What temperature should be in the refrigerator and freezer: standards and norms

The refrigerator allows you to continue the life of food products, enjoy their taste and get the maximum nutrients.And in winter you can enjoy the berries or vegetables you picked yesterday as if yesterday.

However, to have this opportunity, you need to know what temperature should be in the refrigerator and freezer and be able to choose the optimal storage mode for popular products. It is these questions that we will examine in detail in our material.

Cause of food spoilage

If you forget to put meat or fish in the refrigerator and leave it for several hours under the influence of high temperatures, you can say goodbye to it - a bad smell will appear, which will force you to throw the failed dish in the trash. But why do foods spoil faster when exposed to heat?

The main reason is the proliferation of bacteria. Due to an increase in their quantity and activity, gases, acids and other chemical compounds are released. The lion's share of the waste products of microorganisms remains in the product, and a smaller share ends up in the environment.

Dangerous bacteria such as salmonella, clostridium perfringens, campylobacter, E. coli, listeria and toxoplasma can enter the body with spoiled food.

Some odors caused by bacteria are problematic get rid of. And it is not recommended to consume supplies where microorganisms have managed to build entire “megacities”. It is better to forget about the money spent on food and not neglect your health.

Bacteria are found on any food product.Getting rid of them 100% is unrealistic. However, refrigeration equipment reduces the intensity or even stops their vital activity.

As a result, the shelf life increases and the nutritional value of the food practically does not decrease. Consumers save money, take care of their health and enjoy their favorite foods.

Low temperature prevents the growth of bacteria on the surface of products and inside them, as a result, shelf life is significantly extended, quality practically does not deteriorate, and nutritional and beneficial properties are not lost.

Rules for placing products in the main chamber

In most cases, the packaging of the product contains information about what the optimal temperature should be in the refrigerator in order to preserve its nutritional value.

To select the right shelf, you can use the instructions for the equipment - manufacturers indicate the operating temperature of a particular unit, which can differ significantly for different models.

For example, this is relevant for Samsung and Atlant refrigerators. The average temperature of the refrigerator compartment is in the range of 2 ºС…5 ºС.

Manufacturers of refrigeration units, in the instructions attached to the product, clearly indicate areas for storing various products, taking into account their specific qualities

The refrigerators are equipped with several shelves, side compartments and 1-2 vegetable drawers. Sometimes there is another reservoir - a freshness chamber.

The latter has the lowest temperature in the tank and is used to store food that quickly deteriorates.

Do not forget about simple but effective rules for using a refrigerator:

1. Do not place hot food.
2. Doors should be closed tightly.
3. Place products in the refrigerator compartment in accordance with storage areas.

Each zone of the refrigerator compartment has the same temperature. This is wrong, because for some products the optimal indicator is close to zero, while others “freeze” at +7 ºС.

The refrigerating chamber, in turn, can be divided into several zones that differ in temperature indicators, which must be taken into account when installing products into the equipment

Vegetables and fruits are stored at a temperature of 3 °C...7 °C. They are placed in special boxes on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Some modern models are supplemented with a system No Frost.

Seafood, meat, sausage, milk, cheese belong to the group of goods that quickly deteriorate. Their environment is very favorable for the rapid proliferation of bacteria. The desired storage conditions are 0°C…2°C.

Bread and tropical fruits cannot be stored in the refrigerator; apples, pears, onions, garlic, beets, carrots, potatoes and many other foods cannot be stored in the freezer.

If the refrigerator is equipped with a freshness chamber, it is better to use it. If there is no, then put the food on the top shelf. It is advisable to place alcoholic drinks here.

You should also not store other dairy products for a long time. The optimal temperatures for them are 0 °C...6 °C, which corresponds to the second or third shelf. Given the large range, read the storage conditions on the packaging. At 0 °C ... 3 °C you should store semi-finished products that you are going to cook soon, and cakes.

For chicken eggs, salads with sour cream or mayonnaise, bread, soups, the optimal temperature regime is 3 °C...6 °C. This is the middle part of the refrigerator compartment, usually the third shelf.

The lower compartment is designed to store food at a temperature of 6 °C...10 °C, which is optimal for pickles.Place vegetables and fruits in special drawers.

If you are cooking, use ingredients that are already in the refrigerator. You can save a lot and literally not throw money away

The compartments on the doors are the hottest part of the refrigerator. Store various sauces and juices here.

The freezer can be located at the top or bottom of the unit. But in any case, the rule is valid: the farther from the freezer, the warmer.

Each food product has a special approach to storage. Consumers are afraid or simply do not know that they can change temperature conditions. A conscientious seller will ask what exactly will be in the refrigerator most often and make the necessary adjustments.

Refrigerators of the latest generation can be easily adjusted to the required temperature conditions. The setup can be performed by the seller at the request and recommendations of the buyer or by the owner of the equipment himself

However, using a special panel, you can and should set the temperature yourself if meat, salads and other products do not fit in the appropriate zones. Then you'll pay less for electricity and be able to buy more goodies.

