So, you got a mini fridge! That’s great. You want to know how long it takes for it to get cold so you can put your drinks and snacks inside. How long does a new mini fridge take to cool? Most new mini fridges take about 2 to 24 hours to get truly cold inside. The exact time depends on many things. We will look at what affects this time and how to make your fridge ready for use.
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Finding the Cooling Time
You just plugged in your mini fridge. Now you are waiting. How long does it take to get cold? There is no one simple answer. The time can change a lot. It depends on the type of fridge, where you put it, and other things.
Typical Mini Fridge Cooling Time
Most mini fridges use a system like your big kitchen fridge. This is a compressor system.
These often take more time to cool down the first time.
Why?
Because the fridge parts and the inside air are warm from the room.
The fridge has to work hard to remove all that heat.
- For a compressor mini fridge, the first time you plug it in, it usually takes from 4 to 24 hours to reach a good cold temperature.
- Smaller compressor fridges might cool faster, maybe in 4 to 6 hours.
- Larger ones or chest-style freezers that are mini versions might take longer, like 12 to 24 hours.
There is another type of mini fridge. This one uses something called thermoelectric cooling.
These fridges are often smaller.
They are common in places like hotel rooms or for keeping a few drinks cool in a car.
Thermoelectric mini fridge cooling time is often faster for the first cool down.
They might get cool enough for drinks in just 1 to 3 hours.
But they usually cannot get as cold as compressor fridges.
And they are often more affected by how warm the room is.
So, the mini fridge initial cooldown time is not fixed.
It is different for every fridge and every place.
Thinking it will be cold in just an hour might leave you with warm drinks.
Giving it plenty of time, like overnight for a compressor model, is best.
Things That Change How Fast Your Fridge Gets Cold
Many things can speed up or slow down how fast your mini fridge gets cold. Thinking about these factors affecting mini fridge cooling can help you know what to expect.
Warmth Around the Fridge
The temperature of the room matters a lot.
If the room is very warm, the fridge has to work much harder.
It has to push more heat out.
This takes more time and uses more power.
A mini fridge in a cool room (like 70°F or 21°C) will get cold faster.
A mini fridge in a hot room (like 85°F or 29°C or hotter) will take much longer.
Sometimes, in a very hot place, a mini fridge might not get as cold as you want it to.
What You Put Inside
It might seem like a good idea to fill the fridge right after you plug it in.
But this is not the best way to speed up mini fridge cooling.
If you put warm drinks and food inside, the fridge has to cool those down too.
This adds a lot more work for the fridge.
It will take much longer to get to the right cold temperature.
It is best to let the fridge get cold first when it is empty.
Then put in items that are already cool if you can.
If not, add items a few at a time.
Opening the Door
Every time you open the door, cold air goes out.
Warm air from the room goes in.
The fridge then has to cool down the new warm air.
This makes the fridge work harder.
It slows down the cooling process.
Try not to open the door often when it is first cooling down.
Let it run with the door closed until it feels cold inside.
Where You Place the Fridge
Putting the fridge in the right spot is important.
Fridges need space around them.
They push heat out of vents, usually on the back or sides.
If these vents are blocked by a wall or other things, the heat cannot escape well.
The fridge gets warmer inside.
This makes it take longer to cool.
Make sure there is space behind the fridge and on the sides.
Follow the instructions that came with your fridge about how much space is needed.
The Fridge Itself
Not all mini fridges are the same.
The size matters. A bigger fridge has more space to cool.
The type of cooling system matters (compressor vs. thermoelectric).
The age of the fridge matters. An older fridge might not work as well.
A brand-new compressor mini fridge first cool down needs that initial push.
An older fridge might have parts that are not as strong.
Let’s look at how different factors can change the cooling time.
| Factor | Effect on Cooling Time |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Hot room = Longer time; Cool room = Shorter time |
| Putting Items In | Adding warm items early = Much longer time |
| Door Openings | Opening door often = Longer time |
| Placement | Poor air flow around fridge = Longer time |
| Fridge Type | Thermoelectric = Often faster first cool, but less cold |
| Fridge Size | Bigger = Longer time to cool empty; Smaller = Faster |
| Fridge Age/Shape | Older or damaged = Might take longer or not cool well |
How to Set Up Your Mini Fridge the First Time
Setting up your new mini fridge right is key to getting it cold fast and having it work well for a long time. Here is what to do for mini fridge first time setup.
Step 1: Find the Right Spot
Pick a good place for your fridge.
It should be on a flat, strong surface.
Make sure there is an electrical outlet close by.
