What is the best temperature for a fridge?

Author: Hugh Koss  |  Last update: Thursday, May 15, 2025

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 37 degrees too cold for a refrigerator?

Your refrigerator should be set at or below 40°F (4°C) to keep food safe and prevent bacterial growth. Ideally, the temperature for the refrigerator is around 37°F (3°C). For the freezer, the temperature should be 0°F (-18°C) or lower.

Will food go bad at 45 degrees?

45C-55C (113F to 131F) is right in ``danger zone'', which is the most hospitable environment for food borne pathogens to grow. It's not an issue of pasteurization. It is safe food holding temperatures. So, you want to avoid storing perishable food in this temperature range for more than 2 hours.

Is 42 degrees ok for a refrigerator?

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.

Should I set my fridge to 3 or 4?

The recommended temperature for a refrigerator is around 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 4 degrees Celsius). This range helps prevent bacterial growth and keeps your food fresh.

What Are The BEST Fridge & Freezer Temperature Settings? Learn Here

Is 4 too cold for a fridge?

Here's the short answer: 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit) or under. Nasty bacteria thrive at between 8 degrees and 63 degrees, known as the 'danger zone'. This is why the Food Standards Agency recommends keeping your fridge under 5 degrees to be safe.

Is number 3 ok for a fridge?

It is important to understand these optimal settings to ensure your food stays fresh and safe. For the fridge compartment, we recommend maintaining a temperature between 3°C to 5°C to slow bacterial growth and preserve perishable items effectively.

Is cheese safe at 45 degrees?

While the optimal temperature for cheese is between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, Cabot cheeses are hardy enough to withstand a short time period without refrigeration.

What is the best fridge temperature?

Most experts recommend that the ideal temperature setting for a refrigerator is between 35-38°F (1.6-3.3°C). This temp ensures food safety by giving a 2-5 degree buffer in case the temperature gauge isn't wholly accurate.

Is meat safe at 43 degrees?

Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was not out for more than four hours and the refrigerator door was kept shut. Discard any refrigerated perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs or leftovers) that has been at refrigerator temperatures above 40°F for four hours or more.

Is milk ok at 44 degrees?

By law, Grade A milk must be maintained at a temperature of 45 °F or below. Bacteria in milk will grow minimally below 45 °F. However, temperatures well below 40 °F are necessary to protect the milk's quality.

Which brand of refrigerator is the best?

Our Top Pick: LG produces excellent refrigerators that perform well in our tests and receive high satisfaction ratings from consumers, including our survey participants. The Smart French Door Refrigerator with Dual Ice Maker stands out for its simple, user-friendly design and customizable features.

Do eggs need to be refrigerated?

To reduce Salmonella growth, eggs gathered from laying hens should be refrigerated as soon as possible. After eggs are refrigerated, they need to stay that way. A cold egg left out at room temperature can sweat, facilitating the movement of bacteria into the egg.

Should I turn my fridge up or down if it's too cold?

If it's set too cold, set it higher and give it a day to adjust. Be sure to only adjust the temperature in relatively low increments, checking with a thermometer every 24 hours.

What number should I put my fridge on?

Based on these two factors here's the number your fridge should be set on: If you're always storing plenty of food you need the colder settings (3 to 4). If you're not storing as much choose between 2 and 3. If the temperature is very low, ice will form and it may prevent air circulation.

What should a fridge be set at in the summer?

You should keep your fridge temperature set at 3°C/37.4F and your freezer set at -19°C/-2.2F (or -18°C/-0.4F, depending on your model) all year-round.

What is the best temperature for a refrigerator?

Aim to stay between 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C).

Will food spoil in the fridge at 45 degrees?

Discard any refrigerated perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, or leftovers) that has been at refrigerator temperatures above 40°F for 4 hours or more.

What temperature should milk be kept at?

Ideally, milk should be stored in the refrigerator at 40 degrees F or below. Storing and serving milk at this temperature extends overall shelf-life and maximizes flavor. Store your milk in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door where it will be exposed to outside air every time someone opens it.

Is 43 degrees ok for a refrigerator?

The ideal refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below in the main part of the fridge. The optimal temperature for keeping foods cold is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're wondering what temperature should a refrigerator be, put a thermometer inside your fridge.

Are eggs ok at 45 degrees?

The USDA recommends that eggs at home be refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or just below (producers can store and transport them at up to 45 degrees).

How long will milk last at 45 degrees?

“Milk should not sit out of the refrigerator or cooler for longer than two hours,” she says. “Cut that time down to an hour in the summer if the temperature reaches 90 degrees.

Should a fridge be on 1 or 5?

To keep food cold and fresh but not frozen, it should be set somewhere between 3-5°C (37-40°F). Some fridges have a temperature reading, but most have a numbered dial. This usually goes from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest.

What is the lifespan of a good refrigerator?

Most refrigerators are designed to last between 10 and 20 years. If you're having any other problems on this list and the fridge is over ten years old, you'll probably save more money in the long run by simply replacing it. Otherwise, you could sink money into repairs for a fridge already on its way out.

Should fridge be 3 or 4 degrees?

The Australian Standard for fridges uses a fresh food compartment average temperature of 3°C. It's a good target to aim for because it means not freezing foods yet still keeping them below 4°C. If you're experiencing temperature fluctuations, read our guide to troubleshooting a fridge.

Previous article
How to deodorize a dishwasher?
Next article
How to cover tiles without removing them?