How long does it take a fridge to get cold? I believe some people have not known about it before, even though they have been using refrigerators for many years.
Overall, the fridge’s main components are the storage chamber and the freezer compartment. By plugging in the power source, it will be cold so you can store food inside the appliance.
However, the refrigerator takes a certain time to do so. And there are many factors that influence the fridge’s cooling time. In this post, I’ll explain how the fridge works and what to consider in order to make it cool properly.
The Cooling Time Of The Fridge
Fridge cooling time varies and depends on many factors. Generally, it takes 2 to 24 hours after plugging in for the fridge to get cold enough to store food. It is recommended to wait up to 24 hours if your fridge is a brand new one.
For a big fridge, it might take about 12 hours after plugging it in. On the other hand, it might require around 4 hours to cool a mini fridge. Then you can place your food inside the device.
How To Tell Whether The Fridge Has Been Cold Yet?
According to FDA guidelines, the recommended temperature for the refrigerator’s cool chamber is 40° F (4℃) (1). This temperature is required to keep food fresh and prevent unwanted bacteria from entering it.
The appropriate temperature for the freezer compartment will be lower, about 0°F (-18℃). So it will be much easier if the fridge you purchase has a led screen.
As you only need to check the temperature shown on the screen. When the temperature on the screen is between 35 and 40°F (1 and 4℃), you may put food in without worrying about spoiling its quality.
However, when your fridge does not have a built-in thermometer, you will need to use a small trick. Get a glass, cup, or bowl. You can also use any non-insulated kitchen container that can fit in the fridge.
Pour water into the glass, but do not overfill it. It will spill over the refrigerator if you accidentally bump into it. Place the thermometer inside that glass and put them in the fridge. Leave a thermometer there for around 12 hours or overnight.
What Can Affect Your Fridge’s Cooling Time?
As I previously mentioned, the cooling time of a fridge is affected by various elements, such as the size of the refrigerator, the room temperature, the fridge’s condition, and more. You might have to wait up to 24 hours after plugging in.
However, other circumstances can affect the time. They will shorten or lengthen it more than usual. Check the factors listed below to see whether your refrigerator is in good condition.
Do you know how a fridge works? You would be surprised if you learned about its mechanism.
Room Temperature
The room temperature where you store your fridge will also affect its cooling time. It will take longer to cool if the room temperature outside the refrigerator is high. Plus, you should keep it away from the sun.
When the sun shines directly on the fridge, it will take a long time to cool. You should also keep the refrigerator from an oven and other heat sources to avoid a fire or electrical hazard.
The Fridge Size/ Capacity
The size/capacity of the refrigerator has a significant impact on its cooling time. Smaller fridges will require less cooling area, resulting in faster cooling times. Large fridges, of course, will take longer to complete due to their larger size.
You will have to wait between 4 and 8 hours if you have a small one. However, with larger appliances, it will extend this period to 12 to 24 hours.
Brand And Type Of Fridge
Different manufacturers produce a wide range of refrigerators. These refrigerators will differ slightly in variety and capacity, leading to varied chilling times. Check the table below for more details.
The Insulation Of Your Refrigerator
As I mentioned earlier, the room temperature can alter the refrigerator’s cooling time. In this situation, your refrigerator needs excellent insulation. If the insulation system of the fridge is durable and efficient, the cooling time is shorter.
Therefore, you should choose a fridge with strong insulation to retain interior areas’ coldness excellently.
Condition Of The Fridge
One factor influencing your fridge’s cooling time is its condition. New fridges, obviously, perform better and take less time to cool compared to old ones.
Furthermore, overworking the fridge will deteriorate its shelf life faster. You can keep your fridge in good operating condition by maintaining it regularly.
Do You Open The Fridge’s Door Often?
When the fridge is cooling, you may open the door to see if it’s cold enough. However, your action is why your fridge takes more time than usual to cool. Frequent opening of the fridge door allows hot air outside to come into it.
It makes a fridge take longer and work harder to cool evenly. Therefore, you should avoid opening it unless necessary. Furthermore, opening the fridge door too many times can create chances for microorganisms to permeate the food stored inside.
Your Fridge Is Empty Or Not
It will also improve the cooling process when your fridge is empty. When you put too much food in the refrigerator, there is less space for cold air to enter. It requires the fridge to work harder to cool down.
However, the food also plays an important role in keeping the air inside the fridge cool. The foods keep the cool air within them instead of spreading all over the fridge.
When your fridge is empty, it has nothing to stay cold and needs to work harder to keep it cold all the time.
Besides, the kind of food you store in your fridge can also affect its cooling time because the space among the molecules in liquid is greater than the molecules in solid.
