When a new refrigerator or freezer arrives in their home, most people can’t wait to use it. But remember, it usually takes a unit between 6 and 12 hours to get to the proper temperature to safely store food or keep frozen items properly frozen.
That wait time gets even longer in hot weather. Units get warmed up in the back of a hot truck during the delivery process. They might take between 12 and 24 hours to get to temperature. The FDA says the temperature inside your refrigerator should be under 40 degrees. Most experts say the ideal temperature is between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal freezer temp is below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
There are things you can do to help your new unit get cooler faster. Have frozen or chilled jugs or bottles of water ready to place in your refrigerator when it’s delivered. For freezers, you can also put bags of ice inside. How many bags will depend on the size of the freezer.
Once you have the chilled water or ice inside, don’t open the door. Leave it alone and allow it to get cold.
Keep your kitchen cool. This probably isn’t the right time to start baking. The optimal room temperature for most refrigerators is around 70 degrees. Crank up the air conditioning if you have it or close the blinds to keep direct sunlight off the fridge.
Cool down your food before you put it in the new refrigerator. This will help ensure it maintains a safe temperature.
If your refrigerator or freezer isn’t at the right temperature after a day, contact either the store you purchased it from or the manufacturer for advice on how to get it to the right temperature.
When you purchase a refrigerator from Appliance Center, our friendly staff of service professionals will be happy to answer any questions and help you troubleshoot any issues.