Features of storing food in the freezer

A refrigerator is a solution to the problem of short-term food storage. Today they put it in, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow they took it away. Sometimes you need to keep a product fresh not for a few days, but for a couple of weeks. In this case, you can’t do without a freezer.

Freezer compartment design

The issue of freshness is solved with the help of a freezer. It is an integral part of almost any refrigerator. It can have different volumes: from 40 to 100 liters. and more.Manufacturers also offer separate options for several hundred liters.

Regular plastic bags and cling film are not suitable as packaging for freezer storage. They will crumble and break from the cold. We need dense polyethylene

Most often, seafood, meat, vegetables and fruits are stored in this department. It is also a haven for ice cream that saves you in the terrible heat. On average, the temperature in the refrigerator freezer drawers/compartments ranges from -17 °C...-18 °C.

Depending on the filling of products, the indicator changes:

• if most of the chamber is free, then -14 °C;
• when storing meat or when filling the freezer more than 50% - this is -20 °C...-24 °C;
• The fast freezing mode is valid for several hours - temperature -30 °C.

The freezer is equipped with special drawers or shelves. The first ones are available if the cold compartment is located at the bottom of the refrigerator. But you will have to limit yourself to others in the upper position.

For easy storage in the freezer and dividing food into portions or batches, freezers are equipped with shelves or containers

Freezer class

According to European standards, freezers are divided into several classes. Thanks to the latter, there are different temperature conditions. This approach allows save energy, reduce the level of wear on the refrigerator and prevent deterioration in the quality of products.

If you freeze some foods, they will become unfit for consumption. For example, the recommended storage temperature for mayonnaise is 0 ºС…+18 ºС. Feel free to place it on any shelf or even the side compartment of the refrigerator.

It is advisable to defrost the freezer 1-2 times a year to ensure normal operating conditions. If there is a high level of moisture in the room, you can do it more often.

Storage conditions for margarine differ significantly. At a temperature of +11 ºС...+15 ºС it is edible for 30-15 days, at +5 ºС....+10 ºС - 20-45 days, at 0 ºС...+4 ºС - 60-35 days, at -9 ºС...0 ºС -75-45 days, at -10 ºС...-20 ºС - 60-90 days.

Margarine in the freezer is good for 6 times longer than in the refrigerator. If you purchased a lot of this product, store it at sub-zero temperatures.

European laboratories conducted a similar analysis, taking into account dozens of other products. They created universal designations for ordinary consumers.

On temperature control panels manufactured in accordance with European standards for refrigerators, you will find the following symbols:

• no asterisk - several degrees below zero Celsius;
• 1 star — -6 ºС;
• 2 stars — -12 ºС;
• 3 stars — -18 ºС;
• 4 stars - also -18 ºС, but for a different group of devices.

The lower the temperature in the refrigerator freezer, the more electricity it consumes. The cost of devices with such regulation is slightly higher. But the panel allows you to reduce energy costs.

The control panel of units produced in recent years allows you to select the temperature conditions required for storing specific products. If high temperatures are not necessary, lowering the temperature will save energy

Rules for storing various products

To prevent food from spoiling, when storing it, you should take into account the acceptable temperature range at which they can be stored for the desired period of time. Let's talk further about the storage temperature of popular products.

At what temperature should you store meat?

Of course, buying margarine in reserve is a dubious saving. And even if one or two packs of product spoil, it’s a small problem. But purchasing several kilograms of meat 2-3 weeks before the New Year is an opportunity to avoid becoming a victim of pre-holiday price surges.

The dependence of the duration of meat storage on temperature is as follows.

1. Fresh meat at -8 ºС…-12 ºС – a week.
2. Fresh meat at -14 ºС…-18 ºС - 5-6 months.
3. Meat products at -18 ºС…-22 ºС – 3 months.

It seems that a difference of a few degrees Celsius is not that much. However, the shelf life may change several times at once. So the choice is: pay a little more for electricity or, if the temperature is not low enough, throw away the meat.

Do not eat food prepared from meat that has not been stored properly. Food poisoning can damage the kidneys, lungs, spleen and vascular system

From school physics lessons we know that thermal insulation is provided by the flow of energy. But the potential is formed as a result of temperature differences. Therefore, in parallel with the “cooling” in the freezer, energy costs increase.

Features of storing chicken eggs

As the temperature in the freezer decreases, the shelf life of most products also increases. But there are also exceptions.

For example, chicken eggs do not spoil for a long time when exposed to low temperatures.At 0 ºС… -2 ºС in the freezer they will be suitable for up to 3 months. Not a bad way to forget about rotten eggs, isn't it?

What will happen if the temperature drops even further to -3 ºС...-5 ºС? The embryo dies even at -4 ºС. As a result, the density of the yolk and white will decrease. Since the thermal embossing coefficient of liquids is greater than that of solids, the shell will burst.

There is a widespread belief among people that chicken eggs do not spoil for 2-3 weeks at room temperature. But it is worth considering the rules GOST 51121.