Keep it away from heat sources like heaters, direct sunlight, or ovens.
Remember the air flow! Leave space around the sides and back. Check the manual for how much space.
Step 2: Let It Stand Upright
This is very important for compressor fridges.
When a fridge is moved, especially laid on its side, oils and liquids in the cooling system can move to the wrong places.
Plugging it in right away can hurt the compressor.
After you put the fridge in its final spot, let it stand upright and still.
How long? The manual should say, but often 4 to 6 hours is enough.
Some people even wait 24 hours to be extra safe.
This lets everything settle back into place.
Thermoelectric fridges usually do not need this wait time.
Step 3: Clean It
New things can have dust or smells from the factory.
Wipe the inside of the fridge with a damp cloth.
You can use a little baking soda mixed with water to remove any smells.
Dry the inside well.
Step 4: Plug It In
Now you can plug the fridge into the wall outlet.
Make sure the outlet works and is not controlled by a switch you might turn off.
It is best to plug a fridge right into the wall, not into a power strip or extension cord.
Especially not a cheap, thin extension cord. Fridges need a lot of power when they start.
Step 5: Set the Temperature
Find the temperature control.
This is often a dial inside the fridge.
Sometimes it is a digital setting on the outside.
The numbers on the dial might go from 1 (warmest) to 5 or 7 (coldest).
Set the temperature. We will talk more about the best setting soon.
For the first cool down, you might set it lower (to a colder number) to help it get cold faster.
But once it is cold, you should change it to a normal setting.
Step 6: Let It Cool Empty
Close the door. Do not put anything inside yet.
Let the fridge run for the time needed to get cold.
This is the mini fridge initial cooldown phase we talked about earlier.
Check the temperature after several hours.
Does it feel cold? Is it getting close to the right temperature?
You can use a fridge thermometer inside to check the exact temperature.
Once it is cold enough, you can start putting things inside.
Add things that are already cold first.
Add warmer items slowly over time.
Getting the Temperature Just Right
Setting the temperature correctly is important for keeping your food and drinks safe and cold. It also affects how hard the fridge works. This is about mini fridge temperature setting.
Finding the Control
Most mini fridges have a dial inside.
Look near the top or side wall.
The dial might have numbers or marks.
Higher numbers usually mean colder temperatures.
Some newer or fancier models have a digital control panel.
What Temperature Is Best?
For keeping food safe, the inside of the fridge should be between 35°F and 40°F (about 1.7°C to 4.4°C).
This range slows down how fast bacteria grow.
If it is warmer than 40°F, food can spoil faster.
If it is much colder than 35°F, things might freeze when you don’t want them to.
On a dial with numbers 1 to 5, setting it to 3 or 4 is often a good start.
You might need to change it based on how full the fridge is and how warm the room is.
Use a fridge thermometer to check the actual temperature inside.
Put the thermometer in a glass of water in the middle of the fridge. Check it after 12-24 hours.
Then you can turn the dial up or down to get the temperature right.
Setting It Colder for First Cool Down
For the very first time you plug it in, you can set the dial to the coldest setting (like 5 or 7).
This can help it reach a low temperature faster during the mini fridge initial cooldown.
But remember to change it back to a normal setting (like 3 or 4) once it is cold.
Leaving it on the coldest setting all the time can freeze your food. It can also make the fridge work too hard. This uses more power and can make the fridge wear out faster.
How to Make Your Mini Fridge Get Cold Faster
Want to speed up mini fridge cooling? Here are some simple tips.
- Let it Stand First: If it is a compressor fridge, let it stand upright for several hours before plugging it in. This helps the parts work right from the start.
- Plug it in Empty: The fridge will get cold much faster if there is nothing warm inside it. Let it cool down for at least 4-6 hours (or more, up to 24) before adding items.
- Close the Door: Do not keep opening the door to check if it is cold. Every time you open it, you let cold air out and warm air in. Trust that it is working. Check after several hours have passed.
- Set Temperature Low (at first): You can set the temperature control to a colder number for the first few hours. This tells the fridge to work harder to reach a low temperature fast. But remember to turn it back to a normal setting later.
- Ensure Good Air Flow: Check that the back and sides of the fridge are not blocked. It needs space to push heat away.
- Keep it Out of the Heat: Put the fridge in the coolest spot you can. Away from sunny windows, heaters, or other hot things.
- Add Pre-Chilled Items: If you can, put drinks and food that are already cold from another fridge into the mini fridge. It is easier for the mini fridge to keep cold things cold than to make warm things cold.
