What temperature should your refridgerator be?

[cruisnfamily]

I think my refridgerator is having a problem but I'm not sure. The shelves and bottles and things in the fridge feel cool but when you drink some milk or soda, it's cool but not cold. KWIM? The air in the fridge doesn't feel cold either. DH suggested putting a thermometer in there to see what temp it is but since I don't know what temp it should be, it's not gonna do me much good to find out what it is.

So, what temperature should it be inside my refridgerator?

Thanks for your help!

 

[disney4us2002]

My thermometer reads 42* - what is freezing ? 32*? Sometimes my fridge gets too cold and the eggs freeze but I moved them away from the freezer wall and that hasn't happened lately. If you have a whole lot in your fridge and the cold air doesn't circulate well, things won't get very cold.

 

[cruisnfamily]

My thermometer reads 42* - what is freezing ? 32*? ........... If you have a whole lot in your fridge and the cold air doesn't circulate well, things won't get very cold.

Wow! 42? The thermometer is reading 66.

I don't have too much in the fridge at all. Plenty of circulation. There is a lot in the freezer but it's not overstuffed by any means.

Any more input?

 

[golfgal]

Wow! 42? The thermometer is reading 66.

I don't have too much in the fridge at all. Plenty of circulation. There is a lot in the freezer but it's not overstuffed by any means.

Any more input?

I like mine in the 38 Degree range, I like things cold, milk, etc. If your thermometer is reading 66, something is wrong and I wouldn't eat the food in there that could spoil in warm temps. You might need a new fridge!

 

[monkeyboy]

I have an ICE BOX

 

[cruisnfamily]

I like mine in the 38 Degree range, I like things cold, milk, etc. If your thermometer is reading 66, something is wrong and I wouldn't eat the food in there that could spoil in warm temps. You might need a new fridge!

The fridge is less than 5 years old....I can't imagine I need to replace it but it sounds like a repair is in order.

We checked the temp in the freezer and it read 28degrees so I guess the freezer is ok. We're gonna put the thermometer in the fridge again and see what it reads now.

 

[cruisnfamily]

We checked the temp in the freezer and it read 28degrees so I guess the freezer is ok. We're gonna put the thermometer in the fridge again and see what it reads now.

Not that anybody cares but.....current fridge temp is 56 and holding, but now the freezer is up to 38. I'm wondering if it's going thru some kind of defrost cycle or something I'll see how things are in the morning I guess and call for service then if we need it. I'm still curious to hear what temp a fridge should be at. From the replies I've gotten, it sounds like it should be around 40degrees. If that's the case, it's way, way off.

 

[mum4jenn]

The temp should be under 41o in order for your cold foods to stay out of the "danger zone", I like it to be at least 36o just so there is a little room for error. It is VERY DANGEROUS for any food to be at a temp over 41o if it is meant to be cold. Even if it is on defrost it should not get that warm in the fridge.


Oh... and our fridge did this a few years ago and it turns out that the area in the freezer that blows the cold air over to the fridge part was iced over. We got rid of the ice that did not allow the cold air over into that area and that fixed the problem.

 

[cruisnfamily]

The temp should be under 41o in order for your cold foods to stay out of the "danger zone", I like it to be at least 36o just so there is a little room for error. It is VERY DANGEROUS for any food to be at a temp over 41o if it is meant to be cold. Even if it is on defrost it should not get that warm in the fridge.

Thanks! Now that I've heard it from the lunch room lady I know it's true

Guess I'll be calling for service in the morning.

I guess this means my milk and sandwich meats are history. What about condiments, eggs and cheese...they'll probably be ok, right? I don't want to take any chances, just don't want to toss the food if I don't need to. Just went grocery shopping yesterday but I don't have too much in the fridge. Now if the freezer thaws THAT will be a problem!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Oh... and our fridge did this a few years ago and it turns out that the area in the freezer that blows the cold air over to the fridge part was iced over. We got rid of the ice that did not allow the cold air over into that area and that fixed the problem.

DH already checked that kind of stuff and said that everything looks ok.

My ice cream is soft but all my frozen meat and stuff is still rock solid. I'm off to check the fridge temp yet again and then move the little thermometer over to the freezer to see what it's at now. Not that it really matters since I won't be doing anything about it until the morning.

 

[mum4jenn]

Anything that has been over 41o for over 4 hours should be tossed.

 

[mum4jenn]

I know it is late but if you have a cooler and can get some ice you might be able to put some of your things in there overnight in order to save them if it hasn't been too many hours yet.

 

[mickman1962]

When the Board of Health comes into a restaurant for a spot check. Any food that is in a refrigerator whose temperature is above 40 degrees is immediately thrown in the garbage.

 

[Mom21]

I have a fridge that has the digital thermometers built in. It says recommended temps are 0 for the freezer and 37 for the fridge part. HTH

 

[cruisnfamily]

I have a fridge that has the digital thermometers built in. It says recommended temps are 0 for the freezer and 37 for the fridge part. HTH

Helps a lot, thanks!

I've already got a repairman on the way. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Carl]

You haven't mentioned it, but I guess that you know that there is a thermostat in there for you to adjust the temperature.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Your freezer should be at 0 degrees, the refrigerator should not go above 40 degrees. If either were higher you would immediately fail a heath department inspection here...

 

[cruisnfamily]

Well, repairman #2 is now on his way

Repairman #1 said "looks fine to me" and left. $69 later .Granted, it was cooler in there when he was here, but darn it, somethings not right! He thought it was some fluke thing and all was well. I went out and replaced my perishables, opened the fridge to put them away and wouldn't you know it, the refridgerator is now 60degrees

Put another call in to the repairguy who said "give it 2 hours" FOR WHAT??!?? We called his boss, and requested a different repairman. They're sending a manager this time. I'll post an update later.

 

[piglet too]

Went through the same thing myself last fall. It turns out that we needed the defroster unit replaced in the freezer. Hope the second guy fixes it this time!

 

[piglet too]

Any update???