How Cold Should Your Refrigerator Be?

The refrigerator has one main purpose: to keep your food cold. If your refrigerator fails to keep your food at an adequate temperature, the consequences could be worse than a mushy avocado or an unrefreshing glass of water.

Foodborne illnesses hospitalize hundreds of thousands of people every year, and many cases are caused by improper food storage. Read below to find out everything you need to know about keeping your food and drinks cold, refreshing, and most importantly: safe.

Optimal Refrigerator Temperature

The best temperature to keep your refrigerator at is between 34-38° Fahrenheit. Anything lower than 32° and your food will start to freeze, anything higher than 40° and bacteria growth rates begin to spike. Anywhere between 32 and 40 is fine, but 34-38° is a happy middle ground.

How to Monitor Your Refrigerator Temperature

Some of the newer, more upscale refrigerator models come with a digital thermometer and thermostat to set your preference to an exact degree. Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to own one of these, so the only way to reliably measure the temperature of your refrigerator's interior is with a fridge thermometer (pictured above). Make sure to keep the thermometer on the middle shelf, as the temperature inside of your refrigerator can vary and this will give you the most accurate reading.

Tips for Keeping a Consistent Temperature

Try out the following tips to consistently keep your refrigerator at the desired temperature:

• Minimize the amount of times you open the refrigerator door throughout the day.
• Avoid keeping the refrigerator door open for long periods of time.
• Keep your refrigerator well-stocked, it will retain its temperature better when the door is open.
• Make sure your the seal on the door isn't ripped or broken. If it is, cold air can escape even when the door is shut.

If you notice that your refrigerator is failing to keep a cold, consistent temperature, it could be due to mechanical failure. Before you scrap your current refrigerator and hit the appliance store to look for a new one, consider repairing it for a fraction of the cost. If you live on Long Island or in New York City, call Speedy Refrigerator Service at 866-782-9376.

What You Need to Know About the Temperature of Your Refrigerator

The temperature of your refrigerator is important. It not only impacts how refreshing your beverages are, but also how long your food stays fresh. This article explains what the ideal temperature is for your refrigerator, as well as how to keep it at that temperature.

Best temperature for refrigerators.

Ideally, the temperature in your refrigerator should range from 35-38° F. Anything lower than 35° and you risk freezing your foods and liquids (milk slushy, anyone?). If you go higher than 38°, you approach what some experts call “The Danger Zone”. At 40° and above, the Danger Zone is the temperature range where bacteria growth rates triple.

How to maintain your refrigerator's temperature.

Most refrigerators have a programmable thermostat which allows the owner to select the temperature they prefer. However, many of these thermostats use a “1-10” or “cold-coldest” scale instead of indicating the exact temperature.

So, if your refrigerator's thermostat doesn't have a precise temperature setting, how can you be for certain that your food isn't in the danger zone? There is only one way to be 100% sure, and that is to buy a refrigerator thermometer.

If you buy a refrigerator thermometer and closely monitor it, you will notice that the temperature fluctuates throughout the day, which is not good for you food. To keep your refrigerator's temperature as stable as possible, use the following tips:

• Check your refrigerator's seal strength by closing the door on a dollar bill. If you can easily slide it up and down or remove it, your seal is weak and could be allowing cold air to escape.
• Keep your refrigerator well stocked. A fridge full of food maintains its temperature better when the door is opened than an empty fridge. Avoid over-stuffing it, however because a fridge that is too full will restrict air circulation and lead to warm spots.
• Minimize how many times you open your refrigerator. If you are preparing a meal that calls for several refrigerated items, take them all out in one trip and do the same when you put them back.
• Let hot food cool down before you put it in the refrigerator. Putting in food that is still warm can heat up the food around it, and the entire refrigerator.

24/7 Refrigerator Service is a fridge repair company located in New York. We offer one-hour service to Long Island and New York City, as well as 24-hour emergency service. With over 75 years of experience, don't trust anyone else to fix your refrigerator – give us a call at 866-782-9376.