Best Freezerless Refrigerator Of 2021
Whether you host large get-togethers regularly or you often find yourself short on fridge space, a freezerless refrigerator may be the perfect solution. There are dozens of freezerless refrigerator models on the market, but many of them might be too big or costly for your needs.
In this review, we discuss our top pick for the best freezerless refrigerator in a compact size, which one to avoid, and a few more of our favorites.
What are Freezerless Fridges?
As the name suggests, a freezerless refrigerator is a fridge without a freezer. For years, large freezerless fridges were only available for commercial kitchens or restaurants. Now, many homeowners are opting to replace their current fridge, buy a standalone freezer and a freezerless fridge.
Compact freezerless refrigerators have been a popular choice for decades, often known as a “dorm fridge,” but the reviews were often mixed. Today’s compact freezerless refrigerators are more efficient, regulate temperatures better and store a decent amount items.
How Do I Know if a Freezerless Refrigerator is the Right Choice for Me?
If you frequently run out of room in your current fridge, but don’t have space in your kitchen to buy a new full-size refrigerator, a freezerless refrigerator might be a solid choice for you. A compact freezerless refrigerator may also be best for you if:
Ready to take a look at some of our favorite picks, to give you an idea on which freezerless refrigerator is the best choice for you?
Rank | Fridge | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 |  | Available in 4 sizes and 6 colors, unlike other appliances this one boasts tempered glass shelves, reversible hinges & a scratch-resistant worktop... and for those who steal your beers, the door is lockable. | |
#2 |  | With no added extras and removable glass shelves, the Magic Chef provides space flexibility. We love the crisper drawer, reversible door hinge and adjustable thermostat to set your home beers to the temperature you like. | |
#3 |  | The see-through door allows you to show-off your beer collection under lock & key. The Whynter also provides an impressive interior LED light display and adjustable thermostat for temperature control. | |
#4 |  | The Phiestina froster fridge is designed to hold 100 cans. It accommodates all shaped and sized containers ranging from champagne bottles to soda cans. There's also space for the foods you like to compliment your beverage. | |
#5 |  | The nearly all fridge with a separate freezer compartment to quick-chill any drinks in an emergency. The Midea refrigerator is a basic design, but is still energy-saving and spacious. | |
#6 |  | Has the biggest capacity out of all our fridges, with a nice look and boast many features that top-end appliances contain. There are some downsides that need to be looked out for though. |
Danby Contemporary Classic Compact All Refrigerator:
Our Top Choice
Let’s start our review on the right foot and introduce our top pick for the best freezerless refrigerator. Not only is the Danby Contemporary Classic Compact All Refrigerator model an attractive appliance that would enhance any living space, but it’s available in a variety of colors and sizes.
If you’re looking for a second fridge for drinks or food to reheat, we recommend the 4.4 cu. ft. size. Interested in something smaller? The Danby fridge is also available in 1.7, 2.6, or 3.3 cu. ft. The color options include black, silver, stainless steel, white, and red.
The compact refrigerator has tempered glass shelves and ample space for cans and even larger bottles (depending on the size fridge you choose). A reversible door hinge means that you can open the door on the right or left, which is a great option if you’re limited on space.
A scratch-resistant worktop, ergonomic handle, a door lock, and LED interior lights are some of our favorite features.
 |  |  |
Pros
- Energy Star Compliant
- Automatic Defrost
- Easy-to-clean
- Runs quiet
- Reliable and affordable
Cons
- May not run cold enough
- Temperatures may fluctuate
- Water pools in the bottom during defrost cycle
Magic Chef All Refrigerator:
The Runner-Up
The Magic Chef All Refrigerator is a worthy contender for best compact freezerless refrigerator because it has a practical design or no extras. Like the Danby the Magic Chef fridge has removable glass shelves, and plenty of space for beverages. There’s even a beverage can dispenser to keep the fridge more organized and space efficient.
The fridge is a little smaller, measuring at 3.2 cu. ft. and doesn’t have the same color options, but the black finish looks sleek and timeless.
The features we love include the crisper drawer, the reversible door hinge, and easy-to-adjust thermostat. This fridge is a little more difficult to come across due to limited availability, so that’s one of the reasons why Danby remains our winner.
 |  |  |
Pros
- Holds consistent temperature
- Easy-to-clean
- Runs quietly
- Ample space for beverages and food items
- Frost-free interior
Cons
- May take a while to find “perfect” temperature
- Condensation on the interior
- Fridge may need leveling
Whynter Stainless Steel Refrigerator:
The Ultimate Gift
Looking for the perfect gift for newlyweds or someone who has recently graduated or moved into a new home? The Whynter Beverage Refrigerator is our pick for the ultimate gift and filling it with beverages would make this even more of a winner. This fridge might be on the wish list of many who want a sharp-looking appliance just for beverages.
