What temperature should you set your fridge to avoid bacteria... and extra costs?

What temperature should you set your fridge to? If it's too warm, you're taking a health risk with bacteria that can proliferate. But if it's too cold, you'll use too much electricity and spoil certain delicate foods. The fridge still accounts for an average of ¼ of household energy costs, according to ENGIE. So, when it comes to temperature, ANSES (the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety) has the answer: it shouldn't exceed 5°C.

This is the temperature at which many bacteria thrive, particularly salmonella, the leading cause of food poisoning in France. And don't let it go below 0°C. Since your entire fridge won't have the same temperature, you should aim for between 0 and 4°C.

If you don't have a thermometer, set your refrigerator temperature to 60%. If you have a dial, set it to a little over halfway. If you have a thermostat, set it to 3 or 5°. This guarantees an optimal temperature. For the freezer, there's only one temperature to remember: -18°, which is the ideal temperature.

The idea is to not have a fridge or freezer that's too empty, otherwise it will use more energy to keep the temperature low. But not too full either, otherwise the air won't circulate properly and the temperature will rise. So, don't pile things up and remove as much packaging as possible, like the cardboard around yogurt pots. If you have a hot dish, let it cool in the open air first before storing it in the fridge, otherwise you risk raising the temperature there too.

You should remember to defrost regularly: 3mm of frost adds 30% to your energy bill. And be careful where you place it. Avoid placing it next to a heat source like the oven or dishwasher so that it doesn't overuse energy to cool itself.

Finally, don't leave the door open for too long; it's better to open and close it several times to limit the loss of cold. And during the holidays, if you're going away for a while, at least two weeks, empty everything and unplug it.