How Long Does It Take A Refrigerator To Get Cold? What You Need To Know

You just bought a new refrigerator, or you just moved to a new place, or you just had a power outage. Whatever the reason, you need to plug in your refrigerator and wait for it to get cold enough to store your food safely. But how long does it take a refrigerator to get cold? And what can you do to speed up the process?

In this post, we’ll answer these questions and more. We’ll explain how long it takes for different types of refrigerators to get cold, what factors affect the cooling time, and how to tell if your refrigerator is cold enough. We’ll also share some tips on how to make your refrigerator cool faster and keep it running efficiently.

How Long Does It Take A Refrigerator To Get Cold?

The average time it takes for a refrigerator to get cold is 12 hours. However, this can vary from 3 to 24 hours depending on the type, size, brand, and model of your refrigerator.

Here are some examples of how long it takes for different types of refrigerators to get cold:

• Bottom freezer refrigerators: These refrigerators have the freezer compartment at the bottom and the fresh food compartment at the top. They can take between 2 and 24 hours to get cold, depending on the brand and model. For example, Samsung and LG bottom freezer refrigerators can get cold in 2 to 3 hours, while Whirlpool and GE models can take up to 24 hours.
• French door refrigerators: These refrigerators have two doors that open to the fresh food compartment and a drawer that pulls out to the freezer compartment. They can take between 2 and 24 hours to get cold, depending on the brand and model. For example, Samsung and LG French door refrigerators can get cold in 2 to 3 hours, while GE models can take up to 24 hours.

• Side-by-side refrigerators: These refrigerators have two doors that open side by side, with the freezer on one side and the fresh food on the other. They can take between 2 and 24 hours to get cold, depending on the brand and model. For example, Samsung side-by-side refrigerators can get cold in 2 hours, while Frigidaire models can take 8 to 12 hours, and Whirlpool models can take up to 24 hours.
• Top-freezer refrigerators: These refrigerators have the freezer compartment at the top and the fresh food compartment at the bottom. They can take between 4 and 24 hours to get cold, depending on the brand and model. For example, Magic Chef top-freezer refrigerators can get cold in 4 hours, while Frigidaire models can take 8 hours, and Whirlpool models can take up to 24 hours.
• Mini fridges: These are small refrigerators that are usually used for dorm rooms, offices, or garages. They can take between 4 and 6 hours to get cold, depending on the size and model. For example, Galanz, Magic Chef, and Frigidaire mini fridges can get cold in 4 hours.

The cooling time of your refrigerator may also vary depending on how full it is, how often you open and close the doors, how warm or cool your room temperature is, and how well you maintain your refrigerator.

How To Tell If Your Refrigerator Is Cold Enough

The best way to tell if your refrigerator is cold enough is to use a thermometer. The FDA recommends that you keep your refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) and your freezer at or below 0°F (-18°C) to prevent food spoilage and bacterial growth.

To check the temperature of your refrigerator, place a thermometer in a glass of water in the middle of the fresh food compartment. Leave it there for at least 8 hours or overnight without opening the door. Then read the temperature on the thermometer.

To check the temperature of your freezer, place a thermometer between two frozen packages in the middle of the freezer compartment. Leave it there for at least 8 hours or overnight without opening the door. Then read the temperature on the thermometer.

If your refrigerator or freezer is not cold enough, adjust the temperature settings according to your user manual. You may also need to check for any problems with your refrigerator such as dirty coils, faulty seals, or blocked vents.

How To Make Your Refrigerator Cool Faster

If you want to make your refrigerator cool faster, here are some tips you can follow:

• Keep it a few inches from the wall: This will help improve air circulation around your refrigerator and prevent overheating.
• Don’t open the doors: This will prevent warm air from entering your refrigerator and slowing down the cooling process.
• Keep the kitchen cool: This will reduce the ambient temperature and make it easier for your refrigerator to cool down.
• Cool food down before putting it in the refrigerator: This will prevent hot food from raising the temperature inside your refrigerator and making it work harder to cool down.
• Put ice in the freezer: This will help lower the temperature in the freezer and speed up the freezing process.

FAQs About Refrigerator Cooling

Here are some common questions and answers about refrigerator cooling:

• How long does it take a new refrigerator to get cold? A new refrigerator can take between 3 and 24 hours to get cold, depending on the type, size, brand, and model. However, after 3 to 5 hours, the refrigerator should be cold enough to place food in it.
• How long does it take a refrigerator to get cold after a power outage? A refrigerator can take between 3 and 24 hours to get cold after a power outage, depending on the type, size, brand, and model. However, if the power outage lasted more than 4 hours, you may need to check your food for spoilage and discard any perishable items that have been above 40°F (4°C) for more than 2 hours.
• What are some popular refrigerators that cool fast? Some popular refrigerators that cool fast are Samsung and LG models, which can get cold in 2 to 3 hours. These brands use advanced cooling technology such as Twin Cooling Plus and Smart Cooling Plus that help maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels in the refrigerator.

Final Thoughts

Refrigerators are essential appliances that keep our food fresh and safe. However, they need time to cool down to the right temperature before we can use them.

The average time it takes for a refrigerator to get cold is 12 hours, but this can vary from 3 to 24 hours depending on the type, size, brand, and model of your refrigerator.

To tell if your refrigerator is cold enough, use a thermometer and check that it is at or below 40°F (4°C) for the fresh food compartment and at or below 0°F (-18°C) for the freezer compartment.

To make your refrigerator cool faster, keep it a few inches from the wall, don’t open the doors, keep the kitchen cool, cool food down before putting it in the refrigerator, and put ice in the freezer.

We hope this post has helped you learn more about how long it takes for a refrigerator to get cold and what you can do to speed up the process. Now go ahead and enjoy your chilled food and drinks!