As you might have already guessed, the holidays are bound to look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the festivities. Bring on the merriment with good food, cheery company, and quality entertainment. We think compact refrigeration is a surefire way to do bring all these elements together.
You can keep spirits high by keeping your spirits in a wine cooler or beverage center. But don’t worry: Your meats, cheeses, and seasonal favorites don’t get to miss out on the fun. A mini fridge will ensure your ingredients stay fresh for as long as possible—long enough for you to prep your three-course dinners.
Our experts at Spencer’s TV & Appliance whipped up a guide to help you see what these small appliances can do for you. Without further ado, let the good times flow!
Mini Refrigerators
A key benefit of investing in a mini fridge is the choice of having extra storage space for bottled drinks, fresh meats, and leftovers. From our catalog, you can select from freestanding, built-in, or undercounter refrigerators to suit your kitchen design and whims.
House flippers and industry experts alike concur that built-in and undercounter models are best for exuding a luxurious appearance, especially given the modern trend of seeking flush-inset kitchen appliances. That said, if you are a consumer that appreciates convenience over appearance, freestanding fridges can be easily relocated from one area to another—even outdoors, if you’ve got a 120-volt outlet.
Speaking of, how much energy does a mini fridge use? In part, that depends on its capacity. According to Consumer Reports, a 1.7- to 4.4- cubic-feet mini fridge can consume anywhere between 233 to 310 kilowatt-hours, costing upward of $47 per year.
However, investing in an energy-efficient mini fridge will dwindle those numbers down, with Consumer Reports estimating the annual energy cost to be about $27 for a 4.4-cubic-feet appliance.
Circling back to appearance, if you prefer the usefulness of a mini-fridge glass door, KitchenAid and Whirlpool have got you covered—while keeping their contents within view. But if you’re not looking to disrupt the flow of your kitchen, many models come in the ever-popular stainless-steel finish.
The Café 5.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built in Dual Drawer Refrigerator (CDE06RP2NS1, CDE06RP3ND1, and CDE06RP4NW2) additionally offers matte black and white exteriors with brushed steel and bronze hardware, respectively. Doing away with a door altogether, this chic refrigerator slides open with two divider-organized drawers to maximize flexibility and storage capacity.
In terms of stocking your mini fridge, we think most items get the green light—except, we caution against produce (since these are best suited to crisper drawers) and bulkier items that are harder to configure, like milk gallons and pizza boxes. We’d leave those items to your full-sized fridge.
Wine Coolers
Sure, you can stock your wine in the fridge in preparation for charcuterie night, but does your prosciutto share an ideal temperature with your Cabernet? If you have a taste for the finer things, then you know the answer is “no.”
Warmth and coolness intensify different characteristics in a wine. If it is stored in an insulated cabinet, upon serving, the harsh aroma and taste of alcohol are accentuated. Alternatively, if you keep your bottle in a very cold container, your wine will taste tarter and sourer.
While you might have heard of this appliance, we think it prudent to ask the question, anyway: What is a wine cooler? To put it simply, wine preservation can be summed up as specially engineered craftsmanship to defeat the enemies of wine: temperature, humidity, light, and vibration.
Often seen as a symbol of luxury, wine coolers are designed to generate a consistent temperature between 50 and 59 degrees in order to store and age your wine—to, in the end, highlight their true qualities and full flavors.
With that said, when it comes to wine coolers, one name comes to mind. Sub-Zero’s line of glass-door vino storage will not only turn your kitchen into wine country but a stylish one at that.
The Sub-Zero 23.88” Stainless Steel Undercounter Wine Storage (UW-24/S/PH-RH and UW-24/O-LH) can be integrated below your counters for easy access, or you can opt for a freestanding model (UW-24FS/S/TH-RH) that you can swiftly transport from your kitchen to your home theater. Most impressively, this undercounter wine cooler can hold up to 46 bottles of your favorite reds, whites, and rosés.
If your kitchen space can afford it (and if your sommelier sensibilities compel you), you can even spring for a full-sized wine cooler that rivals the size of your fridge! Sub-Zero’s integrated wine cooler cabinets can proudly display your collection with interior LED lighting and be customized to blend into your kitchen paneling.
Beverage Centers
For the best of both worlds, put your trust in a beverage center. But make no mistake: This appliance isn’t just another mini fridge. Whereas mini fridges maintain one low temperature, beverage centers have different temperature-controlled zones to provide optimal temperatures for all beverages, including craft beer, artisanal sodas, and yes, wine.
Seen as a compromise for those who are wary of splurging on a wine cooler, a beverage center stores more than just your fermented grape juice—it can even store food, gifting you the ability to store your liquor, maraschino cherries, olives, and mint leaves all in one place for cocktail nights.
Suited for kitchens, home theaters, garages, media rooms, and your outdoor kitchen, a beverage center can keep your favorite drinks within an arm’s reach for whenever the mood strikes. In other words, the possibilities are virtually endless.
Where there’s compact refrigeration, there’s a U-Line appliance in tow. For the best beverage centers to buy, we turn to this industry titan of refrigeration.
Boasting luxe features like convection cooling, quiet operation, 19 adjustable interior organizers, designated wine racks, removable bins, and a volume to hold up to 14 wine bottles or 111 soda cans, the U-Line 24” Stainless Frame Beverage Center (UHBV524-SG01A, UHBV524-IG01A, and UHBV524-IS01A) will keep your wines adequately chilled and your soda pops refreshingly quenching—thanks to customizable temperatures you can set to as low as 33 degrees and as high as 70 degrees.
Unwrap the possibilities this holiday season by checking out our Refrigeration catalog! If you’ve got questions about any of our name-brand products, consult our friendly staff of experts at Spencer’s TV & Appliance. Call or visit us today!