To save on household electricity bills, it is not enough to just know what the cheapest hours are or have a flat rate, turn off unnecessary lights and unplug electronic devices when we are not using them. But there are small details that, without us realizing it, are causing us to lose money.
Between these points lies the optimal temperature of the refrigerator. And the coldness of the refrigerator helps to preserve food better, preventing the proliferation of bacteria that cause food to spoil and, thus, freeing us from food waste. But the lower the temperature of the refrigerator, the more power it will require, which will translate into an increase in our energy bill.
Therefore, it is important to find the perfect balance between preserving food well and not spending more money. But calculating the ideal temperature of the refrigerator is not an exact question, but varies depending on different factors, such as the time of year, the type of refrigerator, how full it is and how we have it distributed.
It is widely believed that in summer we should lower the temperature of the refrigerator even more, while in autumn and winter we can raise it slightly, as the ambient temperature drops. Although this is true in theory, it is not an absolute truth nor the only thing we must take into account when programming the temperature of the refrigerator.
The ideal temperature of a refrigerator is between 1ºC and 4.5ºC. In summer, if you live in a particularly hot area, it is best for your refrigerator to be at 1ºC. But in winter, you should not only look at the outside temperature, but also at the temperature inside your house, where you will have the heating on. If you usually program the heating at around 21 or 22 degrees, you can increase the temperature of your refrigerator, while if your heating reaches higher temperatures (always without reaching 5ºC), it is best to keep the refrigerator colder.
But also, keep in mind that the fuller your refrigerator is or the larger it is, the lower its temperature should be to properly preserve food and distribute the cold well. If you don't usually fill it to the brim, you can slightly raise its temperature. In this regard, it is also important to correctly organize the food inside the refrigerator, to optimize its conservation depending on the temperature. Likewise, try to keep the refrigerator clean, do not open the door unnecessarily and do not introduce hot food so as not to increase its internal temperature.
