Brand Name | Whynter |
---|---|
Model Info | BR-130SB |
Item Weight | 57 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 18.75 x 17 x 32.5 inches |
Country of Origin | China |
Item model number | BR-130SB |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Capacity | 3.1 Cubic Feet |
Annual Energy Consumption | 1 Watts |
Refrigerator Fresh Food Capacity | 1 Cubic Feet |
Freezer Capacity | 1 Cubic Feet |
Noise | 44 dB |
Installation Type | Freestanding |
Part Number | BR-130SB |
Form Factor | Stand Alone |
Special Features | Adjustable shelves, Internal fan-forced circulation |
Color | Stainless steel trimmed glass door with sleek black cabinet |
Voltage | 115 Volts |
Defrost | Manual |
Door Hinges | Reversible |
Door Material Type | Stainless Steel |
Shelf Type | Wire |
Shelves | 5 |
Certification | ETL |
Material Type | Stainless Steel |
Included Components | 5 slide-out wire shelves |
Batteries Included? | No |
Batteries Required? | No |
Item Weight | 57 Pounds |
Number Of Doors | 1 |
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Whynter BR-130SBS 120 Can Capacity 3.1 cu. ft. Beverage Refrigerator and cooler, Mini Fridge with Glass Door Stainless Steel
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Purchase options and add-ons
Product Dimensions | 18.75"D x 17"W x 32.5"H |
Brand | Whynter |
Capacity | 3.1 Cubic Feet |
Configuration | Freezerless |
Color | Stainless steel trimmed glass door with sleek black cabinet |
Special Feature | Adjustable shelves, Internal fan-forced circulation |
Installation Type | Freestanding |
Number of Doors | 1 |
Defrost System | Manual |
Voltage | 115 Volts |
About this item
- SPACIOUS INTERIOR: Freestanding 3.1 cu. ft. beverage cooler fridge built to store the most number of cans possible without wasting any space. Can hold up to 120 standard 12 oz. cans
- PREMIUM DESIGN AND SECURITY: Compact, sleek design and premium features make this beverage cooler an ideal choice for efficient display and refrigeration.
- POWERFUL COOLING: Powerful compressor and the internal air-cooled system to create an evenly-cooled space throughout the beverage refrigerator. Temperature can be adjusted from 30ºF – mid 60ºF
- DOUBLE-PANE GLASS: Beverage fridge with double-paned glass door that protects your beverages from harmful UV light and keeps the interior insulated
- ADJUSTABLE SHELVES: This mini fridge includes 5 slide-out wire shelves that allow you to store any bottle design and organize your drinks by category
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Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B00P7QI4IM |
---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #15,411 in Industrial & Scientific (See Top 100 in Industrial & Scientific) #30 in Beverage Refrigerators |
Date First Available | November 4, 2014 |
Warranty & Support
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What's in the box
Product Description
Product Description
The Whynter 120 Can Stainless Steel Beverage Refrigerator with internal fan is the ideal choice for compact and efficient beverage display and refrigeration. The Whynter Beverage Refrigerator / Cooler offers a compact and powerful cooling solution ideal for your entertaining or retail merchandising needs.
Unlike many budget beverage refrigerators, the Whynter 120 Can Stainless Steel Beverage Refrigerator utilizes premium features and design to provide a sleek showcase that will be centerpiece of any space. With its powerful compressor and internal air-cooled system, this beverage refrigerator creates an evenly-cooled space ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the beverage refrigerator.
The premium appeal of the BR-130SB features an exclusive stainless steel trimmed glass door and soft LED lighting allows you to see view the contents while maintaining internal temperatures and increasing energy efficiency.
