What should my refrigerator be set at

What’s the temperature inside your refrigerator and freezer? There is a narrow temperature range where your food will stay fresh – and safe – longest. Find out how cold to keep your refrigerator and freezer, how to check, and why it’s important.

What should my refrigerator be set at

What should my refrigerator be set at

What Should My Refrigerator Temperature Be?

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Your refrigerator is a very important part of food safety in your home. The temperature inside your refrigerator needs to be cold enough to inhibit bacterial growth, and warm enough so the food doesn’t freeze. Refrigerators should be set to 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) or colder. A good temperature range for a refrigerator is between 34-38 degrees F (1-3 degrees C).

Monitor the temperature inside your refrigerator with an appliance thermometer. Refrigerator thermometers are designed to be more accurate at lower temperatures (compared to a meat or oven thermometer that is designed to be more accurate at higher temperatures). Even if your refrigerator has a temperature indicator, it’s a good idea to purchase an appliance thermometer. This one even has the “safe zone” labeled, so you don’t have to think about it! Refrigerators often have warm and cool spots. Move your thermometer around in your refrigerator for a couple of days to get a “map” of the temperature fluctuations. When you’re organizing your refrigerator, keep things like milk, other dairy products, eggs, and meats in the colder areas. Save the “warmer” areas of your refrigerator for produce, condiments, or other items that have a longer shelf life.

Temperatures between 34-38 degrees F (1-3 degrees C) will not kill bacteria and mold. Temperatures between 34-38 degrees F slow bacterial growth, but do not kill bacteria. But (as I’m sure we’ve all seen) food will still spoil in a refrigerator. Spoiled food or leaking fluid from raw meat or poultry can quickly contaminate a refrigerator, any surfaces they come in contact with, and any food they touch. Any spoiled food should be immediately thrown away. Any spills should be immediately cleaned. Good refrigerator organization can help to decrease the chances of cross-contamination of other foods in the refrigerator. Always keep raw meats and poultry inside a lipped container, and on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator to reduce the risk of accidental cross-contamination. Find more tips for organizing your refrigerator here.

Read this post on The Real Farmwives of America & Friends for some more tips to keep your refrigerator cold.

What Should My Freezer Temperature Be?

Your freezer should be kept at 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C) or lower. Temperatures below 0 degrees F do temporarily inactivate bacteria or mold, but do not kill them. While the food is frozen, there will be no damage to the food, no rot, and no multiplying bacteria. Most foods can be kept for an extended period of time in the freezer. Over time, frozen foods may start to dry out, causing freezer burn or a loss in quality. These foods are still safe to eat, but may not taste good.

Once frozen food is thawed, the bacteria and molds that were frozen are also thawed, and can now multiply and grow. Once food is thawed, it should be handled like any fresh food. (Check out this post for more information about thawing meats, and this post for information specific to thawing turkey.)

After frozen foods are thawed, they can be refrozen. Follow these guidelines for frozen food safety:

  • Thawed foods, in the refrigerator – use or refreeze within 2-3 days
  • Thawed foods, kept at room temperature – refrigerate or refreeze within 2 hours
  • Thawed foods, cooked then refrigerated – use or refreeze within 3 days

If your freezer loses power and food thaws, the food inside may be edible. Keep an appliance thermometer in your freezer so you know what the temperature is. As long as the temperature is below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C), the food will be safe to eat (following these refrigerator guidelines) or refreeze. Once the temperature rises above 40 degrees F, the food should be thrown away.

Printable Cheat Sheet for How Cold Should My Refrigerator & Freezer Be?

Do you want an easy way to remember how to set your refrigerator and freezer temperatures? Click here to download your free printable cheat sheet!

Though 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.

This Fridge Storage Mistake Could Ruin Your Groceries

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 Friend

So 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.

Is 34 too cold for refrigerator?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you keep your refrigerator temperature at or below 40°F and your freezer temperature at or below 0°F. However, the ideal refrigerator temperature is actually lower. Aim to stay between 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C).

Is a fridge colder on 1 or 5?

Some fridges don't show the temperature but work on a setting that is listed from 1 to 5. The numbers on the fridge's temperature dial indicate the refrigerating power. Therefore, the higher the setting, the cooler the fridge will be. Choosing setting 5 will make your fridge the coldest.

What is the best room temperature for a refrigerator?

Extreme Temperatures Can Damage Fridge The temperature of the room that a refrigerator is in should be between 60ºF and 95ºF.