The ideal temperature for a fridge is between 35-38°F (1.6-3.3°C) . This temperature range is as close as you can get to freezing without being so cold that food freezes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends keeping the refrigerator temperature at or below 40°F (4.4°C) to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. However, most experts recommend keeping the temperature between 35-38°F (1.6-3.3°C) to ensure food safety by giving a 2-5 degree buffer in case the temperature gauge isnt wholly accurate. Its important to note that the temperature controls on many fridges only allow you to choose from a series of numbers, usually 1 through 5, with 1 being the coldest and 5 being the warmest. Therefore, its essential to use a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is within the recommended range.