How to Set Your Refrigerator Temperature: A Complete Guide

This article was co-authored by Aaron Beth and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

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Have you noticed that the food in your fridge is spoiling faster than usual? When your fridge runs a little too warm, food might not stay fresh and it could lead to bacteria growth. Luckily, setting your fridge thermostat to the perfect temperature is really easy and only takes a few seconds. While the way you adjust your fridge temperature is different between models, they still operate pretty similarly. We’ve got everything you need to know about common thermostat adjustments, ideal temperatures, and tips for keeping your fridge cold.

Things You Should Know

• If your fridge has a dial thermostat, turn it to the “colder” setting or to a higher number to bring the temperature down.
• For a sliding gauge thermostat, push the slider to the right to make your fridge cooler.
• If your fridge has a digital display or keypad, press the “Temperature” button. Use the up and down arrow buttons to change the temperature.
• Keep your fridge below 40 °F (4 °C) and your freezer around 0 °F (−18 °C).

Steps

How to Adjust Your Fridge Thermostat

1. 1Turn a thermostat dial to a higher number to lower the temp. Find the temperature dial inside your fridge on the top or side. Start with a setting in the middle of the range since that’s usually what manufacturers recommend. If you need to turn the temperature a little warmer, spin the dial to the left instead.[1] X Research source
   • The temperature dial may have a range of numbers from 1–5 or 1–10, or it may simply be a range from “cold” to “coldest.”
   • While the highest number on a dial is usually the coldest setting, double-check your fridge’s manual to be sure since the settings can vary between brands and models.
2. 2Push a sliding temperature gauge to the right for a colder fridge. Look for a horizontal sliding gauge at the top of your fridge’s interior near the hinges. Use your finger to push the slider to change the temperature. Typically, moving the slider to the right will make your fridge colder, and pushing it to the left will raise the temperature.[2] X Expert SourceAaron BethAppliance Technician Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.
   • Most fridges have “warm” and “cold” labels on the ends of the sliding gauge so you know which way to move it.
   • Look for a small tick mark in the middle of the sliding gauge since that’s usually the recommended temperature setting for the fridge.

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3. 3Use the arrow keys to adjust the temperature on a digital keypad. The keypad may be on the front of your fridge near an ice dispenser or on the inner edge of the fridge door. Try using the arrow or “+” and “-” buttons to adjust the temperature until it’s the temperature you want. If that doesn’t work right away, look for a button that says “Temperature” and hold it down for a few seconds until the display changes. Then, you should be able to make your adjustments with the arrow buttons.[3] X Research source
   • Check your fridge’s manual if you’re having trouble changing the temperature since there may be a specific sequence of buttons you need to press for the thermostat controls.

Ideal Fridge Temperature

1. Set your fridge to a temperature below 40 °F (4 °C). Any temperatures lower than 40 °F (4 °C) will prevent your food from warming up and spoiling prematurely.[4] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Typically, temperatures between 35–38 °F (2–3 °C) will prevent food in your fridge from freezing, but keep your food cold enough so bacteria doesn’t form.[5] X Research source

Measuring Refrigerator Temperature

1. 1Place a fridge thermometer on the middle shelf. Try to center the thermometer in the refrigerator as much as possible since that’s where you’ll get the most accurate reading. Some fridge thermometers are free-standing, while others you can hang from the shelf.[6] X Research source
   • If you’re using a stick-shaped thermometer, keep it in your fridge submerged in a glass of water.
   • The warmest spot in your fridge is usually closer to the door, so it’s also a good alternative place to put your thermometer.[7] X Research source
2. 2Check the temperature after 5–8 hours. Your thermometer needs a little bit of time to adjust to the proper reading for your fridge. Try to keep the door closed as much as possible so the temperature stays consistent. Once enough time passes, check the reading on your thermometer to get an idea of your fridge’s average temperature.[8] X Research source
   • If you adjust your fridge temperature, it may take a full 24 hours to fully adjust. Check the thermometer again the next day to see if there are any changes.
   • Check up your fridge thermometer about once a week to track any changes to the refrigerator temperature.[9] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
   • It may take a full day to track any changes in temperature after you adjust your fridge thermostat.

