Keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below and the freezer at 0°F (−18°C) (FDA). GE and LG recommend setting the fridge to 37°F (3°C) and the freezer to 0°F. Most controls don’t show the real temperature, so check with an appliance thermometer (FDA), and give the fridge 24 hours to settle after you change a setting (GE).
The right temperatures
- Refrigerator: 40°F or below. The FDA’s limit, because cold slows the bacteria that cause food poisoning; at room temperature their numbers can double every 20 minutes (FDA).
- Freezer: 0°F. The FDA, GE and LG all give 0°F (−18°C).
- The setting to aim for: 37°F. GE recommends 37°F for the fresh-food section, and LG recommends 3°C (37°F), or 2 to 4°C (36 to 39°F) on some models. Bosch cites the Department of Energy’s range of 35 to 38°F.
- What normal looks like. Checked first thing in the morning, GE considers 32 to 40°F normal in the fresh-food section and −5 to 8°F normal in the freezer of a self-defrosting model.
What the numbers on the dial mean
The numbers on a refrigerator control are settings, not degrees, and they run differently by brand. Your owner’s manual has the key for your model.
| Control | Coldest | Recommended | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knob or display numbered 1–9 (most Hotpoint and some GE models) | 9 (1 is warmest; 0 on a knob is off) | 5 for fridge and freezer | GE |
| Display in degrees (some GE, GE Profile and LG) | the lowest number | 37°F and 0°F | GE, LG |
| Levels 1–5 (some LG models) | 5: fridge 32°F, freezer −9°F | the recommended level in your manual | LG |
On the LG models with five levels, level 1 is 43°F in the fridge and 5°F in the freezer. LG warns that setting it colder than recommended can add frost and use more energy.
How to check your fridge’s temperature
- Get an appliance thermometer for each section: few refrigerator controls show the actual temperature (FDA).
- Measure a liquid, not the air. Put the thermometer in a container of water or food that has been in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Air temperature swings during defrosting and whenever the door opens (GE).
- Put it in the center of the fresh-food section; on bottom-freezer models, on the bottom shelf or on top of the vegetable drawers (GE). Keep it away from the door, which runs warmer (Bosch).
- Read it first thing in the morning, the time GE’s normal ranges are based on (GE).
- Adjust and wait 24 hours before checking again (GE).
If it’s running warm
- Check the door seals. Close the door on a dollar bill; if it slides out easily, the seal may not be tight. Clean the seals with mild detergent and warm water and look for cracks (Bosch).
- Open the doors less. The more often they open, the more the temperature swings (GE).
- Don’t overshoot. A colder-than-recommended setting adds frost and uses more energy (LG). If the fridge still won’t hold 40°F, have it serviced.
If the power goes out
Keep the doors closed as much as possible. Before using any food, check the thermometers: food in a fridge that stayed at or below 40°F, or that was above 40°F for no more than 2 hours, should be safe. Frozen food that still has ice crystals, or is at 40°F or below, can be refrozen or cooked. If you can’t tell how long it was warmer than 40°F, throw it out (FDA).
Questions people ask
What temperature should a refrigerator be?
40°F (4°C) or below (FDA). GE and LG recommend setting it to 37°F (3°C).
Is 40 degrees too warm for a fridge?
40°F is the upper limit (FDA), so it’s just within the safe range. GE and LG recommend setting the fridge lower, at 37°F.
What number should my fridge be on?
On GE and Hotpoint controls numbered 1 to 9, the recommended setting is 5 for both the fridge and the freezer (GE). Other brands number their controls differently, so check your manual.
Is 1 or 9 colder on a fridge?
On GE and Hotpoint controls, 9 is the coldest and 1 the warmest (GE). On LG models with levels 1 to 5, 5 is the coldest (LG).
What temperature should a freezer be?
0°F (−18°C) (FDA, GE, LG).
How long does a fridge take to change temperature?
Allow 24 hours after setting or changing the controls (GE).
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety: 40°F or below and 0°F; few controls show actual temperatures; one thermometer for each section; what to do in a power outage.
- GE Appliances, Refrigerator - Measuring Internal Temperatures: 37°F and 0°F recommended; 24 hours to stabilize; measure a liquid, not the air; where to place the thermometer; normal ranges.
- GE Appliances, Side-by-Side Refrigerator - External Temperature Controls and Bottom Freezer Refrigerator - How to Adjust Temperature Controls: settings 1 to 9, 9 coldest, 5 recommended; 0 is off; displays preset to 37°F and 0°F.
- LG, How to adjust the temperature for LG refrigerators: 37°F and 0°F recommended; levels 1 to 5 by model; colder settings add frost and use more energy.
- Bosch, What should a refrigerator and freezer temperature be?: the Department of Energy’s 35 to 38°F range; thermometer away from the door; the door seal check.