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.
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.
The appropriate freezer temperature range is generally between -16°C to -22°C (3°F to -7°F). However, it's best to aim for -18°C for optimal food preservation and energy efficiency.
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.
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.
The ideal temperature for freezing meat is between -18 and -23 degrees Celsius (0 to -9 degrees Fahrenheit), as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for safe and optimal storage. At 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat will not be at a safe temperature for storage.
Refrigerators work to keep your food at a cool—but not freezing—temperature. Overly frosty temperatures in your refrigerator can be due to a few possible causes, including blocked air vents, incorrect temperature settings, leaky door seals, issues with your built-in ice maker and more.
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.
However, if your freezer is cold but not freezing, it may be time to inspect the thermostat. Try changing the thermostat from the lowest setting to the highest setting. If you don't hear a click sound, then a professional replacement is recommended.
The FDA specifies that meats be stored at 0° F (-18° C) or below, seafood at -1° F (-18° C), and poultry at -2° F (-19° C). Meanwhile, set the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C) to keep the vegetable and fruit fresh.
For the fridge compartment, we recommend maintaining a temperature between 3°C to 5°C to slow bacterial growth and preserve perishable items effectively. Similarly, for the freezer compartment, it is best to set the temperature at -18°C or lower to freeze food solid and maintain its quality over longer periods.
The ideal temperature for most household freezers is 0°F (-18°C) or lower.
What Temperature Is Freezing? Water will freeze at 0 degrees Celsius, which is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Any time the temperature drops below these, liquid water will begin to turn into ice. Water behaves very differently than other liquids.
Freezers, on the other hand, are designed to keep food frozen and stop the growth of bacteria. This is why it is important to make sure your freezer is set to the correct temperature of 0°F / -18°C.
The ideal fridge temperature is between 37°F (3°C) and 40°F (5°C). And your freezer temperature should be at 0°F (-18°C).
Do not allow ice cream to repeatedly soften and re-freeze. When ice cream's small ice crystals melt and re-freeze, they can eventually turn into large, unpalatable lumps. Your freezer should be set at between -5°F and 0°F. Ice cream is easy to dip between 6°F and 10°F, the ideal serving temperature range.
What should a freezer temperature be? Frozen food should be safe to eat indefinitely if your freezer stays at or below 0°F (-18°C). Freezing your food stops most bacteria from growing.
Food that won't stay frozen may be an obvious sign of a faulty freezer, but signs like excessive frost build-up on the walls or freezer-burnt food can also indicate unstable freezer temperatures. You may also notice your freezer making unusually loud humming, clicking or buzzing noises as parts struggle to operate.
Defrosting the freezer and cleaning it regularly helps keep ice at bay. Once the freezer is defrosted, clean it using a warm water and baking soda solution to remove food particles or liquids and limit ice formation. Also inspect the condition of your door seals, and replace them when they wear down.
Fridge temperature settings are generally numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest. A fully stocked fridge may need to be set to a higher setting (around 3 or 4), whereas one with more space is best suited to temperature setting 2 or 3.
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).”
It illustrates that any food with an internal temperature of 40 °F to 140°F is in the temperature danger zone. Refrigerator temperature should be at or below 40 °F and freezer temperature should be zero degrees.
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.
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.
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.