![](\"https:\/\/www.simplyrecipes.com\/thmb\/T37d-rK-ZASTyqsSdfW3bPleZCI=\/4798x3582\/Simply-Recipes-Best-Temperature-Fridge-LEAD-OPTION-02-c91164b33ef2485d9fd022f8fdeb5df0.jpg\")
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I gauge the refrigerator temperature by how the milk tastes. It should never be warm (gross), and it should certainly not have ice crystals. Obviously, there are much better ways to monitor your fridge temperature. And, according to two experts I spoke with, there\u2019s a perfect temperature to keep your food fresh, safe, and tasty.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping the refrigerator at the proper temperature is essential for both food safety and quality. It prevents bacterial growth, reducing the risk of foodborne illness,\u201d says Gabriela Swamy, PhD, professor at San Jose State University and member of the Institute of Food Technologists Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Division. \u201cAdditionally, it helps maintain freshness, texture, and flavor, preventing spoilage and waste. Proper refrigeration extends food shelf life effectively.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
She says the fridge should be kept below 40\u00b0F to keep food quality high and to prevent bacteria growth, though it shouldn\u2019t hover very close to freezing, which is 32\u00b0F.<\/strong> The freezer, on the other hand, should be set to 0\u00b0F.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThese temperatures slow spoilage, reduce foodborne illness risks, and ensure optimal food quality and longevity,\u201d Swamy says. \u201cAlways use a thermometer to verify settings.\u201d\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You don\u2019t want your fridge to get too warm or too cold. Like Goldilocks, you want to be just right. \u201cIf a refrigerator is too cold and food begins to freeze, it will cause the moisture in most foods to begin to freeze,\u201d says Michael Handal, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education\u2019s New York City campus. \u201cCell structures in food begin to rupture, causing freezer burn, a condition where the uniformity and quality of stored food begin to deteriorate.\u201d Fresh produce and dairy, in particular, can be damaged.\n<\/p>\n If your fridge temp is too warm, however, bacteria are more likely to grow, which can cause food to spoil and raise the risk of foodborne illness. \u201cThe idea is to keep food in a properly chilled environment, but not so cold as to induce the harmful effects of freezing,\u201d says Handal.\n<\/p>\n There might be times, though, when you want to set your fridge temp a little colder. Swamy says you might want to do so during hot weather, when storing large amounts of food, or if you have a lot of foods that are easily perishable, like seafood or dairy. \u201cIt\u2019s also useful after a power outage or if food is seeming to spoil quickly, as it ensures safety and freshness,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n Another moment for turning down the temperature gauge is when you\u2019re preparing a big meal, like at Thanksgiving. \u201cIf you were storing a large 18-pound turkey for a few days, a lower refrigerator temperature would help ensure a large piece of poultry is kept very cold until it is needed,\u201d notes Handal.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Simply Recipes \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n Be smart about where you store food in your refrigerator. The coldest places are the back of the fridge and on the bottom shelves because cold air falls, and there\u2019s less circulation in these spots. \u201cStoring raw meats, dairy, and perishable leftovers in these areas keeps them fresh longer,\u201d Swamy says. \u201cAvoid placing delicate produce here, as it may freeze or spoil more quickly.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The warmest spots in the fridge are all the shelves in the door and the upper locations. They don\u2019t stay consistently cold, especially when you open the refrigerator. \u201cThese areas experience temperature fluctuations, making them ideal for less-perishable items, like condiments, butter, soft drinks, and pasteurized juices,\u201d Swamy says. \u201cAvoid storing dairy, eggs, or raw meat here to prevent spoilage and foodborne illnesses.\u201d\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your refrigerator\u2019s built-in thermometer might not always be accurate, mainly because of where it\u2019s located. Swamy suggests buying a separate thermometer and placing it in the middle of the fridge, away from walls or vents.\n<\/p>\n \u201cDouble-checking the temperature of your unit at home is always a good thing to do,\u201d Handal says. \u201cMoving the thermometer around to check each section of your refrigerator\u2019s temperature will allow you to adjust it as necessary, and it will also give you the peace of mind that you are safely holding food products at their optimum temperatures.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n #Temperature #Fridge #Experts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I gauge the refrigerator temperature by how the milk tastes. It should never be warm (gross), and it should certainly not have ice crystals. Obviously, there are much better ways to monitor your fridge temperature. And, according to two experts I spoke with, there\u2019s a perfect temperature to keep your food fresh, safe, and tasty. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[53,597,41],"class_list":["post-1200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dinner","tag-experts","tag-fridge","tag-temperature"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artoz.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} The Goldilocks Effect is Best for Fridge Temperatures <\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Coldest and Warmest Spots in the Fridge, According to the Experts <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Do You Need a Refrigerator Thermometer? <\/span> <\/h2>\n