My verdict
The strongest reason to choose the BCRK17B is restraint: enough refrigerated space for a modest routine without giving a tall fridge a permanent place in the room. I would shortlist it for a personal office or a limited bedroom supply.
The limitation is equally clear. A 1.7 cu. ft. total asks you to shop and organise around a small interior. Its internal compartment has short-term frozen-storage limits, so I would not buy it to hold the week’s frozen dinners.
Reasons to choose it
- Shorter cabinet than the counter-height models.
- Slide-out glass shelf and reversible door.
- A documented annual energy figure for cost estimates.
Reasons to choose differently
- Limited space for a larger food supply.
- Internal compartment is not the same proposition as a separate freezer.
- Exact container fit needs checking.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Exact model | BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B |
| Total capacity | 1.7 cu. ft. |
| Cabinet W × D × H | 17.5 × 18.5 × 19.7 in. |
| Defrost | Manual |
| Annual energy | 201 kWh/year (published) |
| Documented supply | 115 V / 60 Hz; follow the exact electrical instructions |
Work backward from the lunch you pack
I would start with the actual lunch box, bottle and food containers you use most often. Check their dimensions against the shelf opening and door storage. The removable glass shelf gives flexibility, but removing it also removes a storage level.
The small internal compartment should be understood on its own terms. If frozen food is central to the routine, the Midea or GE separate-freezer layout is a more appropriate starting point. A marketplace “with freezer” phrase does not remove the documented limitation.
The official layout includes one slide-out glass shelf and door storage. Confirm loose accessories, including any ice tray, with the actual package. Do not infer inclusion from an image of a related colour or size.
Choose the short cabinet for a small, repeatable routine
The BCRK17B is 13.3 inches shorter than the 33-inch Midea WHD-113FSS1 cabinet. That is its clearest space advantage. The width difference is only one inch, so I would not describe it as a dramatic saving in every direction. The closed cabinet occupies about 2.25 square feet, calculated from 17.5 × 18.5 inches; ventilation and opening space are additional.
I would choose this model when restocking a modest personal supply is easy. A large lunch container, an upright bottle and an internal compartment can compete for a small number of useful shelf positions. A paper outline of your everyday containers is a better buying check than assuming a 1.7 cu. ft. rating translates into a particular number of meals.
The published 201 kWh/year gives a five-year electricity example of $180.90 at 18 cents per kWh. That assumes the same annual use and tariff throughout; it excludes the purchase price, maintenance and any replacement. The energy-use guide explains how to substitute your own rate. A lower energy total does not make this small fridge the right substitute for a needed freezer.
| Your situation | My choice and reason |
|---|---|
| One person’s lunch and a few refrigerated essentials | The BCRK17B is a sensible candidate if the containers fit and the placement follows its instructions. |
| Several large lunch boxes at once | Compare a larger food fridge. Removing the only glass shelf to fit one item can make organisation harder. |
| Frozen dinners throughout the week | Choose the Midea or GE separate-freezer layout instead of relying on the short-term internal compartment. |
Check the installation before ordering
The listed cabinet measures 17.5 inches wide, 18.5 inches deep and 19.7 inches high. Allow at least the documented two inches behind and check the remaining installation and door-clearance requirements for the supplied unit.
A reversible door can help with placement, but follow the model’s conversion instructions and keep the required hinge and opening space. The lower height does not establish that the fridge is suitable for every desk recess or surface.
Evidence and source notes ↗Living with this fridge
Use the recommended control setting as a starting point and verify actual temperatures. The control number is not a degree reading. Keep the small storage area from becoming so crowded that it interferes with the intended airflow.
The published annual energy figure is 201 kWh. At an illustrative 18 cents per kWh, that is $36.18 per year. This lower total is for a much smaller appliance than the two-door alternatives, so it is not a like-for-like capacity comparison.
When evaluating an offer, the warranty exclusions matter as much as the price: the linked warranty does not treat refurbished, second-hand or as-is units like qualifying new purchases. I would keep an apparently cheap resale offer separate from a new-unit comparison. The budget guide shows how delivery and condition change that decision.
Support, condition and warranty
Manual: one year parts and labour, plus two years on the compressor part only, with carry-in service conditions. Refurbished, like-new, second-hand and as-is purchases are excluded; this is not two years of full appliance coverage.
Use the BCRK17B/BCRK17V/BCRK17W official support entry, while matching the black BCRK17B unit you are buying. Keep the seller details and receipt and verify the applicable warranty and return conditions.
Check the door seal and cooling promptly after the instructed start-up process. An individual owner report of failure is a reason to perform sensible checks, not evidence of a known failure rate for the model.
When I would choose a different model
My pick for food + frozen meals
Midea WHD-113FSS1
Choose the separate-freezer Midea when frozen meals are a regular requirement and there is room for a taller cabinet.
Read the full WHD-113FSS1 review →
My pick for a dedicated drinks corner
Whynter BR-1211DS
Consider a dedicated drinks layout when sealed cans and bottles dominate the load and the much larger cabinet fits. It solves a different job from lunch storage.
Read the full BR-1211DS review →Before you buy
Match BCRK17B in black; do not silently switch to another colour suffix or larger capacity. Check the selected condition and delivered total. The model is a budget candidate to price-check, not a guaranteed under-$100 or under-$150 deal.
Amazon presented both a Buy New option from Amazon.com and a separate resale option in the checked listing. I would select the condition deliberately. The linked BLACK+DECKER warranty excludes like-new and second-hand purchases, so a resale discount should not be compared with a qualifying new purchase as though the coverage were identical.
I would buy it only after confirming that the everyday containers fit without constantly rearranging the whole fridge.
Evidence and source notes ↗Questions before you choose
Can I store frozen meals in the BCRK17B?
Its internal compartment is limited to short-term frozen storage. For a regular supply of frozen meals, choose a documented separate-freezer model and check actual temperatures.
Does the smaller cabinet mean it is quieter?
No controlled comparison establishes that here. Size alone is not a sound-performance measurement.
Is the door reversible?
The documented design has a reversible door. Follow the exact instructions and check the installation space after any change.