Black & Decker 2.5 Cu. Ft. Energy Star Compact Refrigerator with Freezer

I put this compact fridge through its paces in a home office and a small workshop corner over several weeks, using it for drinks, leftovers, and a couple of frozen essentials. It’s a simple machine—manual thermostat, manual defrost, a straightforward layout—but that simplicity is part of its charm. If you want set-and-forget convenience with minimal noise and a small footprint, this Black+Decker mini fridge mostly delivers, with a few caveats you should know before you buy.

Setup and design

The first thing I appreciated was how easy it is to place. The flat-back design tucks cleanly against a wall, and the adjustable leveling legs let me square it up on a slightly uneven floor. The recessed handle keeps the profile clean, and the reversible door is genuinely useful; I flipped the hinge to accommodate a tight corner in my office in about 20 minutes with a screwdriver. You’ll still want to leave a couple inches of clearance around the sides and back for airflow, even with the flat-back condenser routing.

At 26.6 inches tall and under 19 inches wide, it slips under a desk or workbench comfortably. It’s lighter than I expected for the size, and moving it solo wasn’t a problem.

Capacity and layout

For a 2.5 cu. ft. unit, the interior is well thought out:

• Two full-width glass shelves slide out easily and make cleanup simple compared to wire racks. The shelves help with temperature uniformity and prevent small items from tipping over.
• The door has a full-width shelf that actually fits tall bottles; I had no trouble parking a 2-liter soda and a 1L seltzer side-by-side.
• There’s a can dispenser for five 12 oz. cans. It sounds minor, but it keeps the main compartment less cluttered, and cans don’t roll around.
• Up top is a full-width freezer compartment with an included ice tray. It’s not a separate, independently thermostated freezer; it’s a cold-plate style compartment, typical of compact fridges.

In practice, I could handle a week of beverages, condiments, and a couple of small leftovers without feeling cramped, provided I stayed organized. This isn’t a “stuff it to the gills” appliance; airflow matters for performance.

Cooling performance

Out of the box, the thermostat is a simple numbered dial. I recommend getting an inexpensive fridge thermometer and dialing it in. With the control set around 4 (on a typical 1–7 scale), I measured the main compartment cycling between roughly 34°F and 39°F under moderate use, which is right where you want it for safe food storage. Pushing the dial higher will make it run very cold; I accidentally froze a bag of salad on the top shelf during early testing.

Temperature stability is good for a compact unit if you don’t overpack it and avoid frequent long door openings. The coldest zone is near the top/back (closest to the freezer plate), so I kept dairy and proteins lower and drinks up top. If you need ultra-stable temperatures for temperature-sensitive items, use a dedicated unit; mini fridges inherently swing more than full-size refrigerators.

Freezer performance

The full-width freezer is best treated as a “short-term” option. It made ice reliably and kept ice cream firm when I wasn’t opening the door much. With the thermostat set aggressively cold, I saw the compartment dip close to 0°F, but it will warm noticeably after a few door openings and rides closer to the mid-teens to low 20s in normal, mixed use. That’s fine for ice trays, frozen veggies, or a couple of frozen meals for the week. It’s not ideal for long-term meat storage or bulk freezing.

Because of the design, frost accumulates on the freezer surfaces and sometimes along the back wall of the fridge compartment. That brings us to maintenance.

Manual defrost and maintenance

This is a manual defrost unit. If frost builds thicker than about 1/4 inch, your efficiency and cooling suffer. My cadence was every ~6–8 weeks in regular use, more often in humid weather or if I opened the door frequently. Defrosting is simple but you do have to plan for it:

1. Unplug the unit and remove food.
2. Prop the door, place towels to catch melt.
3. Let it thaw naturally. Don’t chip with sharp tools or blast with a hair dryer—you can damage the liner.
4. Wipe dry, then plug back in and let it get cold before restocking.

You’ll also see condensation dripping from the back wall during normal operation; that’s expected. Keep items slightly away from the back surface and wipe any pooled water during defrost.

Noise and energy

Noise is pleasantly low. The compressor hums softly and cycles on and off without sharp clicks. In a quiet office, I noticed it but didn’t find it distracting; it’s quieter than many bargain mini fridges. Vibration was minimal once I leveled the feet.

Energy-wise, it’s Energy Star certified and uses R600a refrigerant. Over a month of typical use, my plug-in meter showed modest power draw consistent with other efficient compacts. The manual defrost design helps—no energy-hungry heaters cycling in the background.

Everyday usability

• The door seal is firm and didn’t drift out of alignment after reversing the door, which sometimes happens with budget units.
• The glass shelves are the right choice here; they improve temperature consistency and make spills painless to clean.
• The can rack is a better use of door space than a second narrow shelf in a fridge this size.
• The recessed handle and flat sides make it easy to slide under furniture without catching.
• The thermostat doesn’t show degrees, so the external thermometer is worth the few dollars.

One note: compact refrigerators can struggle if placed in very hot spaces (garages in summer, non-conditioned sheds). Keep it in a climate-controlled room for best results.

What I’d change

• A clearer thermostat scale or a factory temperature guide would reduce trial-and-error for new users.
• The freezer door flap could seal more tightly; opening the main door briefly warms the compartment more than I’d like.
• Including a simple drip tray or channel for defrost water would make maintenance cleaner.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth noting.

Who it’s for

• Students and office workers who need reliable cold drinks and a few perishables.
• Guest rooms, bar setups, or workshops where a quiet, compact fridge is a plus.
• Small households looking to supplement a main fridge with beverage storage.

Who should look elsewhere: anyone needing very stable, medical-grade temperatures or long-term frozen storage. For those use cases, step up to a unit with a separate, independently cooled freezer or a purpose-built medical/temperature-controlled model.

Tips for best results

• Give it breathing room: at least 2 inches on the sides and back.
• Level it carefully so the door seals evenly.
• Use a fridge thermometer and aim for 35–38°F in the main compartment.
• Don’t overpack; leave a bit of space behind items for air to circulate.
• Defrost when frost hits 1/4 inch thickness or cooling performance starts slipping.

Warranty and build

The stated warranty is 1 year on parts and labor (manufacturing defects) and 2 years on the compressor part. The build feels solid for the price: doors don’t wobble, shelves don’t flex, and the finish resists fingerprints reasonably well. It’s a licensed Black+Decker product and meets DOE 2014 efficiency standards.

Recommendation

I recommend this Black+Decker mini fridge for anyone who needs a compact, efficient, and quiet refrigerator for everyday use in a dorm, office, bedroom, or workshop. It cools effectively when set up properly, the layout makes smart use of limited space, and the Energy Star rating keeps operating costs in check. The tradeoffs—manual defrost and a freezer that’s best for short-term storage—are typical for the category. If you can live with periodic defrosting and you don’t need long-term frozen storage, this little unit is a dependable, space-saving choice.