The document notes that at 0 ºС…+20 ºС the following should be stored:

• diet eggs - a week;
• table eggs — 25 days;
• washed eggs - 12 days.

The mentioned regulatory document clearly indicates the deadlines, but gives a fairly large temperature range. Therefore, the people are more likely to be right than wrong. Humidity of about 45% and temperature up to 20 ºС are good storage conditions. However, a freezer a few degrees below zero is the best option.

Food in the freezer compartment must lie freely to ensure air circulation. Otherwise, it will be difficult to cool the devices

The right approach to storing fish

Fish is much healthier than meat. It is rich in protein, valuable for the body, making up as much as 20% of the mass. It contains fatty acids that prevent heart disease and vascular problems, vitamins A, D and E, which are responsible for cell growth, strong bones and muscles. When properly stored, fish pulp does not lose most of its beneficial substances.

According to GOST 1168, Far Eastern salmon, perch, carp, whitefish, pike perch, pike, catfish and other representatives of freshwater bodies are stored at -18 ºС for up to 6 months.But cod, sea bass and other inhabitants of the seas and oceans at the same temperature - up to 4 months. If the temperature in the freezer is less than 10 ºС, the storage duration is divided by two.

For effective cooling of fish products and meat, Samsung refrigerators, for example, are equipped with Fresh Zone - a freshness zone that ensures optimal storage of fresh fish

Temperature conditions for the preservation of medicines

Manufacturers of household appliances have come up with special refrigerators for medicines. The latter are distinguished by high control accuracy, the presence of light or sound messages in case of deviations from the optimal temperature range, and special operating modes.

Such devices are more expensive than conventional household analogues. However, when life is at stake, there is no choice.

In the freezer, the maximum negative temperature should not fall below -30 ºС, although in new models this indicator can be controlled by the user

When purchasing a refrigerator for medicines, pay attention to the compliance of its operating temperature conditions with the types of medicines that will be stored. Such models are protected from hacking. In fact, in addition to its main job, the refrigerator also serves as a safe.

In most cases, lower temperatures have a positive effect on the shelf life of the product. However, if the optimal value for chicken eggs is a few degrees below zero, then mayonnaise should only be placed in the refrigerator.

The domestic market mainly offers freezers with an operating temperature of -18 ºС…-24 ºС. Manufacturers are willing to save money by depriving the buyer of the opportunity to adjust the temperature regime.

However, if we look at it in the long term, it is better to purchase a freezer with a control panel today in order to save on electricity tomorrow

Climatic class of equipment

Modern refrigerators are manufactured according to the zonal principle. All countries or their individual territories are classified according to climate characteristics.

For example, for a group of Scandinavian countries, models with a slightly lower thermal insulation rating are relevant. The compressor is also somewhat deformed. And for countries in the hot tropics, more powerful and wear-resistant devices are needed.

It is logical that if the average annual temperature in the room is several degrees higher, the refrigerator will work more intensively. Therefore, a device model for hot countries costs more than a similar one for the Scandinavians.

Follow the instructions for using the refrigerator. If they are violated, the actual temperature reading will not be equal to the nominal temperature for the selected operating mode

Often the compressor runs almost continuously in tropical countries. However, even under such conditions it is difficult for him to provide the temperature corresponding to the selected mode. Which is not surprising when warm air with a conventional temperature of 40 ºС heats the device from all sides.

Refrigerators for tropical countries are slightly more expensive than their counterparts for cold countries. It is difficult to find them on our market, but according to most technical characteristics they look more convincing.

Popular temperature functions

Fierce competition is forcing manufacturers of household appliances to come up with more and more new ways to attract buyer attention.

They are no longer limited to marketing moves, but are introducing interesting technological innovations into the operation of refrigeration and freezer compartments. As a result, consumers get interesting opportunities.

Option "Super Cooling" allows you to lower the temperature in all zones of the refrigeration chamber for a short period of time to a minimum of 1 ºС…2 ºС. You can quickly cool food from several bags at once.

Set aside a shelf in the refrigerator for foods with expiration dates. This way you will know what to cook first.

For the freezer, the mode is relevant "Super Freeze". Temperatures drop to -24°C. You can freeze a chamber overflowing with food in a few tens of minutes.

Be sure to set your equipment to normal operation to avoid wasting energy and keep supplies at the optimal temperature.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

It is strictly not recommended to expose it to low temperatures. About this in the video:

The basic rules for storing provisions are discussed in the video:

How to organize storage of supplies in the freezer:

Rules for storing fruits, vegetables and berries:

Shelf life of food in the refrigerator:

Each food product has its own storage characteristics. This information can be found in a few seconds on the packaging or, if it is not available, on the Internet.

Remember to place food items in appropriate areas of the refrigerator. Temperature conditions allow you to create optimal storage conditions, avoid wearing out the device in vain and avoid overpaying for electricity.

Do you still have questions about the rules for storing food in the refrigerator and freezer? Or would you like to supplement the above material with useful comments? Please write your opinion, ask questions, comment on the publication in the feedback section below.