The ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . This temperature inhibits the growth of microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. The FDA also recommends that the freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Properly storing food at these temperatures prevents the growth of bacteria, although it doesn’t kill any bacteria already on the food.

Its important to note that every refrigerator model is different, so the location of the temperature controls may vary. To set the ideal temperature of your refrigerator, you can take the following steps:

• Refer to the owner’s manual for your refrigerator to find the temperature control panel.
• Adjust the thermostat to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Check back in a few hours to see what the fridge temperature is. If your fridge doesn’t come with a built-in thermometer, you can monitor the temperature using a freestanding appliance thermometer.

Its also worth noting that lowering your refrigerators temperature to 33-35 degrees Fahrenheit can effectively increase the shelf life of your food, sometimes well beyond its expiration date. However, its important to have an additional thermometer in your refrigerator to ensure that the temperature is accurate.