The right fridge temperature
The temperatures that keep food safe, how to set them on single door and double door fridges, and how to check.
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What temperature should my fridge and freezer be?
Keep the fridge at or below 4°C and the freezer at about -18°C, the temperatures food safety agencies such as the US FDA recommend. On a fridge with a numbered dial, start at the middle setting and check the manual, as on many models a higher number means colder. A fridge thermometer is the only sure way to know.
Setting a single door fridge
Most single door fridges are direct cool. One dial controls the cooling, and the small freezer box at the top is the coldest part. Shelves near the freezer box are colder than the crisper at the bottom.
Set the dial to the middle, check after a day and move it one step at a time. Defrost the freezer box when the ice gets thick, because ice blocks the cooling.
Setting a double door fridge
Most double door fridges are frost free. They have a fan that sends cold air from the freezer into the fridge through vents. Some have one control, others have separate controls or preset modes for the fridge and the freezer.
Keep the vents at the back of the fridge clear of food, or the shelves below them stay warm while the top freezes.
How to check with a thermometer
- PlacePut a fridge thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf, and another in the freezer.
- WaitLeave the doors shut for a few hours, ideally overnight.
- ReadRead both quickly with the door open only briefly. Adjust the setting if needed and check again the next day.
- RepeatCheck about once a week, and after a change in season.
Common mistakes
- Packing the shelves so tightly that cold air cannot move
- Putting hot food in straight from the stove
- Leaving the door open while deciding what to cook
- A torn or loose door gasket that lets warm air in
- Pushing the fridge flat against the wall, so it cannot lose heat
When the temperature will not hold
If the fridge stays warm at the coldest setting, or the freezer works but the fridge does not, there is a fault. Common causes are a failed fan, a blocked defrost system, a faulty thermostat or a gas leak. See refrigerator not cooling.
Questions
Why does food freeze at the back of my fridge?
The cold air comes in at the back, near the top. Move milk and vegetables away from the vent, or set the fridge one step warmer.
Should I change the setting in summer?
In very hot weather the fridge works harder, and one step colder may be needed to stay at 4°C. Check with a thermometer, and set it back when the weather cools.
Can I switch the fridge off at night to save power?
No. The food warms up, and the fridge uses extra power to cool it down again in the morning.
Last updated 2026-11-08
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