The manufacturer’s intention for the Proctor Silex 86101 is never a large kitchen. This small fridge is ideal for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, garages, and small apartments. It offers good storage capacity (for a mini refrigerator) and the build quality gives off an unexpected vibe of prestige and sturdiness. Find out whether this refrigerator is an ideal choice for you.

Proctor Silex 86101 3.1 Cu. Ft. Mini Fridge

This top freezer refrigerator is built with compactness in mind. It isn’t intended for large rooms but may complement a large kitchen fridge for additional cooling and freezing capacity.

If you’re a student who needs a decent-sized refrigerator, going with the Proctor Silex is a much better option than looking to save a few bucks by purchasing a lesser model in terms of quality, capacity, and reliability.

Clearly, this refrigerator is for storing a variety of different foods and beverages and it does so very well. If you’re used to large fridges, you shouldn’t expect jaw-dropping capacity, but this one is surprisingly spacious for a mini fridge.

Who is this product for?

As mentioned, this refrigerator is somewhat affordable. It could be a perfect solution for people who are looking for a mini fridge that can work in a small space. It is a very energy-efficient model that can go easy on your utility bills.

On the other hand, if you’re browsing for an appliance for an entire household of people, you probably won’t find the solution in this Proctor Silex model. It has good capacity for its size, it is energy-efficient, and it has sleek looks, but anything short of a large refrigerator is too small for an entire house.

Like any other refrigerator, this one isn’t hard to install or use. You can also move things around a bit inside for a more versatile interior.

What’s included?

When you unpack it, the Proctor Silex 86101’s compactness becomes apparent immediately. When you open the freezer compartment at the top, you’ll see a sizable storage space with some extra space on the inside of the freezer door. The freezer can hold quite a lot of things considering it’s a mini fridge.

Upon opening the fridge compartment, the two glass shelves may seem a tad too few, but when you consider how well-built the unit is and how much space you’ll have on each one of the shelves, you’ll be more than amazed. Of course, the shelves are removable, which means that you can combine the interior outline to best suit your needs.

Below the shelves, you’ll see a sizable fruit/veggie drawer that is also fully removable. It may appear too large at first, but when your fridge is stocked with fruit and veggies during those warm summer months, you’ll want an adequate drawer in your mini fridge.

Of course, if you’re throwing a party, you can take out the shelves and the drawer and make room for cases of beverages and perhaps even a keg.

Overview of features

Firstly, the dimensions of the Proctor Silex 86101 are 21. 1" x 19. 1" x 32. 8". This means convenient compactness. The door hinges are reversible, so you can adjust the door for left-handed or right-handed opening. This could be important in small spaces.

One of the best things regarding this mini fridge is the room you get in the refrigerator door. It can fit as many as two 2-liter bottles and there’s a neat compartment for miscellaneous items to the left, and another compartment at the top part of the door for cans.

Let’s dive a bit deeper into this model’s energy efficiency. Its estimated yearly energy cost is less than $43, which is absolutely amazing for a fridge that does its job so well. This makes it ideal for its above-mentioned target group. Always keep in mind that, when you’re looking for an affordable fridge, looking only at the price tag is never enough.

It has 3.1 cubic feet of storage space, which is a lot in the world of mini refrigerators, especially when you take into account the fact that it comes with a good-sized freezer on top.

The soft interior light is just about strong enough to illuminate the interior without being unpleasant to the eye.

How to install it

Given its small stature, you may think that you don’t have to be as careful with this type of refrigerator, at least as compared to a large one. Like all fridges, you need to exercise a certain level of care and caution.

It is recommended that you unbox your refrigerator before you actually bring it into your apartment/dorm room/garage because it’s much easier to unbox a large item if you’re not in a confined area.

Use a hand truck when transporting this Proctor Silex fridge. It may not seem heavy, but 60 pounds combined with the size can be quite unforgiving.

Make sure that you’ve properly cleaned up the area where you want to locate the fridge. Make sure that it’s completely dry before plugging the fridge in and carefully slide it into place. Try to leave at least 2” of space for airflow.

Pros

Good capacity for the size
Door design
Quality freezer
Compact size
Removable drawer and shelves

Cons

Large footprint for a mini fridge

Alternative

The Proctor Silex 86101 is somewhat heavy for a mini fridge. If 60 lbs. is too much for you and you want a lighter fridge, the Danby DCR031B1BSLDD may appeal to you better at 10 pounds less. However, the Danby’s fruit/veggie drawer is not nearly as spacious as the Proctor Silex’s and the build quality may not compare as well despite the similar price.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an affordable mini fridge that offers excellent capacity and ideal compactness, the Proctor Silex 86101 may be ideal for you.

It may not be the best for large kitchens and houses, but if you’re looking for a small fridge for a dorm room or small apartment, this one can fit anywhere and continue to amaze you every day.

At an estimated annual operating cost of $43, it is extremely budget- and eco-friendly.

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