Which Is The Coldest Part Of A Refrigerator

Which is the coldest part of the refrigerator nobody knows about.

Refrigerators are known for keeping food fresh and edible for a long time by cooling them.

Even though refrigerators promise uniform cooling, some places are slightly cooler than others.

So you know which is the coldest part of a refrigerator?

We do; the bottom shelves are the coldest part of any refrigerator.

They are great places to store meat and fresh food. 

Today we will discuss the cooling mechanism of refrigerators, their ideal temperature, and their chill parts.

So please read the article to learn more about them.

The Cooling mechanism of a refrigerator

an image of cooling mechanism of refrigerator

If you spray some deodorant on your skin, you get an instant cooling effect.

Refrigerators are inspired by this technology as cold gas absorbs heat. 

Five main components of a refrigerator that helps you to achieve this mechanism, namely:

  • Expansion device
  • Condenser coils
  • Evaporating coils
  • Compressor
  • Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a cooling liquid that flows through coils to cool the refrigerator.

Here is the cooling mechanism of the refrigerator:

  • Firstly, the refrigerant (which is in a liquid state) passes through the expansion device.
  • It reduces its pressure which ultimately converts the refrigerant into gas.
  • In this conversion, the refrigerant temperature gets as low as -25°F.
  • When this gaseous refrigerant passes through evaporator coils through the fridge, the gas temperature is low and absorbs all the food heat inside the refrigerator. Therefore, keeping the fridge cool.
  • After going through evaporation coils, it goes to the compressor, where the refrigerant is heated.
  • Then this hot gas is passed through to coils in the back, where they lose their heat.
  • After losing their heat and pressure, they turn into a liquid state and get ready to circulate again.

Related Reading: How Long It Takes A Refrigerator To Get Cold – Click Here.

Why Storage Temperature Matters

We all are familiar with bacteria and microorganisms.

They grow at warm temperatures, especially on foods, as they can become their source of food and nourishment.

Storing your food items at a warm temperature doesn’t only enhance the bacteria growth but also reduces their freshness.

That’s why it is essential to have an optimal storage temperature in which your food is neither too warm nor ice solid.

The temperature should be low enough to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.

What Is the Best Temperature Setting for the Fridge?

To maintain the integrity of different food items in the fridge, one should keep the refrigerator’s temperature lower than 40°F.

Because above 40°F, microorganisms’ growth starts, which can drastically affect your food items.

Moreover, your food items remain fresh and chill without freezing.

As for the refrigerator’s freezer compartment, it’s better to keep it below 0°F to maintain the integrity of frozen items.

The coldest part of a side-by-side refrigerator

Many advanced refrigerators have uniform temperatures.

But some compartments are cooler than the rest.

As in side-by-side refrigerators, the bottom shelves have the lowest temperature.

This is because of the simple refrigerant temperature. 

As cold gas is heavier and sinks and hot gas evaporates to the top, the cold air remains in lower tubes more.

This way, it absorbs more heat from the bottom and keeps it cooler.

The coldest part of the fridge freezer

Even though the freezer is cooled uniformly, its coolest area is its center.

Besides that, the fridge freezer had the lowest temperature on the top shelf, specifically at its center.

The coldest part of the French door refrigerator

In the French door refrigerator, the coolest compartments you will find are the middle shelf and lower drawer.

It is because of some cold gas phenomenon.

However, this flows slowly from the middle to the lower compartment, giving more cooling.

How To Keep Your Refrigerator Running At Its Coldest

an image of refrigerator

Running a refrigerator includes many other tricks, including keeping it at its lowest temperature.

These methods include:

  • Keep your refrigerator clean.
  • Please do not open it unnecessarily, and keep the door closed when not in use.
  • Cool the food to room temperature before keeping it in the refrigerator.
  • Place fruits and vegetables in lower drawers.
  • Use containers, especially glass containers, to maintain coolness.
  • Keep the fridge a few inches away from the wall to cool off the coils.

Related Reading: The Best Refrigerator Thermometer – Read More.

Which is the coldest part of a refrigerator – FAQs 

Is the top of the fridge warmer than the bottom?

Yes, the top fridge is four to six degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the bottom.

This is because the cold gas sinks and stays at the bottom despite proper circulation.

Where should raw meat be stored in a refrigerator?

One should store the raw meat on bottom shelves to prevent cross-contamination with cooked or other dairy items.

Why is my fridge cold at the bottom and warm at the top?

Your fridge is colder at the bottom because of cold gas.

When gas is colder, it gets dense and sinks to the bottom tubes.

Therefore, absorbing more heat from the bottom rather than the top.

Is a fridge colder on 1 or 5?

Your fridge is coldest on 5 and warmest on 1.

Why is the salad drawer at the bottom of the fridge?

The salad drawer is at the bottom of the fridge because of two reasons.

Firstly, it controls the airflow to enhance the shelf life of vegetables.

Secondly, it prevents direct contact with the walls or refrigerator from preventing the freezing of vegetables.

Also, it prevents cross-contamination.

Why is my fridge icing up at the back?

Your fridge starts icing at the back because of high humidity.

The moisture collects at the back of the fridge and ultimately freezes, creating icing on the back.

What should be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator?

You should store dairy items like cream, cheese, and cooked food items on the top shelves of the refrigerator.

What should be stored in the bottom drawer of the fridge?

Bottom drawers are suitable for storing vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens like spinach, parsley, etc., to maintain their freshness for a long time.

Why is my refrigerator not cooling, but the freezer is working?

There could be a problem with the thermistor or the defrost system.

Also, your evaporator coils can be blocked due to frost, which prevents gas movement in the fridge.

Why is my freezer frosting up and fridge not working?

The main problem could be the malfunctioning temperature controller that controls the fridge’s temperature, preventing your refrigerator from cooling.

What number should my fridge be set at?

The best number to set your fridge is at 3 or 4, as it prevents bacterial growth and your food items from becoming ice solid and maintaining their freshness.

What setting should a fridge be on 1 7?

The best number to set your fridge is at 3 or 4, as it prevents bacterial growth and your food items from becoming ice solid and maintaining their freshness.

How long can you leave frozen meat out before it goes bad?

You can easily keep frozen meat out for two to three hours under warm conditions.

You can also keep the meat out overnight if the surrounding temperature is low.

Why should you never keep milk in the fridge door?

Fridge doors are warmer and induce bacterial growth in the milk, spoiling.

That’s why you should never put milk on the fridge door.

Should you keep bread in the refrigerator?

No. the bread gets stale earlier than usual if you place it in the refrigerator.

How long does steak last in the fridge?

A steak lasts 1-4 days in a refrigerator without altering its flavor. 

Related Reading: How Long Mashed Potatoes Last In Refrigerator- Click Here To Read More.

The Bottom Line

Most people don’t know the coldest part of a refrigerator: its bottom drawer.

The fridge cools the interior and food by passing cold gas through its tubes.

Because cold gas is heavier, it stays on the bottom shelves more.

Also, we talked about the refrigerator’s working mechanism and ideal temperature.

Keeping the refrigerator below 40°F is vital to prevent bacterial growth and promote freshening.

Good luck!