Efficient & Safe Temperatures for a Refrigerator & Freezer
Microorganisms are common in your food, but they thrive and become dangerous when you don't freeze and refrigerate food at appropriate temperatures. Fortunately, the same temperatures that keep food from going bad in your refrigerator and freezer are the same ones that keep your electricity bill in a reasonable range. Does this Spark an idea?
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Safe Refrigerator Temperature
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food that is meant to be cold should not be warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit for longer than two hours. That means you should return foods such as dairy, meats, leftovers and opened condiments to your 40-degree refrigerator within two hours of taking them out. Otherwise, you risk food-borne illness.
Energy-Efficient Refrigeration
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It stands to reason that if food should not exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping it colder provides even greater protection against harmful microorganisms. However, setting your refrigerator thermometer too low is a waste of electricity, and a waste of food if it causes food to freeze. Hire a mechanic if food spoils quickly in your refrigerator even when you set the thermometer to 40 degrees. It may indicate a serious problem, and could require you to buy a new refrigerator.
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Safe Freezer Temperature
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The USDA recommends setting your freezer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit to freeze foods properly. Frozen foods retain their normal qualities for up to 12 months, but they are safe for long after that, according to the USDA.
Protecting Quality
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In addition to using frozen food within a year, you can prevent freezer burn by keeping your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezer burn is more likely if the temperature inside the freezer changes too much. You should also wrap food tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it inside another container before freezing it.
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References
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