Aim for about 37°F
- Aim for about 37°F (3°C), with the actual refrigerator temperature consistently at 40°F or below.
- Check with an appliance thermometer before changing the controls.
- Start with your model's recommended setting, make small changes, and wait at least 24 hours between adjustments.
- Keep perishable food at 40°F or below during that wait.
A dial setting or glowing display can leave you wondering how cold your groceries actually are. We'd check an appliance thermometer first, because few refrigerator controls show the actual temperature. Use that reading to decide whether your fridge needs an adjustment.
The setting tells the refrigerator what you want, while the thermometer tells you what temperature you're getting. That distinction matters even when your controls show degrees instead of a numbered scale.
Is 40°F cold enough?
Yes, 40°F meets the FDA's upper limit for refrigerator storage. It's the warm end of the generally accepted 33–40°F (0–4°C) range.
Colder isn't always better for fresh food. Below 33°F, foods may freeze. Above 40°F, food may spoil, so the goal is to keep groceries cold without icing them over.
Measure, adjust and check again
Use the temperature inside each compartment to guide your next move. The control setting alone can't tell you whether your food is cold enough.
- Put a freestanding appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and another in the freezer. Check them often. If the refrigerator stays at 40°F or below and the freezer stays at 0°F or below, keep monitoring; if either is warmer, check its setting.
- Find the recommended setting in your model's instructions. If the control is set differently, choose the recommended setting. If it's already there and the compartment is too warm, make a small change toward colder using your model's control directions.
- Wait at least 24 hours, then read the thermometers again. If the temperatures are within their limits, keep checking them regularly. If the refrigerator still reads above 40°F, move to the cooling checks below.
What do the numbers on your dial mean?
Controls may be along an inside wall, at the top center, or on the edge of the door. Some select degrees; others use numbers for general cooling ranges. Find your control and its directions before changing it, especially if the numbers aren't marked as temperatures.
| Control or refrigerator | Starting setting | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire electronic controls, including most side-by-side and French-door models | 37°F for fresh food; 0°F for the freezer | Select the temperatures on the electronic controls. |
| Frigidaire Multi-Door with a Custom-Flex Temp Drawer | 39°F for fresh food | Use this model's fresh-food recommendation. |
| Frigidaire dial controls | Indicator marked “normal” | Use the mark as the starting point and check the measured temperature. |
| Whirlpool refrigerator | Typical factory setting of 37°F (3°C) | Your model and its surroundings may call for a different setting. |
| KitchenAid refrigerator with a digital control panel | Factory setting of 37°F | Use the (+) or (-) touch pads until the desired temperature appears. |
For a Frigidaire control, check the recommended settings (opens in a new tab) before making a change. If your Frigidaire was just installed, leave it at the recommended setting for its first 24 hours while the temperature stabilizes. Keep perishable food at 40°F or below during that time.
For any numbered dial, use your model's instructions to tell which direction makes it warmer or colder. Choose the recommended setting first, then use the thermometer reading to decide whether it needs a small adjustment.
If the reading stays too high
Humidity and the temperature around the refrigerator can affect the setting it needs, particularly in a garage or basement. If those conditions call for another adjustment, keep the change small and wait at least 24 hours before checking again.
If the refrigerator still reads above 40°F after that full wait, keep perishable food at or below 40°F and work through the refrigerator cooling checks. If it still can't stay within the storage limit, contact appliance service. Have your thermometer readings and control setting ready, check your warranty terms, and ask for a cost estimate before approving work.
Give cold air room to move
Keep air vents clear and leave room for cold air to circulate around the food. A stocked refrigerator still needs space for airflow, so check the vents and the gaps between packages when you put groceries away.
Stock the refrigerator without packing its shelves tightly. Leave open paths for cold air between packages.
Keep door openings brief and minimize how often you open and close the doors to help the refrigerator stay cool. Get what you need and close the door. If your refrigerator door won't seal, work through the closure checks as well.
Some shelves are colder than others
On KitchenAid refrigerators, door compartments tend to be slightly warmer because opening and closing the door causes temperature fluctuations. Put less perishable items, such as chutney or almond butter, there.
The bottom shelf and the back of the refrigerator tend to be the coldest areas, making them suitable for meat and dairy. Upper shelves are a place for prepared meals, where you're likely to find the most stable temperatures.
Keep those differences in mind when putting food away, especially if you're noticing ice on items in one area. Continue checking the compartment with an appliance thermometer so your storage choices go alongside an actual temperature reading.
If fresh food is starting to freeze
Ice on fresh food can mean the temperature is set too low. In an emptier refrigerator, cold air can also sink toward the bottom instead of being absorbed by items throughout the compartment. Check the temperature and how the refrigerator is stocked before deciding on another setting.
If you need to make it warmer, follow your model's control directions and keep the change small. Allow at least 24 hours before changing it again, then check both the thermometer and the food. You want fresh food without ice while the compartment stays at 40°F or below.
Juice and milk that are as cold as you like, food without ice, and fresh food that doesn't spoil early are useful everyday observations.
Is 45°F okay for a drinks fridge?
A refrigerator at 45°F is too warm for ordinary perishable-food storage. Dairy, eggs, meat and produce may naturally contain foodborne germs, and storing them above 40°F can be harmful.
There's more temperature flexibility when a refrigerator holds strictly soda and wine. If yours also holds milk or other perishable food, keep it at 40°F or below. What you store determines the limit, even if you call it a drinks fridge.
Correct cooling helps food stay fresh and can help prevent bacterial growth, but refrigerated food still has limits on how long it can be stored safely. Use the FDA's advice to check safe food storage (opens in a new tab) when deciding what to keep. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours.
Other temperature questions
A few storage choices depend on what you're keeping or what your freezer needs to do.
Where should leafy greens go?
Put leafy greens in a high-humidity crisper drawer to help preserve them.
What can I do before a planned power outage?
If you have warning, freeze water in quart-size sealable food-storage bags and place them in the fridge and freezer to help keep food cold.
How long does frozen food stay safe?
At the proper freezer temperature, frozen food can stay safe indefinitely, though its quality and taste may change.
Can freezer temperature affect an ice maker?
A Whirlpool ice maker may not work properly if the freezer is too warm. Its recommended setting for ice production is 0–5°F; keep 0°F or below as the freezer food-storage target.
Check the temperature after a power outage
During a power outage, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help food stay cold. Before using food afterward, check the thermometers in both compartments.
If the refrigerator is still at or below 40°F, or the food has been above 40°F for only two hours or less, it should be safe to eat. If you're unsure how long the temperature has been at or above 40°F, discard the food.
Frozen food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be safely refrozen or cooked. Check with the appliance thermometer, or use a food thermometer to check each individual package.
More in this category
