We said the ideal fridge temperature is 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit) or below. However, the temperature will be different in the various areas of your fridge. This is useful, because not all foods should be stored at the same temperature. It’s important not to assume that your fridge’s settings show the real temperature inside.

According to the FDA, the ideal freezer temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures this cold will preserve food items until they are defrosted and cooked. Setting the appliance to 0 degrees Fahrenheit also helps to ensure that bacteria is not able to grow, keeping the food safe for long-term storage.

To give you a better idea, in Atkinson’s experience, most home fridge temperature settings range from 33 degrees at their lowest and go up to around 45 degrees. If you happen to have a GE fridge with the “cold-colder-coldest” or snowflake style temperature settings, the three temperature presets represent 40 degrees, 37 degrees, and 34 degrees.

The dials on Frigidaire fridges, meanwhile, range from 33 degrees to 47 degrees. On a Samsung fridge’s bar system, three bars is equivalent to 38 degrees. The most reliable option, whether you have a newer or older fridge, is to use a standalone appliance thermometer, which you can buy online or from a home improvement store.