However, if your freezer is running too cold or there's a fluctuation in temperature, this may cause freezer burn. Check for ice crystals on the outside of food. While food with freezer burn is usually safe to eat, the food's flavor and texture may be compromised.
A freezer, according to food safety standards, should be anywhere between -10°F & 10°F. Anything under can risk freezer burn, and anything over can risk bacteria growth.
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.
The ideal temperature for most household freezers is 0°F (-18°C) or lower. At this temperature, food can be safely stored for an extended period without compromising its quality.
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.
Frost or ice build-up on freezer walls can be one of the signs your freezer is too cold. First, check the temperature setting to make sure it's within a degree of 0ºF (-18ºC) and adjust accordingly. If you notice ice crystals on frozen food, these items may be freezer burned due to colder or fluctuating temps.
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.
The short time limits for home-refrigerated foods will help keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely.
The ideal temperature in a freezer is 0 °F or -18 °C.
If your freezer is not cold, the problem may be caused by a broken condenser fan motor. The condenser fan draws cool air through the condenser and over your freezer's coils. If this fan is broken, your freezer's inner temperature will rise, and the compressor will overheat.
Anything above the USDA-recommended 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) is not ideal. At 7 degrees Fahrenheit, the food inside the freezer will not be at a safe temperature for storage and may be at risk for bacterial growth, spoilage, and foodborne illness.
A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, however, its quality may suffer.
Refrigerators work by comparing the thermostat temperature setting inside the fridge to the environment around them. They are designed for room temperatures, so a very cold garage may keep them from working well.
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.
Keeping perishable foods safe means keeping them out of the “Temperature Danger Zone.” This danger zone is the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, which has been shown to promote and encourage the growth of bacteria in perishable foods.
Discard heated leftovers. Thawed cakes, biscuits, breads, fruits and fruit juices are okay to refreeze once if no strong 'yeasty' smell. Thawed snap frozen meat, poultry or fish is okay to refreeze if still below 4°C or transported and handled safely and spent less than 2 hours in temperature danger zone.
Leave the freezer door closed. Frozen foods that have reached temperatures of 40 °F and above for more than two hours are not safe to eat. Discard these items.
“Most freezers do have a lower limit of around -10°F (-23°C).” Being extra cold may only mean it takes longer for your ice cream to soften up. Fink adds that “a freezer set below 0°F (-18°C) will not make food unsafe to eat [or harm your food], though it may raise your energy bill due to using extra power.”
To store frozen foods at best quality, keep the freezer set to maintain zero (0 °F or -17.8 °C). Some combination refrigerator-freezers cannot keep the freezer air that cold. As long as foods are solidly frozen, they will stay safe.
Make sure the food is at the correct temperature, i.e. +8°C or colder for chilled food ( best at +2⁰C to +5°C) and no warmer than (minus) -12°C (preferably -18°C) for frozen food. I t is good practice to write down the delivery temperatures so that you can show that the food was delivered at the correct temperatures.
The ideal temperature for your freezer is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but -10 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit should be fine. If the temperature is any lower, or if it's a little low and you want to get it just right, try moving the gauge to 0 degrees and check again in 24 hours after it has had time to adjust.
The ideal freezer temperature is -18°C.
This may need to be adjusted slightly depending on your environment, however, this is always the best temperature to start with.
Temperature Affects Ice Production
The Refrigerator and icemaker must be at proper temperature. The recommended fresh food temperature is 37° Fahrenheit; the freezer recommended temperature is 0° Fahrenheit. The icemaker must reach about 16°Fahrenheit before a cycle will begin.