Refrigerator Temperature Settings Guide

You’ve carefully shopped for great ingredients, and you want them to last and taste fresh when you’re ready for making. Setting your fridge to the right temperature is one of the keys to ensuring the longevity of crisp fruits and veggies, fresh meats and cheeses, frozen items and more. Get the most out of that thinly sliced prosciutto and those hand-picked strawberries with this refrigerator temperature settings guide.

What temperature should a refrigerator be? 

Generally, the ideal refrigerator temperature is around 37°F (3°C). That said, a range of 33–40°F (0–4°C) is typically considered safe for most purposes. Temperatures that fall below 33°F can freeze foods while temperatures above 40°F may contribute to food spoilage.

WHAT ARE KITCHENAID®REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE SETTINGS?

37°F is the factory setting on KitchenAid^® refrigerators. Keep in mind that different zones of your refrigerator yield different temperatures. For example, door compartments tend to be slightly warmer due to temperature fluctuations when opening and closing the door. They are ideal for preserving less perishable items, such as chutney or almond butter. Whereas, the bottom shelf and the back of the fridge tend to be the coldest, making these zones ideal for meats and dairy. Learn what to do if the back of your fridge is freezing food.

SHOP KITCHENAID®REFRIGERATORS WITH SOFT-CLOSE DRAWERS

Select refrigerators from KitchenAid brand also feature 2 Soft-Close Drawers for optimized storage for specific items. The left drawer features five preset temperatures—meat/fish, deli/cheese, greens/herbs, thaw/marinate and drinks. The right drawer is ideal for produce.

HOW DO YOU ADJUST REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE?

For refrigerators with a digital control panel, press the (+) or (-) touch pads until the desired temperature is displayed. Refer to your owner’s manual for the precise location and specific instructions to raise or lower your refrigerator’s temperature. If you change the settings, be mindful to allow 24 hours for your fridge to adjust.

SHOP KITCHENAID®REFRIGERATORS WITH EXTENDFRESH™

Select KitchenAid^® refrigerators feature an ExtendFresh™ Temperature Management System that maintains optimal temperatures for fresh and frozen food. This single evaporator system uses sensors to continually monitor temperature levels in both the refrigerator and freezer and adapts the flow of cold air between them. Learn more about how to defrost a freezer and troubleshoot a freezer that’s not freezing properly.

WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD A REFRIGERATOR FREEZER BE?

The best temperature for storing frozen food is 0ºF (-17ºC). Storing frozen items at this temperature will help preserve the quality of your favorite frozen foods. This helps ensure those fresh prawns, that homemade tortellini and your favorite espresso chip ice cream will be delicious and ready for guests to enjoy at your next dinner party.

REFRIGERATOR STORAGE ZONES: OPTIMAL TEMPERATURES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD

Each zone of your refrigerator aims to provide constant and even cooling for organizing different types of food throughout the fridge and freezer compartments. Here are some tips on how you can get the most out of each refrigerator zone and help keep your perishable foods fresh to fuel your creativity in the kitchen.

• Upper Shelves: Place prepared meals on the upper shelves where you’ll likely find the most stable temperatures. Knowing where to store herbs in the refrigerator can also help when you’re preserving the freshness of tender cilantro and woody rosemary for flavorful infusions to your next chimichurri or pork tenderloin.

• Bottom Shelves: You’ll often find the coolest temperatures in the lowest parts of the refrigerator. The bottom shelves are ideal for preserving the taste and texture of items such as Chinook salmon or organic chicken. 

• Deli Drawers: Deli drawers are also designed to store perishable items at lower temperatures, like soft and savory cheeses for your next charcuterie board.
• High Humidity Crisper Drawers: Humidity-controlled crisper drawers help preserve the bold flavors of your favorite fruits and vegetables. For optimal storage, leafy greens and ethylene-sensitive fruit should be stored in a high humidity drawer where moisture is higher. This environment is ideal for lettuce, oranges and strawberries.
• Low Humidity Crisper Drawers: Low humidity drawers, on the other hand, are designed for ethylene-producing fruits in a drier environment, like honeydew melons, papayas and kiwi.

WHAT IS THE BEST REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE FOR FOOD SAFETY?

Officially, the USDA recommends a refrigerator temperature set at or below 40°F. As a rule of thumb, 37°F is generally a good sweet spot to store most foods, as anything below 33°F can also run the risk of freezing your food. Keep in mind that temperature settings may need to be adjusted depending on varying environments and humidity levels, such as refrigerators in basements or garages. Consult this guide from KitchenAid brand if your refrigerator stops cooling properly.

Shop for KITCHENAID® refrigerators

KitchenAid^® refrigerators are designed to integrate seamlessly with your kitchen layout and flow. Flexible storage options allow you to easily store and preserve your favorite ingredients to keep them readily available. Browse the complete collection of built-in, freestanding and French door refrigerators from KitchenAid brand to find the one that complements the way you like to create.