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Fridge temperature: keep perishables at 5°C or colder

Check a food thermometer, protect ready-to-eat food from raw juices and understand Australia’s danger zone.

Australia · FSANZ · NSW Food Authority

FSANZ recommends keeping perishable food refrigerated at 5°C or colder. Between 5°C and 60°C, food-poisoning microorganisms can grow rapidly. A refrigerator setting is not the same as a measured temperature, and a chilled storage condition alone does not guarantee a product has always been handled safely.

Measure actual fridge temperature

Use an appliance thermometer in the storage area and recheck after large shopping trips or changes to the thermostat. Food near the door may warm up more during frequent opening.

Keep raw food covered and separate

Raw poultry, meat and seafood should be in leak-proof containers so their juices cannot drip onto salads, desserts and cooked leftovers. Clean a shelf immediately after spills.

Avoid warm holding of perishables

Cold food should remain at 5°C or colder and hot prepared food above 60°C where relevant. Do not leave food in the intermediate temperature danger zone without following valid time controls.

What to do, step by step

  1. Check with a thermometer that your refrigerator actually stays at or below 5°C.
  2. Refrigerate groceries that need to be kept cold as soon as practical after shopping.
  3. Use sealed containers for raw meats and keep them separate from ready-to-eat items.
  4. Leave room for cold air to circulate, particularly after buying in bulk.
  5. After a suspected prolonged loss of cooling, review the actual temperature history instead of relying on a date stamp.

What does “at or below 5°C” not tell us?

It does not establish a universal number of days for meat, eggs, dairy or ready meals. Individual use-by dates and opening instructions still need to be observed, and some products can require stricter temperatures.

Australian official sources

Guidance for Australia from FSANZ and NSW Food Authority. Read the original conditions, particularly for temperature and elapsed time:

Country scope: Australian consumer advice. The 2018 USDA FoodKeeper values have not been reused as Australian safety deadlines.