What is the ideal temperature for your refrigerator?

When you open your refrigerator, you see a world where your fresh produce, lunchmeats and favorite beverages live harmoniously. What you don’t see is the ongoing, microscopic battle between your food and the bacteria that is attempting to overthrow your refrigerator and stake claim on everything from your Clementine oranges to the Chipotle burrito you did not have room to finish.

 

Your refrigerator’s job is to keep the items inside preserved – slowing the growth of bacteria and keeping your food fresh. The low temperature creates an environment that keeps your food items edible and tasty while keeping bacteria in check. The lower the temperature, the fewer bacteria can thrive and multiply on your food.

 

So what is the best temperature to keep your refrigerator? If you keep your refrigerator too cold, your vegetables get mushy and your Diet Coke cans explode causing a sticky mess. Keep your refrigerator level too warm and bacteria will overrun your entire fridge spoiling all of your items, wasting food and requiring another trip to the grocery store.

 

The best temperature to keep your refrigerator is anywhere between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your fridge in this “sweet spot” will prolong the life of your food and keep bacteria at bay. Most refrigerators have temperature control settings, commonly located in the back of the unit. Newer models even have the temperature panels located on the refrigeration door for easy temperature adjustment. Depending on the contents in your fridge, the temperature will vary which is why it is important to take the time and determine the optimal setting regularly.

 

By achieving the ideal temperature for your refrigerator, you can prolong the life of your foods, save money and energy, and avoid sharing your favorite dish with your microscopic adversary. Here are a few great tips to keep your refrigerator running in tip-top shape:

 

• Clean your refrigerators condenser coils at the bottom and in the back. Freeing up dust particles makes it easier for your refrigerator to obtain the proper temperature - saving money and electricity
• Overloading your refrigerator with lots of warm food upsets the temperature and condensation balance. Let your food cool off a bit before putting it away
• Refrigerators and freezers operate best when they are full and have space between the items for cold air to circulate – put your Tetris skills to work!
• Close the door! When your refrigerator door is open, you let out more cold air than you think. Do your best to avoid keeping the door open for extended periods of time
• Refrigerator seals wear out over time and let the cool air out causing your fridge to constantly be running in the cooling cycle. Take a dollar bill and close the refrigerator door on it. If the bill easily slides out, you may need to replace your seal

 

Is your refrigerator not working at all? If you cannot diagnose the problem you may need to have a repair technician come take a look. Choosing the Right Appliance Repair Technician is important to ensure your appliance gets back to running in tip-top shape.

 

Occasionally, refrigerators will need to have their control board replaced. If the refrigerator part is no longer available for purchase, try CoreCentric Solutions’ Return for Repair service to breathe new life back into your old appliance! Our fast turnaround time of 24-48 hours gets your appliance back working again in no time and saves you the hassle of purchasing a new refrigerator. Call 1866-737-2244 for more information on our Return for Repair service.