Food Safety
Is Your Fridge Cold Enough?
Keep the refrigerator at 4°C/40°F or below and the freezer at -18°C/0°F or below. The control dial does not always show the real temperature, so an inexpensive appliance thermometer is the clearest check.
Where to measure
Place the thermometer in the main body of the fridge, not the door, and give it several hours to settle after changing the control. Check it regularly, especially during hot weather or when the fridge is unusually full.
Help cold air circulate
Do not pack shelves so tightly that air cannot move. Cover foods, keep raw meat sealed on the bottom shelf, and avoid leaving the door open while deciding what to cook.
Refrigerate promptly
Put perishable groceries and cooked food in the refrigerator within two hours—within one hour when the surrounding temperature exceeds 32°C/90°F. Divide big batches between shallow containers so they cool faster.
A cold fridge slows bacterial growth but does not stop it completely. Storage time still matters, and food can be unsafe even when it looks and smells normal.