Skip to main content

Keep your fridge at the perfect temp with these handy tips

what temperature should my fridge be refrigerator
Image used with permission by copyright holder

‘Kay, so you’ve got a fridge, right? Of course you’ve got a fridge! That’s why you’re here. Anyway, so you have a fridge, but you’re all, “What temperature should I set my fridge (and freezer, don’t forget that) at?” Really glad you asked that question. Let’s break it down.

The FDA advises that you should keep the temperature of your fridge between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably right in the middle of that range, at, say, 35 degrees. Set the temperature at 35, and you avoid the risk of frozen food (that’s what the freezer’s for!) and you avoid the risk of spoilage. That said, this does not mean the temperature inside your fridge will be uniformly 35; temperatures can vary depending on the part of the fridge. The bottom and the back of the refrigerator tend to be the coldest areas, so keep things that need to stay cooler there. Don’t put stuff that spoils relatively quickly, like milk, in the door. Things there can get as warm as 59 degrees, so think about what you put in there. But condiments like ketchup and mustard are okay if they’re a little warm, so that’s why they get to hang out in the door. So, in conclusion: set your fridge temp at 35 and be mindful of what you put in the door.

Recommended Videos

While you’re at it with the fridge, make sure to set your freezer temperature below 32 degrees. This sounds super obvious, but it’s super important. A freezer that doesn’t freeze your food properly is an annoying health hazard. Don’t mess around with frozen food: set your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. That way, you’re not taking any chances. Keep your freezer cold by keeping it well-stocked. The more items you have in there, the better it holds the temperature. Same goes for your refrigerator. Keep your fridge and freezer full and you might still have 99 problems, but spoiled food will not be one of them.

Jacob O'Gara
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jacob O’Gara is an editorial assistant at Digital Trends, where he writes about everything from video games to…
8 tips and tricks for your robot vacuum
The Shark ION Robot Vacuum cleans carpet and wood flooring.

Robot vacuums make it easy to rid your home of dust, debris, pet dander, and anything else lurking in the loops of your carpet. And although they’re much more convenient than a traditional vacuum, they aren’t entirely hands-off. Here are some tips and tricks for your robot vacuum to help keep your home clean. Some of these tips only need to be performed once (such as setting up restricted zones), while others should be performed before every cleaning.

Looking to upgrade your cleaning game? Be sure to check out our roundup of the best robot vacuums available today.
Clean up debris and other objects

Read more
How to build a smart kitchen
A smart kitchen.

Planning a kitchen remodel or renovation is a big step. Along with thinking about what material to use for new counters and cabinet colors, it’s a good time to consider what technology you want in your kitchen, too. A renovation is the perfect time to build a smart kitchen with all the connected technology that you’ve been wanting. Interested? Here’s what to consider and why.
Think about what you cook in the kitchen
Smart technology works best when it's applied to something that you’re already doing every day. Before you start looking at appliances (and they all don't have to be from the same brand), think about how you use your kitchen. What sort of meals do you cook most often? Do you use the stovetop the most, or the oven for baking, or the microwave? Are you more of a slow cooker chef? Considering these things now will help you make the right decisions later. Once you know what you use the most, use that information to inform your budget and how you'll spend it. Then, we can move on to the fun stuff!
Choose a smart home platform you like

You may also want to take a look at the apps offered by major kitchen brands like LG, Samsung, and others to see if there’s a particular app design or compatibility feature you want. For example, you may want to make sure that your appliances work with a certain voice assistant like Alexa. We also suggest getting appliances that are sure to work with the new universal smart home protocol Matter, which makes it easier to control them with an app of your choice.
Shop for a connected smart oven

Read more
Five must-have eco-friendly products for your smart home
Adjusting the temperature on the Google Nest Thermostat.

We're all trying to make smart decisions to ensure we don't slow-cook humanity on the spit of climate change. At home, this means using less power that relies on fossil fuels. You can use LED lighting and smart thermostats to that end. Food waste produces loads of methane globally, not to mention the lost resources in making the food in the first place. A new breed of smart home appliances makes the process of minimizing food waste much more convenient. Let's look at just some of the products that can reduce your carbon footprint.

Read more