Q&A for How to Set Your Refrigerator Temperature

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What should I do if my fridge is hot?

Aaron Beth
Refrigerator Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Refrigerator Technician

Expert Answer

There should be a dial or sliding gauge you can adjust to lower the temperature in your refrigerator. If the temperature doesn't change, you may have an issue with your fridge that needs repair.

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Question

How does a fridge temperature control work?

Aaron Beth
Refrigerator Technician
Aaron Beth is the founder of Aaron’s Refrigeration Company in New York City and a factory certified installer (FCI) for Sub-Zero products. He specializes in the service and maintenance of built-in refrigerators, wine coolers and ice machines. With over 54 years of experience, Aaron is the recipient of numerous Super-Service awards from Angie’s Lists and 2019 Best-of-the City.

Aaron Beth

Refrigerator Technician

Expert Answer

You're refrigerator will have a spinning gauge that adjusts the temperature for both the refrigerator part and the freezer. Sliding the gauge to the right will make the refrigerator or freezer colder, while sliding it to the left will make it warmer.

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How do I adjust the temperature of just my freezer only? Is that an option for older Whirlpool refrigerators?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Check inside of your freezer for a separate temperature control. If you don't have one, then the thermostat in your fridge controls the temperature for both.

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Question

What number is the coldest on a refrigerator?

Community Answer

Usually the higher the number on the dial, the colder the refrigerator gets - unless of course your refrigerator has a digital temperature readout, in which case you should just set the temp to 37 degrees.

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Question

What is the coldest number on the dial of a fridge?

Community Answer

It varies on the make. Usually, higher numbers equal lower temperatures. If it "clicks" at one side, that's probably the warmest side.

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Question

What do I do if my fridge doesn't get cold?

Community Answer

Its coolant gas has probably leaked out. If this is the case, then it's cheapest to buy a new fridge.

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Question

Should I set the temperature of the freezer or the refrigerator first?

Community Answer

You can set them in whichever order you prefer.

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What should I do if my refrigerator is set on the warmest setting but is still freezing items in my fridge?

Community Answer

It may have to do with refrigerated air circulation and cold spots in the fridge. If the cold air vent is mostly blocked by food items, this can cause freezing of the items closest to the vent. If the vent is blocked, the cold air is not circulating up where the thermostat sensor is, and this means the fridge runs longer than it should, even if it is on the lowest setting. That, or the thermostat may be broken.

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Question

My refrigerator just has numbers 1 to 9. No indicator regarding temperature or direction.

Community Answer

Your best bet would be to pick up a refrigerator thermometer (available in most hardware and department stores). Set your fridge to 5, put the thermometer inside, and check the temp after 24 hours. Set it to a 4 to raise the temperature, set it at a 6 to make it cooler.

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When I bring home groceries and put them in the fridge, I turn the dial to colder for the food to get to proper fridge temp quicker. My husband says not to do that. Who's right?

Community Answer

He is right. You will cause the coils to freeze up by not giving it a chance to cool properly.

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Question

The set temp light is showing on my GE refrigerator. Is this normal?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

Test your refrigerator first with a thermometer. If it stays at the right temperature, then you have nothing to worry about. The light usually indicates the temperature the refrigerator is set at. If it's not right, unplugging the refrigerator might help.

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Question

For cold curing meat I need a temperature between 49 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit. My new mini Magic Chef is 42 degrees Fahrenheit so what can I do?

Community Answer

Bypass the refrigerator thermostat and connect a digital controller (for example Inkbird ITC 1000). That allows you to program your own temperatures.

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