If you want to show off your craft beer selection or want a beverage fridge that is functional and looks nice, the Whynter holds 120 cans. We love the LED lighting, the adjustable thermostat, and the glass doors with stainless steel trim. You never have to worry about your drinks getting in the wrong hands with the fridge lock.
 |  |  |
Pros
- Optimal temperature range for craft beer
- Interior light turns off and on
- Reversible door hinge
- Looks professional and expensive
- Easy-to-clean
Cons
- Temperature range may not be ideal for food
- Some condensation or freezing
- Not a good multi-purpose fridge
Phiestina 15 Inch Built-in Beer Froster Refrigerator:
Best Beverage Fridge for Storing Food
Why pick between a beverage fridge or one that’s best for storing food? The Phiestina Refrigerator is one of our favorite compact beverage refrigerators on the market right now, but it’s also an excellent choice for food storage.
The Phiestina fridge was designed with beer aficionados in mind and can hold over 100 cans, but the fridge accommodates all types and sizes of beverages from champagne and wine to club soda and cola. There’s also room for food, like dips and cheese plates, so you can snack while you drink, and you don’t need another fridge.
The stainless-steel fridge measures W 14.9 x H 33.9 x D 22.4 inches and fits well in a breakroom, home bar, or kitchen where space is limited.
 |  |  |
Pros
- Space-saving design
- Door lock
- Optimal temperature for beverages and food
- Digital thermostat
- Quieter than other fridge
Cons
- Shorter screws for door handle may be necessary
- Not cold enough for some food or drink
- Temperature fluctuation
Midea Compact Refrigerator and Freezer:
Best Choice For Ice Cubes
We might be breaking the rules by reviewing a mini-fridge with a freezer, but the Midea 3.1 cu. ft. refrigerator is nearly all refrigerator with a small freezer space. This refrigerator is one of our favorites because even though it doesn’t technically fall into the “freezerless” category, everyone needs ice from time to time, especially if you have a dedicated fridge for beverages, right?
The Midea fridge comes with glass shelving and some space in both the fridge & freezer door. The design is basic, but it’s still energy-efficient and space-saving.
Pros
- Space for an ice tray
- Ample room for all types of beverage and food containers
- Easy to use and clean
- Cools quickly
- Reversible door
Cons
- Smaller than other compact fridges
- Inconsistent temperature
- May take a while to find “perfect” temp
NewAir Freestanding Beverage Cooler:
The Fridge to Avoid
At first glance, this fridge is impressive. It looks nice, like something you might find at a bar and it promises to hold 126 cans. It comes with a door lock, adjustable thermostat, and is energy-efficient (all things we like in a fridge).
Here’s why we don’t recommend this fridge:
- It’s loud
- Many customers received broken fridges
- The temperature fluctuates wildly, difficult to control
- Strange odor
- The interior ices over
For the price, we expect more from a nice-looking beverage fridge. Considering all the flaws, we think you’re better off choosing something more affordable and dependable.
Our Top Freezerless Refrigerator Choice
You might not think that you need a freezerless fridge until you actually need or wish you had one on hand. If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable all-purpose freezerless fridge, we love the Danby Contemporary Classic All Refrigerator.
Not only does it have a timeless design, but it’s energy-efficient, has plenty of space for cans, bottles, and various sizes of food containers. Don’t worry about defrosting your fridge or doing much maintenance with the Danby, it’s relatively maintenance free.
4 More Reasons To Buy Freezerless Refrigerator
There’s no doubt that most households have freezers and for good reason. They are handy and they allow your food to keep for a lot longer than possible. So we are not going to pretend that they are not ideal for most households and try and convince anyone they don’t need one, however, there are advantages for not having one integrated into your refrigerator.
So here are 4 possible reasons for choosing a freezerless refrigerator:
Encourage Healthier Eating
If serious about eating healthy, then the word “fresh” will undoubtedly pop up in conversation… and that means no freezer.
We all too often do what’s convenient and storing frozen food which can be left there for months on end certainly does make life a whole lot easier.
However, like anything in life, sacrifices have to be made if we want what’s good for us. Buy a dedicated fridge for your fresh foods and you will be sure to consume it in time to benefit from all the goodies and nutrients.
Energy Savers
Freezerless refrigerators require less energy than those with a freezer. Plenty of energy is needed to turn water into ice and maintain it at that state. So if you can do without a freezer, then you will undoubtedly see a reduction in your utility bills.
Quicker Cleaning Time
Although bigger fridges have a bigger holding capacity, they do have a less efficient storing capacity with certain areas of space going to waste.
That being said, they still require a lot more cleaning than the smaller fridges, mainly because they hold more foods and there’s a lot more material to clean… and that’s even before having to consider the timely process of having to scrape clean your freezer every so often.
Dedicated Beverage Cooler
Let’s not forget the dedicated drinks cooler.
Having a fridge cooler specifically for your drinks is not a bad idea. Liquids require more energy to cool than foods (especially if you have a lot of beverages). So, it’s important that you disturb enough cooling for your foods and enough so that your drinks are super refreshing for those hot summers.