What Should be the Ideal Refrigerator Temperature?

The main purpose to get a refrigerator is to preserve the food articles, which can only be done at an optimum temperature. An optimum temperature can only inhibit the growth of bacteria since the refrigerator completely freezes them solid. Therefore food storage becomes really easy as we freeze whatever we want to store or preserve. Right? Wrong!! There are some food items that change, even quality wise, absolutely when frozen like green vegetables, fruits, milk and eggs which are just a few of the food items that don't freeze well. It would also be very difficult to thaw liquids like milk and beverages. So basically the refrigerator only has to be cold, but not so cold that it solidifies food items. The optimum temperature is approximately between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit, that is, 1.7 to 3.3 degrees Celsius. Any temperature more than that would spoil the food products too quickly and you might face food poisoning problems.

So it is now comprehensible that the temperature of the refrigerator actually has an effect on the nutritional value of the food items. If you consult a basic health magazine you would be able to understand that that cooling helps only to slow down the rate of bacterial growth and the pace at which they work. So there is always a chance that once the temperature is lowered the bacteria would start working on the food products and would successfully spoil it. The temperature of the refrigerator not only makes a difference in the nutritional value but also brings about a change in the appearance and taste of the food. Let us take the case of food items like milk, juice or meat in tetra pack, you would always notice that the manufacturers mention a definite temperature at which these food items are to be stored. What this means is that if that particular food item is not stored at that temperature it would get spoiled and this is the reason that professional establishments like hotels and restaurants keep a close check on the temperature that they set on the refrigerator. With lesser time in our hands to cook food everyday or to get fresh food everyday it is becoming immensely important for us to understand the science behind healthy refrigeration, therefore keep a check on all the appliances at your house that you use to heat or cool your food items and that would include not only your refrigerator but also the microwave.

Refrigerator Thermometer

If you really want to keep a check you can use a refrigerator or freezer thermometer that is available in most of the grocery stores or kitchen outlets. You can use a basic thermometer or a digital thermometer. Digital thermometers are also available that are operated by battery and give instant readings for refrigerator and freezer as well as weekly average temperatures for both. The freezer thermometer can be placed between two frozen objects likes two bags of vegetables for around a day before checking. The refrigerator thermometer can also be used in the same way. This is so that the thermometer can give us a better idea of the consistent temperature rather than an unstable temperature that is due to the fluctuations as when the door is opened. In case of any required adjustments, the thermometers are provided with temperature control dials using which the temperature can be adjusted. The dial has arbitrary numbers on it, which doesn’t refer to the temperature of the appliance but then actually is for your help and understanding to comprehend the degree of temperature that you have minimized or maximized. The thing that has to be checked is how is the indicator close to the warmer part of the dial or colder part. So the thermometer and the temperature controller would definitely help you to get the right temperature inside the refrigerator as well as the freezer, hence you will be able to ensure the health and well-being of your family members.