From the Manufacturer
The Whynter 120 Can Stainless Steel Beverage Refrigerator is the ideal choice for compact and efficient beverage display and refrigeration. The Whynter Beverage Refrigerator / Cooler offers a compact and powerful cooling solution ideal for your entertaining or retail merchandising needs. Unlike many budget beverage refrigerators, the Whynter 120 Can Stainless Steel Beverage Refrigerator utilizes premium features and design to provide a sleek showcase that will be centerpiece of any space. With its powerful compressor and internal air-cooled system, this beverage refrigerator creates an evenly-cooled space ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the beverage refrigerator. The premium appeal of the BR-130SB features an exclusive stainless steel trimmed glass door and soft LED lighting allows you to see view the contents while maintaining internal temperatures and increasing energy efficiency. Features: Capacity: 120 standard 12 oz. can; Stainless steel trimmed glass door with sleek black cabinet; Pro-style stainless steel towel bar handle; Mechanical temperature control with temperature range from high 30ºF - mid 60ºF; Soft interior LED lighting with on/off switch; Freestanding setup; Reversible door; Powerful compressor cooling; Internal fan-forced circulation for even temperature distribution throughout the cabinet; 5 slide-out wire shelves; Top shelf: 15 can capacity; Second shelf: 15 can capacity; Third shelf: 15 can capacity; Fourth shelf: 25 can capacity; Fifth shelf: 25 can capacity; Bottom section: 25 can capacity; Voltage: 115V /60Hz; Power: 85 watts / 1.3 Amps; ETL listed
From the manufacturer
Highlights:
- Accommodates 120 standard 12 oz. can
- Recessed handle provides a flush finish with the door
- Mechanical temperature control with range from high 30°F - mid 60°F
- Freestanding installation
- Reversible door
- 5 slide-out wire shelves
- Indoor LED lighting
Whynter BR-130SB Mini Beverage Refrigerator
The unit is the ideal choice for compact and efficient beverage display and refrigeration. Unlike many budget beverage refrigerators, the BR-130SB utilizes premium features and design to provide a sleek showcase that will be centerpiece of any space. With its powerful compressor and internal air-cooled system, this beverage refrigerator creates an evenly-cooled space ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the beverage refrigerator.
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CompactDesigned with a high profile fan-forced flush back,allowing it to fit cleanly against the wall or into corner maximizing space and minimizing the unit footprint. |
Powerful Compressor CoolingOffer optimum temperature for your favorite wine bottles. Maintains even cooling throughout. |
Fan-forced circulationFeatures fan-forced circulation to maintain an evenly-cooled space and consistent temperatures. |
Soft LED lightingAllows you to see view the contents while maintaining internal temperatures. |
Compare with similar items
This Item Whynter BR-130SBS 120 Can Capacity 3.1 cu. ft. Beverage Refrigerator and cooler, Mini Fridge with Glass Door Stainless Steel | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | |
Price | $279.00$279.00 | $229.99$229.99 | $369.99$369.99 | $179.99$179.99 | $239.99$239.99 | $179.99$179.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it Apr 5 - 10 | Get it Apr 8 - 9 | Get it Apr 4 - 5 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 4 | Get it Apr 3 - 4 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Temperature Control | 3.8 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
Noise level | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
Style | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | — | 4.8 | 4.8 |
Energy efficiency | — | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Value for money | 3.8 | — | — | 3.3 | — | 4.0 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | WATOOR Official Store | Spagnon | Youha Director | Amazon.com | ningbominglanmaoyiyouxiangongshi |
capacity | 3.1 cubic feet | 4.5 cubic feet | 4.4 cubic feet | 3.2 cubic feet | 3.2 cubic feet | 3.2 cubic feet |
freezer capacity | 1 cubic feet | 0 cubic feet | — | — | 0 cubic feet | — |
number of doors | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
number of shelves | 5 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | — |
form factor | Stand Alone | Compact | Compact | Compact | Compact | Wine Cellar |
installation | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Freestanding | Tabletop | Countertop,Tabletop |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the appearance of the refrigerator, mentioning it looks nice with the finish and LED lighting. They also appreciate the value for money, saying it does the job at the right price. Customers also appreciate fit, and quality. However, some customers find the circulation fan loud and the fridge makes a whistling wind noise when defrosting. They say the fridge was scratched up and had dents in the door. Opinions are mixed on performance and temperature.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the refrigerator. They mention that the finish is nice, the LED lighting adds a nice look, and the racks are designed with the metal shelving close together. They also appreciate the glass door and the stainless steel look.
