The ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 37°F (2.8°C) according to Consumer Reports. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recommends that the refrigerator temperature should be at or below 40°F (4.4°C) . Lowering the temperature to 33-35°F (0.6-1.7°C) can increase the shelf life of food and decrease the risk of food-borne illness, but it may cause some items to freeze. Its important to keep the refrigerator at the correct temperature to prevent fresh food from spoiling too quickly and to slow the growth of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.

To set the ideal temperature of your refrigerator, it’s important to understand your refrigerator’s temperature controls. Every model is different, so the location of the controls may vary. If your refrigerator has digital controls, you can set the temperature precisely. However, 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.

In summary, the ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 37°F (2.8°C), but it should be at or below 40°F (4.4°C) according to the FDA. Its important to keep the refrigerator at the correct temperature to prevent food from spoiling too quickly and to slow the growth of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.