Do you really need to get a mini-fridge for breast milk storage?
Well, it’s in the middle of the night, and the little one wants to feed. Do you really want to go all the way to the kitchen to get a bottle from the fridge?….No?… I thought so too.
You have pumped so much milk at work, but where will you keep it? How will you transport it back home?
These are some of the questions you need to answer before making that purchase decision. But in my opinion, a mini-fridge is essential and convenient for nighttime feeding and storing and transporting breast milk from work.
Best Mini Fridge for Breast Milk
This article shall provide a round-up review of mini-fridges that you can use at home and in the office.
Our Pick
- Convenient + lightweight: The Cooluli classic 4-liter thermo-electric Cooler/warmer mini fridge sports a matte finish and a modern profile that’s perfectly portable. This unit measures: 7. 25" W x 10. 25" D x 10. 75" H and Weighs 4 lbs.Fresh Food Capacity: 4 liters
- Multiple functions + uses: the classic 4-l is super-versatile. Use it anywhere to store food, drinks, beer, snacks, Breast milk, Insulin, skincare and medications
- Perfect for skincare & beauty essentials: store your skincare, personal care & beauty product faves! From moisturizers to masks… serums to creams…& everything in between!
- Advanced technology: the unique semiconductor operation is energy-efficient, ultra-quiet and 100%
- Ac + DC + USB: The classic-4l includes AC and DC power cords for indoor and outdoor use, Plus a USB cord for ultra-flexibility. This unit only works in a 110–120v outlet. Plugging in this unit Beyond that voltage specification will damage the unit and void the .
- Included Components: DC Cord
Runner-up
Cooluli Mini Fridge
This mini-fridge comes highly recommended by moms due to its ability to keep breast milk cold after pumping at work or in the bedroom at night. Also, you do not have to keep running downstairs to put the milk you have pumped in the fridge or pick a bottle when your baby wants to feed.
It has a cooling capacity of 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cold enough to store breast milk for a few hours before freezing it.
In addition, it is portable so you can easily carry it to the office to store breastmilk or your lunch and move it from one room in the house to another for convenience.
Other than keeping the milk or food cold, this little fridge can be used as a food warmer. It has a thermoelectric system that easily allows you to switch from cooler to warmer depending on your preference.
Moreover, despite its compact design, it can accommodate about six 12oz. cans. In addition, the top rack is removable to allow you to store tall baby bottles along with their nipples and caps.
This mini-fridge comes ready for use with AC/DC and USB power adapters included. This means that you can use it in the house and the car using the cigarette adapter. It can also be powered by a 2A power bank using the USB cord, making it even more convenient.
Pros
- It is energy efficient
- Easy to switch from cooler to warmer
- Very portable and lightweight
- It is super quiet, so it can be kept in the baby’s nursery, bedroom, or in your office.
- It’s 100% safe to use and free of Freon
Cons
- It does not come with a key to lock the door, so be careful when carrying it
AstrolAI Mini Fridge –Portable cooler
This mini fridge can keep the milk either cold or warm, depending on what you choose. It can keep the milk or any food cold up to zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees F) within one hour or warm up to 66 degrees Celsius (150 degrees F).
It can easily fit six 12oz cans. While the shelf comes in handy for storing small containers of yogurt and fruits, it can be removed to allow you to fit tall baby bottles.
In addition, its compact design and handle make it very portable. You can bring it to the office to store breast milk after pumping and take it home.
Moreover, this mini fridge comes with two plugs for standard walls and outlets. It is also ideal for traveling with breast milk in the car because it can be plugged into a 12V cigarette adapter.
An important thing to note is that this mini fridge is not meant to heat cold items since it is not a microwave; rather, it keeps warm items. The warm items are meant to stay warm in the fridge for several hours as long as the door remains closed.
Pros
- It is lightweight, which makes it portable
- Keeps milk cold even on a hot day
- This mini fridge can be plugged into a cigarette adapter when traveling to keep the milk cold
- It does not make any loud noises when powered on, so you can keep it in the office, bedroom, or nursery
- It comes with a 3-year warranty
Cons
- It does not have a temperature gauge. You can either turn the switch to cold or warm.
Gourmia GMF600 Thermoelectric Mini Fridge
This is another portable mini fridge that you can bring along when transporting breast milk.
It has both cooler and warmer options, so you can choose to cool your items or keep them warm. Of course, it is important to keep the breast milk cold, especially when it is freshly pumped.
This mini fridge does not freeze the items, so if you are using it to transport breastmilk from work, remember to freeze the milk immediately you get home to remain fresh for a long time.