"...We haven't had an issue since! It is super sleek and looks luxurious." Read more
"...it functions as described, plug-and-play easy of use, and it's pretty stylish...." Read more
"...The led lighting adds a nice look when lit. They are on switches and do not automatically turn on when opening the door...." Read more
"...It is deceivingly large while still having a sleek look. The clear door allows for quick access to the right beverage or item...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the refrigerator. For example, they mention it's a nice fridge, has nice shelves, and is of good quality. Some say that the product is perfect and works well enough for a low price.
"...Construction/quality:The fridge itself is good...." Read more
"Well built and cools to 30 degrees on the coldest setting...." Read more
"...These seem to be of good quality and we will see how they hold up. Doors very easy to change direction, and handles are heavy and of good quality...." Read more
"...Not worth the cost of repair." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the refrigerator. They say it does the job at the right price, is well worth the purchase, and is a much more cost effective method for small scale home use. Customers also mention that the design and price are nice, and the storage is layered nicely.
"...-built dry aging fridges cost around $1500, this is a much more cost effective method for small scale home use...." Read more
"...When mounted in a cabinet, they look like one large unit. Can not beat the price for what you get. I will update if any issues crop up...." Read more
"This is a pretty decent fridge for the price...." Read more
"Solid product, works well enough for a low price. But Amazon support is worthless...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the fit of the refrigerator. They mention that it is roomy, holds a lot of drinks, and fits nicely into their existing space. Some appreciate the deep interior and the ability to fit bento boxes and meal prep Tupperware perfectly. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"The mini fridge is the perfect fit for the pool deck works great and I like it cane be used for other things as well." Read more
"...I like the look of it and it holds a lot of cans with plenty of space at the bottom for larger bottles." Read more
"...] We love this mini fridge even though it’s pretty large. We keep it next to the actual fridge to hold more drinks for grab and go...." Read more
"...Not this one! It holds A LOT of bottles and/or cans and the adjustable wire shelves arrage easily for whatever you want, and goes below just "..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the temperature of the refrigerator. Some mention that it keeps everything cold, it cools to 30 degrees on the coldest setting, and it does an excellent job of defrosting itself every couple of days. However, others say that it gets cold quick, almost too cold, and slowly stopped cooling. It doesn't really hold temperature consistently, and the unit also ices over on occasion. The air flow seems to cool sodas on the bottom half of the fridge faster than sodas.
"...Insulation could be a bit better, as you're able to notice the top and sides are colder after the unit has been on for a few hours...." Read more
"...This refrigerator does an excellent job of defrosting itself every couple of days, and the water from the melted ice runs through a tiny drain into..." Read more
"...Initially we ran into some issues within the first year: icing and loud noises. CHENIE with Whynter was very helpful. First we tried to troubleshoot...." Read more
"...( is truly 34° ) I chose this one for 3 reasons the handle, the coldness, and the affordability. It does not disappoint on those features...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the refrigerator. Some mention that it works well for dry aging beef, while others say that it fails at the job they need it to do the most.
"...the internal fan made noise, but mine is truly silent; it seems to operate all the time and I don't hear it at all...." Read more
"...Understandably, some of the appliances did not react well to double voltage. That would include the subject refrigerator...." Read more
"...perfect beverage refrigerator for dry aging beef, this one appears to work really well...." Read more
"...Besides the noise it looks great and functions just like advertised ( is truly 34° ) I chose this one for 3 reasons the handle, the coldness, and..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the noise produced by the refrigerator. They mention that the circulation fan is so loud that it's hard to watch a movie in the entertainment room, the defrosting noise makes a whistling wind noise, and it'll get annoying really quickly.
"...This refrigerator can be a bit noisy when the compressor is running, but I was able to quiet it down by finding one of the copper cooling lines near..." Read more
"...to the normal cooling and defrosting noise this one makes a whistling wind noise that would remind you of having a door cracked during high winds...." Read more
"...So far, the units have performed flawlessly, and are fairly quiet...." Read more
"...Initially we ran into some issues within the first year: icing and loud noises. CHENIE with Whynter was very helpful. First we tried to troubleshoot...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the damage of the refrigerator. They mention that it came dented, scratched up, and with small cosmetic damage. Some say that the mini fridge arrived dented on the back corner and with 3 tiny dents in the top. They also mention that the board had a blown disc capacitor that gave its life to prevent further damage.
