The ideal freezer temperature for optimal food safety is said to be below 0F or minus 18C.
If your freezer temperature is set at a higher level your food safety will not only be compromised but you will find your food simply doesn’t last as long.
It is not difficult to set the temperature on your freezer so make sure it is set correctly before putting food in it for the first time. Even if your food ins not spoilt by being stored at the wrong temperature you may find the texture is adversely affected, or it may just not taste as good as it should. The importance of food safety cannot be overemphasised, and quite simply you can end up in hospital if you get it wrong.
If you are in any doubt at all about the temperature settings you would do well to invest in a freezer thermometer. These are available from about $5 and will give you instant readings, thereby putting your mind at rest that the food is safe to eat.The best way to use the thermometer is by placing it between two items such as bagged vegetables. A digital readout is easy to understand and will give you immediate results. You can also buy a thermometer which gives you weekly average readings. These cost around $25 and enable you to monitor the temperature on a regular basis. When it comes to your freezer temperature you don’t want to be making mistakes which can affect your health or ruin your monthly shopping budget either.