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  • Introduction

  • Design & Usability

  • Features

  • Performance

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Fridge Storage

  • Freezing Performance

  • Power Loss

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design & Usability
  • Features
  • Performance
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Fridge Storage
  • Freezing Performance
  • Power Loss
  • Other Tests

Introduction

The fridge itself did fine in our tests, but the freezer was downright terrible. Sure, our test material froze, but it was always perilously close to thawing. In fact, it stayed so close to 32 degrees that opening the door for a few seconds would begin the thawing process.

But as long as you don't plan on freezing anything for the long term, this Black & Decker could be an alright dorm or office fridge—a place for storing Lean Cuisine dinners and pints of Ben & Jerry's, not filet mignon. The separate compartments didn't have much of an effect on overall storage capacity, but it does allow for more balanced storage—ideal for consumers who like their frozen treats. It retails for about $158.96, though we were able to find sales that lopped the price down to about $128. If you find one that looks identical but has a different brand name, it's likely made by the same manufacturer, as mini fridges are usually made on spec.

Design & Usability

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The separate compartments distinguish this model from other basic compact fridges.

The front is finished in glossy black and includes a miniature top freezer, with separate doors for each of the two compartments. The black may hide some smudges, but the glossy finish means you’ll see every smear and fingerprint if the light hits it a certain way. Shallow, recessed handles give the fridge a streamlined exterior. They’re so shallow, though, that you likely won’t be able to fit more than the tips of your fingers into the cavity.

Temperature for both compartments is controlled using a dial located in the fridge section. It’s stuck onto the side of the compartment, with an unusually shaped indicator knob pointing to the settings, which are on a scale of zero to seven.

The freezer is just a large ice box with no auto defrost—just a scraper for when ice builds up on the walls.

The fridge is broken up into three sections. There’s a full-width shelf on top, with a half-depth (that’s right, half-depth) plastic shelf underneath. At the very bottom is a rather shallow drawer that looks like a vegetable tray, but has no actual humidity control. The fridge door has two regular shelves, as well as a can dispenser. You can fit four standard cans at a time, enough to keep your thirst quenched for an evening or two, or to give a small gathering of friends one chilled drink each. Par-tay.

The freezer is just a large ice box with no auto defrost—just a scraper for when ice builds up on the walls. The shelf on the freezer door is pretty shallow, and you likely could only fit a few frozen dinners in the freezer cavity if you stand the packages upright.

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Features

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Getting to food is quite easy, as the small size means overstocking is unlikely.

The small shelves and storage compartments are all exceedingly accessible, which is a byproduct of the tiny fridge’s design: The back is so close to the front that you don't have room to lose anything. Shelves are lightweight and easy to remove, as is the tiny drawer. Surfaces are generally smooth and easy to wipe down, which is a good thing since you'll be doing the defrosting. The only trouble you may have is cleaning around the wires that make up the fridge door’s shelf edges.

The controls may look simple, but they’re actually rather annoying.

The temperature control for both compartments is located in the fridge section and has an odd-looking indicator knob with choices of zero through seven—not part of any temperature scale we've ever seen. It may look simple, but since it's set at an angle, it’s hard to tell what number the knob is actually pointing at.

Performance

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Surprisingly good fridge consistency, though good luck to those who like fresh produce.

The Black & Decker’s fridge was actually quite steady with its temperature output. The temperature difference from top to bottom was less than two degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures fluctuated only a quarter of a degree over time, which is impressive. The compartment itself is quite small, though, so expect most of the cold air to escape if you spend much time peering inquisitively into your fridge looking for something to eat or drink.

Anything kept in the freezer for more than a week should be something that won’t spoil.

At the end of the three day testing period, temperatures in the upper half of the freezer were still falling. The lower half was more consistent, but these halves are nigh indistinguishable due to the already small size of the compartment. Everything in it was frozen, but even without opening the freezer door for a full 72 hours, the temperature readings were still headed south. If you’re opening and closing the door to insert and remove food, cold air is going to escape and even further decrease the temperature consistency. As long as you’re not storing delicate items like meat or fish for more than a week, though, you should be fine. Anything kept in the freezer for more than that time should be something that won’t spoil… like processed food, or ice.

While there’s no formal humidity control in the Black & Decker compact, we still tested the drawer’s moisture retention capabilities. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t very good. Losing moisture at a rate of 0.26 grams per hour, consumers will encounter the same problem that came up with the freezer: It’s fine for storing items in the very short term, but if you stock up on fruits and vegetables, you may find them spoiling rather quickly.

Based on the national average cost of power, this Black & Decker will cost you an average of $19.46 per year to operate. It’s not as cheap as some other similarly sized models, but still quite reasonable.

Conclusion

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As far as compacts go, this Black & Decker is decent, especially for the relatively low price.

The biggest draw for the Black & Decker BCD33B is its split compartments. Unlike single door compacts, which typically have a fridge section with a small internal ice shelf, this one has a physically separate freezer compartment. True, the temperature performance there was shoddy, but as long as you eat things quickly, it’s nice to have enough space to store more than one item at a time. The price isn’t bad, either: It has an MSRP of $158.96, with sale prices available online as low as $128. You shouldn't expect a compact to have the same performance as a $3,000 French door, so for what it's worth, the Black & Decker BCD33B is a decent fridge for a dorm, office, or workshop.

Science Introduction

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The Black & Decker BCD33B surprised us with its fridge performance, which was consistent. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about its freezer performance: Temperatures were inconsistent and actually getting groceries to freeze took far too long.

Fridge Storage

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Don't expect a whole lot of storage from this Black & Decker.

Fridge storage is broken up for a simple arrangement of two shelves and a drawer. The total amount of usable space is just 1.82 cubic feet. It’s worth noting that the drawer doesn’t have a lot of space and will likely be able to hold enough produce for one person… barely. The door contributes to the storage total by offering two shelves and a can dispenser. The can dispenser’s usefulness is somewhat limited, as putting items other than cans in that section may not be worth the trouble.

Freezer storage is quite simplistic: the large open cavity holds about 0.97 cubic feet worth of items. The shallow shelf adds a small amount to that overall number, though its lack of depth means it’ll only be suitable for certain types of items.

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Freezing Performance

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If you can manage to fit something in the freezer, it'll take its sweet time freezing.

It took almost two hours to freeze a room-temperature item. You should stay away from keeping frozen items in this model for an extended duration since it’s going to take the freezer a long time to put it into a state of cold preservation in the first place!

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Power Loss

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Keep the freezer door closed and this Black & Decker will keep your item(s) frozen.

Surprisingly, the Black & Decker managed to pass our power loss test. After 36 hours, items in its freezer were still frozen. It may not be very good at cooling items quickly, but as long as the door stays closed the insulation is quite effective.

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Other Tests

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Meet the tester

Matthew Zahnzinger

Matthew Zahnzinger

Logistics Manager & Staff Writer

@ReviewedHome

Matthew is a native of Brockton, MA and a graduate of Northeastern, where he earned a degree in English and Theatre. He has also studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and spends most of his free time pursuing a performance career in the greater Boston area.

See all of Matthew Zahnzinger's reviews

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