What is the best setting for a frigidaire refrigerator

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Keep your food fresh longer—and help prevent foodborne illness—by finding the ideal refrigerator temperature.

Is your food going bad more quickly than usual? (Psst! Here’s how long fresh produce should last.) If produce is wilted, cheese is warm and ice cream is coming out of the freezer like soup, your fridge temp might need a checkup.

The Best Temperature for Your Fridge

The ideal refrigerator temperature is at or below 40°F (4°C), and your freezer temperature should be 0°F (-18°C). While some refrigerators and freezers are outfitted with all the bells and whistles, they might not have a built-in thermometer. Fortunately, appliance thermometers are generally inexpensive and can be found in most kitchen appliance stores or on Amazon.

Finding the optimal refrigerator temperature is key to making sure that your produce and leftovers last as long as possible, and is one of the easiest ways to prevent foodborne illnesses from eating expired and rancid milk, eggs and dairy. While properly freezing is a great way to store bulk items like meat, the FDA notes that it does affect “tenderness, flavor, aroma, juiciness, and color” the longer that your foods are frozen. Here’s our guide to navigating foods with freezer burn.

If you’re worried about your leftovers going bad before you can get to them, get creative! As our food editor, Peggy Woodward, says, “Leftover meat can be added to a simple soup or combined with eggs into a flaky quiche or frittata. If you have a small amount of leftover cooked vegetables, put an egg on top and enjoy the dish for supper. Leftover grains make tasty fried rice. Fruits can go into a fruit salad, chopped vegetables into a stir-fry.” Try these recipes for leftover chicken, too.

Why Is My Refrigerator Freezing Food?

It’s frustrating when you open your refrigerator and find frozen food. Especially when something freezes that can’t be salvaged, like lettuce or other fresh produce. Is the fridge broken? What’s going on? Luckily, a freezing issue can usually be fixed with a simple solution. Here are few possible reasons your fridge is getting too cold.

Temperature Setting

Check the temperature setting on your refrigerator. It should be set between 37°F and 40°F—the ideal refrigerator temperature to keep food fresh and cold but not frozen. If you have a numbered dial setting instead of a temperature reading, the highest number is the coldest (usually 5). Appliance brands recommend keeping it on the coldest setting, but if your food is freezing, try turning it down to 4.

Food Placement

Refrigerators need sufficient air circulation to maintain a proper temperature. Make sure your fridge isn’t overloaded, and that food isn’t blocking any of the air vents. On the other hand, an under stocked fridge can be a problem as well. Without enough items inside the fridge, the cold air settles at the bottom of the fridge and might freeze the food in your bottom drawers.

Leak in the Door Seal

If your fridge is leaking cold air due to a faulty door seal, the fridge will constantly be running trying to keep the temperature at the right level. And if your fridge is working in overdrive, it could cause freezing (or worse yet, the motor to go out!). Inspect the door seal and look for tears or warping, then replace if needed.

The Best Refrigerator Rules to Follow

Regularly monitoring your thermometer is the best way to make sure your food is safe, but just in case your refrigerator or freezer gets too warm or chilly, there are ways to ensure everything is working properly.

• Close the door! It’s easy to leave the door open while you’re cooking or unpacking groceries, but only leave the doors open when absolutely necessary.
• Spread out your food. It seems silly, but keep your food spread out so air can properly flow through the fridge and freezer. A fully stocked fridge is more likely to be warmer than a less stocked one.
• Clean your coils. Like other appliances, your fridge might need a little TLC from time to time. Make sure to clean the coils at least once per year to avoid refrigerator repairs.

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We rely on our refrigerator to keep food cold, so much so that any cooling issue can have us considering a replacement. But before buying a new one, is there anything you can do if your Frigidaire refrigerator isn’t getting cold enough? Try these troubleshooting tips when you find your Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling properly to fix the problem yourself.

Frigidaire Refrigerator Not Cooling Properly? This Could Be Why

As alarming as it can be, a Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling properly can often be resolved with a simple fix or adjustment. These common causes can determine if a DIY solution or professional repair will resolve cooling concerns.

1) Need to Adjust Refrigerator Temperature

If your Frigidaire refrigerator doesn’t get cold enough, first check the temperature to make sure it’s set correctly. Shifting items or someone mistakenly touching the thermostat controls can result in changed settings that make the temperature warmer. Similarly, if you’re experiencing ice production issues, our ice maker troubleshooting tips recommend checking the temperature settings in your freezer. 

What temperature should my refrigerator be set at for optimum cooling? It’s recommended that most be set between 35-37℉. However, refer to your user manual to determine the right temperature settings for your model refrigerator.

2) Exceeding Refrigerator Storage Capacity

Keeping enough cold items in the refrigerator can help it maintain its temperature. However, crowding it with too much food can block air vents that bring cool air from the freezer. A packed refrigerator can also limit airflow between items, causing temperatures to rise.

When placing items in the refrigerator, be sure to keep them away from air vents that provide cold air. Keep the refrigerator ¾ of the way full to help maintain its internal temperature and allow for airflow between items.

3) Refrigerator Condenser Coils Require Cleaning

A refrigerator’s condenser coils cool refrigerant, producing cool air for the refrigerator. If the coils get dirty, they won’t be able to cool the refrigerant sufficiently and the internal temperature can rise. We suggest a refrigerator coil cleaning every 6 months to ensure the coils function properly to cool the refrigerator.

Here’s how to clean Frigidaire refrigerator coils quickly and easily:

• Refer to your user manual to locate the condenser coils on your model refrigerator. Many are behind an access panel on the rear of the refrigerator or behind a front grille at the bottom.
• Unplug the refrigerator.
• Remove the panel or grille to access the coils.
• Clean the coils and the area around them with a narrow hose vacuum attachment.
• Use an appliance brush to remove lingering dirt and debris.
• Vacuum any remaining dust and dirt on the floor.
• Replace the panel or grille and restore the refrigerator’s power.

4) Refrigerator Door Not Sealing Properly

Most refrigerators have a rubber seal along the door’s perimeter that provides airtight closure when the door is shut. This keeps cold air inside and prevents warm air from entering. A Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling properly may have a dirty or damaged seal, allowing cold air to escape and warm air to enter.

Assess the door seal for dirt and debris or signs of damage like rips or tears. While a refrigerator door seal cleaning with a damp cloth can restore cool temperatures, a damaged seal requires replacement.

5) Frigidaire Refrigerator Part Failure

Is your Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling even after these troubleshooting tips? It’s possible an internal component failure is responsible.

These part malfunctions can result in refrigerator cooling problems and require professional replacement:

• Failed evaporator or condenser fan motors: These fans help cool refrigerant as it flows through the evaporator or condenser coils. If the fans fail, the refrigerant may not cool properly.
• Malfunctioning thermostat: If the refrigerator thermostat malfunctions, it won’t be able to signal the compressor for additional cool air.
• Faulty start capacitor: This component provides the electrical voltage needed to start the compressor’s production of cool air. Without it, the compressor won’t start and the refrigerator won’t cool.

The team at Moore Appliance Service can provide expert refrigerator service and repair. Call us for any cooling concerns!

What number should my Frigidaire refrigerator be set at 1 9?

What number should I set my refrigerator on?