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Breast-feeding mothers have to be aware that life isn’t always compatible with feeding times. There are times that you’ll need to store your milk in a freezer or fridge. At school, work, or late at night, a mini-fridge is a great idea for breast milk.
Be careful not to purchase small heater/cooler mini-fridges because these units (Like the Uber Appliance Mini Fridge, AstroAI Mini Fridge, or the Cooluli Mini Fridge) do not reach a safe breast milk temperature (40 degrees Fahrenheit). Though these mini-fridges are really tiny and easy to transport, they are not safe for storing breast milk. I know that A lot of reviews list them as their top products for breast milk storage, but they do not keep a constant temperature and fail to meet a good temperature for breast milk.
BLACK+DECKER BCRK25B Compact Refrigerator
Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator
Midea WHS-65LB1
Below is a simple guide for human milk storage.
| Type of Breast Milk | Countertop 77°F (25°C) or colder (room temperature) | Refrigerator 40°F (4°C) | Freezer 0°F (-18°C) or colder |
| Freshly Expressed or Pumped | Up to 4 Hours | Up to 4 Days | Within 6 months is best Up to 12 months is acceptable |
| Thawed, Previously Frozen | 1–2 Hours | Up to 1 Day (24 hours) | EVER refreeze human milk after it has been thawed |
| Leftover from a Feeding (baby did not finish the bottle) | Use within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding | Use within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding | Use within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding |
Learn more about the proper procedures for storing breast milk here.
A mini-fridge is a great way to store your breast milk away from all other items in your main fridge. It’s also great to place a mini-fridge on a separate floor so that you don’t have to go downstairs to get milk in the middle of the night.
A mini-fridge can be placed in an office, bedroom, or nursery, so it’s always convenient to get milk when it’s needed. Having a separate mini fridge for breast milk is a great way to ensure that the fridge and its contents are clean.
It isn’t expensive to purchase a mini fridge for breast milk. In fact, for the price, it only makes sense.
What Makes A Good Mini Fridge For Breast Milk
There are several features that you should consider when purchasing a mini fridge for breast milk storage.
Compact
The best type of fridge for storing breast milk is a unit that’s small and easy to move. You’re looking for a mini-fridge that won’t take up a lot of room because most nurseries are small and space is at a premium.
Our top 3 choices are all compact units, with the largest at about 3.3 cubic feet.
Portable
Most mothers want a mini-fridge that’s portable so they can take it with them on the go. We tested several mini-fridges that feature a portable usability but found they were too unreliable to store breast milk.
Related: Best Portable Ice Maker for Your Home
Most of these fridges wouldn’t regulate the temperature properly so it would fluctuate up and down far too much or wouldn’t get to 40 degrees Fahrenheit to be a safe temperature for breast milk storage.
We never want to compromise portability for quality. Sometimes it’s better to use some ice and cooler if you’re heading out into the unknown. We suggest select one of the reliable fridges selected in our top 3 list.
Reliable
When looking for a mini-fridge for storing breast milk, you don’t want to choose a product that isn’t going to be reliable. There are so many different fridges or coolers available to you; it’s hard to choose one that you know is going to do the job well.
I made sure that each unit on the list, were mini-fridges that you could trust to keep your breast milk safe and cool.
Quiet
Never wake a sleeping baby! Am I right?
A fridge that’s too noisy is going to interrupt your baby’s sleep or yours. You need a mini-fridge that’s both powerful and quiet – which is a hard combination to find. We searched the internet, read hundreds of reviews and watched several videos, to find units that were just that.
We choose only the units that passed our quiet test, to ensure you and baby can sleep peacefully through the night.
Affordable
The last category for finding that perfect mini-fridge for storing breast milk is a unit that’s not going to break the bank. I searched for a reliable unit, that was quiet and energy efficient but was affordable to purchase.
My list is the top 3 units that checked off all of the boxes.
We have created a list of mini-fridges that meet all of the criteria listed above. We also added links with the best price available online.
Depending on where you’re using the mini fridge, how much milk you’ll be storing, and how much room you have available, one of the mini fridges below will work well. We also highlighted our top pick for the best mini fridge for breast milk.