"...The only issue I had so far is that the drip tray came broken and completely loose from the unit, which is why I initially rated the unit with 3..." Read more
"...The damaged board had a blown disc capacitor which gave its life to prevent further damage...." Read more
"It's slightly noisier than expected and I received with small cosmetic damage, but it works as needed...." Read more
"So far the product seems to be working but did show up with damage on the front corner." Read more
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Construction/quality:
The fridge itself is good. The handle is firm once installed, and I didn't notice any wobbles or anything unusual after I put it on the floor and adjusted its feet. Insulation could be a bit better, as you're able to notice the top and sides are colder after the unit has been on for a few hours. This is, however, a common difficulty with small refrigerators: to improve insulation you need to make the walls thicker, either losing internal space or making the unit larger, so there's an optimal point between insulation/wall thickness and heat losses. If you look at your kitchen refrigerator you'll notice its walls are quite thicker. Finally, the manual mentions that the control panel would lock itself after 2 minutes of inactivity, after which you'd need to press both temperature up & down buttons for 5 seconds to unlock it - well, that hasn't happened, and I don't know if there's a way to lock the controls (which are on the outside of the glass door), so I guess I'll just have to hope my kids don't mess around with it...
Temperature:
When the unit was plugged in for the first time it didn't take long for it to reach its lowest setpoint (34F) empty. A few hours after that, I loaded it with around 45 soda cans at room temperature, and it worked overnight and the good part of the following morning to cool those down to its lowest setpoint, which is expected given that it uses a small compressor. If you want it to work faster it's definitely best to put cans in the kitchen fridge overnight before moving them to this unit already cold. Another point worth mentioning is that the condenser (which is what dumps the heat from inside the fridge into the room it's located in) sits just beneath the external side walls (noticeable because those get warm when the compressor is running), so if you mount the unit where air flow is restricted, it will not operate as efficiently or get as cold as it's designed to.
I've had some time to run a couple of thermometers in the unit. Unfortunately, their accuracy is abysmal and I cannot trust the actual temperature they're displaying. One is showing 12F right now, which is simply absurd, the other is much closer to reality - more on that below. However, for measuring the temperature variation, this second one is good enough. It's measuring a 6F min/max variation over the course of several days. Honestly, that's not bad for a beverage refrigerator. It doesn't mean the items you put in there will have their actual temperature vary by that much, it just means that the air inside the fridge is varying 6F - and take that with a grain of salt also, because there are several other variables to be taken into account here. Remember that it takes a while to cool something down, but it also takes a while for it to warm back up again, so you can expect the temperature of, say, a soda can to vary by approximately 2F. That's quite good! To check how cold my beverages actually got, I allowed everything to stabilize over the course of a few days, and then I took a water bottle, opened it, and measured the temperature using a meat thermometer that had just been calibrated with ice water - meaning it can measure things at or close to 32F very well. It measured 34F.
Noise:
I saw some reviewers complaining about noise, so I was concerned about that. Noise is subjective, so your mileage may vary. I have it in my office about 5 feet away from me, and while it doesn't bother me during my work day, I would definitely not have this unit in or near my bedroom at night, because it would bother me a lot. For reference, my bedroom sits next to the kitchen, and I don't hear my kitchen fridge because that one is actually silent. One thing to note is that I saw some reviewers mention that the internal fan made noise, but mine is truly silent; it seems to operate all the time and I don't hear it at all. The compressor and associated coolant flow are the main sources of noise, and if you want those to be more silent while also having a fridge that gets very close to 34F, you need to look for a name brand and pay maybe 3 times more than this, while still having the risk that it'll use a similar (likely cheap) compressor.
