7 Hacks For The Perfect Refrigerator Temperature

Do you want to the best fridge and freezer temperatures?

The ideal fridge temperature keeps your food safe from bacterial growth while running efficiently to keep your electric bill low.

In this guide, you’ll learn…

• The ideal and maximum refrigerator temperatures
• The best freezer temp for frozen foods
• Why using a thermometer is crucial for accurate temperature readings
• The typical ‘default’ temps set by the manufacturer
• Why thermometers should be placed in multiple locations
• And tips to prevent food freezing in the fridge

Let’s get into the details of the correct fridge and freezer temperature!

8 Tips For Ideal Fridge & Freezer Temperature

Choosing the correct fridge and freezer temps is crucial to keep your food safe, getting the best taste, and maintaining energy efficiency. Here are my top 8 tips on fridge temperature…

1. The Ideal Fridge Temperature

Most refrigerators will have a narrow temperature range of where you can set it. This temp range is typically between 34°F to 44°F.

However, according to the USDA, the refrigerator should always be kept at 40°F or lower as a maximum temperature. Anything above 40°F can allow bacteria to grow on your food and increase your chances of food poisoning.

A big problem with bacterial growth on meat or seafood is that some bacteria can create toxins that will even survive cooking — even if the bacteria itself is killed.

Even though the 40°F rule is the max safe temperature, according to most refrigerator manufacturers, the optimal temperature is between 37°F to 38°F.

In fact, the default or preset temperature is typically 37°F to 38°F by the manufacturer when you buy it new. Keeping your fridge between 35-38 will keep your foods cold and add a bit more of a safety zone away from harmful bacterial growth.

In addition, the 35-38 temp zone will keep your fridge running with the most energy efficiency and may even be required to reach the Energy Star rating from the manufacturer. I recommend verifying it with your fridge model manual however.

2. The Best Freezer Temperature

Most freezers will have a narrow temperature range where you can usually set it to between -6°F and 6°F.

However, the best temperature for your freezer is 0°F (or as close to 0°F as possible) according the the FDA, USDA, and appliance manufacturers. In fact, if you bought your refrigerator new, the preset temp is usually set to 0°F by the manufacturer.

Also, if the freezer temperature is too high above 0°F, then the food won’t last as long in the freezer. But when the temp is too low, it will decrease the flavor and moisture content of your food when it is eventually cooked.

And as the freezer temp drops much below 0°F, it will increase the energy usage of the refrigerator, increase your electric bill, and may even violate the Energy Star rating. If you notice a lot of ice in the freezer, that is typically a sign that the temperature is too low.

3. Use A Thermometer To Confirm Temp

It is very common for refrigerators to have inaccurate temps for the fridge and freezer. The temp may be off as much 5°F to 10°F!

Especially in regards to the fridge, this temperature differential can unknowingly cause a too high temp and may result in harmful bacterial growth such as Salmonella.

And more economical refrigerators don’t have digital temp scales so you will never have an exact number.

The solution to this is to buy a thermometer for the fridge and freezer. Two-set fridge thermometers can be bought for as little as $7 on Amazon. These thermometers are designed for the cold temps for the fridge and freezer.

You can’t just put in a normal indoor thermometer which typically has a humidity gauge.

4. Place Thermometer in Multiple Locations

You also may want to place the thermometer at different locations of the fridge to get an idea of the temperature differences.

Since cold air sinks, the bottom crisper drawers are a typical culprit of frozen fridge foods. Also, the lower rear of the fridge is usually subject to freezing foods.

If you were to pick a single place to place the thermometer in the fridge, the best place is in the upper section of the door. The top shelf inside the door is typically the warmest place of the refrigerator so it’s a great place to monitor.

5. Don’t Block The Air Vent To Avoid Frozen Foods

One common problem of a too cold temperature in the fridge is unintentionally frozen foods. Freezing vegetables or fruits can ruin the freshness of the foods.

Frozen foods at the back or bottom of the refrigerator is also a sign of improper cooling. The most common reason for frozen foods is restricted air flow.

It may be due to overcrowding of food items in the fridge, or you may have a single food item blocking the cooling air vent. Never fully pack the fridge with food items, always keep at least 15-20% of the fridge clear of items.

It is crucial to know where the cooling air vent is in the fridge so you can avoid blocking it with food. When the cooling air vent gets blocked, the temperature sensor doesn’t get a correct reading, so the refrigerator keeps the fan running to drop the temp.