It comes in two options; one with a speaker and the other without. An integrated speaker connects to any compatible smart device allowing you to stream music and podcasts as you enjoy cold drinks. This is, however ideal for use in the dorm or at a campsite.
Choose the mini-fridge without the speaker if you will be using it in the office, bedroom, or baby’s nursery.
Moreover, this mini fridge is eco-friendly since it uses advanced semiconductors free of refrigerants and CFC.
Pros
- It comes with 2 detachable power chords; 1 for AC and the other for DC
- It is compact, lightweight, and portable
- Can use the cigarette adapter outlet in the car
- It is ETL Certified, which means that it is safe and efficient to use
- It has a self-locking latch to ensure the door is locked tightly when carrying it.
- It has a built-in fan for heat dissipation.
- Very quiet when running despite having a fan
Cons
- If you want something frozen, this mini fridge will not get to the freezing point. However, it makes items cold very quickly.
Related article: First rated warmers for frozen breast milk
Midea WHS-65LSS1 Mini fridge
Midea is one company that is widely known for producing freezers and refrigerators of the highest quality in different styles and functions. Its mini-fridge is no exception.
The Midea mini-fridge is of outstanding quality and high value. It is energy efficient and designed to fit in small and quiet places such as dorms, offices, bedrooms, and nurseries. This is because it features a whisper-quiet compressor that cycles quietly on and off such that you hardly notice its presence.
Most importantly, it has a larger capacity compared to the options we have reviewed above. So if you are looking for a bigger mini fridge that can hold more milk bottles, this is the right option for you.
In addition, it has a huge freezer compartment that freezes food and milk. This means you can freeze breast milk immediately after pumping in the bedroom at night or in the office.
Pros
- It runs very quietly; you hardly notice it is there
- Keeps breast milk and food perfectly chilled
- Very lightweight; hence portable
- It has a temperature gauge
- Perfect for small spaces
- Chills food speedy
Cons
- None
BLACK + DECKER Compact Refrigerator
Black + Decker is a leading brand in the manufacture of home appliances of the highest quality.
This mini fridge uses very minimal energy -70 watts- to keep beverages and food cold without taking up too much space.
It has a removable glass shelf so you can store tall bottles of baby’s milk or your own beverages like soda and juice. In addition, it has extra storage on the door that can fit more bottles and cans.
Moreover, this mini fridge has adjustable temperature control, a reversible door, and leveling legs.
Pros
- It produces shallow sound when operating; hence, ideal for bedroom or nursery
- Adjustable temperature control
- Very easy to clean
- It comes with an ice tray and makes ice too
- Has additional storage on the door
Cons
- It would be best if you defrosted it once in a while due to ice build-up
Uber Appliance Chill Mini fridge
This mini-fridge is rated quite highly by moms who use it to store breast milk or formula in the nursery for nighttime feeding.
It ensures your baby’s milk is ready within arm’s reach so that you do not have to run downstairs to pick a bottle every time.
It can be used either at home or on the go since it comes with home and car electric plug-ins.
In addition, it has automatic temperature control to either keep the milk cool or warm, depending on your preference. It can cool down to 37 degrees F below room temperature and warm up to 150 degrees F.
If you want to store tall bottles of milk, the shelf can be removed for extra space.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- It comes with home and car electric plug-ins
- It keeps food pretty cold
- Has automatic temperature control
- Perfect for small spaces
Cons
- It takes a while to get cold but once properly plugged in; it gets cold pretty good
- Its fan is a little loud
Conclusion
Mini-fridges for storing breast milk provide nursing mothers with the portability and flexibility they need to feed their kids anywhere.
Breastfeeding mothers can feel secure returning to work since they can pump their milk, store it in a mini-fridge, and then bring it home to freeze.
If you do decide to pump at night, a small refrigerator can be used to keep the milk fresh until you can transport it to the freezer the following day.
Resources:
- https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/blog/storing-freezing-your-breast-milk
- https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/8-human-milk-storage-protocol-english.pdf
Last update on 2023-09-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is exactly the solution I’ve been looking for! We often travel by car and this mini fridge will be a great help. I also like the fact that it is lightweight. Even when my baby grows up and doesn’t need breast milk, a mini fridge in the car will still be useful.
This is exactly the solution I’ve been looking for! We often travel by car and this mini fridge will be a great help. I also like the fact that it is lightweight. Even when my baby grows up and doesn’t need breast milk, a mini fridge in the car will still be useful.