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.
Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F (4.4 °C) or below. For safety, it is important to verify the temperature of the refrigerator.
The ideal fridge temperature is often considered to be around 3°C to 5°C (37.4°F to 41°F). This temperature range strikes a balance between preventing bacterial growth and preserving the freshness of your food. At lower temperatures, bacteria tend to multiply at a slower rate, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
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.
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.
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.
The ideal fridge temperature is between 0°C and 5°C.
Some fridges don't even offer you the ability to go over 5 degrees!
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.
Coldest and Warmest Settings
Most refrigerators have a dial with numbers 1-7 or 1-9. The coldest setting is usually 7 or 9, while the warmest setting is 1. It is recommended to keep your refrigerator between 3-5 for optimal food storage.
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.
When working properly, the refrigerator temperature should be 40° F (4.4 °C) or below; the freezer, 0° F (-17.8 °C) or lower. After the power comes back on, if you're not sure a particular food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer.
Extreme Temperatures Can Damage Fridge
The temperature of the room that a refrigerator is in should be between 60ºF and 95ºF. That's a really wide range, and you might think there's no way your refrigerator could be in a situation where the ambient temperature is either that high or that low.
Further, refrigerators are not designed to heat their interiors, so placing a refrigerator in an environment that is below freezing may result in the freezing of your foods. Check the owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations regarding ambient air temperature and proper operation.
The ideal temperature setting for a refrigerator is between 1.7-3.3°C.
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.
Any temperature not exceeding 8°C (46°F). A refrigerator is a cold place in which the temperature is maintained thermostatically between 2°C and 8°C (36°C to 46°C). Any temperature between 8°C and 15°C (46°F to 59°F).
The ideal fridge temperature is 3-5 °C (37-41 °F) while freezers should be -18 °C (0 °F) or colder. These temperatures keep your food safe and help to maximise its shelf life.
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).
Conclusion. Your fridge temperature setting 1-7 must be both cold enough to prevent bacteria from growing and warm enough to prevent food from freezing. The temperature of your refrigerator should not exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep food cold.
Some fridges don't show the temperature but work on a setting that is listed from 1 to 5. The numbers on the fridge's temperature dial indicate the refrigerating power. Therefore, the higher the setting, the cooler the fridge will be. Choosing setting 5 will make your fridge the coldest.
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 Food Standards Agency advises household fridges to be set at 5 degrees Celsius or below. This is because harmful bacteria grow best in what is known as the 'danger zone' between 8 degrees and 63 degrees.
It's best to set your temperature gauge a few degrees below that. 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.
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.
If your fridge is too cold, it may be that there is internal damage. A build-up of frost inside a fridge/freezer is caused by an interaction between warm and cold air. A crack in the door seals will also cause your appliance to overcompensate, producing more cold air to keep to fridge temperature stable.