Ideal Freezer Temperature

1. Keep your freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder. Your food will stay fresher for longer when you maintain a low temperature in your freezer. As long as you keep your food in your freezer sealed in air-tight containers, you can prevent freezer burn that gives your food a stale flavor.[10] X Research source

Keeping Your Fridge Cold

1. 1Divide large portions of hot food into smaller containers to store. When you put large portions of hot food in your fridge, it could raise the temperature inside or cause the food to cool unevenly. Use shallow, air-tight containers to split up the portions so they’re less likely to affect your fridge’s temperature.[11] X Research source
   • You can leave your food out to cool, but move it into your fridge within 2 hours since it may reach unsafe temperatures and develop bacteria.
   • If you want to quickly cool food before putting it away, put it in a container and chill it in cold water or an ice bath.
2. 2Keep your fridge full, but not cramped. Your fridge can maintain a better temperature when there’s more food inside, but be careful not to block the air vents. Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between the items in your fridge so cold air can circulate between them and evenly cool the inside.[12] X Research source
3. 3Leave the fridge door closed as much as you can. Every time you open your fridge or freezer, cold air will escape and possibly make your food warm up. Try to be quick every time you need to grab something out of your fridge rather than keeping the door open to look for something to eat.[13] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
4. 4Replace the door seals if they’re cracked or worn out. The door seals are the long rubber strips along the edges of your door that prevent cold air from escaping. If you feel cold air around the outside of your fridge door or see any visible damage, replace the seal with a new one to stop your fridge from running constantly or warming up.[14] X Research source
   • You can test if a fridge door seal is tight by closing a door on the dollar bill. If there’s resistance when you try pulling the dollar bill out, your seal is still intact. If it slides out easily, then it’s time to replace them.

Expert Q&A
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• QuestionWhat should I do if my fridge is hot?Aaron BethAaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.
  Refrigerator TechnicianRefrigerator TechnicianExpert Answer
• QuestionHow does a fridge temperature control work?Aaron BethAaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.
  Refrigerator TechnicianRefrigerator TechnicianExpert Answer
• QuestionHow do I adjust the temperature of just my freezer only? Is that an option for older Whirlpool refrigerators?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
  Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff Answer

Tips

• Certain models or refrigerators may have separate thermostat controls for your freezer and your fridge that you can adjust separately.[15] X Expert SourceAaron BethAppliance Technician Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.⧼thumbs_response⧽
• Fridges normally work properly for 10–15 years. If your fridge doesn’t maintain the right temperature and it’s that old, it might be time to replace it.[16] X Research source⧼thumbs_response⧽
• If you need to keep food cold during a power outage, avoid opening your fridge or freezer so they don’t warm up as quickly. If it’s been longer than 4 hours, move your food to a cooler with ice.[17] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source⧼thumbs_response⧽

Warnings

• Keeping your fridge any warmer than 40 °F (4 °C) could cause your food to spoil or bacteria to form.[18] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source⧼thumbs_response⧽

References

1. ↑ https://www.rovsun.com/read-/pub/products/attachment/Refrigerator_BCD90.pdf
2. ↑ Aaron Beth. Appliance Technician. Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.
3. ↑ https://youtu.be/aPpQRTEXb40?t=33
4. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/refrigerator-thermometers-cold-facts-about-food-safety
5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ideal-fridge-temperature/
6. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ideal-fridge-temperature/
7. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/underusing_the_refrigerator_thermometer_can_put_you_at_risk
8. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/news-press-releases/usda-tips-reducing-food-waste-and-preventing-illness
9. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely

1. ↑ https://fsis-prod.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/how-temperatures-affect-food#5
2. ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-you-put-hot-food-in-the-refrigerator
3. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/news-press-releases/usda-tips-reducing-food-waste-and-preventing-illness
4. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html
5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/refrigerator-not-cooling/
6. ↑ Aaron Beth. Appliance Technician. Expert Interview. 14 July 2020.
7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-do-refrigerators-last/
8. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html
9. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely

About This Article

To set your refrigerator temperature on a digital refrigerator, use the arrow or number keys on the digital keypad to set the temperature between 35 to 38 degrees F. If your refrigerator has a dial or slide mechanism, start by checking the current temperature using an appliance thermometer. If the temperature is lower than 37 degrees F or higher than 40 degrees F, move the mechanism 1 number in either the “cooler” or “warmer” direction. Check the temperature again after 5 to 8 hours and adjust the setting again, if needed. To learn more about the ideal temperature range for your fridge, read on!

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