Drip tray:
The only issue I had so far is that the drip tray came broken and completely loose from the unit, which is why I initially rated the unit with 3 stars, but later changed it to 5 once they sent me a new drip tray. Further below I'll describe what a drip tray is, but for now what matters is that I opened a support ticket directly with Whynter using their website and they sent me a new drip tray. Interestingly, the new drip tray had a different shape, which seemed to match my compressor a bit better...so perhaps the original (broken) drip tray was an incorrect part? I don't know. It's fixed, they sent me a new drip tray fast, and that's what matters.
Here's what a drip tray is: remember when you had to periodically remove all the stuff from your refrigerator and allow the internal evaporator (the thing at the back with all the tubes) to defrost? Well, a lot of people today don't even know that this used to be a thing because they came up with "frost-free" refrigerators. What almost no one knows, however, is that frost-free refrigerators still accumulate ice on their evaporators (which are now hidden away in large refrigerators), but there's normally a mechanism to melt the ice every so often, which will then drip out of the fridge and onto the drip tray. This drip tray stays right on top of the compressor because it takes advantage of the fact that the compressor gets hot when it's running, so it allows the water to evaporate away quite fast. The automatic defrosting method varies a lot, from a dedicated heating element, to allowing the evaporator to get a bit warmer (or less cold) from time to time so that ice can melt away on its own, to not doing anything and allowing some ice to still form depending on the temperature setpoint. I don't know which method, if any, this unit uses, so I won't be surprised if I see some minor ice buildup over the next few months, because I'm running it at its lowest temperature setpoint. Easiest way to deal with that is to raise the temperature setpoint for a few days (i.e., when going on vacation), which won't be an issue for a beverage refrigerator.
Well, that's all I had. Quite a long one, but I hope it helps someone.
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
Construction/quality:
The fridge itself is good. The handle is firm once installed, and I didn't notice any wobbles or anything unusual after I put it on the floor and adjusted its feet. Insulation could be a bit better, as you're able to notice the top and sides are colder after the unit has been on for a few hours. This is, however, a common difficulty with small refrigerators: to improve insulation you need to make the walls thicker, either losing internal space or making the unit larger, so there's an optimal point between insulation/wall thickness and heat losses. If you look at your kitchen refrigerator you'll notice its walls are quite thicker. Finally, the manual mentions that the control panel would lock itself after 2 minutes of inactivity, after which you'd need to press both temperature up & down buttons for 5 seconds to unlock it - well, that hasn't happened, and I don't know if there's a way to lock the controls (which are on the outside of the glass door), so I guess I'll just have to hope my kids don't mess around with it...
Temperature:
When the unit was plugged in for the first time it didn't take long for it to reach its lowest setpoint (34F) empty. A few hours after that, I loaded it with around 45 soda cans at room temperature, and it worked overnight and the good part of the following morning to cool those down to its lowest setpoint, which is expected given that it uses a small compressor. If you want it to work faster it's definitely best to put cans in the kitchen fridge overnight before moving them to this unit already cold. Another point worth mentioning is that the condenser (which is what dumps the heat from inside the fridge into the room it's located in) sits just beneath the external side walls (noticeable because those get warm when the compressor is running), so if you mount the unit where air flow is restricted, it will not operate as efficiently or get as cold as it's designed to.
I've had some time to run a couple of thermometers in the unit. Unfortunately, their accuracy is abysmal and I cannot trust the actual temperature they're displaying. One is showing 12F right now, which is simply absurd, the other is much closer to reality - more on that below. However, for measuring the temperature variation, this second one is good enough. It's measuring a 6F min/max variation over the course of several days. Honestly, that's not bad for a beverage refrigerator. It doesn't mean the items you put in there will have their actual temperature vary by that much, it just means that the air inside the fridge is varying 6F - and take that with a grain of salt also, because there are several other variables to be taken into account here. Remember that it takes a while to cool something down, but it also takes a while for it to warm back up again, so you can expect the temperature of, say, a soda can to vary by approximately 2F. That's quite good! To check how cold my beverages actually got, I allowed everything to stabilize over the course of a few days, and then I took a water bottle, opened it, and measured the temperature using a meat thermometer that had just been calibrated with ice water - meaning it can measure things at or close to 32F very well. It measured 34F.
