Russell Hobbs Stainless Steel Effect mini fridge review

This attractive cube-style fridge from Russell Hobbs stood out from the other mini fridges on test for its stylish stainless-steel effect finish.

We loved that it was an effect rather than real steel as cleaning was super easy and it needed no polishing either. The fridge hardly marked at all even with constant use, but when it did (with very sticky fingers), it cleaned up in a flash with just a cloth and warm water.

With these good looks and practicality, the Russell Hobbs will not look out of place on any worktop or desk. It's also useful that the door is reversible, plus this function is easy to work with, thus opening up the possibility for it to fit in many different spaces.

The fridge has only 43 litres of internal space so it wasn't the largest on the test, but it will store a reasonable amount of food and drink with a little rearranging.

Though the wire shelf of the main compartment is not adjustable, it can be removed, opening up space and making it useful for more substantial items, particularly large drinks bottles.

The bottle rack in the door has a flexible wire rail meaning larger bottles can be stored securely, a useful addition on any fridge. Making the most of these features alone helped with space.

There's a six-point thermostat which moved easily and cooled down rapidly when turned to high. We used a mid-range setting and saw steady temperatures on our thermometers throughout the test.

This reliability comes from the secure closing of the door, which tightly sealed the fridge. All food and drink stored well. Though the salad started to wane after four days, the milk was still going strong after a week.

The Russell Hobbs fridge has a respectable A+ rating and was slightly noisier than most when the compressor comes on from time to time.

We loved the aesthetic and sturdy build of this great little fridge. It may not be the largest but nonetheless is a useful addition to a home or office.

Specifications:
Style: tabletop, freestanding
Litreage: 43L
Dimensions: H49 cm x W47cm x D45cm
Cooling: compressor
Defrosting: manual
Noise: 42db
Energy rating: A+

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This review was last updated in May 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.