Setting Refrigerator Temperature
Setting refrigerator temperature to the right degree celsius helps ensure food safety and extends the shelf life of your groceries.
The refrigerator is an essential element of our modern kitchens. It ensures optimal conservation of food while guaranteeing its health and safety. It is, therefore, important to set refrigerator temperature at the right temperature to preserve the nutritional quality of food and avert the growth of harmful bacteria.
Why is The Refrigerator Temperature So Important?
Inadequate temperatures can encourage the growth of bacteria and mold, thus compromising the safety of your food, says the expert.
It is essential to keep sensitive foods in the refrigerator, as the cold slows down the multiplication of bacteria (without eliminating them). Maintain a temperature below +4°C in your fridge. You can considerably limit the growth of micro-organisms. They are responsible for food degradation and stop the growth of the majority of pathogenic germs. They may cause food poisoning.
As you will have understood, respecting the cold chain allows us to limit the development of pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, the risk of poisoning. Indirectly, this also helps minimize food waste by maximizing the product lifespan.
Good to know:
At room temperature, bacteria multiply by 2 every 20 minutes​​​​​. Thus, a colony of 300,000 germs can count at least 2.4 million after an hour. As experts point out, temperatures below 4°C prevent the multiplication of the vast majority of these bacteria, but any break in the cold chain allows them to wake up and resume their development, which can make them unfit for consumption.
What Should Be the Refrigerator Temperature?
Refrigerators allow sensitive foods to be stored at positive temperatures between 0°C and 8°C. “It is important to note that the refrigerator temperature can vary inside a refrigerator,” emphasizes the refrigeration engineer. In fact, all fridges are of this quality.
A cold zone (between 0°C and 4°C), which allows the most sensitive products to be preserved, such as meat, fish, and preparations based on products of animal origin,
Several cool zones between 4°C and 6°C which allow less sensitive perishable products to be stored, such as milk, yogurt, butter or eggs, and a vegetable drawer whose temperature oscillates between 6°C and 8°C, which allows you to keep salads, carrots or even apples fresh.
Please note: Frozen foods require lower temperatures and, therefore, are stored in the freezer, which is generally around -18°C.
Settings:
How Do I Know If My Fridge Is Cold Enough?
The most recent refrigerator models generally display their temperature. If this is not the case with yours, you can always place a simple thermometer inside your refrigerator for around twenty minutes. Position it in the middle of the appliance and away from the light, then close the fridge door and leave it there for a few minutes. Then, check that the temperature displayed is within the recommended range. If necessary, consult the user manual for your refrigerator. All the manufacturers provide advice on the best temperature for each compartment.
If the compressor runs constantly without stopping, this may indicate a too-high refrigerator temperature. If it doesn’t activate at all, it could indicate a temperature that is too low. That said, if you notice persistent problems that you cannot remedy, it may be necessary to call in an expert for checks and possible repairs.
How Can You Adjust the Refrigerator Temperature From 1 To 5?
As noted above, most modern refrigerators come with a digital temperature control system or a dial with numbers for easy adjustment. For example, if your refrigerator uses a scale of 1 to 5 for temperature adjustment, refer to your user manual. Generally, the scale of 1 to 5 indicates decreasing temperature levels (or cooling capacity level): level 1 is generally the hottest setting and level 5 is generally the coldest. After adjusting the refrigerator temperature setting, the temperature will probably take a few hours to stabilize.
How Do You Make Sure The Fridge Stays At The Ideal Temperature?
To keep your refrigerator temperature at an ideal Point:
1- Set your refrigerator thermostat correctly.
2- Avoid overloading your refrigerator, as this may hinder the circulation of cold air and compromise the efficiency of your fridge.
3- Check the tightness of your fridge door: make sure it closes correctly and is airtight. “If your door does not close properly, it will let hot air in, which can cause an increase in internal temperature and compromise the quality and integrity of certain foods.
4- Don’t open the door unnecessarily. Hot air gets inside every time you open it, making the refrigerator work harder to maintain a cool temperature.
5- Make sure there is enough space between the refrigerator, the wall, and the ceiling (“if your refrigerator is too enclosed, it risks overheating and not working as well,” warns the expert).
6- Also, make sure that the back of your fridge is clean (the accumulation of dust and dirt on the grill at the back of the refrigerator can affect its proper functioning and lead to an increase in electricity consumption).
7- In the middle of summer, make sure that your device is not directly exposed to the sun or located too close to a heat source.
What is the Coldest Part of A Refrigerator?
Not all foods are stored at the same temperature. Every fridge has a cold zone (0°C to 4°C), but its location varies between manufacturers and models. “A small arrow in the fridge necessarily indicates the coldest zone and is frequently located above the vegetable drawer,” specifies the expert. If this zone is above 4°C, change the thermostat! And if the cold zone is not indicated, it’s because you have a temperature display, so it’s up to you to set it to 4°C!
Good to know: Vegetable drawers and refrigerator door compartments are generally the hottest parts of refrigerators.
Arrangement and storage:
How Do You Properly Organize and Preserve Food in Your Fridge?
Contrary to what one might think, the location of food in our refrigerator is very important. “Properly storing food helps to preserve its freshness, limit cross-contamination, and facilitate access to the different foods,” notes the refrigeration engineer. The storage temperature and expiration date are generally available on the product’s packaging.
Store raw meat and fish in the cold zone (0 to 4°C), homemade preparations based on animal products (mayonnaise, chocolate mousse, etc.), made from meat in sauce, and raw milk products. You can store other products in the rest of the fridge, where the refrigerator temperature generally fluctuates between 4°C and 6°C.
Please note: Use the door to store condiments, drinks, sauces, and less temperature-sensitive items. “The temperature in the door can vary depending on how often you open and the tightness of the seals. Ideally, avoid putting foods that are too sensitive.
Place fresh fruit and vegetables in the vegetable drawer, which generally remains between 6°C and 8°C!
Our Other Tips For Optimal Organization:
1- Respect expiration dates to avoid consuming expired foods.
2- Remove excess packaging from products to avoid contaminating the fridge with microorganisms that could be available on boxes and plastics. This promotes the circulation of cold air, which would cool the food.
3- Protect your partially consumed dishes with plastic film or aluminum to limit contamination.
4- Avoid putting hot dishes in the refrigerator so as not to increase the temperature and food in it significantly. “Place them in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 to 2 hours. Later to cool them in the refrigerator and not at room temperature where microorganisms could develop,” Experts advise. Â
5- Please do not leave the refrigerator door open for too long. Be sure to close it securely after use.
6- Clean your refrigerator regularly or as soon as food stains the surfaces. It will help you to avoid odors and bacterial growth and maintain the refrigerator temperature.
7- Place new foods at the back so that you can use older products first and avoid waste.
Need Help or Advice in Academic Writing
https://independent.academia.edu/shamsulIslam8
Would you like more advice? Do you have good practices to share? Please feel free to express yourself in the comments. Also, if you want help in writing content to drive more traffic and boost conversions, please get in touch through Contact our team or send your requirements here.
Read More:
HOW TO KEEP HOMES CLEAN WITHOUT STRESS
AIR FRYERS | ARE OIL-FREE FRYERS REALLY SAFE FOR OUR HEALTH?
BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY | ADD GREEN PLANTS IN YOUR HOME