- Don’t Pack it Too Full (at first): Putting too many items in at once, especially if they are warm, will slow down cooling a lot. If you must add warm items, add only a few at a time over several hours.
Following these steps helps the fridge do its job faster and better.
What If It’s Not Getting Cold?
You have waited for hours, maybe even a full day. But your mini fridge still does not feel cold inside. Why is my mini fridge not getting cold? There could be a few reasons.
- Is it Plugged In? This sounds simple, but check the plug. Is it fully in the wall? Is the outlet working? Is it on a switch that might be off?
- Power Strip or Extension Cord? Mini fridges need a good amount of power. Plugging into a weak extension cord or a cheap power strip might not give it enough power to run the compressor. Plug it straight into a wall outlet if you can.
- Is it Getting Power? Can you hear the fridge running? Compressor fridges make a humming sound. Thermoelectric ones might have a quiet fan noise. If you hear nothing, it is not getting power or something is wrong.
- Door Seal Check: The rubber seal around the door keeps cold air in and warm air out. Look closely at the seal. Is it clean? Is it torn or broken? Does the door close tightly all the way around? If the seal is bad, cold air leaks out.
- Temperature Setting: Is the temperature dial set correctly? Is it on a cold setting (higher number)? Or is it set too warm (lower number)?
- Ventilation: Is the back or sides of the fridge blocked? Make sure there is space for air to move around the parts that get rid of heat.
- Too Full? Did you put too many warm things in it? This can make it seem like it is not getting cold, but it is just working very hard and slowly. Take some items out and give it more time.
- Is It Frosted Up? If you have used it for a while and it stopped getting cold, look for thick ice or frost inside, especially on the back wall. Too much frost stops the fridge from cooling well. You need to unplug it and let it defrost.
- Room Temperature: Is the room very, very hot? Some mini fridges struggle to get cold in extreme heat.
- It Might Be Broken: If you checked all these things and it is still not getting cold after 24 hours (for a compressor) or a few hours (for thermoelectric), something might be wrong with the fridge itself. If it is new, contact the store or maker. If it is old, it might be time for a new one.
Don’t give up right away. Check the simple things first. Most times, there is an easy fix.
Peering into Mini Fridge Types
It helps to know the two main types of mini fridges and how they work. This is related to understanding mini fridge cooling time and performance.
Compressor Fridges
This is the most common type.
They work just like your main kitchen fridge.
They use a special liquid or gas called a refrigerant.
A part called a compressor pumps this refrigerant through coils.
Inside the fridge, the refrigerant takes heat from the air.
Outside the fridge, the heat is let out through coils on the back or sides.
* Pros: They get very cold, can have freezer parts, are not affected as much by warm rooms, and are energy efficient for how cold they get.
* Cons: They are heavier, make noise (the compressor turning on and off), and you must let them sit upright after moving them. Compressor mini fridge first cool down takes longer.
Thermoelectric Fridges
These work differently.
They use special electronic parts called Peltier modules.
When electric power goes through these parts, one side gets cold and the other side gets hot.
The cold side is inside the fridge. The hot side is outside.
Fans are often used to move air over the hot side to help it cool down.
* Pros: They are lighter, have no moving parts like a compressor (quieter, though they often have fans), and do not need to sit after moving. Thermoelectric mini fridge cooling time is often faster for the first cool down.
* Cons: They do not get as cold as compressor fridges (often only 30-40°F below the room temperature), are strongly affected by room temperature, and use more electricity for the amount of cooling they do. They usually do not have freezers.
Knowing which type you have helps you know what to expect for cooling time and performance.
Keeping Your Mini Fridge Running Well
Once your mini fridge is set up and cold, a little care helps it keep working right.
- Keep it Clean: Wipe spills right away. Clean the inside regularly with mild soap and water or baking soda and water.
- Check the Seal: Look at the door seal now and then. Clean it gently. Make sure it is not cracked or loose.
- Defrost When Needed: If your fridge builds up ice on the inside back wall (this often happens in fridges without automatic defrost), you need to defrost it. When the ice is thicker than about a quarter inch, unplug the fridge, open the door, and let the ice melt. This can take a few hours. Put towels down to catch water. Do not use sharp things to scrape ice. Dry the inside before plugging it back in. Too much ice makes the fridge work too hard and not cool well.
- Check Ventilation: Make sure the space around the fridge stays clear. Don’t push it right against the wall or pile things around it.
- Avoid Overloading: Don’t pack the fridge so full that air cannot move around inside. Cold air needs to flow to cool everything.
