How Cold Should a Deep Freezer Be?

Keeping your deep freezer the appropriate tempature will help properly store your food.

The warmest a deep freezer should be.

Any freezer, especially a deep freezer, should never be above 5 degrees. With a temperature greater than 5 degrees, ice cream will begin to soften and food will not keep as long.

The Ideal Temperature

Although 5 degrees is the maximum temperature you want for a home freezer, the preferred temperature for a deep freezer is subzero. At -5 or -10 degrees, food can actually be stored longer and the quality of frozen products like ice cream will be improved. Having a freezer thermometer will assure that your freezer is always set at the ideal.

Bottom Line

Home freezers should be kept at 5 degrees, but keep your deep freeze at -10 to 0 degrees for optimum performance.

References

• West Virginia University: Refrigerator and Freezer Safety