How to Adjust Refrigerator Temperature

Thanks to refrigerators, most of us can stock up food and groceries for the entire week. To ensure that food's preserved properly, it's vital that you adjust the refrigerator temperature precisely. Cases of food poisoning due to food going stale, resulting from incorrectly adjusted temperature abound. In this Buzzle article, you will find guidelines on adjusting refrigerator temperature to the right value that guarantees food preservation, without overutilizing electricity.

Bacteria are the primary biological nemesis we need to guard against to preserve food. These omnipresent pathogens abound everywhere and are the primary agents responsible for food going bad. One of the most effective ways of keeping this microbial menace at bay is through refrigeration. As the temperature rises, bacteria multiply fast. Lowering the temperature and freezing food can slow down their growth, ensuring that food remains fresh.

Recommended Temperature Setting For Refrigerators
Refrigerator temperature can be set to be anywhere between 37°F to 41°F (3°C to 5°C). The recommended freezer temperature is -18°C (0°F). Freezer storage is recommended when you are storing food for a long period of time, extending to a few weeks or a month.

Checking the Existing Refrigerator Temperature
Most of the old refrigerator units don't come with a digital temperature display. Only the modern ones have those. So if you have one of the old refrigerators, you will have to first check the existing temperature using a special appliance called thermometer. Place the thermometer in water and place it in the refrigerator for a few hours and then read the temperature. If it's set above 41°F, you must lower it and if it's below 38°F, raise it.

How to Adjust Refrigerator Temperature?
If your refrigerator has a digital controls with a temperature display dial, your job is quite simple. Check your refrigerator's manual and observe the temperature display. There is bound to be a console next to the display, with buttons to lower or raise the temperature. If the current temperature is lower than the recommended temperature of 38°F, then increase the temperature and if it's higher than that, decrease it. Same goes for the freezer temperature setting, which may have a separate console for adjustment.

If your refrigerator, doesn't have a temperature display, you will have to use the appliance thermometer to make the adjustment. These old refrigerators typically come with a dial to adjust temperature. Look at the existing temperature setting and if you find it to be higher than the recommended temperature, turn the dial anticlockwise by one or two notches. Then again put the thermometer inside to know the set temperature. Keep doing this until the recommended temperature is set. Same goes for the freezer temperature setting, which will also come with a dial.

If you have a refrigerator with a digital temperature dial, your job is quite easy. Just check the recommended temperature and set that value. Even if your refrigerator doesn't have a temperature display console, using a thermometer can help you set the right temperature. You need to be particularly careful in summer and set the temperature to the lower extreme of the recommended temperature range, while in winter you can set it around the upper extreme end, conserving electrical power. Defrost the freezer once in a while as a part of maintenance. By optimally setting refrigerator temperature, not only will food preservation be ensured, but you will also save on electric power bills.