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.
What's the Right Deep Freezer Temperature? 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower is the ideal deep freezer temperature for most foods. Food items stored at this temperature are safe and can be used indefinitely, although the taste and quality of some items may decrease if stored too long before you use them.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the best temperature for your freezer is 0°F (-18°C) or below.
The best temperature setting for a freezer chest will vary depending on a number of factors. However, a good starting point is setting 4. If after 24 hours the items in the freezer don't seem cold enough, adjust the temperature up by 1 and recheck after an hour.
Setting the Temperature
The temperature selection on a Chest Freezer is made by setting the dial from ONE to SEVEN, with SEVEN being the coldest. The normal safe freezing level is obtained by setting the control on FOUR.
It is recommended that a 4-star freezer needs to operate at -18 degrees Celsius as a minimum. This will prevent bacteria from growing and will keep your frozen food fresher for longer. Whilst it is recommended to keep your freezer below -18 degrees Celsius, it is important to not drop the temperature too low.
To store frozen foods at best quality, keep the freezer set to maintain zero (0 °F or -17.8 °C).
The optimal freezer temperature is 0° Fahrenheit or below (-18° Celsius or below).
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.
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.
Freezer Temperatures
The temperature of a freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit so everything stays very cold.
Understanding the Correct Operating Temperature in an Upright or Chest Freezer. The correct operating temperature of Chest and Upright Freezers, including smaller, compact models, is -5 to +5 degrees Fahrenheit.
What's the best temperature for your fridge freezer? 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).
Temperature Settings: Keep the fridge temperature between 35°F and 38°F (1.7°C to 3.3°C) for optimal food safety. The freezer should be set to 0°F (-18°C).
First, cut power to your freezer by unplugging it from the wall or shutting off power to the proper control panel switch. Then reset the freezer's control panel by lowering it to zero or using a shut-off switch. Consult your user manual for specifics on navigating the control panel.
Your freezer indicator lights may not be working because the indicator light may have burned out. Check for disconnected or broken wires to the indicator light before replacing it. The user control and display board might be faulty. However, this is not always the case.
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.
Overfilling the freezer can block air vents, restrict the flow of cold air, and overtax your refrigerator's condenser, which could lead to a burn out.
Is there a “correct” temperature for refrigerators and freezers? Yep: A fridge temperature of 37° F will keep fresh food good for as long as possible—with no ice crystals on lettuce or bacteria breeding in raw meats. As for the freezer, a temperature of 0° F will keep foods thoroughly frozen.
The ideal freezer temperature is -18°C. Storing your food at the correct temperature will keep your produce fresh, delicious, and most importantly, safe. If the freezer temperature is too warm, then your food may spoil quicker and harmful bacteria may start to grow.
Yes, 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius) can be an appropriate temperature for a freezer. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the ideal temperature for a freezer is 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) or below.
To find out what temperature your fridge is at, most modern fridges will have a numerical dial setting from 1-5, where the numbers represent the power of the refrigerator. So the number 5 will allow your fridge to be working at the coldest temperature.
What makes a deep freezer different from a regular freezer is the ability to reach temperatures at or below zero degrees, which is much lower than the 32-degree temperature setting of its traditional counterpart. These appliances also have a tighter seal than a fridge freezer which helps preserve food longer.
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.
Upon initial installation or when the settings on the temperature controls are changed, it usually takes 24 hours for an upright or chest freezer to reach the proper temperature.