What temperature should be in the refrigerator to maintain the optimal state of the products?

It is difficult to name a more familiar household appliance than a refrigerator. But, as practice shows, not everyone knows what temperature should be in the refrigerator, how to maintain it, on what shelves to distribute the products to use the possibility of their maximum storage.

The first item can be so hard not to worry, because the manufacturers of home appliances perfectly know the optimal indicators and set the extreme limits themselves. Even if desired, the owner of the device will not be able to significantly change the set figures. But there are several rules, compliance with which will positively affect the operation of the device, the state of the products and the saving of electricity.

Average temperature in the refrigerator and how it is maintained

The storage temperature of the products depends on their type, type of treatment and texture. If you take the average indicators, then almost all the items that are to be stored in the refrigerator, save their taste and nutritional properties at a temperature of +2 ° C to + 5 ° C.It is these data that are indicated on packages with food ingredients, semi-finished products, ready-made meals.

These are the data originally installed in most modern aggregates. If desired, they can be slightly changed, but you need to take into account that the inclusion of the refrigerator at maximum capacity is fraught with additional energy consumption and faster wear of the unit.

Basic rules for using a household appliance:

1. Food is stored in the refrigerator only in a packaged form. This protects the food from drying out, prevents the mixing of aromas, inhibits the reproduction of bacteria.
2. You can not put hot or even slightly warm containers in the refrigerator, you need to wait until they cool down completely. Otherwise, the device will be forced to full capacity.
3. The doors of the refrigerator must be tightly closed, otherwise cooling elements will try to reduce the temperature in the room, which contributes to their rapid deterioration. Too often to open the device is also not recommended for the same reason.
4. Do not obstruct the free circulation of cold air between the shelves and containers, this can lead to a violation of the temperature regime. If you stuff the fridge with food, they just stop cooling.
5. Different products need to be distributed to appropriate zones and containers.

Do not abuse regular defrosting and cleaning the refrigerator. This should be done no more than once every six months, with the optimal time being early spring or late autumn, then the temperature drops will not be so devastating. If ice does not accumulate on the walls of the refrigerating and freezing chambers and there is no unpleasant smell, it is better not to knock down the usual work of the unit.

The main temperature zones of the refrigerator and their features

Modern refrigerators consist of several functional departments, differing in temperature, type of products being saved, and a number of specific features. These features are typical for appliances, the freezer is located in the top of the refrigerator.

• Freezer. The only compartment in which you can adjust the temperature in a fairly wide range - from -6 ° C to -24 ° C.The optimum indicator is -18ºС.Limits of household appliances can be determined by the number of asterisks printed on the camera door, each of which corresponds to six degrees. The maximum digits are used only for quick freezing. This approach allows you to quickly freeze products without changing their texture. The products in the freezer are stored up to 8-12 months.
• Freshness zone. The presence of this department so far can not boast of all models. The temperature in it is about zero. This allows you not to spoil the products, but it does not change their taste, smell, texture and appearance. This is the best place to store fresh meat or fish, semi-finished products, dairy products, cheese, vegetables, fruits and greens. Here you can quickly chill champagne, chocolate or a ready-made dessert. In this case, the food should be packed in hermetic containers or vacuum.
• Door. This is the warmest place. Here you should not store anything except drinks, mustard, ketchup, some sauces( but not mayonnaise).
• Other compartments. If there is no clear distinction, then it will be necessary to use the features of the structure of the refrigeration device. The area on the top shelf at the back wall is traditionally considered the coolest, it is a suitable place for meat, fish, milk, semi-finished products. Medium shelves are designed for sausages, confectionery products, kefir, some ready-made meals. On the lower boxes you can keep ready soups, salads and canned food. In the lower boxes lay vegetables and fruits.

Tip: When the door of the unit remains closed for a long time, the temperature in it is equalized. This should be taken into account if the storage of products with specific requirements is planned in the refrigerator. True, in modern devices, more and more often separate zones with a certain microclimate are envisaged.

Rules for measuring temperature in different chambers of the refrigerator

In case of suspicion that the refrigerator started to work differently than before, you need to measure the temperature. This is done using a special or street thermometer. If you plan to test a new product, then you need to conduct it through three cycles of switching off and on( but not defrosting).

• The refrigerator compartment is checked by a special thermometer, the scale of which starts from -5 ° C.It should be put on the middle shelf and leave at least 12 hours behind the closed door.
• Indicators in the freezer are removed in the same way, only with the help of a street fixture. The minimum exposure time is 12 hours.

The procedure is best done at night, only if the compartment is permanently closed, it is possible to get the most accurate readings.

If the suspicions are confirmed, you need to check the settings of the device, maybe someone changed them and forgot to restore. If the reason is not that, you should contact a specialist for diagnosis. The problem can be quite serious and even dangerous - from the depressurization of the walls to the leakage of the functional fluid or the breakdown of the cooling element.