Noise:
I saw some reviewers complaining about noise, so I was concerned about that. Noise is subjective, so your mileage may vary. I have it in my office about 5 feet away from me, and while it doesn't bother me during my work day, I would definitely not have this unit in or near my bedroom at night, because it would bother me a lot. For reference, my bedroom sits next to the kitchen, and I don't hear my kitchen fridge because that one is actually silent. One thing to note is that I saw some reviewers mention that the internal fan made noise, but mine is truly silent; it seems to operate all the time and I don't hear it at all. The compressor and associated coolant flow are the main sources of noise, and if you want those to be more silent while also having a fridge that gets very close to 34F, you need to look for a name brand and pay maybe 3 times more than this, while still having the risk that it'll use a similar (likely cheap) compressor.
Drip tray:
The only issue I had so far is that the drip tray came broken and completely loose from the unit, which is why I initially rated the unit with 3 stars, but later changed it to 5 once they sent me a new drip tray. Further below I'll describe what a drip tray is, but for now what matters is that I opened a support ticket directly with Whynter using their website and they sent me a new drip tray. Interestingly, the new drip tray had a different shape, which seemed to match my compressor a bit better...so perhaps the original (broken) drip tray was an incorrect part? I don't know. It's fixed, they sent me a new drip tray fast, and that's what matters.
Here's what a drip tray is: remember when you had to periodically remove all the stuff from your refrigerator and allow the internal evaporator (the thing at the back with all the tubes) to defrost? Well, a lot of people today don't even know that this used to be a thing because they came up with "frost-free" refrigerators. What almost no one knows, however, is that frost-free refrigerators still accumulate ice on their evaporators (which are now hidden away in large refrigerators), but there's normally a mechanism to melt the ice every so often, which will then drip out of the fridge and onto the drip tray. This drip tray stays right on top of the compressor because it takes advantage of the fact that the compressor gets hot when it's running, so it allows the water to evaporate away quite fast. The automatic defrosting method varies a lot, from a dedicated heating element, to allowing the evaporator to get a bit warmer (or less cold) from time to time so that ice can melt away on its own, to not doing anything and allowing some ice to still form depending on the temperature setpoint. I don't know which method, if any, this unit uses, so I won't be surprised if I see some minor ice buildup over the next few months, because I'm running it at its lowest temperature setpoint. Easiest way to deal with that is to raise the temperature setpoint for a few days (i.e., when going on vacation), which won't be an issue for a beverage refrigerator.
Well, that's all I had. Quite a long one, but I hope it helps someone.
You do need to add a thermoworks refrigerator / freezer thermometer with a wired probe so you can accurately measure the temperature, and record highs and lows. I think the best temperature range for dry aging beef seems to be between 34 and 36 degrees average temperature. I recommend placing the thermoworks temperature probe into a glass of water covered with cling wrap so you don't get rapid fluctuations in temperature, but rather track the temperature of something with more thermal mass, much like having a thermometer probe in the center of your dry aging meat. Tracking air temperature in a refrigerator will not give you as accurate of a picture of the average temperature. The thermoworks model that I'm speaking of can be purchased on their website for approximately $25, and the probe wire is so thin / low profile that it can be ran under the door seal without creating an air gap.
This refrigerator can be a bit noisy when the compressor is running, but I was able to quiet it down by finding one of the copper cooling lines near the compressor that when firmly gripped resulted in decreased noise. I wrapped this line with a large mass of plumber's putty, which acts as a nice noise damper.
When you are dry aging meat, and I've been able to fit approximately 50 lb of bone in ribeye on the provided racks, there is a substantial amount of moisture that you are removing from the meat, which condenses and freezes on the cooling mat in the back of the refrigerator. This refrigerator does an excellent job of defrosting itself every couple of days, and the water from the melted ice runs through a tiny drain into a reservoir that sits immediately above the compressor. I modified mine with a small length of flexible clear plastic tubing, cut a notch in the side of the reservoir's built in corner overflow spout so that the water level would start spilling over earlier, and glued the plastic tubing into the bottom of the overflow spout and ran the other end into a small plastic container to catch the excess water. It works like a charm. I am certain that if you don't do this modification, and dry age substantial amounts of meat, the amount of ice that will form on the cooling mat and ultimately melt during the defrost cycle will overwhelm the small reservoir, and you will end up with water on the floor. It is an easily fixed problem, but I don't consider it a flaw given that I'm using this fridge for something other than its intended purpose. If you were just refrigerating beverages, there would be nowhere near as much ice build up, and the reservoir would suffice.
