ᐅ Optimal Temperature for Refrigerator and Freezer

Hello,

what is the optimal temperature to set for the refrigerator and freezer?

I have read that 5°C (41°F) or 7°C (45°F) is recommended for the refrigerator.

For the freezer, -18°C (0°F) is considered optimal.

What would you say are the best temperatures?

FrankChief schrieb:

18 degrees would be ideal for the freezer

I would put a minus sign in front of that.

We keep the fridge at +8, which is enough for milk and so on. Although we also have two 0-degree compartments in the fridge.

WilderSueden schrieb:

I would put a minus sign in front.

Otherwise, it would be a bit wrong.

WilderSueden schrieb:

We have our refrigerator set to +8, which is enough for milk and similar items. Although we also have two 0-degree compartments in the fridge.

Our refrigerator is currently set to 7°C (45°F), but we do not have a 0-degree compartment.

I only read that the European Union recommends 5°C (41°F), but that 7°C (45°F) should be sufficient here.

That’s why I wanted to ask how you manage this and what would be optimal (regarding food storage and energy consumption).

Is -18°C (0°F) suitable for a freezer?

FrankChief schrieb:

Freezer at -18 degrees okay?

Yes, that’s fine. I have it set the same way. And the refrigerator at 7 degrees. We also have Biofresh compartments. You just need to pay attention to the humidity supply, as they have an adjustable lid installed.

My refrigerator is set to 4°C (39°F), and the freezer compartment to -22°C (-8°F). If you have a separately temperature-controlled 0°C (32°F) zone, you can set the rest of the fridge to 7°C (45°F), yes.
If not, the 0°C (32°F) zone will only be about 3-4°C (5-7°F) cooler than the rest of the fridge. So at 7°C (45°F), the cooler zone is really around 3-4°C (37-41°F), which can be too warm for fresh meat.

Energy consumption shouldn’t matter at this point. If food spoils every week, that’s much more expensive than setting the fridge 2 or 3 degrees colder.

Besides, Coke, beer, and shandy simply taste better at 4°C (39°F) than at 7°C (45°F). And if my fridge uses maybe 50 kWh more per year running at 4°C (39°F) instead of 7°C (45°F), I consider that a small luxury worth having.

What’s far more important for energy use is following the manufacturer’s recommended clearance from the wall. Too little or too much space increases consumption.