What Temperature Should A Fridge Be
The ideal refrigerator fresh food section temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Most fluctuate between 38 and 40 degrees. The appropriate way to check a refrigerator fresh food temperature is by checking the temperature of a liquid that has been stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
That's because we are most concerned with the product temperature, not the air temperature. Because the refrigerator turns on and off the air temperature in a refrigerator constantly fluctuates. Every time the door is open warm humid air rushes in increasing the temperature. The freezer section of a refrigerator is designed to operate at a temperature range of 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Obviously the food in the freezer will freeze at any temperature below 32 degrees. But just like the fresh food section, warm humid air is introduced every time the freezer door is opened. Keeping your freezer temperature as stable as possible will extend the time food can be stored in the freezer, plus it will help maintain the temperature in the fresh food section. If you don't have a lot of food stored in your freezer, fill some empty plastic containers, such as gallon milk containers 3/4 of the way to the top with water to allow for expansion when it freezes. Putting as many as you can in your freezer will help maintain the temperature of your freezer and fresh food section. Plus it will prolong the life of your refrigerator and reduce energy consumption, by decreasing the amount of time the refrigerator must operate.
And finally, keep in mind that it's always best to cover food in a refrigerator. That is to say food should be kept in a airtight container. When food in a refrigerator sublimates (or dries out) the molecules float around the refrigerator and cause refrigerator odors.