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both safe food storage and efficient energy consumption. How do you strike the perfect balance between safe temperature settings and efficiency? Grab an appliance thermometer, and use these temperature guidelines to set your refrigerator and freezer to the ideal temperature. The
ideal refrigerator temperature range is 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. On most fridge dials, there’s a small range of numbers instead of actual temperatures. A higher number will make the temperature colder. If the fridge is too cold and items are freezing, adjust the dial down to a lower number. To reduce energy consumption while keeping your food items perfectly chilled,
avoid placing the refrigerator next to the stove, dishwasher, or in direct sunlight. The wrong positioning can make your refrigerator work harder to stay cool. Other tips to achieve improved fridge energy
efficiency include cleaning the coils regularly and using the best refrigerator temperature for your specific model. If you notice the temperature inside the fridge is inconsistent, it may be time to schedule professional refrigerator repair services with Mr. Appliance®️. Or, if you believe
there may be an electrical system issue affecting the efficiency of your appliances, reach out to our fellow Neighborly® brand, Mr. Electric®️. Related Topic:
Refrigerator Maintenance Tips You Should Put into Practice What Temperature Should a Freezer Be?The ideal freezer temperature for standard freezers and fridge-freezers is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping food items at the right temperature in your freezer will help you avoid food spoilage. When frost is building up in your freezer, there may be too many temperature fluctuations or moisture in the freezer. This can happen when you place too-warm food items in the freezer, or it could be an appliance issue that requires repair. If the freezer temperature is not where it needs to be, adjust the dial, which is typically inside the unit on the side or front-and-center. Like your fridge settings, your freezer dial probably shows a small range of numbers instead of actual temperatures. The higher the number, the colder the temperature. If your freezer is full, you won’t need to set the dial as high because the items insulate each other. What’s the Right Deep Freezer Temperature?The ideal deep freezer temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Most food items stored at this temperature are safe to eat indefinitely, although the taste and quality may decrease if too much time passes before you use them. If food freezes at 32 degrees, why set it at 0 degrees? The lower temperature slows down the food’s deterioration process, which extends the amount of time it can be stored. Related Topic: Can I Keep My Fridge/Freezer in the Garage Safely? Maintain Your Fridge and Freezer the Right WayMany homeowners overlook the importance of fridge and freezer maintenance, which can lead to food spoilage, premature appliance problems and costly replacement. Devoting the proper attention to your essential appliances can help them performance better and last longer. Contact your local Mr. Appliance for routine maintenance or repairs by scheduling an appointment or calling (888) 998-2011. Previous Post Next PostThough it's used more than anything else in your kitchen, the humble refrigerator/freezer generally doesn't merit much consideration. You put food in, and it stays refrigerated or frozen, and you pull that food back out when you need it. It's the kind of appliance you only really pay attention to when something goes wrong, or there's a power outage. However, the truth is that there's a lot more to the refrigerator than you might expect. A temperature fluctuation of just a few degrees could be the difference between perfectly preserved food and a breeding ground for bacteria. Luckily, it's not that hard to get things right. So, What's the Optimal Temperature for a Refrigerator?According to the FDA, the food in your refrigerator should be stored at or below 40ºF. That temperature prevents the growth of bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and C. botulinum (which causes botulism). Given that the same FDA regularly posts recall notices about these sorts of bacterial outbreaks hospitalizing people, you probably don't want to invite them into your fridge. While 40ºF is the important number to remember, you shouldn't cut it too close. Especially if you have a refrigerator whose temperature settings operate on a one to five scale, you should aim for something closer to 35 and 37 degrees. Too much higher and you're running the risk of crossing that dangerous 40ºF threshold, any lower and you're running the risk of freezing anything liquid in there. Does My Freezer's Temperature Matter?You'd be forgiven for assuming that a freezer is humming along just fine if it's set below 32ºF, the freezing point of water. That's not the case, however. Similar to their 40ºF threshold for the fridge, the FDA advises that freezers should be set at 0ºF or lower. Emphasizing 0ºF instead of 0ºC for the freezer does a few things. Firstly, not everything you'll throw in there freezes right at 32ºF. Furthermore, opting for 0ºF makes sure everything in there can be safely eaten for an indefinite period of time. How Can I Tell the Temperature Inside My Fridge?As with any type of appliance, the features and functionality can vary widely from one fridge to the next. While one high-end fridge might provide you a temperature readout, what you're working with at home might not. To make matters even more complicated, Consumer Reports testing suggests the data you get isn't always accurate. "Some refrigerators are spot-on, but others are wide off the mark," Consumer Reports test engineer for refrigerators Joe Pacella said. "I've seen a few refrigerators be off by as much as 5º, which can be the difference between fresh and spoiled food." Your fridge might already provide you with an exact temperature reading, but it's no sweat to put a thermometer in there for some confirmation. Consider purchasing an analog or digital thermometer to keep track of the temperature in your fridge or freezer. Some of the analog options even use color-coded gauges to let you know when things are getting too warm or too cold. If you want that extra reassurance that your food is being kept properly cool, these thermometers are definitely a worthwhile investment. What Else Can I Do To Fix a Fridge's Temperature?There are a few reasons why a refrigerator's temperature might feel off, some of which are relatively easy DIY fixes. One important element is the seal on your doors. Cool air can leak out over time if the door gaskets, which create a tight, magnetic seal, aren't working properly. To test their efficacy, put a dollar bill between the door and the fridge, partly sticking out. If it takes a bit of a tug to yank it out, your door seal isn't the issue. But if it slides out without any force, the seal could use some work. The condenser coils, which create the cool air that makes your fridge work, can sometimes get clogged with dust or other stuff that keeps them from doing their job well. Cleaning them yourself is pretty easy, especially with a coil condenser brush and a vacuum. They're usually accessible at the lower back of your fridge, and even just a quick annual cleaning of them could keep your fridge in good working order. Then there's the matter of fridge organization. Make sure that the fridge isn't overstuffed, which can disrupt airflow. Furthermore, make sure the air vents, usually along the back wall or a side wall, aren't obstructed by a food item placed directly in front of them. Make the Fridge Your FriendSo while you might want to put a little more thought into the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer, it's not too difficult to keep things under control. Simply knowing what temperature to aim for is already half the battle. Once you've got that (literally) dialed in, the rest isn't too hard to handle. |
Best temperature settings for refrigerator and freezer
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