The beloved refrigerator — where would we be without them? That’s why you’ll find one in every home, restaurant, commercial building, and most offices.
It’s easy to take our fridge and freezer for granted until we notice it’s not keeping our food at the temperature it should be. Think of a hot summer day, reaching for an ice-cold beverage from your fridge only to find it isn’t cold at all — or taking out meat to find it has spoilt and is no longer edible.
Set at the correct temperature, your refrigerator and freezer will keep perishable food cold, especially milk, helping to preserve the freshness of your food for longer and keep your energy bills low. Not to mention the money you’ll save on your grocery bills by not needing to discard spoilt food.
What is the optimal temperature for a refrigerator and freezer?
The Australian Standard for all fridges states the fresh food compartment should be at an average of 3°C. This is a good temperature to aim for — it’s below 4°C, but you’re not going to freeze your food.
To keep your food from spoiling, your refrigerator and freezer need to be kept at these temperatures:
- Fresh food — between 0°C and 4°C
- Freezer — kept at −18°C or below
- Fruit & vege compartment — kept higher than 5°C
- Dairy compartment (top of the fridge door) — around 8°C
Handy fridge tips
Once your fridge and freezer are set to an optimal temperature, it may seem like common sense, but all too often we open the refrigerator door and simply stand there looking in with the door open — a particularly common habit of children.
Best practice is to keep the door open for the least amount of time, as the cold air escapes very quickly. This one simple thing helps the refrigerator stay at its optimal temperature.
Another tip is to avoid overloading your fridge or freezer, as this can affect the overall temperature — your fridge has to work harder to keep all the contents cold.
Lastly, investing in a fridge thermometer lets you check that the temperature stays below 4°C to keep your food safe and your beverages refreshingly cold.
Commercial fridges
Commercial refrigerators take time to stabilise their set temperatures, and the bigger the unit the longer it takes. When adjusting the temperature, wait a full day and check it again before storing food products.
Due to the volume of food a commercial fridge needs to keep cold, the average operating range is between 3°C and 5°C. If you store food at a lower temperature there’s a risk the items will freeze.
If you’re still unsure of the optimal temperature setting for your fridge or freezer, speak to one of our commercial refrigeration experts at Sea Air Mechanical Services, your local refrigeration specialists, on 0401 787 183. We specialise in refrigeration repairs, servicing and maintenance on the Sunshine Coast and across North Brisbane.