The other necessary modification is to add a small electronics / PC cooling fan that sits on the back of the top rack and runs continuously to provide air circulation and appropriate drying of the meat. All I did was find one on Amazon for about $25, cut the power cord near the plug end, and ran the power cord through the small defrost drain in the back of the fridge, which exits immediately above the reservoir previously mentioned. The wire runs laterally over the side of this reservoir, and does not interfere with the function of the drain. I then simply rewired the plug to the cord once it was passed through the drain, using wire nuts and electrical tape. This fan runs continuously and provides the necessary air movement for dry aging. While the refrigerator does have a built-in fan near the light, I don't believe it runs continuously, and likely does not provide enough airflow on its own.
Considering that the most basic purpose-built dry aging fridges cost around $1500, this is a much more cost effective method for small scale home use. I personally do not think that built in humidity control or a UV light will make any substantial difference in the quality of dry aged meat in the 30 to 60 day range, and are mainly gimmicks that are used to make you think that the purpose built units are worth exorbitant prices. Salt blocks are also essentially pointless, but they won't hurt, so go for it if it makes you feel better. I am a physician with a background in microbiology before I went to medical school, so I'm not just making uninformed statements.
Dry aging can be done successfully at home with great results. Buy choice or prime grade ribeye primals, preferably bone-in with lots of remaining outer fat, at least 10 pounds each, place directly on the wire racks in this dedicated fridge, monitor the temperature, provide constant air flow, and be patient. 45 days is the sweet spot. Anything less than 30 days will not be worth your time. Over 60 gets too strong of a flavor for most people. Trim off the dried outer pellicle and enjoy.
Cheers!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020
You do need to add a thermoworks refrigerator / freezer thermometer with a wired probe so you can accurately measure the temperature, and record highs and lows. I think the best temperature range for dry aging beef seems to be between 34 and 36 degrees average temperature. I recommend placing the thermoworks temperature probe into a glass of water covered with cling wrap so you don't get rapid fluctuations in temperature, but rather track the temperature of something with more thermal mass, much like having a thermometer probe in the center of your dry aging meat. Tracking air temperature in a refrigerator will not give you as accurate of a picture of the average temperature. The thermoworks model that I'm speaking of can be purchased on their website for approximately $25, and the probe wire is so thin / low profile that it can be ran under the door seal without creating an air gap.
This refrigerator can be a bit noisy when the compressor is running, but I was able to quiet it down by finding one of the copper cooling lines near the compressor that when firmly gripped resulted in decreased noise. I wrapped this line with a large mass of plumber's putty, which acts as a nice noise damper.
When you are dry aging meat, and I've been able to fit approximately 50 lb of bone in ribeye on the provided racks, there is a substantial amount of moisture that you are removing from the meat, which condenses and freezes on the cooling mat in the back of the refrigerator. This refrigerator does an excellent job of defrosting itself every couple of days, and the water from the melted ice runs through a tiny drain into a reservoir that sits immediately above the compressor. I modified mine with a small length of flexible clear plastic tubing, cut a notch in the side of the reservoir's built in corner overflow spout so that the water level would start spilling over earlier, and glued the plastic tubing into the bottom of the overflow spout and ran the other end into a small plastic container to catch the excess water. It works like a charm. I am certain that if you don't do this modification, and dry age substantial amounts of meat, the amount of ice that will form on the cooling mat and ultimately melt during the defrost cycle will overwhelm the small reservoir, and you will end up with water on the floor. It is an easily fixed problem, but I don't consider it a flaw given that I'm using this fridge for something other than its intended purpose. If you were just refrigerating beverages, there would be nowhere near as much ice build up, and the reservoir would suffice.