6. Use Rapid Cool Feature When Adding Food

Some refrigerators have a rapid cool feature (known as TurboCool on GE fridges) that quickly cools the refrigerator when you add large amounts of room temperature food.

This well help the refrigerator quickly maintain the desired temperature of 37°F to 38°F. It will improve the energy efficiency and help prevent the possibility of bacterial growth. Another option is to divide any large food items into multiple containers to increase the cooling time.

7. Aim For The Middle of a Number Temp Scale

If you have a refrigerator that doesn’t have a digital temp control, it is usually best to aim for a middle temp setting. For example, if the fridge cooling knob is from 1-5, it is usually best to place it at 3.

A middle temp scale number will typically provide the best energy efficiency of the fridge while maintaining the right amount of cooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing the correct fridge temp is a puzzle that faces millions of people every year. Here are a few answers to some common questions… 

Why Is It Bad If Refrigerator Is Too Warm?

The biggest hazard of having an improper fridge temp is the growth of bacteria.

Probably the two most serious bacteria that causes food poisoning is Salmonella and E. coli. These bacteria can grow exponentially as temperature rises above 40°F which is also known as microbial ‘the danger zone’ for perishable food.

When the fridge temp is in the danger zone, the amount of bacteria can actually double every 20-minutes!

Can I Set My Refrigerator Below 35 Degrees?

The other problem with a poor temperature setting is appliance energy efficiency. A too low freezer or fridge temp setting will cause your electric bill to be higher than it needs to be.

There really is no point in setting the fridge temp lower than necessary. Also, if the temp is set too low, it will reduce the moistness and flavor of your food.

How Often Can I Change The Temperature?

Homeowners and renters should periodically check fridge temperature, but if you have a dedicated fridge and freezer thermometer — it is super easy. Just glance at the thermometer occasionally or if you suspect the temperatures may be off.

Ideally, homeowners shouldn’t change their fridge or freezer temps frequently. This will cause the appliance to over-work and decrease the energy efficiency. I recommend only changing the fridge or freezer temp one time per day for just the fridge or both freezer & fridge.

What Are The Most Common Signs of Too Warm or Too Cold Fridge?

Here are a few signs that your fridge or freezer is too warm or too cold if you don’t have a thermometer…

Too Warm

• Milk, butter, yogurt, or other dairy products spoil faster than usual
• Vegetables or fresh produce breaks down or browns quickly
• If you notice a lot of water droplets (condensation) on the fridge walls or food packaging
• The fridge makes weird noises or you notice the fan/compressor running often
• The refrigerator or freezer makes wide temperature variations rather than a steady temp

Too Cold

• Frozen foods at the rear or bottom of the fridge (cold air sinks)
• Milk or yogurt may get a little icy
• Freezer burned vegetables or meats in fridge
• Milk should be cold to the touch but not intolerably chilled
• Items from the freezer take longer to defrost than normal

How Can I Avoid Food Spoilage?

The FDA recommends following the 2-hour rule to avoid food spoilage.

This means that any perishable food items shouldn’t be outside of the fridge for more than 2-hours. And it actually drops to 1-hour if the indoor temperature is 90°F or higher.

The 2-hour rule applies to meat, seafood, eggs, takeout, and leftovers.

If you are thawing meat, it should only be done in the fridge, sitting in cold water, or through the microwave defrost mode. If using cold water to thaw meats, the cold water should be changed every 30-minutes.

Quick Summary

In conclusion, I recommend always aiming for a refrigerator temperature of 37°F to 38°F for the best food freshness and energy efficiency. But the absolute max fridge temperature should be 40°F, never allow it to go higher.

You can also expect the temp to go above 40 if you opened the door for a few minutes (or open/closed a a couple times) — that is okay if it eventually drops to 40 or below again. And always aim for 0°F as the ideal freezer temperature.

A major problem with some fridges is the inaccurate temperature sensor readings. Your fridge sensor may say it is 39°F when in actuality it is 43°F to 44°F.

I always recommend that homeowners or renters buy an independent thermometer that is designed for cold environments such as the fridge. A two set fridge thermometer can be bought for as little as $7 from Amazon. It is an investment well worth making.

I hope you enjoyed this TimberSill appliance guide. Please leave a comment or question below and I will try to personally answer!