Last Updated on May 30, 2022 by
With the best mini fridge for breast milk, you would find it convenient to store pumped breast milk for your baby. You would not have to go downstairs to get the baby items during late-night feedings, and HRs are okay with a mini fridge.
A mini fridge for breast milk should be compact with at least a 4-liter capacity. Should be able to cool up to 32-40℉ (18-22℃) or keep warm up to 150°F (66°C) within 2 hours. It is also important to buy a freon-free and environmentally friendly mini fridge with multiple power modes.
Investing in a mini fridge is seriously the best thing ever. It helps to store the breast milk for nighttime when you are pumping and bottle feeding. When you no longer need it, you can convert it to a cosmetics fridge.
Can you store breast milk in a mini fridge?
You can store breast milk in a mini fridge. Moreover, you can store freshly pumped or expressed milk in the fridge for up to 4 days. In the freezer, breast milk will last for about 6 months at best, and up to 12 months.
Consider getting a mini fridge for breast milk if you have the space under your desk in the office. You could even store water and snacks, in addition to breast milk in it.
This way, if you forget to take your milk cooler home, you do not lose the entire day of pumped milk and can just take it the following day.
The cost of a mini-fridge is about $100 for a small 1.1 cubic model. You would also find them on sale around mid-summer, just before the start of college.
Inform your HR about getting a mini fridge. Most companies are okay with mothers getting one as long as you use it for storing breastmilk.
Are mini fridges cold enough for milk?
Mini fridges are cold enough for milk. Besides, you can place breast milk in the refrigerator at 39°F or 4°C. A mini fridge can cool down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, making it cold enough for storing your breast milk.
If yours has a 4-liter capacity, that should be more than enough for a few prepped breast milk bottles. A mini fridge is quick with an average cooling time of about 4 hours.
Speaking of convenience, a mini fridge will fit practically anywhere. It sits nicely in the corner or countertop.
Best mini fridge for breast milk
So, we had 3 nursing mothers recommend mini fridges to buy. We have included the reasons to buy these recommended and reviewed mini fridges as you read on:
AstroAI Mini Fridge, 4 Liter/6 Can AC/DC Portable Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer Refrigerators for Skincare, Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Home, Office, and Car, ETL Listed (Teal)
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We could comfortably call this AstroAI the mini fridge for your breast milk for the following reasons:
Compact size
This AstroAI mini fridge is quite compact for your breast milk. When no longer using it for your pumped milk, it can accommodate your makeup and skincare.
It is sizable for anywhere in your workplace, bedroom, RV, dorm, travel, boating, and camping.
Capacity
This 4 liters breast milk mini fridge allows (6) 12 oz cans. Its inner dimensions measure 5.5” x 5.3” x 8.07”.
It uses a removable shelf to ensure that the breast milk stays separate from your other skincare, cosmetics, and food.
AC/DC adapters
Simply, connect your fridge to a 100-120V home power supply or a 12V car power supply. You should only use your car power while the engine is running to avoid draining the car battery.
Eco-friendly
The engineering is eco-friendly. Also, its semiconductor refrigeration chip is freon-free.
Cool to warm
This AstroAI cools up to 32-40℉ (18-22℃) under ambient temperature and warms up to 150°F (66°C), 86°F (30°C) -64°F (18°C) within one hour. Within 2 hours, it warms up to 86°F (30°C) -50°F (10°C) and 86°F (30°C)-37°F(3°C) within 3 hours.
What we like
Certifications
AstroAI mini fridge is CE, FCC, ETL, and RoHS certified.
Quiet
It runs quietly at 25dB, which is thrice quieter than a normal human conversation.
Easy fan cleaning
We could easily clean the can. All we have to do is to remove the back cover screws and use a dry cloth for the fan.
Do not force out the back cover directly to avoid damaging the switch wire connected behind it.
What we don’t
Can size only
This mini fridge does not fit water bottles unless pony-sized. It would help if the top tray comes out to allow fitting in taller items.
No interior light
No illuminating interior light for night convenience.
No temperature adjustment
You cannot adjust the temperature. This fridge usually maintains a temperature in the upper 30s to low 40s when you switch it to the cooling position.
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Bromose Mini Fridge, 8 Liter/8 Can Portable Cooler and Warmer Refrigerator Compact Mirrored LED for Skin Care, Cosmetics, Beverage, Food, Great for Bedroom, Office, Car, Dorm
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Bromose mini fridge is another top brand to invest in for your breast milk storage. You get to enjoy the following features:
Illuminated makeup mirror
This mini fridge door is mirrored and framed by a built-in dimmable LED light with a touch sensor button. The LED brightness is adjustable with the touch screen.
Compact size
This small refrigerator measures 10.03″ (W) x 10.03″ (D) x 11.22″ (H). It weighs just 6.28 lbs.
Capacity
An 8-liter capacity fridge for your breast milk, sizable enough for chills 8 soda cans. The interior measures 5.7 x 5.9 x 9.44 inches. There is also a removable shelf for additional items, including bottles, cheese, juice, smoothies, and fruits.
Cooling
Speaking of cooling, this mini fridge cools to 20°F and warms up to 65°F.
It features a switch to switch from heating to cooling by flipping the switch. This means you can keep your pumped breast milk warm without ever leaving your desk.
Power sources
Supports AC/DC adapter. This Bromose mini fridge includes plugs for standard household power outlets and 12V car chargers. To avoid draining your car battery, only connect this fridge when the engine is turned on.
