How long does it take a refrigerator to get cold?
Refrigerators are essential household and commercial appliances. They keep our food safe and fresh in a maintained temperature and environment.
Ever thought of the cooling time of a refrigerator after purchasing a new fridge or a power outage and How much time you have to wait to put food in your new refrigerator?
According to the FDA, 40 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended temperature for food storage. So, a refrigerator takes 12-24 hours to reach this ideal temperature. Moreover, after a power outage, a refrigerator might take 2-4 hours to cool after a power outage. The cooling time varies according to the model, brand, and size of the fridge.
So, we will discuss how long a fridge takes to get cold, what factors affect the coldness of a refrigerator, and tips to speed up the cooling process of your fridge. Let’s dive into the details.
How long does a fridge take to get cold after you plug it in?
After plugging in, an average refrigerator takes 12 hours to get cold enough to store your food at an optimum temperature of 40 Fahrenheit. You can use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of the refrigerator.
However, the average cooling time of a fridge dramatically varies due to the different brands, sizes, and models. So, you must see the user manual to understand the cooling time and hours of your refrigerator fully.
Moreover, if your refrigerator is making intermittent knocking noise after plugging in, you must call the manufacturer to check the reason for the noise.
What if my refrigerator is not cold enough?
If your refrigerator is not getting cold enough, it might be due to several reasons. A few of the common causes are given below:
- A fault in the thermostat.
- Dirt or mold in the fridge.
- Frequently opening the door of the fridge.
- Problematic evaporator and condenser fans
- Wrong Temperature setup.
- Loose or damaged door seal.
Which factors impact the coldness of a refrigerator?
The coldness of a refrigerator depends upon various factors. A few of the factors which can significantly affect the coldness of the refrigerator are given below:
- Brand
Due to the massive competition in the appliances market and growing technology, there are modern refrigerators with outstanding features. These new models take less time to cool. Different renowned brands like Samsung, Whirlpool, Lg, and Ge refrigerators take less time to cool.
- Size
Naturally, larger refrigerators take more time to get cold than smaller ones. Your full-sized fridge will take more time than a mini-fridge.
So, size also matters a lot in the refrigerating process.
- Age
An older or traditional fridge will take more time to get cold due to the old features and excessive usage.
However, advanced fridges are highly-efficient and take only a few hours to get the required temperature for food storage.
- Maintenance
A well-maintained refrigerator will take less time to refrigerate. Keeping the door closed and cleaning the fridge regularly can take a few hours of cooling after plugging it in.
- Room Temperature
If you keep your freezer in a ventilated place at an ambient temperature, it will take less hours to cool.
How long a new frigidaire refrigerator take to cool?
A brand new frigidaire fridge takes 24 hours to get cold. Furthermore, you must change the initial temperature set up by the company. Let it be the same, plug it into the fridge, and let it cool for 24 hours.
New frigidaire refrigerator cooling time also differs according to brand, size, and model.
How much time a fridge take to get cold after being off?
If you switch off your fridge for cleaning purposes or it gets off due to a power outage, it will take 4-6 hours to get cold at its previous proper cold temperature.
How to cool down a fridge faster?
To cool down your refrigerator faster or to maintain the required temperature, you must follow the given advises:
- Keep your fridge away from sunlight or a hot environment.
If you place your fridge far away from sunlight and in an air-conditioned room. It will automatically speed up the refrigeration process.
- Make sure to deep clean your fridge twice a month.
Remove the dirt and grime from the inner wall and drawers. Check the fridge’s coils regularly. Do not let water leak or pool inside the fridge. A cleaned fridge will lessen the refrigerator’s cooling times from long hours to fewer ones.
Blocked air vents also lower the cooling, so keep an eye on them as well.
- Do not open the fridge door frequently.
Opening the fridge’s door again will allow the outer hot air to come in and move the cold air to the outside. This will elongate the cooling hours.
So, keeping the door closed will maintain the cold air and refrigerate quickly.
- Do not keep hot food in the fridge
Never place too hot food in your refrigerator. Too much hot food or milk is unsafe for the fridge as it will alter the air circulation process and slow the cooling process.
So, before placing the food into the fridge, always cool it to room temperature. This step is also necessary for food safety and lowers the refrigerating hours.
- The empty fridge takes long hours to cool down.
A fridge with full food capacity cools earlier than an empty fridge. It takes more time and energy usage to cool an empty refrigerator.
So, if you fill the empty places of your fridge with delicious foods and desserts, it will cool within a few hours to let you enjoy your desserts.
How long do you have to wait to put food in a new refrigerator?
The new refrigerators have added oils and fluids to the cooler compartments. Therefore, it gets shaken when you bring your fridge home in a truck or appliance trolley.
So, let your fridge rest for an hour and plug it in. Leave it for 12 hours to get cold enough and maintain the temperature. After 12 hours, you can put your food inside the refrigerator.
How much time does a mini-fridge take to get cool?
As indicated by the name of the mini refrigerator, it will take 4-6 hours to get cold. Due to the small size, the refrigerators cool in fewer hours than the big ones.
Besides this, the cooling time is different according to the brand and model. You can also check the user manual to know more about the cooling hours.
What time does fridge take to cool after defrosting?
If you defrost a Samsung refrigerator or any other branded fridge, then make sure to clean and dry the fridge after defrosting.
So, after defrosting, a refrigerator needs 6-12 hours to get cold at the proper temperature.
How long does it take a refrigerator to get cold FAQs
How long does a fridge take to get to the right temperature?
A fridge takes 12-24 hours to get the right temperature. However, it mostly depends upon the size, model, and brand of the refrigerator.
Why is my new fridge not getting cold?
First, check if anything is blocking the air vents and the coils. If everything goes fine. Call the manufacturer for further guidance.
Conclusion
A refrigerator takes 12-24 hours to get the optimum temperature for getting cold and storing food. The cooling hours vary due to the advanced features of different brands, the size, and the model of your refrigerator.
On the other hand, mini-refrigerators, due to their small size, take less time to get cold. We hope you got an idea about the cooling hours of a fridge. Thank you for reading.