The ideal temperature for a refrigerator is between 35°F and 38°F (or 1.6°C to 3.3°C) . This temperature range ensures food safety by giving a 2-5 degree buffer in case the temperature gauge isnt wholly accurate. Keeping the temperature in this range can prevent fresh food from spoiling too quickly and slow the growth of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. It is important to note that while 40°F (4.5°C) protects harmful bacteria from growing, anything too much lower can cause food to freeze when you dont want it to. Therefore, it is best to set the temperature gauge a few degrees below 40°F (4.5°C) . It is also important to keep in mind 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.