What we like
Quiet
At 28 dB, this fridge is quiet enough. You only hear a soft sound, quieter than a normal human conversation.
Stays plugged in
You can keep this mini refrigerator plugged in. If you plug it into your car, do not forget to disconnect it when you turn it off to avoid draining the car battery.
Keeps breast milk cool
We stored breast milk cool to 35 to 38 degrees while the fridge is closed.
Cooling duration without electricity
Without electricity, this fridge remained cool for about 1.5 hours after. Note that the cooling time is affected by your environment.
What we don’t
4 cans only
Unless there is a bigger version of this, we could only store 4 cans, as opposed to the 10 cans advertised. Perhaps, the manufacturer meant those 6-ounce juice cans they sell.
This mini fridge will not fit 10 soda cans but 4. We tried storing the cans vertically and horizontally. We also lay the cans across or lie front to back but won’t fit even 5.
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AstroAI Mini Fridge,15 Can 10 Liter Coolers & Refrigerators Mini Cooler, AC/DC Thermoelectric Skincare Fridge for Gifts, Beverage, Bedroom, Office, Travel, ETL Listed (White) Mother’s Day Gifts
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We believe this AstroAI mini fridge is your go-to solution for breast milk storage. It keeps the breast milk conditioned for your baby. Features that will attract you to this fridge include:
Portability
Of course, this is a convenient, lightweight fridge. Despite its size, it is a 10-liter thermoelectric cooler/warmer mini fridge. Really portable and the design is small enough to handle to keep anywhere. This fridge measures 9.8″ W x 12.8″ D x 13.9″ H.
Compact
Despite its compact size, it features a 10-liter breast milk storage capacity. A super-versatile mini fridge to condition not just your breast milk but also food, drinks, beer, snacks, and skincare.
Design
We would describe this fridge as not just small but “quite stylish”. Its tempered glass panel makes it easier to clean the stains. Wiping stains and scratches is easy. Besides, it even resists scratching.
Power sources
We love that we could keep this mini fridge powered for breastmilk in the home and the car. It supports dual power modes. Connect this mini compact fridge to your 100-120V home power supply or your 12V car power supply.
What we like
Quiet
Its advanced ECO technology and noise reduction design ensures quiet operation while at work or night. It uses special semiconductor operations for energy efficiency.
Cooling range
It cools at an ambient temperature of 36℉ (20℃) and warms at 140℉ (60℃).
Internal partition
This AstroAI model includes internal partitions and a side basket for additional and generous storage space. Your breast milk can go one side while fruits and cosmetics go the others.
Runs 24/7
You can plug in this mini fridge to run continuously without issues. We have had it plugged in for more than 24 hours.
What we don’t
No interior light
It does not use interior lighting. However, for its size, there is no need for one. This unit still performs optimally.
Sealing
The sealing is probably not good enough. We noticed a bit of constant temperature rise or drop. Overall, it is good for a room or somewhere where the room temp is not too hot or cold.
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NXONE Mini Fridge,6 Liter/8 Can AC/DC Small Refrigerator, Portable Thermometric Cooler and Warmer Freezer Skincare fridge for Foods, Beverage, Medications, Home, Bedroom, Dorm, Office and Car Black
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The next in line is the NXONE mini fridge. Talked about it a lot, and is excellent at what it does—conditioning a baby’s breast milk.
We are confident this breast milk mini fridge is your go-to solution because:
Capacity
Takes in 8 cans, despite the portability. It houses a 6L capacity measuring 5.6 x 6.38 x 10.35 in for holding 8 12oz cola beer-sized cans.
Frost free
Do not worry about the frost. Nonetheless, the surface can become icy and the interior can appear frosty.
Power sources (AC/DC adapters)
This mini fridge comes with 2 plugs for standard wall outlets and 12V in cars, making it convenient for you to use this fridge at home and outside.
Cool to warm
It can cool up to 32℉ (18℃) and warms up to 140°F (60℃). We noticed that this mini fridge comes with a hot/cold switch located at the back.
What we like
Compact
Quite compact. Also, it features a removable shelf to give additional space for pumped breast milk.
Carry handle
This convenient handle makes the fridge even easier to carry about.
What we don’t
At some point, it froze the milk. The warm speed also tends to take longer.
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Are mini fridges worth it?
Mini fridges are worth it. Consider the following reasons:
Portable and compact
Its compact size for your breast milk makes it easy to carry about. You can have them in your dorm, RV, or anywhere in the office without space being a problem. This means your baby’s milk is always conditioned anywhere you go.
Energy efficient
Due to its small size, you can tell that it saves far more energy, compared to the tradition-sized fridges. A mini fridge for breast milk can even be powered in your car, so energy consumption is never a concern.
Besides, it would be impractical to turn on the large-sized refrigerator just to condition your breast milk. This takes lots of power until cools.
Space-generous
A mini fridge may look smaller on the outside, but the space is quite generous on the inside. Some mini fridges even have partitions and removable shelves for additional storage space. I.e., while the breast milk goes on one shelf, your fruits, coffee, and cosmetics go on the other.
Affordable
A reliable mini fridge will cost between $70-$250. Remember, you do not need a mini fridge for just the breast milk—you would store cosmetics, fruits, and more to condition them at a cheaper price than you would be using a traditional refrigerator.
