Your fridge is an integral part of your daily life, isn’t it? Imagine for a moment having to cook every day or not being able to keep your food fresh… It’s hard to conceive, and yet a simple misadjustment of the thermostat can have very unpleasant effects. So, do you really know what temperature to set?
Why is it essential to adjust the temperature of the refrigerator correctly?
If you think that the temperature of your refrigerator doesn’t matter, think again! An incorrect setting promotes the proliferation of bacteria, causing food to deteriorate quickly. The result? Wasted food and, above all, an increased risk of food poisoning or digestive disorders.
By keeping your refrigerator at the right temperature, you can preserve your food better. The benefit is twofold: healthy eating and limited food waste. So, are you ready to learn more about the settings?
What is the ideal temperature setting for your refrigerator?
Food safety specialists say that to keep your products fresh effectively while limiting health risks, keep your refrigerator between 0 and 4°C. Exceeding this range encourages the multiplication of bacteria that are dangerous to health.
Conversely, going below 0°C does not provide any particular advantage. You simply risk freezing certain sensitive foods, damaging their texture and diminishing their flavor. And let’s not forget the unnecessary energy waste that this generates!
The perfectly adapted temperature for an optimal balance between food safety and low energy consumption is therefore precisely *4 °C. Keep this reference in mind!
How do you simply adjust the thermostat on your refrigerator?
Your fridge does not necessarily show the degrees directly on its thermostat. It is usually numbered, often between 1 and 5, or sometimes up to 10. The little trick? Set the setting to approximately 60% of the proposed scale. Here are some practical examples:
- Thermostat from 1 to 5: the recommended setting is around the number 3.
- Thermostat from 1 to 7: choose number 4.
- Graduation up to 10: choose number 6.
These simple settings generally allow you to obtain a temperature close to the famous recommended **4°C**. No need for sophisticated tools, just a little attention!
The particularities of your refrigerator to take into account
Inside your appliance, not all areas have the same temperature. Yes, that’s normal! The coolest area is usually the bottom of the refrigerator, which is why you should store meat or fish there. The middle shelves are perfect for dairy products and ready meals.
In addition, be aware of certain habits that significantly influence the temperature:
- Opening the door too often, even briefly, disrupts the internal coolness.
- Overfilling the appliance hinders the circulation of cold air.
So remember to check your thermostat periodically to make sure that the cold is optimal throughout your refrigerator.
Some easy ways to check the actual temperature of your fridge
Want to check the temperature quickly and easily? There are two practical ways to do this:
- Use an independent thermometer: place it in a glass of water in the middle of the fridge for a few hours to get a reliable reading.
- Take advantage of an integrated digital display: if your appliance has one, simply check the displayed temperature from time to time.
These easy techniques enable you to effectively monitor the proper preservation of your food. You will thus be sure to enjoy more of their taste and nutritional qualities.
And you, did you really know the ideal temperature of your refrigerator? Will you change the settings of your fridge after reading this article? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experiences or your little personal tips in the comments section below. You might help other readers optimize the preservation of their food!