Then liquid food will take longer to cool down than solid ones. As a result, it will take more energy to dissipate the heat from the liquid, and it will extend the cooling time.
How To Quicken The Cooling Time Of The Fridge
Sometimes the fridge is not cold enough. It has very apparent signs that you can identify right away. It’s operational but isn’t cool. The freezing chamber is thawed. How can we solve this?
Put Some Ice Packs In The Refrigerator
You might also put ice in the refrigerator. It aids in circulating cold air within the fridge, reducing the effort required and enabling warm air to flee more quickly. The cold from the ice packs will spread all over and circulate inside the fridge.
You can also put some metals inside, such as canned food or metal cubes, to shorten the cooling time since metals can cool down quicker than other materials.
The Power Source
One of the reasons why the refrigerator does not work is an intermittent power supply and fluctuating voltage. The fridge is running, but the power source makes it not cool. You can determine whether the electricity in your neighborhood is steady.
If the power supply is frequently flickering and the voltage is irregular, you should install a voltage stabilizer to ensure that the fridge operates appropriately.
When your fridge isn’t working, you must examine it first. Follow the instructions below to know better.
The Plugging Broken
You need to check (or fix)the plug or outlet to ensure that the refrigerator has electricity.
If you see sparks while plugged in and dark patches surrounding the outlet, it’s most likely a loose outlet plug. You may change a new refrigerator’s electrical outlet or purchase an additional power connector.
It is better to plug the fridge into a separate socket than share it with other appliances. And it must generate a sufficient power supply that is compatible with the refrigerator’s needs.
How You Store Your Food
Each fridge has a specific capacity. When purchasing a refrigerator, you should select a product that can meet your requirements.
Avoid buying small refrigerators while storing too much food inside the fridge because they restrict the cold air circulating inside the appliance.
The Coils And The Air Vents
In many cases, the condenser coils and the air vent might be the reasons that your fridge is not cooling. When the coils are dirty, they can’t function properly.
If you notice the fridge is not cold enough, contact a technician to check your coils. You can do it by yourself when you have the product manual.
Besides, you may check the fridge’s air vent. The air vent allows the cool air to filter inside the device. Examine whether the air vent is blocked.
The Position Of The Fridge
You should also choose the right area to place your fridge. People typically put the fridge in their kitchens. Some might place it in the garage.
No matter where you put it, it should be in a better-ventilated location. If it is placed in too-hot areas, your device can’t perform as you expected.
Also, you should not let your fridge lean to the wall. You can leave a few inches between your fridge and the wall. It will help the refrigerator disperse the heat better.
Take a look at the easy tips to quicken your fridge’s cooling time.
Pro Tips For Using Fridge
When using a fridge, people try to make the most of its possibilities to maximize their advantage. This is not always the case. You can use the refrigerator by following the guidelines below to minimize the work your fridge has to deal with.
- Find an appropriate location for the refrigerator, and don’t relocate it too often.
- The fridge’s surface must be firm and flat.
- Use a specific container or food bag to separate fresh and cooked food, then cover and store them in the refrigerator. This helps reduce food rotting by bacterial invasion and cross-contamination.
- Reasonably arrange food, avoid crowding everything into the same compartment or leave the fridge empty.
- Storing hot food in the fridge is not recommended. It will radiate heat inside the refrigerator, raising the temperature and requiring the fridge to work harder to cool down (2).
- To guarantee optimum heat dissipation, position the fridge in a well-ventilated, non-humid location, and avoid corners.
- The fridge requires a lot of energy when they restart. So don’t turn them on or off frequently.
- You should clean the fridge once a week to remove stains and harmful bacteria from inside and outside the refrigerator.
Here are many valuable tips for how to use a fridge the best way. Check it out!
FAQs
Aside from knowing how to use the fridge, you may also need to learn more about other aspects of the refrigerator. You can find answers to frequently asked questions in the section below.
Do You Know How To Deal With Your Fridge Now?
Now you already know how long it takes to cool down your fridge. Remember, it depends on various factors. So if you find it too long to reach the desired temperature inside your gadget, don’t worry! It might take up to 24 hours for the cooling process.
Moreover, a fridge requires frequent cleaning and maintenance so you can store your food safely inside it.
Finally, I hope you have a good time reading this post. So please rate it or share your opinion in the comment box. And let’s spread this valuable information to others so they can use their fridge effectively. Thank you!
References
- Refrigerator (2022) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
- Alexis, A.C. (2021) Refrigerating hot leftovers: Safety and tips, Healthline. Healthline Media. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/can-you-put-hot-food-in-the-fridge.