- Right Temperature: Keep the temperature setting in the safe range (35-40°F or 1.7-4.4°C) using a thermometer to check.
Simple care helps your mini fridge stay cold and work well.
When Can I Put My Stuff In?
The simple answer is: wait until the fridge is cold.
For a compressor fridge, this usually means waiting at least 4-6 hours, but ideally longer, like 12-24 hours, especially for the first time.
You want the inside air and the walls of the fridge to be cold before you add items.
If you put items in too soon, the fridge has to spend energy cooling them down instead of just cooling the air.
For a thermoelectric fridge, you might be able to add items sooner, perhaps after 1-3 hours, as they cool faster.
But again, wait until it feels cold inside.
How can you tell if it is cold enough?
Open the door briefly. Does it feel cold inside like a normal fridge?
The best way is to use a fridge thermometer.
Place a thermometer inside (maybe in a cup of water) after the fridge has been running for several hours.
When the thermometer shows a temperature between 35°F and 40°F (1.7°C and 4.4°C), it is ready.
When you do add items:
* Put things that are already cold in first.
* If you have warm items, add them a few at a time over several hours.
* Don’t block the vents inside the fridge if there are any.
* Don’t pack items in so tightly that air cannot move around them.
Patiently waiting during the mini fridge cooling time the first time you use it helps it get to the right temperature faster in the long run and protects the fridge.
Summing It Up
Getting a mini fridge ready takes a little time and care.
The mini fridge cooling time is usually 4 to 24 hours for a compressor model, especially the first time it is used (mini fridge initial cooldown).
Thermoelectric models might cool faster, in 1 to 3 hours, but do not get as cold.
Factors affecting mini fridge cooling include the room temperature, how full it is, how often you open the door, and where it is placed.
To speed up mini fridge cooling, let it stand upright first (for compressor types), plug it in empty, keep the door closed, make sure it has good air flow, and set the mini fridge temperature setting correctly.
If you are asking why is my mini fridge not getting cold, check the power, the door seal, the ventilation, the temperature setting, and if it needs defrosting.
By following the steps for mini fridge first time setup and giving it enough time, your new fridge will be ready to keep your drinks and snacks perfectly cold.
Common Questions About Mini Fridge Cooling
h5 How long does it take for a brand new mini fridge to get cold the very first time?
It usually takes a new compressor mini fridge 4 to 24 hours to get cold enough for food and drinks. Thermoelectric ones might take 1 to 3 hours.
h5 Can I put food in my mini fridge right after I plug it in?
It is best to wait until the fridge has reached a cold temperature first. This can take several hours. Putting warm food in too early makes the fridge work harder and takes much longer to get cold.
h5 My mini fridge was moved on its side. How long should I wait before plugging it in?
For compressor fridges, let it stand upright for at least 4 to 6 hours. Many people wait 24 hours to be sure. This lets the oils and liquids in the cooling system settle. Plugging it in too soon can damage the compressor.
h5 What is the best temperature setting for a mini fridge?
The safest temperature for keeping food is between 35°F and 40°F (1.7°C to 4.4°C). If your fridge has a dial with numbers, start in the middle (like 3 or 4 out of 5 or 7) and use a thermometer to check.
h5 Why is the back wall of my mini fridge freezing up with ice?
This often happens in manual defrost fridges. It means moisture from food or the air is freezing there. If the ice gets thick (more than 1/4 inch), it stops the fridge from cooling well. You need to unplug it and let it defrost. Make sure containers are sealed to reduce moisture.
h5 How can I make my mini fridge get cold faster?
Plug it in empty, keep the door closed, make sure it has space around it for air flow, and put it in a cooler spot if possible. You can set the temperature colder for the first few hours, but turn it back to a normal setting later.
h5 Is it normal for a new mini fridge to feel warm on the outside?
Yes, especially on the sides or back. This is where the fridge pushes the heat from inside to the outside air. It is a sign that the fridge is working.
h5 My mini fridge is making a strange noise. Is that normal?
Compressor fridges make humming, clicking, or gurgling sounds. These are often normal. Clicking is often the thermostat turning the compressor on or off. Humming is the compressor running. Gurgling can be the refrigerant moving. If the noise is very loud, new, or scary sounding, check the manual or contact support. Thermoelectric fridges often just have a quiet fan noise.
h5 How long does it take a thermoelectric mini fridge to get cold?
Thermoelectric fridges often cool down faster initially, sometimes in 1 to 3 hours, but they don’t get as cold as compressor types and are more affected by room temperature.