Be careful, don’t make the mistake again! The numbers in the fridge don’t match the temperature. Here’s how to properly set up your refrigerator.
For decades, many thought the numbers on their refrigerator dial represented the appliance’s interior temperature. This idea, although well anchored, turns out to be false, the temperature in the fridge is simply not the same everywhere. This detail, which may seem trivial, actually has a considerable impact on food preservation and energy efficiency.
On most home refrigerators, the number dial usually goes from 1 to 5, or sometimes up to 7 or 10. Many consumers assume that these numbers directly indicate a temperature. However, this is not the case. Although changing the number on the dial will indeed affect the temperature of the refrigerator, the numbers do not actually refer to degrees Celsius in most cases. They actually represent power levels of the cooling system. In other words, they regulate the speed at which the refrigerator works to lower the temperature.
This means that if you set your refrigerator to 1, the cooling system runs at minimum. Conversely, a setting of 5 or 7 forces the compressor to operate at full capacity, without guaranteeing that the final temperature will be optimal for food preservation.
This confusion can have several consequences. First of all, poor adjustment can compromise food preservation. According to public health recommendations, the ideal temperature in a refrigerator should be maintained around 4°C to slow the growth of bacteria. If the dial is misinterpreted, some users may unknowingly set their device to insufficient power, allowing the temperature to rise above safe thresholds. It is important to know that the temperature must not exceed 7 degrees in the device.
Conversely, other consumers, thinking that they will obtain maximum cooling by choosing a high number, may lead to overconsumption of energy. Indeed, a compressor constantly operating at full capacity consumes much more electricity, which increases the energy bill while reducing the lifespan of the device.
But how to properly set up your refrigerator. There is a basic rule to know, set or turn the knob to 60%. For example :
- if the numbers are from 1 to 5: set the button to 3;
- if the numbers are from 1 to 7: set the button to 4;
- if the numbers are from 1 to 10: set the button to 6.
Then, depending on your fridge, whether it is full or not, you will be able to adjust the setting. A good idea that will allow you to be sure you have the right temperature is to opt for a household thermometer. Just put it in your fridge and wait 20 minutes. Check the temperature, and if necessary adjust the thermostat again.