To enable smarter, more versatile, and more energy efficient domestic refrigerators, advanced cycle architectures and controllers are needed. Specifically, a multi-evaporator vapor-injected cycle architecture has been investigated in our previous work, and initial theoretical assessments estimated nearly 13% reduction in power consumption compared to a baseline existing system. Then, a mechanistic vapor-injected reciprocating compressor model was developed to evaluate the design trade-offs between injection location and timing. Modeling results showed up to 10.7% decrease in specific work required and a parametric study revealed the importance of injection timing (the moment injection occurs during the compression) on the compressor efficiency. This work describes the design, manufacturing, and test results of a prototype vapor-injected reciprocating compressor, with focus on compressor’s operation characteristics with respect to injection timing. The fast-acting solenoid valve’s ability to control the injection timing of refrigerant entering the compression cylinder to occur during the compression process following the suction intake of refrigerant as well as the compressor’s reduction in specific work, previously only predicted theoretically, were first confirmed with the experimental results. The results further showed the specific work increased when the injection occurred later in the compression process with condensing, suction and injection pressures fixed due to reduced injection flow rate. The experimental analyses were able to identify the trade-off between injection timing, injected mass flow rate and specific work. The validated compressor model helped verify these findings and was used to identify the optimal injection timing and will inform next prototype.