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.
For refrigerators with electronic controls (most Side-by-Side and French-Door refrigerators) – Fresh food compartment should be set for 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer should be set for 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
This ensures any bacteria present in the food will not grow and multiply, keeping the food safe to eat for longer periods of time. However, most freezer manufacturers recommend keeping the appliance between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal performance.
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.
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 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.
Your fridge should ideally be kept at about 3 to 5 degrees. Your freezer should obviously be a lot colder though — set to around -18 degrees. These temperatures will help slow down the growth of bacteria and keep your food fresh — without using up too much energy.
The majority of the energy your freezer uses goes towards cooling down the air that comes in when you open the freezer door. When your freezer is full, there is less room for warmer air to take up, and the items that are in there help to cool down any air that does sneak in. So keeping it full means less energy used.
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).
Learn more. 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.
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.
Your refrigerator should be level from front to back and side to side, and when it's unlevel, this may cause fluctuations in temperature that could spoil your food.
The numbers on the fridge's temperature dial indicate refrigerant power. The higher the number goes the colder the fridge will maintain. Setting it to 5 will make your fridge the coldest. With this out of the way, it should be noted that a lower fridge temperature does not equal better food storage.
A Frigidaire freezer not freezing is most often caused by dirty condenser coils, a worn-down gasket, or a faulty thermostat, which result in higher temperatures inside the refrigerator and inadequate airflow.
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).
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).
What number should your fridge be on? The fridge temperature control does not indicate a specific temperature in degrees but rather the cooling power of the appliance. Fridge temperature settings are generally numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest.
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.
Overfilling the Freezer
But if the freezer is crammed too full, all that food prevents good air circulation. As a result, every time you open the freezer door, warm, moist air settles on the frozen food and causes icing.
A freezer will run more efficiently when full. This is because it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the internal temperature. It is therefore cheaper to run a freezer that is full.
To fix a freezer that's not freezing, you'll need to identify the root cause. Common issues include frost buildup, a faulty temperature sensor, or a broken compressor. For accurate diagnosis and repair, it's recommended to hire a service professional.
LPT: a full freezer is more efficient, so filling the empty space in your freezer with bottles of water will make it use less energy, additionally you will have some useful ice bottles good for many occasions.
“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.”