Mini Fridge Cooler

There are really two different types of mini fridges. First, there are the compact refrigerators that look like regular refrigerators only smaller - like this Sanyo SR3770 compact refrigerator. These are often used in dorm rooms or in offices to keep drinks and food closer than might otherwise be available

These also work well in workshops and garages. If you spend a lot of time working your garage and running to the kitchen for a drink several times a day is inconvenient, store a mini fridge in the garage and you don't have to track so far for a cold one. Plus, if you're working on something that causes your hands to be dirty, you don't have to stop and clean them off before heading into the main part of the house just to get a drink.

The second type of mini fridge cooler is more portable and operates off of either a 12V outlet (like the cigarette lighter in your car) or can be plugged into a regular household outlet with an AC adapter cord. This Koolatron P95 12V Cooler is one such example.

This second type also comes in two different styles. Some resemble little refrigerators and have doors that open on the front and some resemble traditional coolers that open from the top.

Because there are so many different styles and options, it's helpful to compare mini fridge coolers side by side to get an idea of which one might be best for you. Reading consumer reviews of these products is also useful.


To compare mini fridge coolers for the car, follow this link:
Coolers Warmers for the Car

To compare mini refrigerators for home and office, follow this link:
Compare Mini Fridges

A 12V mini cooler has several benefits over a traditional cooler:

• Cooler and Warmer Functionality - A cooler/warmer has a temperature range from about 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit to as much as 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Crossing the range from cold to hot means the cooler actually doubles as a warmer when you need to transport warm foods. This is incredibly useful if you often take foods to buffet and parties or if you pick up take-out meals for dinner at home.


• Highly Portable - Cooler/warmers come in a variety of sizes, just as traditional coolers do and they are just as portable. Some have handles at the ends to make transport even easier. You can find different styles to fit in the front seat of your car, the back, in between seats or on the floor.


• Road Trips - Road trips can be a lot of fun but almost always require that a supply of snacks and cold drinks be available. Sometimes your "road trip" might really just be a long commute you make to work each day. A 12v cooler in the car is convenient and means you'll always have something available to eat or drink if you get stuck in traffic.


• Less Mess - Frankly, this is the best part. For years, if you were traveling long distances and wanted to have some drinks in the car, you needed to keep a cooler with ice in the back. To get a drink meant climbing over something to reach the cooler, dealing with the wet cans that were soaking in half-melted ice and stopping periodically for more ice to keep the cooler going. A 12V cooler for the car means no more stops for ice and no wet, dripping cans to handle while you're driving.

Mini refrigerators can come with adjustable shelves, locking doors, small freezer compartments and can dispensers. Decide which options are most important to you and keep those in mind as you shop.

Mini fridge coolers for the car also come with a number of options like sliding trays, cup holders on the exterior, side pockets for additional storage, and strap handles to help carry the cooler around or move it from car to camping spot. This Koolatron D25 12V Cooler is loaded with features like side pockets, easy grip handles, and a mesh interior pocket for easy access to smaller snacks.

In order to choose the best mini fridge cooler, outline your needs first and then look for the mini fridge that best meets those needs:

Do you want one that plugs into the wall or one that can also plug into your car?

What capacity do you need for foods and drinks?

What are the maximum options for height, width and depth in the space you have for a mini fridge?

Do you need shelves or trays to help organize a mixture of drinks and foods?

How important is it that the mini fridge cooler can be easily moved around?

Knowing your requirements in advance will let you quickly eliminate those mini fridges that don't meet your needs and focus on the ones that do. After that, read consumer reviews or check out the products in person and choose one that will be most efficient and from which you will get the most use.