What Temperature Should a Refrigerator Be?
The temperature your refrigerator should be at is between 35 and 40F.There’s some science behind this ideal range.
Food & Drug Administration(FDA) recommends keeping your fridge temp at 40F or below.
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Pathogenic bacteria can start to grow at temperatures between 40 and 140F.
You could consume pathogenic bacteria and not even know it.
But the colder isn’t necessarily the better.
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Food can start to freeze at 32F, so don’t set it below 35F just in case.
Best Temperature for a Freezer
Keep your freezer temperature at 0F.
Food consistently stored at or below 0F is technically safe to consume indefinitely, according to theU.S.
Department of Health & Human Services.
Just keep in mind that the quality of frozen food starts to deteriorate within a few months.
How to Keep Your Fridge Temperature Consistent
Monitor the Temperature
Refrigerators have internal thermometers.
Newer refrigerators typically display their current temperature in a digital reading on the control panel.
Keep an eye on your fridge’s temperature and make adjustments as needed.
Your fridge should be able to make adequate adjustments in a timely manner.
Speeding up the cooling process will prevent harmful bacteria from forming.
The FDA recommends dividing large amounts of leftovers into multiple smaller and shallow containers to help with this process.
For starters, avoid overpacking them with too many items, which can prevent proper air flow.
However, the opposite can also be true.
A fridge that is too empty can have a more difficult time staying cool enough.
If your home loses power often, consider keeping a few quart-sized bags of frozen water in your freezer.
you could pop them in your fridge during the outage to keep your food cool longer.
Your fridge should be able to keep your food safe for up to four hours without power.
However, a small layer of frost on the sides of your freezer is considered normal.
If your fridge is freezing everything at 37 degrees, its internal temperature sensor could be to blame.
you could purchase a fridge thermometer to set on the shelves and double-check the temperature.
Other common culprits include a damaged air seal or blocked vents.
If your fridge is only cooling to 40 degrees, it could simply be too full.
Other common causes include dirty condenser coils, blocked air vents, or even a loose electrical plug.
Ice forming in the back of your fridge is often a sign of an issue with its defrost system.
Frost can also build up if your fridge’s fans get dusty.
Clean your fridge’s condenser coils and fans twice a year to prevent issues.