The other necessary modification is to add a small electronics / PC cooling fan that sits on the back of the top rack and runs continuously to provide air circulation and appropriate drying of the meat. All I did was find one on Amazon for about $25, cut the power cord near the plug end, and ran the power cord through the small defrost drain in the back of the fridge, which exits immediately above the reservoir previously mentioned. The wire runs laterally over the side of this reservoir, and does not interfere with the function of the drain. I then simply rewired the plug to the cord once it was passed through the drain, using wire nuts and electrical tape. This fan runs continuously and provides the necessary air movement for dry aging. While the refrigerator does have a built-in fan near the light, I don't believe it runs continuously, and likely does not provide enough airflow on its own.
Considering that the most basic purpose-built dry aging fridges cost around $1500, this is a much more cost effective method for small scale home use. I personally do not think that built in humidity control or a UV light will make any substantial difference in the quality of dry aged meat in the 30 to 60 day range, and are mainly gimmicks that are used to make you think that the purpose built units are worth exorbitant prices. Salt blocks are also essentially pointless, but they won't hurt, so go for it if it makes you feel better. I am a physician with a background in microbiology before I went to medical school, so I'm not just making uninformed statements.
Dry aging can be done successfully at home with great results. Buy choice or prime grade ribeye primals, preferably bone-in with lots of remaining outer fat, at least 10 pounds each, place directly on the wire racks in this dedicated fridge, monitor the temperature, provide constant air flow, and be patient. 45 days is the sweet spot. Anything less than 30 days will not be worth your time. Over 60 gets too strong of a flavor for most people. Trim off the dried outer pellicle and enjoy.
Cheers!
Minuses are only 1. The noise
I have 3 beverage coolers and they all make a little noise and this one is similar except in addition to the normal cooling and defrosting noise this one makes a whistling wind noise that would remind you of having a door cracked during high winds. I seen the reviews that said noise was a problem but thought they were exaggerated. Besides the noise it looks great and functions just like advertised ( is truly 34° ) I chose this one for 3 reasons the handle, the coldness, and the affordability. It does not disappoint on those features. Note : as you can see I am using this as a built in when it is designed to be a stand alone. I've done this before in my basement bar with no problems. As you can see in the picture I have wine racks on the side that are open in the back that act as venting and there is 8" clearance at rear of cooler. This of course voids the warranty but but if you want a 34° cooler and the built in look at 1/3 the price it's not a bad option
After 3 months of being used the unit started making a really loud noise and felt warmer than normal on the sides. We shut down the unit and let it cool. Once it was cool I plugged it back in and noticed the loud noise was coming from the top of the unit where a fan is that circulates the cold air. It sounded like the fan blades were coming in contact with something. Before I took off the fan housing I just wacked the top of the unit with my hand and it suddenly quit making the noise. The unit is now much quieter than before and comparable to the noise made by different brands ( I have 2 other brands)
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2022
Minuses are only 1. The noise
I have 3 beverage coolers and they all make a little noise and this one is similar except in addition to the normal cooling and defrosting noise this one makes a whistling wind noise that would remind you of having a door cracked during high winds. I seen the reviews that said noise was a problem but thought they were exaggerated. Besides the noise it looks great and functions just like advertised ( is truly 34° ) I chose this one for 3 reasons the handle, the coldness, and the affordability. It does not disappoint on those features. Note : as you can see I am using this as a built in when it is designed to be a stand alone. I've done this before in my basement bar with no problems. As you can see in the picture I have wine racks on the side that are open in the back that act as venting and there is 8" clearance at rear of cooler. This of course voids the warranty but but if you want a 34° cooler and the built in look at 1/3 the price it's not a bad option
After 3 months of being used the unit started making a really loud noise and felt warmer than normal on the sides. We shut down the unit and let it cool. Once it was cool I plugged it back in and noticed the loud noise was coming from the top of the unit where a fan is that circulates the cold air. It sounded like the fan blades were coming in contact with something. Before I took off the fan housing I just wacked the top of the unit with my hand and it suddenly quit making the noise. The unit is now much quieter than before and comparable to the noise made by different brands ( I have 2 other brands)