Your fridge temperate can be set from the meter using 1 – 7. 1 is the warmest temp while 7 is the coldest your fridge can go, which one should you choose?
Most of the standard refrigerators today come with a temperature dial with a scale from 1 to 7. The scale is rather confusing as most of us can’t understand what that means. People usually think that if they turn the scale to 1, the temperature would be the coldest, and setting the scale to 7 would mean that the temperate would be the warmest.
The reality is the complete opposite. Fridge companies have made this scale to oversimply things for us. Even if you don’t understand the temperate scale, you can still make sure that you’re making the most of your fridge and the electricity consumed as well.
In this article, we will show you what temperate is right for you, and how the fridge temperature setting from 1 – 7 works.
Fridge Temperate Setting 1 – 7 Explained
The scale used to set the temperature in refrigerators usually goes from 1 to 7, where 1 is the warmest temperate and 7 is the coldest. The exact temperature for each setting can vary depending on the refrigerator model, but typically, 1 corresponds to around 42-44°F (5-6°C), 7 corresponds to around 32-34°F (0.5-1°C), and the intermediate settings fall within that range.
In addition to that, you might see that there’s another number named “0” or OFF. If you’re seeing that there’s ice in the fridge and you need to defrost it, you can set the scale to 0 or OFF to defrost the fridge, without having to unplug it.
What Temperate is Right for Your Fridge?
The right temperate for your fridge depends upon many factors, such as the climate you live in, if it’s winter or summer, what kind of food you’re storing, and how long you’re storing the food for.
Storing Food for Long Term? (Set the Scale to 1)
If you’re using a fridge that has both a refrigerator and a freezer, you need to be more conscious about the temperate and which compartment you’re storing the food in.
For example, most kinds of foods such as fresh fruits need to be kept at a lower temperate so that they don’t spoil or lose their nutrition. To do that, you need to keep your fridge set to 4-6 (which is on the lower side of temperatures.
Storing Food for Short Term? (Set the Scale to 6)
Again, depending on the food, you should keep your fridge from 6 if you want your food to be stored fresh. In this scenario, you’d easily take out the food without having to worry about the food being spoiled.
If you live in a warm climate, we recommend setting the fridge to 7, provided you want to store the food for a day or two. Do keep in mind that keeping it on 7 for longer periods can freeze the food, hence, the hassle of defrosting it.
| Fridge Scale (1-7) | Temperature | Recommendation |
| 0 or OFF | Compressor is OFF | Defrosting (very short term) |
| 1 | Approx 45 °F or more | Not Ideal (short term only) |
| 2 | Less than 44 °F | Not Ideal (short term only) |
| 3 | Almost same as 4 | Ideal for Cold Climate |
| 4 | Approx 40 °F (or 4 °C) | Most Recommended |
| 5 | Approx 39 °F (or 3-4 °C) | Most Recommended |
| 6 | Approx 34 °F (or 1 °C) | If You live in Warm Climate |
| 7 | Approx 32 °F (or 0 °C) | Short Term (can freeze food) |
The fridge scale of 6-7 are usually below 40 °F but the setting scale below 5 (and it’s temperate) can vary according to the climate, fridge brand, the contents of the fridge, and many more factors.
That being said, the exact temperate of the fridge scale cannot be measured correctly as each manufacturer has its own variation, however, the table has been made by experts to depict or give an idea of how cold your fridge can get on each digit of the fridge scale.
The temperature range can vary and contradict this table if you live in a climate that’s too cold or too warm because the outside temperate, humidity and the surroundings of the fridge have a direct impact on the inside temperature.
The Most Recommended Temperate for your Fridge
40 °F (ideal according to FDA)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that you should keep your fridge’s temperature at below 40 °F. In that case, the ideal fridge setting would be 4-6. So, most of the time, you should set the scale to 4 or 5 on your fridge, with frequent variations.
32 °F (Freezing )
When you put the fridge scale to 7 and you live in a cold climate, it is more likely that your food will freeze, so keep the food you want to be frozen in the freezer.
If you see ice in the fridge and notice that the food is too cold and is not up to your liking, you may set the scale to 1 or zero for some hours and then set it back to 4 or 5 again.
Above 40 °F
According to the FDA, keeping your fridge at a higher temperature than 40 °F (or on setting 4 or lower) for longer periods can spoil your food as bacteria grows quickly in such temperatures, such as E. coli or Salmonella.
So, if you notice the food to be spoiling earlier than anticipated, you may want to bring your scale up a bit, for instance, to 4 or higher. This way, your food will be stored properly and will be in perfect condition.
Keep Changing the Scale and See What Works Best for You
Still confused about what setting is the best for your fridge, we recommend playing the range of 2 to 6. But keep in mind to not put your fridge in 1 or 7 for longer periods as it can spoil or freeze the food.
Image Source: Dall-E AI
The reason why there’s not one perfect setting for everyone’s fridge is that we live in different climates and the content and the amount of food stored in our fridge also matter.
All in All, Here’s the Crux
- Keep your fridge on 3-4 if you live in a cold climate and the food stored is a moderate amount.
- Keep your fridge on 4-6 if you live in a moderate climate and the food stored is moderate.
- Keep your fridge on 6-7 only if you live in a hot climate and the fridge is full of food.
- Keep your fridge on 1-2 only when you notice the food freezing or see ice on the inside of the fridge. (then bring it back to 4-5 again)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the temperature dial on most refrigerators ranges from 1 to 7, with 1 being the warmest setting and 7 being the coldest. However, it’s important to note that the exact temperature for each setting can vary depending on the refrigerator model.
Factors such as climate, food type, and storage duration should be considered when determining the appropriate temperature setting for your refrigerator. It’s also important to note that setting the dial to “0” or “OFF” can be used for defrosting the fridge without having to unplug it.
In general, setting the scale from 4-6 is ideal for storing food for the long term, while setting the scale to 6-7 is the coldest (with 32 °F) and is suitable for short-term food storage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The ideal temperate, according to the FDA, is lower than 40 °F, so, you should set the fridge from 4-6.
Your fridge should be set below 40 °F; so, you should set the fridge from 4 to 6. This way, your food will be cold enough to be saved from spoiling or bacteria, without having the worry to freeze.
The fridge setting 1 is the warmest with a temperate as high as 44 °F or higher, whereas the number 7 on the fridge is the coldest, with a temperate as low as 32 °F.
The coldest number on a fridge is 7 at 32 °F and the warmest is 1, with a temperate as high as 44 °F (or even higher)
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