The category of mini- or undercounter refrigerators includes everything from portable beverage coolers that hold no more than a six-pack of cans and plug into a 12-volt outlet in your car, truck or RV, to freestanding mini refrigerator-freezers found in so many dorm rooms, to built-in undercounter refrigerators and freezers. Built-in undercounter refrigerators also include the European-designed refrigerator drawers and freezer drawers found in many high-end homes today, and outdoor refrigerators seen on lanais and patios. All are more flexible and versatile than their full-size cousins.

The key advantage of all of these specialty refrigerators and freezers are their compact size. Some are small enough to be truly portable and can be used in cars, trucks, campers, as well as homes, dorms and offices. Others are a little larger and heavier, making them less portable, but still smaller and more versatile than full-size refrigerators and freezers.

Here are six major reasons and/or uses for mini-refrigerators or undercounter refrigerators and freezers:

1. If you live in a multi-story home, you may want to have access to cold drinks and snacks or frozen treats without having to make a trip to the main floor where the kitchen is located. This could include an undercounter refrigerator-freezer at a lower level wet bar or family room, a coffee/beverage center in a luxurious second-floor master suite or even in a second-floor teen retreat.

2. If you are a college student living in a dorm room or you live in a studio apartment or rent a room, you may not have space for or access to a full-size refrigerator-freezer.

3. Some large kitchens in upscale new homes and high-end home renovations include supplemental refrigerator and freezer space designed for kids’ drinks and snacks or for beverages for guests. In these applications, conventional undercounter refrigerators and freezers, as well as the newer refrigerator and freezers drawers are often utilized.

4. Undercounter refrigerators and freezers are also becoming more common in outdoor kitchens on covered lanais and patios, where portable barbecue grills are replaced by built-in grills, wood-fired pizza ovens, burners for simmering sauces and side dishes and abundant counter space for food prep.

5. In renovations of small kitchens, particularly small galley kitchens, more and more people are choosing undercounter refrigerators and freezers, including refrigerator and freezer drawers, in their efforts to open up the kitchen to other living spaces and make these small kitchens feel more spacious. By replacing a full-size refrigerator with an undercounter model, taking down walls separating the kitchen from dining or living rooms and replacing upper cabinets with open shelving, the kitchen can be better integrated into open concept living which has become so popular in recent years.

6. If you are a business owner or office manager, you might want to add a mini refrigerator or undercounter refrigerator for cold drinks in or adjacent to conference rooms, office coffee stations and/or office kitchens.

Mini or undercounter refrigerators are more versatile and less expensive than their full-size counterparts, but like all appliances, keep in mind that the lowest priced models may not necessarily be the most reliable, best designed or have the longest life.