For some of us, having extra fridge is necessary as you need extra space to store produce, or perhaps a convenience to have cooled beverages and snacks at all times. No matter the reason is, having a garage refrigerator can certainly make your life easier, as long as you know what to look for and the issues associated with having it in your home.
Why? Because the main concern is temperature.
Let’s start from the basic; a garage refrigerator is the kind of appliance that’s a bit powerful than your regular fridge, that is designed to strongly designed extreme temperature and tough outdoor conditions, apart from serving as a storage for produce, groceries, drinks, you name it.
And as mentioned before, the main concern for placing this type of fridge is the temperature; it won’t be a problem is there’s not much of difference in temperature range between inside and outside of your home, it’ll be an issue if the difference is too big, which can be either too hot for summer, or too cold during winter.
If the fridge gets too hot, the compressor will overwork itself and eventually break down while the fridge that gets’ too cold will have the thermostat ‘confused’, thinking that it doesn’t have to work; hence it stops to cool that your frozen products might thaw. Or perhaps the compressor gets frozen and resulting in other problems.
If this is the case, the solution is to properly insulate the environment where you’ll be placing the fridge, so it won’t suffer from extreme temperatures and work as it should for all-year round. But rest assured, garage refrigerator is more powerful than your regular fridge that as long as you can keep the extreme temp from hitting the garage fridge, you’ll be fine – as the same thing can’t be said for the regular fridge though.
You know the benefits of having an extra fridge (and a heavy duty one, I might add), keep an eye for any downside that may happen and/or you need to consider for having an extra fridge.
There’s always a possibility of increased electric bill (which, if you really need the extra fridge that’ll certainly inevitable and can be reduced a bit by choosing energy-saving models), as well as you may need to make certain adjustment for placing a new fridge which may include clearing up the space and drawing the power source for the appliance.
Now we got some reality-checking out of the way, let’s have a look at the top selection of garage refrigerators that you can browse through to see which model works for your home.
A Review Of 5 Best Garage Refrigerator of All Time
1. Frigidaire 20.4 Cubic Foot Refrigerator
Frigidaire 20 cubic feet is one of the top choices that you absolutely have to consider as the features are what you need for a garage refrigerator (no need to add or do any modification for the fridge), plus it comes with a built-in heater that operates automatically for extremely cold temperatures.
The top freezer is frost-free for convenience and easy care, with decent space for storage at 5 cubic feet with two long storage spaces for drinks/narrow food items, large crisper drawers at the bottom, upper meat storage and four shelves, adjustable leg for easy placement, with optional ice maker if you need it.
And yes, Frigidaire is energy star compliant, with an estimated yearly cost of $50 per year, and comes with a limited one-year warranty.
Check it out here !
2. Danby Compact Refrigerator DAR044A5BSLDD
If you’re looking for a compact size fridge, Danby Compact Refrigerator can be a good option for you to have in your home. The compact size fo Danby (at 4 cubic feet capacity) works for most home, especially if you plan to store snacks and beverages, instead of frozen, daily items as this come with no freezer compartment at the top.
The interior of the fridge comes with three adjustable shelves, bottle and can storage, as well as a crisper drawer for fruits, venetable and other produce. The compact size of the fridge piques our interest as it can be used to store drinks, used in dormitories, as well for office pantry. Keep in mind to place the fridge at four inches for efficient temperature regulation (you might need to make space adjustment for it) a number of users noted that the fridge needs extra attention when it comes to handling extreme temperatures.
Comes with an automatic defrost setting, compiles with Energy Star (approximately $30 per year) and 18-month warranty for parts.
3. Daewoo FR-044RCNM 4.4 cubic ft Compact Refrigerator
A cute fridge with a classic color you might say, but we say it’s heavy duty stuff that works for garage use. The compact, 36 inches tall Daewoo FR-044RCNM with 4.4 cubic feet capacity (the smaller version is at 2 cubic feet) still holds as one of the garage refrigerator to purchase, even after this model has been launched for years (yep, years. That’s the sign of durability?)
Don’t let the high price deter you, as Daewoo FR compact fridge works well although consumes less power, and comes with enough space and compartments to store essential items (with a number of users noted that it holds more than what you’d expect, and still keep the items cold) with detachable shelves that you can adjust accordingly.
Comes with table top function, LED lighting, and easy control panel, and standard manufacturer warranty.
Overall, Daewoo FR fridge is a solid choice. Choose a mint color finish to add some retro flair in your garage while you’re at it.
4. Igloo RFR329-Red Garage Fridge Tool Box
Simply love, love Igloo Tool Box Refrigerator. Not just because of the eye-catching red color on the outside, the inside of the fridge boasts ample storage placement that we can be certain that it works well for anyone looking for a storage for their drinks and other small-sized foods.
Comes with a crisper box at the top, two adjustable shelves with the door holds a place for tall and medium-sized bottle storage, and two areas for can storage (one part hols up to 5-6 cans). And yes the fridge also comes with four caster wheels that you can move around for convenience (an idea, a handy appliance if you regularly host part or cookouts at your home), don’t worry the wheels can be locked down as well.
Igloo Tool Box Refrigerator is durable and helps to keep the items cold even in extreme temperatures and the unit comes with an automatic system for near-instant cool.
The downside of the fridge is it doesn’t come with a freezer and interior light which won’t be a problem if you’re using it solely to store snacks and drinks instead of produce (a minor convenience, really. Compared with the rice and value this machine is having).
And yes, the model looks like a toolbox but there’re no drawers – merely plastic strips at the front to look like drawer handles. Is it for appearance purposes to blend with intended placement in the garage (and protection from the kids)? Maybe. Just as a heads-up for you as a courtesy.
Comes with one-year limited manufacturer warranty.
5. Frigidaire Freezerless Refrigerator-Right for hot garage
Electrolux surely surprises us again, with another Frigidaire that we review is the heavy-duty, durable freezerless fridge that can stand extreme temp, no problem. This 18 cubic feet beauty is definitely something you want to consider if you’re looking to place bottled items and snacks in their own section that doesn’t need freezing – freeing up the freezer part means more storage space for you to use.
In the main area, the fridge also comes with two adjustable shelves, a mini storage for small items (butter, spreads, deli meats) in the middle, and a crisper drawer while the door pretty much comes with standard storage for tall to small-sized bottles, and a small compartment box for small items, as well as bright interior LED lighting.
Other tech included are controls with a touch of a button, automatic temperature control, and alerts if the door is left accidentally open or when the temperature rises.
We agree, the price can be a put off for most of us but compared with the features and convenience this fridge even without the freezer part (they even have a separate matching upright freezer if you need it) has that we honestly think that this beauty is worth every penny, as it made to last.