Just like volume controls, or toaster oven settings, they are just relative to each other and there isn't even a guarantee that it is a linear transition between each setting. Setting it to 5 will make your fridge the coldest. Easy way to find out. If you don’t tend to store a much food then 1 or 2 may suffice. I will have to use freezerness in the future when speaking of freezer temperature. This is because the whole time the food is being defrosted its temperature is being kept outside the “Danger Zone”. For the fridge you can – place a thermometer in a glass of water in the fridge, leave it overnight and then check the temperature. Thank you. Here are a few other key questions you might have about your fridge…. What do the numbers on the temperature dial of your fridge mean? So what number on the refrigerator denotes the coldest? 7 is the coldest. Either contact the manufacturer to get "approximations" or use a thermometer and recheck every 6 months because those settings won't mean the same thing on a brand new fridge and one that has been used a while. If you are not sure what to set it to, then set it somewhere in the middle. June 12, 2020 — 8.52pm. This is the correct answer. It's the temperature in celsius, I always thought. It is the highest number which denotes the coldest setting and lowest means the warmer setting. It usually means that the unit struggling to keep the temperature low enough to chill your food sufficiently. In addition if the temperature is too high, ice may form in the fridge which could cause you problem with running it. With pretty much all fridge freezers the numbers 1 to 5 indicate the refrigerant power with the higher the number, the colder the machine will be. You just have to judge by the effects (or measure with a calibrated tool under the conditions you use them) and adjust. With pretty much all fridge freezers the numbers 1 to 5 indicate the refrigerant power with the higher the number, the colder the machine will be. In some fridges there should be writing near the dial that says "7 is coldest" or "1 is coldest". Refrigerator Temperature Settings The easiest way to find out what the temperature of your fridge is, is to use a thermometer. Best Kitchen Appliances For Christmas Gifts. When ice forms it could prevent air circulation. Here are 8 signs that you need a new fridge freezer. They are sometimes labeled 1 through 5 or 1 through 9. There is no physical quantity the button represents. So if the numbers go from 1 to 5 which is the coldest? Also a full fridge versus an empty fridge may give you different readings. Your fridge should be set to between 3°C (37°F) and 5°C (40°F). It's being measured in the same units as toaster settings. Many refrigerators have a Temperature setting dial which has numbers 1 to 9 or 1 to 7 etc depending on the type of fridge. Appliance Technician: Tyler Z., Home Appliance Technician replied 3 years ago. Ask Your Own Appliance Question. Or is it 5 degrees Celsius? Get The Kitchen Right; Everything Else Follows. If you dial it back past the 1 it will probably shut off the compressor. Typically setting 4 is considered normal but if it appears to be too cold, then set it warmer to something like 2. Make sure you plan enough time for the food to thaw as it can typically take up to day. So turning the dial towards those numbers would make it colder. There are a few options for places to defrost food; the fridge, kitchen counter, defrost setting on the microwave or even running it under cold water. It’s not a temperature gauge, it’s a power gauge. Above 60°C the bacteria start to die.”. Your fridge freezer is possibly the most important appliance in your home but do you know its ideal temperature? Is it temperature or freezing power? Below 8°C, growth is stopped or significantly slowed down. Is 7 degrees Celsius cold enough for a fridge? We are on the honor system here. What is the ideal number between 1 to 5 for your fridge? Frozen moments – does one turn a fridge up or down to make it colder? Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. If your fridge is not cold enough you may be finding that your food is going off well before its use by date. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This is a tough one especially as a lot of fridge freezer models don’t always make it clear. Remember that a lower temperature doesn’t necessarily mean better food storage conditions. Although not harmful, the food may not necessarily have the same taste and texture. What is the ideal number between 1 to 5 for your fridge? usually on the dial there is an arrow that says "colder" or something like that pointing one direction. Stovetops, toasters, microwaves, fridges, refrigerators, showers - anything where it's a potential health and safety problem if they say they're at one temperature when really they weren't because they don't control the input and conditions. If the temperature is too low for the amount of food you have in the fridge you could frost burn your food. It usually takes about 24 hours for any changes to take full effect. Quick Answer: The higher number is the coldest setting. By Danny Katz. This may be due to issues with the condenser coils or perhaps an overworked motor. Generally speaking the more food you have in your fridge, the higher the number will need to be. 7 is the coldest. Toss a thermometer in there and give each setting 3 hours. Everyone's saying buy a thermometer, and you could do that, but what you should do, instead, is buy a fridge that has degrees on the dial. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Good idea, They’re just arbitrary settings. You can hear the compressor stop as you turn the temp down. Your freezer should be set to 0°C (-18°F). Mine is the opposite, 1 is the coldest and 6 is the least cold. Generally speaking the more food you have in your fridge, the higher the number will need to be. Apparently the higher the number the cooler the fridge but it's better to check. Most refrigerator temperature settings are controlled with a dial or slider. The UK Food Standards Agency states that “bacteria usually grow in the ‘Danger Zone’ between 8°C and 60°C. The highest setting is usually the coldest. However, the best place to defrost your food is the fridge. Save. … Just googled it and google said buy a thermometer too. A good way to do it is to take food out of the freezer the night before you need it or in the morning if you’ll need it in the evening. If not, get a thermometer from the dollar store and conduct some science. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies. 7 is the coldest temperature on these units with a setting from 1 to 7. On every fridge the rules for the coldest settings are always the following: The numbers on the fridge’s temperature dial indicate refrigerant power. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. You can try looking in the user manual but that’s not always helpful. How do I know what temperature my fridge is? This does not affect how much you pay for the product. We're talking about any American product I've seen. This is an issue that may need an engineer or may mean you need to consider buying a new fridge. 0 degrees would be a freezer, anything above 8ish degrees would be too warm. They have no meaning. 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