<p>The fridge that I might be using (starting this fall) has
a small tray that works as a freezer (inside the fridge..)
so it might not be big enough..
I'm not sure if I should get a fridge that has a separate freezer on top
How often do you guys use freezer in a dorm room?</p>
<p>I had the same question. The response I got was that it is not a good idea to have a freezer because when it gets all icy on the inside you have to defrost it and it’s a pain in the butt. I thought I wanted one, but now I’m not so sure. Anyone who’s already been in college a year have advice?</p>
<p>My freshman year, I had the freezer as a separate compartment (rented). My sophomore year, I had a fridge with the small tray (shared with my roommate). I liked the compartment one better because those trays either got too cold or not cold enough, and it was hard to regulate the temperature. I’d recommend the separated one if it’s not too expensive and can fit in the space.</p>
<p>It wouldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>I had the shelf freezer when I lived in a dorm. It worked out fine, I rarely actually used it, and when I did - the only things I ever put in there were those microwaveable meals (flat, fit in perfectly) or those little pint-sized ice creams.</p>
<p>They are a pain to defrost because (at least with my fridge) you had to put the tray beneath the freezer, turn the fridge off, and then the water would collect in the tray. The problem was the tray was extremely shallow and sometimes there would be more ice than the tray could hold…which equals huge mess. </p>
<p>And trying to get the tray out, on those off days when it hasn’t already overflown, without spilling the water was an Olympic event.</p>
<p>The small tray was good enough for my roommate and I, but we had very little frozen stuff. If you want to have a constant supply of ice cream, or live off of frozen meals, then you should probably get a separate freezer.</p>
<p>The freezer can be a pain to defrost (which you have to do every time that you are kicked out of your dorm and the electricity is shut off, which will be at least winter and summer break). My room opened to the outside, so I just hauled my fridge out the door and left it there to defrost (my campus is pretty safe, nobody was going to steal it). If you live in a dorm with inside halls, up a considerable number of floors, or on a crime ridden campus then it will really become a pain. The fact of the matter is that you’re going to have to defrost your freezer regardless of what type it is, so it might not actually be a whole lot worse if the freezer is separate.</p>