Updated on March 13, 2023
The quick answer is that it all relies on the temperature capacity of your small fridge and the products you want to keep in it. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the United States) advises maintaining the temperature of a micro fridge below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) while storing raw meat, poultry, and shellfish.
There are a few exceptions to the general rule that everything goes in a tiny fridge. It’s critical to know what kind of small fridge you want and why you want it before making a purchase. Not all of them are made for everything as you will see below. In order to classify the many micro fridges, I divided them into four distinct categories. Because I’m writing about them for a blog, I’m going to call them by their given names.
They say “different strokes” and I say various micro fridges for different uses. You can’t keep everything and everything. Mini fridges may not have the same temperatures in the range, storage and cooling technology.
1. Raw Meat, Poultry and Seafood
If you’re serving raw meat, poultry, or fish, you have to use extreme caution in the preparation process. When it comes to delicate foods, the FDA advises that you keep your refrigerator at or above 40°F (4°C). If you don’t, you might be exposed to harmful microorganisms. As a result, I cannot suggest a micro fridge since, despite the fact that they can maintain temperatures as low as 40°F, their cooling technique and compact size make them very susceptible to high ambient temperatures.
Micro-fridges are not recommended for storing delicate foods.
2. Fruit and vegetables
Your fridge is the perfect place to keep ripe fruits. They’ll last longer that way. It’s not clear what the minimal temperature need is for vegetables; nonetheless, some are susceptible to extremely cold fridges (below 4°C).
You may securely keep your fruits and vegetables in any tiny fridge.
3. Chocolate
Put chocolate in the fridge and it may lose some of its flavour. “It should only be placed in the fridge if the temperature inside the house hits 28°C (82°F),” explains chocolate expert Luke Owen Smith. I don’t mind if the texture or flavor of my chocolate changes while stored in the summer.
For your favorite snack, you may choose any of the following refrigerators. However, bear in mind that it may alter the flavor or texture of the product.
4. Beverages
Isn’t it better to drink something cold? Unless you’re keeping large bottles of wine in your fridge, all of the ones on this list are suitable for storing your favorite beverages. Most micro fridges are too small to hold large bottles.
However, it’s important to bear in mind that most of the tiny fridges on our list don’t have enough room to hold large bottles.
5. Last Night’s Dinner
It’s best to keep cooked food in the fridge for at least two hours, or one hour, depending on the temperature of your home. Keep your tiny fridge cool by avoiding storing hot items in it. Because of this, you may see an increase in the proliferation of bacteria in the environment. Bacteria grow at temperatures between 40°F and 145°F (5°C and 63°C), which is why the FDA advises keeping a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. The mini fridge isn’t suitable for storing last night’s food because of its small size and poor resilience to higher temperatures. Cooked food may be safely stored in any of the other small fridges.
It’s not a good idea to keep cooked food in a mini fridge. When the temperature rises over 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), they fail to thrive.
6. Eggs
You should refrigerate your eggs below 45°F (7°C) if you live in the United States to prevent Salmonella or food illness. This is not necessary in the majority of European nations. This is because washing and disinfecting eggs is not permitted in the majority of EU countries. That manner, the egg’s cuticles, which serve as a kind of protection, remain intact.
For residents of the United States and any other nation where eggs are cleaned and disinfected before being sold! To keep your eggs cool, just place them in any mini-fridge of your choosing.
7. Cosmetic Products
Refrigeration is required for certain cosmetic items, which may be kept between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (7 and 10 degrees Celsius). It all depends on what you’re using, so be sure to follow the directions on the packaging. It’s up to you to pick whatever temperature works best for you, as 45°F and 50°F aren’t that significant.
It’s possible to keep your favorite cosmetics fresh in any of the tiny fridges on our list. Because of its small size, the micro fridge is the ideal solution.
8. Breast Milk
What about the nutrients included in human milk? Once again, the FDA comes to the rescue! Here are their recommendations for storing breast milk. Refrigerating breast milk requires a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Except for the micro fridge, any little fridge will do. The health of a newborn cannot be geo pardized by a little fridge that may not be able to withstand temperatures as high as the micro refrigerator. They work well and can reach temperatures as low as 32°F (0°C), but if your home is too warm, they won’t get cold enough. Because of this, I can’t suggest this sort of small fridge for storing human milk, but all of the other fridges are OK.
It’s not a good idea to store breast milk in a mini fridge. The rest of them are fine.
9. Insulin
In order for insulin to be functional, it must be kept in a refrigerator at a temperature of 2–8°C (36–46°F).” It should be kept at a temperature of 2–30°C (36–86°F) in a pen or vial. In order to ensure the greatest possible health and well-being, the finest insulin should always be purchased. As a result, all small fridges save the micro fridge come highly recommended by me.
Cannot be kept in the mini refrigerator.
