The recommended freezer temperature is typically around 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius). This temperature is cold enough to keep food frozen and prevent bacteria growth and spoilage, ensuring your frozen food stays safe and maintains its quality.
The recommended freezer temperature to keep food safe is at or below 0°F (-18°C), making higher temperatures less reliable for long-term freezer storage. However, freezer temperatures may need to be adjusted by a few degrees to account for factors like location, humidity or outside temperatures.
Meat will not freeze at 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius).
Whilst it is recommended to keep your freezer below -18 degrees Celsius, it is important to not drop the temperature too low. Although 4-star freezers can operate down to -25°C, over time foods frozen at this temperature may start to dry out, causing freezer burn or a loss in quality.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that your refrigerator temperature should be 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 It OK for Your Freezer To Be Set at 10 Degrees? Setting your freezer to 10 degrees Fahrenheit is generally not recommended for long-term food storage. Food stored at this temperature is at a higher risk of spoilage and freezer burn, as well as the growth of bacteria and other pathogens.
To store frozen foods at best quality, keep the freezer set to maintain zero (0 °F or -17.8 °C).
CAN YOUR FREEZER BE TOO COLD? Yes, your freezer can be too cold. If this is the case, you may need to adjust the temperature to 0ºF (-18ºC) or shift frozen items around to help encourage proper airflow. Parts of your freezer may also have worn out over time, affecting your appliance's freezing capabilities.
Avoiding Freezer Burn
The ideal temperature for a commercial freezer is between 0°F / -18°C and -20°F / -29°C. If the temperature in your freezer fluctuates, it will cause ice crystals to form on your food. These ice crystals will dry out your food and cause freezer burn.
Be sure to check the electrical outlet, thermostat and airflow around vents. Cooling problems can also be caused by dust on condenser coils, faulty gaskets, clearance space around the refrigerator, a broken or stuck condenser fan or a faulty circuit board.
Body tissues can actually freeze when they are exposed to extended extreme cold conditions causing physical injury and permanent changes in the skin. It takes only minutes for exposed skin to become frostbitten if the temperature is below 20 degrees F and wind chill values of 18 below zero or lower.
Freezer Temperatures
The temperature of a freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit so everything stays very cold. A freezer should be cold enough to keep food frozen and preserve it until they are ready to be cooked or reheated.
When is it safe to refreeze food? You can safely refreeze frozen food that has thawed—raw or cooked, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. To safely refreeze, the thawed product must have been kept cold at 40 degrees or below for no more than 3-4 days.
People can freeze to death at any temperature under 32 degrees F (0 degrees C).
The refrigerator temperature should remain under 40 degrees in all sections. Don't leave perishable foods out of refrigeration for more than two hours.
A full freezer will stay at a safe temperature for about 48 hours. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140°F and if you consume these foods, you can become very sick.
Food can still be frozen when the freezer is set warmer than -18°C. In fact, food will begin to freeze at 0°C (the well-known freezing point). However, food that's kept frozen between 0°C and -17°C will sacrifice safety and quality.
You can always err on the safe side and lower the temperature below 0°F—your freezer can never be too cold. “Most recommendations are for a range of temperatures but in reality, there is no temperature that is too low for freezers,” says Tetro. “Most freezers do have a lower limit of around -10°F (-23°C).”
To ensure that your refrigerator is doing its job, it's important to keep its temperature at 40 °F or below; the freezer should be at 0 °F.
Changes in temperature in an unheated garage can be hard on these appliances. "You need to make sure that the unit is not exposed to temperatures above 110° F or below 0° F, because that may damage the freezer," says Larry Ciufo, a CR project leader who tests large appliances.
Storing food
Ensure your fridges and freezers are set to the recommended temperatures. Fridges and chilled display equipment should be set at 8˚C or below as a legal requirement. A freezer should be -18°C.
You see a layer of ice on the walls
One of the surest signs that something's not right in your freezer is a layer of frost or ice on the walls.
F is the New A
But this isn't as scary as it sounds - although an F rating under the old system is dreadfully inefficient, new E and F classes will still be high efficiency appliances. Initially A rated appliances will be very rare - generally B will be the highest rating.
If the environment is too cold, the freezer may not get sufficient run time to maintain its temperature. If the temperature is too warm, the appliance will have a hard time getting the interior down to the desired temperature. Dirty condenser coils or a broken fan motor can also cause insufficient freezing.
WHAT TEMPERATURE IS TOO COLD FOR A FREEZER? Storing frozen food at 0ºF (-17ºC) will help keep everything from homemade maple bacon ice cream to the week's meal prepped ingredients preserved, but temperatures colder than 0ºF are unnecessary for food preservation.