be installed on the left-hand side, if desired. This appliance is energy star compliant and has an estimated annual energy consumption cost of $32, using 228 kWh over the course of 1 year. Inside there are three shelves with a total of 4.4 cubic foot capacity and an instruction manual. The top two, full-length, fixed-height, tempered glass shelves measure about 13” deep, with heights of 6” and 7.5”, and both have a slight gap at the back, while the 7” tall third shelf consists of a 7” glass plate, with a small gap between the two sections of the shelf. At the very back of the third shelf is a condensation drainage groove that allows any water that collects along the back panel to drain from the interior of the appliance to a drip tray underneath. The lowest tier of the fridge is also 7” tall but only 6” deep as the back section is occupied by the condenser and compressor, and you’ll need to keep the front 4.5” clear so the door can close. The two top shelves rest within grooved channels with a stop at the front corners to prevent the shelves from slipping out, however, the bottom half-shelf has no such stops, so just be aware that it slides out easily. There are three clear, acrylic basket trays on the door’s interior, all with depths of 4.25” that accommodate items as tall as 6.5”, 13.5”, and 6.5” from top to bottom. The shelves and baskets are in fixed positions, and their heights and placement cannot be adjusted, however, all of them are removable for cleaning. On the right-hand side is the analog temperature setting dial with settings for Off, and ranging from cold to coldest with the recommended setting in the middle, though note you can turn past the coldest setting on the dial but not all the way around back to Off. In front of the thermostat is a pressure switch that triggers the light inside the fridge when the door is opened. Although the fridge has no freezer, at the coldest setting, I found that items placed near the back can freeze, as demonstrated by this bowl of water. You may also see ice buildup on the back cooling panel and need to defrost the unit occasionally. When set to the “recommended” setting, I found that after 24 hours my beverages were cooled to just around 40°F +/- 0.5°F. This is the highest temperature recommended for food safety, so make sure to use this setting or colder when storing raw and perishable fresh food like meat, dairy, or eggs. When plugged in, the refrigerator compressor hums quietly (~40dB) while it is chilling. Once it has reached the temperature you’ve set, the compressor shuts off, and the unit is completely silent. The area around the fridge tends to get a bit warm as the fridge puts out some heat while running. This mini fridge works great for beverages in 6-12 oz aluminum cans as you can fit plenty of them on each shelf or on the doors. However, if you tend to buy 12 oz glass bottles the only spot where these fit standing up is the middle basket on the door, when all the shelves and trays are installed. The same is true for wine bottles, quart, and half gallon jugs of juice or milk. You can, of course, lay taller items on their sides to fit on the shelves; just be on careful of items leaking or rolling. Your other option would be to remove one or more shelves to place taller items in the fridge. Overall, as a mini fridge, it does a great job keeping food and drinks cold at food safe temperatures. I also like its clean appearance and reversible door hinge, and the interior is easy to clean by wiping up any spills or debris with a soft, damp cloth. However, the lack of adjustable shelves means taller items may be require you to remove a shelf or two resulting in some wasted space. As an Best Buy Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases Best Buy Affiliate Product Link: https://clnk.in/yQQT