Finding the Right Refrigerator Temperature to Keep Food Fresh

Refrigerators are a convenient way to chill and store perishable foods, preventing food-borne illness and keeping them fresh. Did you know that refrigerators can actually be set too cold? If you’ve ever reached into the back of your refrigerator and found icy, frozen foods hiding out, your fridge temperature is most likely too low. Sure, they were once called an icebox, but you shouldn’t literally have ice forming inside your fridge.

Whether you’re choosing a refrigerator or picking out a microwave that works for your kitchen, making sure you know how to properly use and maintain any appliance that works with extreme temperature differences is critical to keeping your food safe.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations for a safe refrigerator temperature is anything lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.See Disclosure ¹ Bacteria and mold can begin to grow pretty quickly at any temperature above that. But it can be easy to overcompensate and keep your fridge colder than it needs to be.

The same goes for your freezer, whether it’s attached to your fridge or a standalone style. Even if it’s set at a temperature that’s below the freezing point (water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit), it can be too warm to stave off bacteria if you’re trying to preserve food for a longer period. Conversely, your freezer temperature can be set too low, which can create the conditions for freezer burn to happen more quickly. The FDA says a normal freezer temperature for keeping food safely frozen is 0 degrees Fahrenheit.See Disclosure ¹

So what’s the ideal refrigerator temperature?

There is a sweet spot within the range of too-warm and too-cold. Testing done by Consumer Reports revealed that an average refrigerator temperature should ideally be 37 degrees to keep food fresh without over-chilling.See Disclosure ² For freezers, the FDA’s recommendation of 0 degrees appears to be the most ideal for freezing.

The temperature the refrigerator should be set at can vary within reason, however. As long as your refrigerator temperature setting is kept somewhere between about 36 degrees and 38 degrees Fahrenheit, you should be able to keep your food tasting great and avoid having frost develop on any of it.

While newer refrigerators often have touch screens that allow an exact temperature to be programmed, many just have a dial with a range indicating coldness levels without an exact temperature labeled. In this case, it can be difficult to fine tune the recommended refrigerator temperature. If you have a fridge with a dial, you’ll likely need to use a refrigerator thermometer to achieve the optimal refrigerator temperature. You can also use a freezer thermometer for the same task of finding the most optimal freezer temperature.

How to store vegetables and other food

Once you get your fridge and freezer temps figured out and are working with an optimal refrigerator temperature, or close to it, the temperature can still vary in different parts of the fridge. That’s why it’s good to know the best methods for storing fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses as well as any other perishables. Where you keep these foods in your fridge can actually make a big difference in how fresh they taste and will help you optimize your refrigerator’s performance. A plus to heeding food storage tips is that you’ll have a more organized refrigerator with less food waste.

Refrigerator door

Store your butter, beverages, oils and condiments in the fridge door. Since the door opens and closes frequently it exposes any items stored in it to warm air more often, so keeping less perishable foods here makes the most sense. Stash butter in the pop-up lid found on the door for temperature consistency.

Deli drawer

Keeping deli meats, cured meats and cheeses in the built-in deli drawer most modern fridges have can help keep them contained at a cooler temperature. It also helps them stay dry to preserve their taste and freshness longer.

Bottom shelves

For raw meats and fish you plan on cooking soon, as well as perishables like milk, keep them on the bottom shelf. This is where you’ll find the coldest space in the refrigerator, and where you’ll want to store your most perishable foods. Make sure you don’t push them so far back that you forget about them and they end up spoiling, of course.

Bottom drawers

The produce drawers most fridges have provide a place to store refrigerated fruits vegetables at their most optimal temperature and climate. Typically, one drawer keeps them dry and the other provides some humidity. Foods like broccoli, leafy greens, strawberries and carrots should go in the humidity drawer so they can maintain enough moisture to preserve their fresh flavor and nutrients. On the other hand, produce like squash, apples, mushrooms and peppers should be stored in the low humidity drawer that keeps them drier.

Top shelves

Leftovers, prepared foods and other miscellaneous foods will store best on the top shelves of the refrigerator, since that’s where you’ll find the most stable refrigerator temperatures. If you’re thawing meat or fish from frozen for same day or next day use, you might also stick it on the top shelf to help it thaw.

Other food storage tips

Stocking up on some quality food storage containers is a great way to keep your food fresh longer, store leftovers and keep your fridge tidy so you can assess what you already have. Many containers have air-tight lids and compartments for organizing food. Storing your food this way also makes it easier to grab food straight from your fridge if you’re on the go.

Maintain your refrigerator to keep it running for the long haul

If you don’t provide routine maintenance to keep your fridge clean and well-working, you might risk disruptions to the temperature’s stability. This can put you at risk for having your food spoil or get cross-contaminated.

When you’re maintaining your kitchen appliances, be sure to include your refrigerator. Clean the interior and all of the drawers and drip trays regularly, make sure the coils are free of dust and gunk, check the rubber gasket seals for defects to keep cold air from leaking out, don’t overload the fridge’s capacity and make sure the door shuts and seals properly.

When you’re cleaning, use or toss anything that is expired or right about to expire. If you can’t quickly eat the food because it has already turned, consider setting up a kitchen compost bin to dispose of any expired fruit and veggies or scraps. By cleaning your fridge, you’ll also help cut down on waste and even feed your garden.

References

1. “Refrigeration and Food Safety.” Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. March 23, 2015. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/refrigeration.

2. Wroclawski, Daniel. “Best Refrigerator Temperature to Keep Food Fresh.” Consumer Reports, Inc. January 28, 2024. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/refrigerators/best-refrigerator-temperature-to-keep-food-fresh-a2285610987/#:~:text=Is%20there%20a%20%E2%80%9Ccorrect%E2%80%9D%20temperature,will%20keep%20foods%20thoroughly%20frozen.