Top 3 Mini Fridges for Breast Milk
Below we’re going to break down the best mini fridges for breastfeeding, the features that should interest you, and why you should consider purchasing them.
BLACK+DECKER BCRK25B Compact Refrigerator
The Black+Decker compact refrigerator is a great choice to store breast milk at home, work, or at your office. It’s a 2.5 Cubic fridge that’s compact and stylish, and reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit at the lowest setting. It’s important to store breast milk at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
What I really liked about this fridge is that it’s ultra-quiet. It’s perfect for putting in your bedroom or a baby’s nursery, so you don’t have to wander downstairs during the night. I really do wish it came with an inside light for getting up in the night, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
This fridge comes in a sleek black finish, with a single door on the front that can be reversed.
I found that the fridge was slightly bulky for some situations. If you are looking for a fridge to move around a lot, then this probably isn’t a good choice. I found a place for it and just left it there. Overall, the fridge worked well and did exactly what it’s designed to do. I found it really quiet as well. I never really noticed it running, so that’s a good thing.
Note: Black+Decker also offers a 1.7 cubic mini-fridge which is even more compact. This may be a good choice for you if you’re looking for something a little smaller. You can click here to head over to Amazon to get more information and prices.
Related: Best Mini Fridge for Your Dorm Room
This mini-fridge comes with adjustable temperature control, a can dispenser, removable glass shelves, a reversible door, and quiet operation. This is why I decided that it’s the best choice for breast milk storage.
PROS
- Compact
- Constant temperature
- Nice Design
- Quiet
CONS
- No inside light
This fridge weighs 45 pounds, so it’s not a terrible weight for moving around. The unit dimensions are 8.5 x 17.52 x 26.61 inches, so it’s small enough to fit in most places in your home.
Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator
This mini-fridge is the largest one in my recommendations, but I wanted to include an affordable fridge with a freezer option. It make sense that freezing breast milk is a convenient way of ensuring an abundant supply.
Freezing fresh pumped breast milk can last up to 6 months, so having supply in your freezer can help when you’re in a pinch.
The Midea 3.1 cubic foot compact fridge is a great choice for you because it completely meets your needs with a fridge and a small freezer. The fridge keeps your breast milk cool between 32F to 50F, and the freezer temperatures range from -11.2F to 5F.
This fridge weighs a little more than the one previously, at about 52 pounds. It is probably a good idea to find a place for the Midea mini-fridge and keep it there.
PROS
- Freezer
- 3.1 Cubit Feet
- Reliable unit
CONS
- It weighs more than the other units mentioned in this article
I really like that this mini-fridge is Energy Star Rated, compact, and works quietly. It’s a perfect mini-fridge for breast milk, and fits nicely in an office, bedroom or dorm.
Midea WHS-65LB1
This 1.6 Cubic Foot mini-fridge is perfect for those looking for a solution that’s small and compact. It only weighs 34 pounds, so it’s easy to move around from place to place.
This fridge is a reliable unit, that will keep your breast milk consistently cold at 32′ to 35.6’ Fahrenheit. It’s small enough to fit in most places at 17.7″ x 18.6″ x 19.4″.
The main reason I love this fridge is that it’s small and compact. Most people looking for a mini-fridge to store their breast milk at work or the office don’t want anything bulky or large.
Most mothers want a fridge that’s small, compact, but at the same time reliable. This is why the Medea WHS-65LB1 is a great choice – it checks all the right boxes.
PROS
- Compact
- Reliable
- Energy efficient
- Easy to clean
CONS
- Very small
This fridge also comes with adjustable doors; it’s energy-efficient, very quiet to operate, fits nicely in a nursery, and is backed up with a full one-year warranty.
Conclusion
A constant supply of breast milk can be a worry for any mother. You can eliminate that worry by having a reliable, clean, and convenient source to store your breast milk at home or at work.
I have done the research and recommend one of the three mini-fridges listed above. Don’t be fooled by cheaper or more portable options on the market; make sure that you are getting the very best for yourself and your baby.
Use the comment section below to let us know your experience with one of these mini-fridges or another that you decided to choose. Do you have a great mini-fridge for storing breast milk? Let us know in the comment section, and we will add it to our list.
